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MG MGF Technical - Fuel filler cap

The fuel filler cap on my TF is getting increasingly tricky to open with the key - it takes some wiggling before it will open, and then more wiggling after it's closed before you can get the key out! Any suggestions on what I can do to fix this? Anyone had this before? A new cap with specific key number isn't available from Rimmer Bros (and on the parts catalogue is £110 plus vat...) and a new cap with a new key is £70!

Cheers,
Tim
Tim Jenner

Tim,

Get some graphite paste from your local hardware/locksmith shop.

Put some on the key and use it to apply the paste to the lock mechanism. This should do the trick.

Don't use grease or oil, as this will eventually clog the whole gubbins up.

Sam
Sam Murray

Thanks, Sam, will try to pick some up at lunchtime!

Cheers,
Tim
Tim Jenner

Tim,
Before you foul up the lock with graphite paste, you need to remove the dirt in it.
Take a can of WD 40 with the small tube supplied with it.With the lock inverted, push the tube as far in as possible and flush it out. Put the key in and jiggle it and flush again. Repeat this until the key is free.
The WD40 will dry leaving a clean lock which will not attract dirt.
Put the graphite paste on your exhaust/cat nuts.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

they go cheap on ebay £25 or thereabouts. You can take out the lock component in the middle and place it in the "new" one
David Peters

That's the way to go. Would suggest the same, or try to dismantle and clean when in bits. (difficult !!)

You woun't get out the corrosion derivates from a rotten fuel cap lock without taking it out of the lock body.
See yourself.
http://www.mgfcar.de/fuelcap/index.htm
Dieter

Thanks for the comments, guys. I took the cap off yesterday and gave it a good squirt of WD40 - loads of crap fell out and now it works fine! Think it's worth using some of the graphite paste as well or leaving as it is now?

Thanks again,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

This thread was discussed between 07/08/2006 and 08/08/2006

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