Hi all. Anyone got any tips or tricks for removing a locked fuel cap without damaging the fuel filler. It's a standard locking cap off a '69 mini 1100.

It seems my key ring self-combusted on the weekend and I lost part of the key ring that had my mini keys.. Can't find 'em anywhere. Luckily I had a copy of the key that does the door, boot and ignition switch, but haven't got a copy of the fuel cap key. Haven't had the car for long and haven't got around to making a copy yet. I'll be stuffed when I need to fill up next..

Don't mind if I have to damage the cap as I'll have to get a new one anyway..

Cheers!

Drill the lock part out, should do the trick.

_________________
I live with fear everyday. but sometimes she lets me race.

Thought about that but I don't want to get shavings and crap in my fuel tank..

Isn't the inside of the cap sealed? If you don't drill right through you should be ok, shouldn't you? comments anyone.

_________________
I live with fear everyday. but sometimes she lets me race.

We recently took one off. Behind the cap there is a rubber 'seal' with some long nose pliers, pull that seal out (it will split/tear or whatever)
Then once its removed, you will see the little 'tabs' that lock the cap in the filler neck... you can squeeze it with pliers again, just enough and the cap will come out...

One question, is the tank still in the car? Mine wasnt, which allowed me to work it this way... if its in the car, might not work...

In that case, I would simply get a flat-head screwdriver and put it where the key goes, hit it with a hammer (not that hard) and then turn... just like the #$% that break into cars do.

Pete.

_________________

Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

Yeah tank's still on the car. I was hoping someone might have a good technique to push in those tabs from outside..

I think if I have to resort to hitting it with a screwdriver and hammer, i'll be doing it very gently so I don't damage the neck and stop it sealing up.

I could always go to a dodgy suburb and get someone off the street to do it! I know a great area where there'd be lots of 'professionals'

Don't go down the screwdriver path, I ended out mangling one just to get it off

Borrow a key off another mini-er. There are only a few combinations, if you get one that works then you can copy it. Worked for me!

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

Yep , the locking caps were used on a heap of cars of the same era and there are seriously only half a dozen different keys so check with anyone you knoe with mini's or 70's falcons , holdens etc . try small padloc keys too .

_________________

There are a couple of ways to do it depends on which cap you have.....
If it the flat locking cap that doesnt wrap around the top of the filler neck you should be able to get to the locking tabs with some "think picks" but if its the cap where it does wrap around the filler neck you will have to either drill (low to medium speed with a drill bit half the size of the lock top itself) the locking mechanism untill the plastic is left and turn that with a screwdriver or do the hammer and screwdriver thing and hope that you dont break the pivot point on the cap otherwise you will have to remove the fuel tank to get the bits out from the bottom.
Good luck with that.

_________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

Hi BBart,
Is the car mobile? If so, take it to a competent locksmith, he should be able to match a key to the cap in minutes. Fuel cap keys are generally pretty basic.

Regards
Al

Here is a trick that a panel beater taught me

Get a key that will fit in key hole - stick it in and jiggle it up and down while both turning the key and the cap. Most of the filling caps have a fairly flimsy locking mechanism and this is often enough to get it to open.

Panel beaters used to always get cars in and often without the keys and had reasons to remove petrol tanks etc etc. Mostly though now they are solenoid or lever actuated.

Mike

Thanks for the tips!

I've tried all the keys I can find around the house, but ill try what you said mike and see how I go.

I figure i'll go from least distractive means first and work down, so I'll visit a locksmith if that doesn't work and see how I go.

If a locksmith can match a key to the cap I won't have to buy a new cap

Otherwise I've got a few friends around Bendigo with minis I could try their keys, but i'm a bit limited travel-wise having a bit under half a tank of fuel to go on, and not being able to add more without getting the #$&^% cap off..

Thanks again!

just about every fuel tank I've taken out of a mini has had the remnants of a locking cap inside it.... I recently had the LH tank out of my cooper, and sure enough, found bits inside. In 3 years of driving it I didn't hear anything rattling in there

no tips for getting the cap off though - I have fixed the neck of one where the cap had been levered off, the metal is pretty soft, seals well now

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Sorted! But not without a bit of further debacle..

Tried mick's suggestion of trying keys that will fit in and jiggling etc, and in the process got a key seriously stuck in there. I think it was a key from a suitcase and it had a squarer cut. Tried for ages and couldn't get it out.

So went to the locksmith, with the added problem of getting the stuck key out first. Embarrassing..

We managed to get it out with heaps of jiggling and WD40, he then got the cap off in a second with a small feller-gauge type thing, and was able to cut a new key to fit the cap all for $10! Nothing like country service

LESSONS LEARNT
1. If a key ring looks passed it's used by date, replace it.
2. Don't have one key ring connected to another connected to another etc, as they can come apart easier.
3. Make sure you have backups of all your keys!
4. Don't take to a lock with anything involving drills or hammers unless you're tried everything else..
5. Don't try to open your fuel tank with a key to a suitcase!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!