gas cap removal

[jaybird]

OK - I obtained an f2 project tank that came with a petcock assembly and a gas cap but the cap came locked with no key . Any recommendations for removing the cap without a key? Anyone have a master key I can borrow?

Thanks

[surferdude]

Drill out the lock?

[MrDude_1]

well, you can easily pick the lock if you have a set of lock pics..
its not really as hard as you would think. i learned how to do it back in highschool because it seemed to be a neat thing to know.
nice thing about doing it this way.. you can have the lock re-keyed to match your key.

or you can go the destructive route.. drill it bigger and bigger until the pins can come loose/out. but ive never had much luck doing that..
just dont try to twist it loose. you'll tweak the gastank.


edit:
this sounds obvious now that i think about it..
take the gastank to a locksmith.. he can probably open it cheaper then a good set of picks costs... (although i still think picking it is more fun)

[Doc]

If your not going to use it you should be able to stick a screw driver in there and twist it.... That is what I have to do with the Duc racebike.

[drinmotoracer]

Assuming you just have the tank and not the bike the tank came from, the lock code won't be accessible unless you pop open the cap.... so if you take it to the locksmith around Sac they will probably charge you $25-50 dep'd on how nice you are but that is just to open it. Then it will cost you probably $8 for them to make one key and $4 for a duplicate.
I also learned how to pick locks like MrDude1, but I started in junior high for stupid reasons, and it is useful to get a picker. I use the DYNO kwick pick for most applications. I got it for $22 after shipping I believe.

Or you can always just drill it out or use the screwdriver approach (you might bend the tank lip slightly though near the gas cap if you do this).

[jaybird]

Anyone want to teach me how to pick it?

[gen2600]

Anyone want to teach me how to pick it?

A flat head screw driver - I have a tool to do just this with a handle and counter handle on it for when it's stubborn.

[MrDude_1]

Anyone want to teach me how to pick it?

http://home.howstuffworks.com/lock-picking.htm

page 3 has an animation that should get your brain going....
basiclly, you just put some tension on the lock. and work the pins with your pick... the concept is simple, but its a "go by feel" thing... you can usually feel when the pins slide right.. i usually start at the bottom, and work my way up.. if i try to "rake" them, i usually end up knocking the set ones out, as i get the ones under them... but sometimes i get lucky raking them.. i donno.. lol.. its a feel thing.


just dont shove a screwdriver in there and twist.
you'll tweak the gas tank, and break the lock so you cant open it easily.

[jaybird]

LOL- I was just looking at this how stuff works site yesterday - Thanks all for the ideas.

[drinmotoracer]

[quote="MrDude_1"]

just dont shove a screwdriver in there and twist.
you'll tweak the gas tank, and break the lock so you cant open it easily.

[juicedstang999]

Umm... Why don't you remove the 3 allen screws from the cap and take the whole gas cap apart from the tank that way ? You might be able to get at the latch from the underside without the risk of tweaking the tank.

[Deadlego]

can you unbolt the cap???? remove the cap and put your stock hawk lock in there. then no need to get another key. just change out the caps. let me know if im wrong with this

[Copytech]

Umm... Why don't you remove the 3 allen screws from the cap and take the whole gas cap apart from the tank that way ? You might be able to get at the latch from the underside without the risk of tweaking the tank.

The cap latches to the tank not the ring.

[thepathlesstaken]

Umm... Why don't you remove the 3 allen screws from the cap and take the whole gas cap apart from the tank that way ? You might be able to get at the latch from the underside without the risk of tweaking the tank.

When I originally read the problem and thought about the solution this is exactly what I thought of.

A few seconds later I remembered the cap latches to the interior lip of the tank

[jaybird]

I thought the same thing. Then after I removed the bolts I was reminded that the cap latches to the tank therefore, the post before you.