Gas fumes from keyhole - any fix?

[Hellcat]

I read among the "known Valkyrie problems" on the shoptalk page that gas fumes could leak out of the keyhole on the gas cap.

My new-to-me 97 Valk does seem to have this problem. Any fixes for this, or where would I look for a new gas cap?

Unlikely Honda would replace it after twelve years and three owners.

[RLD]

They're around $55 new. Thats what I do.

[Joe Hummer]

I would check two things before changing out your whole cap.  First...make sure the tank vent line isn't kinked or plugged.  Second...check the gasket around the cap...it is it give out...you might be able to find just the gasket or fashion something that will work. 

Check out this post for information about making your own gasket:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,5132.0.html

Joe

[Jeff K]

Here is what I did.
The gasket on the cap is donut shaped.
Take the gasket off of the cap
Make a donut shaped gasket shim out of some 1/32" gasket material
Put the shim inside the OEM gasket
Put the gasket back on with the new shim inside. This will take some patience.
It may be a little stiff to close but it will get better with some time.
I did this 6 years ago and it solved the problem.

[Hellcat]

Thanks to all. Good info.

[3fan4life]

I too have noticed the smell of gas comming from the cap.

Not wanting to pay for a new cap or go to the trouble of making a new gasket.

I decided to lube the old gasket with silicone lubricant (I just sprayed some on a rag and then wiped the gasket with a lberal coating).

This seems to be working, the silicone will "restore" the gasket as long as there are no cracks or missing chunks.

I'm thinking that this needs to become something that I do periodically. 

It's at least worth a try.

[Baloo]

Seems like a common problem, I too have this one. I like the idea of the silicone lubricant. Think I'm gonna try it. If it doesn't help, I'll use Jeff's solution. How do you take the cap off? I guess there are some screws? Where?

Thanks!

[hubcapsc]

Seems like a common problem, I too have this one. I like the idea of the silicone lubricant. Think I'm gonna try it. If it doesn't help, I'll use Jeff's solution. How do you take the cap off? I guess there are some screws? Where?

Thanks!

Right there when you open the cap. Stanley Steamer (I think) said he found his screws
to be loose (  ) and when he tightened them the gassy smell was gone/reduced...

-Mike

[junior]

i used to get the gas smell from the keyhole on the gas tank..........................till i stopped sniffing the keyhole

[Stanley Steamer]

Seems like a common problem, I too have this one. I like the idea of the silicone lubricant. Think I'm gonna try it. If it doesn't help, I'll use Jeff's solution. How do you take the cap off? I guess there are some screws? Where?

Thanks!

Right there when you open the cap. Stanley Steamer (I think) said he found his screws
to be loose (  ) and when he tightened them the gassy smell was gone/reduced...

-Mike

screws loose???.... ........ ........   If those 2 screws are loose, then the cap doesn't close as tight as it should and must have allowed the gas fumes to escape....if mine ever starts smelling again, I'll add some more rubber to the gasket!!..

[Ricky-D]

If you keep your bike out of the weather, the problem is pretty common and nothing to worry about.

Moving the bike out to the sun, the gas tank heats up and due to the expansion of the gas inside along with the ambient air inside the tank some will vent out in anyway it can.

Sloshing gas inside the hot tank will vaporize a bit of gas and do the same thing.

I don't give it any importance as it happens only occasionally.