Deuce locking fuel cap

[bill2444]

With fuel prices on the rise, I thought it time to fill the tank. But i thought that i should have some kind of tamper resistant fuel lid like some of our equipment. And this gave me a good chance to steam clean the inside of my fuel tank and inspect. The tank was surprisingly clean, but the pump inlet and screen was pretty cruded up. With the tank clean and dry i welded this simple latch over the fuel cap. Not only a good idea to keep your fuel in but with 4 kids and a trailer park down the road it will keep out foreign contaminants (you never know about people) And with my second wmo tank in the bed, the stock fuel tank filled should last a few years.

 

[Flyingvan911]

Very nice! Too bad it takes that much to keep what's yours.

 

[K9Vic]

Looks good, kind of scary to me to be welding on a fuel tank but it is not gasoline. I need to come up with something for my CUCV trucks, but they do not make locking caps for these.

 

[Tlauden]

Nice! Simple and effective!!!

 

[tm america]

Nice job..simple and fits the style of the truck ..excellent idea..I think i might have to make a user friendly version of this..

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

There have been other threads covering this.... But THIS is a GOOD one !

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[bill2444]

Really isn't that bad welding a fuel tank. I pulled the drain plug and steamed cleaned thru the fuel pump mounting hole. Dried with compressed air and taped handle down on my blow gun to keep any fumes vented out for a few minuted before and while welding. Didn't even get any smoke from burning coating from the inside. But i wouldn't try in on a gasoline tank.

 

[m16ty]

I have thought about securing the cap but then I thought, all they would have to do is take the drain plug out. They wouldn't even need a siphoning hose or pump if they used the drain plug. So, unless you also secure the drain plug somehow it will still be fairly easy for somebody to steal your fuel.

IMO, the best way to prevent fuel theft is to just put some WMO in it. They will draw a little and see it's black and I'll bet that would be enough to turn them away.

 

[tm america]

Anytime you weld on a fuel tank it should be cleaned and flushed with water then full of water to prevent fumes from building up inside.. It could still have enough fumes to be explosive after being washed out if left empty.. But yes it can be safe to weld a fuell tank if done properly

 

[m16ty]

Disclaimer- I do not recomend welding on a fuel tank of any kind and you should no take internet advice from anybody (including me) about something this dangerous. This can be deadly if you don't know what you are doing.

If you're set on doing this though, the easiest thing to do is to fill it up completely with fuel. I know this sounds crazy but I'd much rather weld on a full tank than a empty one. The fumes are what explodes (diesel is almost as bad as gas by the way). A full tank will have no fumes. I have welded attachments to several fuel tanks before (not welding up leaks where the weld is exposed to fuel) and the first thing I do is fill the tank to the top. If something does happen and the fuel ignites, all it will do is flame up and not explode.

 

[ApopkaFL]

The m35A3 has a screw on cap with threads. I am looking for fuel cap that has a lock and key.

 

[bill2444]

One of our grouters has a threaded on cap like that. What it has is a chain link welded to the cap and a short piece welded to the frame and a pad lock goes in between the links. You just have to have fairly tight at the point of connection so the cap cannot be unscrewed. simple and effective, but like most things it will really only keep honest people honest. If some one really wants to get the fuel they can get it. But for 99% of the time effective

 

[bill2444]

After reading a few posts, I should have added the disclaimer. If your unsure of welding on a fuel vessel, then you shouldn't be doing it. Not for the inexperienced. On a side note, if i had a machine to punch square holes i would have used L shaped brackets with square holes punched so i could use carriage bolts from the top-black RTV-and locking nuts on the inside.

 

[goldneagle]

Here is an easy locking cap solution. With the tank fairly empty put some support under the strap nearest the fill cap. Remove the nut from the strap bolt and slide the bolt out the first hole. Use a piece of 1/4" flat stock...round the corners on one end and drill a hole larger than the bolt on the strap. The flat stock will pivot on the support strap bolt. Cut the flat stock to reach one ear of the fuel tank cap. Drill another hole at the other end of the flat stock for the lock to fit. Once you bend the flat stock to line up with the ear of the fuel tank cap. Inset the strap bolt through the hole in the flat stock and then through the hole in the strap. Reinstall the nut.

The flat stock should pivot freely on the bolt. Next step is to remove the fuel cap and weld another piece of flat stock to the existing ear so it will line up with the flat stock already installed. Since you are welding it to the cap away from the fuel tank there is no fire hazard. Make sure you do not melt any gaskets that might be on the cap.

Now you can put a lock on top of the gas cap.

 

[oddshot]

Disclaimer- I do not recommend welding on a fuel tank of any kind and you should no take internet advice from anybody (including me) about something this dangerous. This can be deadly if you don't know what you are doing.

Yep.

A BIG OL' PLUS A BILLION!!!

I had a guy start working for me when I had my shop ... I had ALWAYS sent fuel tanks out to a radiator shop that was set up for gas tanks for repair ... it was a little time consuming and maybe a bit expensive ... BUT ... it was a good SAFE repair ...

anyoldways ... some car came in with a tank leak ... I told the new guy to pull it so I could send it out.

The new guy tells be ... "Don't send it out ... I can fix fuel tanks".

Since I knew I didn't have the equipment to do it safely ... I asked him what he was planning to do ...

He said "What you got to do is ... first drain the tank ... then blow it out with air ... then you "WOOF" the tank ... by lighting a torch and passing it over the fill neck.




Needless to say ... he didn't last very long in my shop.


oddshot

 

[oddshot]

I don't think I've ever seen a lock like that one ... any idea where they can be found?

oddshot

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Yep.

A BIG OL' PLUS A BILLION!!!

I had a guy start working for me when I had my shop ... I had ALWAYS sent fuel tanks out to a radiator shop that was set up for gas tanks for repair ... it was a little time consuming and maybe a bit expensive ... BUT ... it was a good SAFE repair ...

anyoldways ... some car came in with a tank leak ... I told the new guy to pull it so I could send it out.

The new guy tells be ... "Don't send it out ... I can fix fuel tanks".

Since I knew I didn't have the equipment to do it safely ... I asked him what he was planning to do ...

He said "What you got to do is ... first drain the tank ... then blow it out with air ... then you "WOOF" the tank ... by lighting a torch and passing it over the fill neck.




Needless to say ... he didn't last very long in my shop.


oddshot

This is the second thread that I'm able to post this little pic in in just TWO DAYS
It's just SO APPROPRIATE......

 

[oddshot]

This is the second thread that I'm able to post this little pic in in just TWO DAYS
It's just SO APPROPRIATE......

Yep!

"WOOF"


oddshot

 

[porkysplace]

If you find you must weld on a fuel tank after fushing and steam cleaning , puting dry ice in the tank will displace the oxygen preventing ignition .

 

[eaw46]

I was staying in a National Park last yr and several Motor Homes had gas stolen over a short period. Most of them had locking gas caps but the thieves just went under the MH and punched a hole in the tank with a hammer and punch and then just put a gas can under the stream of gas. Repairs to the tank were more cost than the gas stolen. Eddy