Oil & Fuel Cross-threaded fuel and hydraulic fluid caps

[Dakar]

I can tell you for a fact that Terry was not real honest in this instance, as I crossthreaded the oil reservoir cap on mine right in front of him during the little maintenance seminar. He muttered something under his breath at the time as he had one of the other guys get a replacement. I didn't hear it all clearly, but I definitely got the impression that he was complaining about how many caps they went through that way. It was real obvious that he had 'been there, done that' more than once. I have always been extremely careful ever since that little red-faced moment, and no problem since. It remains, however a very easy thing to do. Don't feel too bad about it.

 

[FOURTEEN]

<font color="red"> Usually twisting the cap counterclockwise a half turn or so will improve alignment before twisting it clockwise to tighten it!

Also, watch out for strong resistance early. If it almost immediately starts to turn hard, back off, there may be a problem!

Look at a cap or fitting before installing it, and be aware that fine threads are more easily misaligned! Who knows, it may even be a left hand thread!!

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[DML]

My gas cap is bung style. No worries about cross threading it. The hydraulic cap, I noticed from the first time, will easily cross thread. I've actually developed the habits mentioned by forteen when using ANY threaded application. Still, I manage to cross a few threads every now and then. Thankfully, the hydraulic cap has not yet been one of them.

 

[MikeOConnor]

Thanks for the scoop -- i pushed the thread along to Scott (he's the only email-address i have at Power-Trac) and asked him to push it along to Terry and the engineers.

yep -- when they sent me the replacement fuel cap, they sent me a nice bung-type one. sure wish it fit!

now i'm being Real Careful threading those critters on. so far, so good.