The next time you see me, please kick me round the room. Something that turned out to be so easy has taken me hours and hours of fiddling around over an 18 month period. I knew what I wanted, but could not find it..
The problem is/was the filler inlet of the MK2 petrol tank. It is a very common conversion to fit the MK2 tank in the MK1 -- it drops right in, giving you two extra gallons capacity, but the tank does not match up with the MK1 inlet pipe. The fact that there are two different MK1 inlet pipes just adds to the confusion.
No, I don't know which is which either! I think the one on the left is the more common one, but I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong! I used the one on the right as it is a better match to the MK2 tank, see below. ps Paul Ford just emailed me to say the one on the right is the more common one!!!
The answer to the problem
Here is the solution. Buy 6 inches of 2-1/2 inch diameter SUPERFLEX fuel hose from Europa Spares, Fauld Industrial Park, Tutbury, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 9HR, United Kingdom, phone 01283 815609 or order on their web-site at www.europaspares.com
Cut the existing MK1 rubber so that it fits over the metal pipe but does not go beyond the little breather pipe, as shown above. The rubber will then fit inside the flexible hose. Clamp up with two, 50-70mm stainless worm-drive hose clips from the same supplier.
The solution in situ. The highly flexible hose accommodates the transition from MK2 tank to MK1 inlet pipe.
The clear plastic pipe in front is going to my "50 pence from an autojumble", electric washer bottle. For more info on improving your windscreen washers, see here.
Don't do these things!
OOOHH missus, you feel such a fool... Here are just some of the ideas I tried before finding the ideal solution. Top right is a motorcycle front fork gaiter which fitted perfectly, but not being petrol-proof deteriorated over a couple of years. The white plastic pipe was not quite flexible enough and was a few mm too small. Other pipes and fittings were tried over an 18 month period! I even tried welding up steel pipes bought at autojumbles. I was even given a steel reinforced rubber fuel pipe from a lorry which was supposed to be flexible, but would not bend...
Thanks to those who helped in this epic quest, Bob Woolner and Mike Jordan spring to mind immediately. Thanks.
Page created:- 03 October, 2006