Leaky petrol taps.

Information relating to the Matchless G12 or AJS Model 31 650cc twin
Mollbhan
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:52 pm
Location: Perthshire UK

Leaky petrol taps.

Post by Mollbhan »

Hi all, I have a 61 G12, bike tends to sit for a few weeks at a time so when I turn on the petrol the corks in the tap have dried out and petrol pisses out. I want to change the taps for lever type taps, not sure about size, are they 1/4 BSP?
electrajohnt
Posts: 136
Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 7:41 pm
Location: UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by electrajohnt »

Stick with what you have got and boil the forks or put new ones in.
JohnT
User avatar
dave16mct
Member
Posts: 3234
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 1990 12:00 am
Location: LANCASHIRE UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by dave16mct »

Usually 1/8 BSP.
I'd try dunking em in a cup of boiling water first. Then soak in oil overnight and put back in the taps. Also us a Dowty washer when putting back in the tank. If that doesn't work get new corks. I hate those taper taps, they either work or leak but always too stiff. I haven't tried the taps with neoprene 'O' rings, perhaps someone else may coomment?
Dave.
Andy51
Member
Posts: 742
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:00 am
Location: BERKS UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by Andy51 »

I used the Enots brass push slide for on taps ("hexagON") with neoprene washers and the slide got progressively stiffer - to the point of being almost impossible to move - but no leaks. Changed for cork washers, slide works freely and no leaks either. So, as Electrohnt says, put in new corks and it should solve your problems. Cheers, Andy
MalcW
Member
Posts: 626
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:05 pm
Location: DEVON UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by MalcW »

electrajohnt wrote:Stick with what you have got and boil the forks or put new ones in.
How does boiling the forks help? :D

Malc
SPRIDDLER
Member
Posts: 8542
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:00 am
Location: WEST SUSSEX UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by SPRIDDLER »

MalcW wrote:
electrajohnt wrote:Stick with what you have got and boil the forks or put new ones in.
How does boiling the forks help?
I think it softens 'em, Malc.

(Jeez, I must be bored as I'm reading topics about Twins :roll: )
'There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood............'
alanengineer
Member
Posts: 1175
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:45 pm
Location: KENT UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by alanengineer »

Sprid, its day two, only 19 days left. Boris wont let us down, then we can go on a long earnt ride.
Mollbhan
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:52 pm
Location: Perthshire UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by Mollbhan »

Thanks for the response everybody, I took the taps apart found they are the type with flat corks top and bottom and the slider in between, corks were completely knackered so have ordered new ones. Didn't try boiling the forks as I don't have a big enough pan but thanks anyway.
User avatar
Expat
Member
Posts: 1033
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:22 pm
Location: Tennessee, USA

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by Expat »

MalcW wrote:
electrajohnt wrote:Stick with what you have got and boil the forks or put new ones in.
How does boiling the forks help? :D

Malc
He meant boil the forking corks :D
Keep shiny side up.

These are my principles, if you don’t like them, I have others. (Groucho Marx)
bitza
Member
Posts: 452
Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 1:00 am
Location: SHROPSHIRE UK

Re: Leaky petrol taps.

Post by bitza »

On rebuilding the taps do not overtighten the tap body to the ends if they are brass it's easy to split them, same when screwing them into the tank , don't use a spanner on the body, use a thin spanner on end nearest tank,
Locked