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  1. #1
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    Default What's the deal with closing the F3 Gas cap!?

    What is the DEAL with this gas cap (new owner, F3-S)? To get it closed I have to use both hands and get up on the right peg to put my weight on it. I tried lubing it with some WD-40 but that didn’t help much. I see where LaMonster has a replacement. Any ideas from Spyder experts before I call in my order?
    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    I had the same problem. I took it apart (placing a cloth over the hole) and filed the spring latch down for a looser fit. It closes easily now.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  3. #3
    Very Active Member Gwolf's Avatar
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    F3-S mine closes easy. Press down with two fingers, it latches, turn the key back, and it is done.
    2019 F3-S , Black & Silver

  4. #4
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    Thank you. I’ll give it a try.

  5. #5
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gwolf View Post
    F3-S mine closes easy. Press down with two fingers, it latches, turn the key back, and it is done.
    Lucky you. You got one without that problem. But others, including myself had to deal with caps that are difficult to close. Fortunately, I found the solution and I hope that helps those like the OP with that all too common problem.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  6. #6
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    You need to turn the key to 2 o’clock position before attempting to close it. If you keep it clean and lubed and put the key in this position you will have no troubles!

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  7. #7
    Very Active Member troop's Avatar
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    Yup, as above. Push down with two fingers to open and 2 o'clock and two fingers to close. Just a habit process.


    2022 RT Sea To Sky
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    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    Ann and Troop....In a perfect Spyder world, those suggestions work. But when you get one with a cap that requires a hydraulic ram to close, it's a different ballgame that requires a modification.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  9. #9
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    Lamonster IPS F3 Keyless Fuel Cap Assembly

    httphttp://www.lamonstergarage.com/c...bly-lamonster/
    PE #2735
    RUBBER SIDE DOWN SHINY SIDE UP!!!!!!!!!!
    Never ride faster than your Angel can fly...

  10. #10
    Very Active Member JKMSPYDER's Avatar
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    I had the same problem when my F3-S was new. Took apart the cap and lubed the spring and seal. Was better but not great. Finally ordered Lamont’s keyless gas cap. Problem solved forever.
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  11. #11
    Very Active Member Highwayman2013's Avatar
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    Well, at the risk of attack. The WD40 works on mine.
    2016 F3 Limited
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  12. #12
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    I live in a blue, sanctuary, crime ridden city and I don't want to switch to a keyless cap. All it took was taking it apart and filing down the latch. I did try lubing originally, but that didn't help at all. Some caps come so tight that I have no idea how they closed it at the factory. On my first fillup, I found it impossible to close the cap and had to ride home and remedy the problem.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  13. #13
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    I will be dipped...! Key to two o’clock position and it closes no problem! You guys are smarter than you look! ��

  14. #14
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Corvet View Post
    I will be dipped...! Key to two o’clock position and it closes no problem! You guys are smarter than you look! ��
    I was assuming you knew that and your cap was as tight as mine was. Glad this came to a good ending. Thanks Troop for mentioning that.The good news is, peeps now know what to do if they buy a new Spyder with a hard to close gas cap.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  15. #15
    Active Member deer30084's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Corvet View Post
    What is the DEAL with this gas cap (new owner, F3-S)? To get it closed I have to use both hands and get up on the right peg to put my weight on it. I tried lubing it with some WD-40 but that didn’t help much. I see where LaMonster has a replacement. Any ideas from Spyder experts before I call in my order?
    Thanks in advance.
    I have an RV with a slide out. Occasionally I put RV slide out lube on the rubber seals of the slide out so it slides in and out easily and protects the seals. I put a little bit of that on my fingers, put it on the rubber seal of my F3 gas cap months ago, and it works fine. Still haven't had the need to re-lube it.
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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by RICZ View Post
    Ann and Troop....In a perfect Spyder world, those suggestions work. But when you get one with a cap that requires a hydraulic ram to close, it's a different ballgame that requires a modification.
    Mine did not come from a perfect world - when new and not lubed I fought it many times.
    Lube it (I use waterproof plumbers grease) and turn the key as Ann suggests - absolutely no problems since !

  17. #17
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by als View Post
    Mine did not come from a perfect world - when new and not lubed I fought it many times.
    Lube it (I use waterproof plumbers grease) and turn the key as Ann suggests - absolutely no problems since !
    I guess mine came from an even less perfect world as nothing helped short of filing the latch piece down. Being either lazy or efficient,, I tried the lubing bit first, and still, no go. I'm happy that I know which end of the screwdriver is the handle and can remedy mechanical problems. Thanks dad.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  18. #18
    Very Active Member ABQSpyder's Avatar
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    Find yourself some Plastic lubricant.
    I had same problem used my old XEROX plastic lube about a year ago and works great Key at 2 0'clock

  19. #19
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    Outstanding thread! I'd been having trouble getting my gas cap closed... went out to the garage just now, opened the cap, turned the key to 2 o'clock and shut it with no effort. Thanks, Ann!


    Now, if I can just remember this until the spring...
    2017 F3T , Black, black and more black

  20. #20
    SpyderLovers Sponsor merlot's Avatar
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    "I had the same problem. I took it apart (placing a cloth over the hole) and filed the spring latch down for a looser fit. It closes easily now." Quote from RICZ

    i had the same problem and needed to file the latch as per RICZ post
    it refused to shut sensibly

    even after filing the latch,the closing was less than ideal
    the PO had obviously had this problem,and his remedy was to fill the key barrel with "je ne sait quoit"and this had stickied the operation of the barrel

    we should be aware that nothing should be sent down the key barrel...not wd40 not anything...it just gunks up the lock eventually
    i now use graphite powder on the key and this stuff works fine(eventually)

    so i have flooded the barrel with brake kleen(elec spray would be the same as no residue)and will continue til completely clean,then use graphite powder for perfect key operation

    the wd 40 will be used on the external mechanical workings of said lock

    its now a lot better but other bikes ive had,the key snaps back to central,and i wont give up til my bike does the same

    thanks RICZ for the heads up on filing
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  21. #21
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    I had a machine repair biz for over 40 years and learned that WD-40 leaves a sticky residue. Customers would use it on a sliding mechanism and complain that it worked for a while, then things got harder to move and would apply WD-40 again. Isn't that the definition of insanity - repeating the same thing and expecting a different result?
    About the gas cap latch; I had to file off a lot of metal before it worked with just a little pressure/resistance.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Corvet View Post
    What is the DEAL with this gas cap (new owner, F3-S)? To get it closed I have to use both hands and get up on the right peg to put my weight on it. I tried lubing it with some WD-40 but that didn’t help much. I see where LaMonster has a replacement. Any ideas from Spyder experts before I call in my order?
    Thanks in advance.
    Had to practically stand on mine to make it to latch. Used a liberal amount of WD40 GEL. A year and 1/2 later, and it still latches with just a lite touch of my pinky finger.

    Regards,

    Don
    2017 F3T , Triple Black

  23. #23
    Very Active Member Rattlebars's Avatar
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    I made a video a coupla months ago.

    to see my 2016 F3-T and many how to's
    2016 F3-T SE6 Roadster , Extended brake pedal for which I drilled out the brake rod yolk to lower it and added spacers to lift it slightly Black/Grey

  24. #24
    Active Member Docster's Avatar
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    Common mistake thinking WD-40 is a lubricant. The WD stands for "Water Displacement". That defines it's purpose
    2011 Spyder RT-S
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  25. #25
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    I know that WD40 is not a LUBRICANT. The issue with the locks is the LUBRICANT "BRP" chose doesn't continue to LUBRICATE the lock mechanism. The WD40, doing exactly what is engineered to do, makes the lock lubricant pliable again. I, like Highway 2013, have had excellent results. For four years.

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