Locking Oil Filler Cap!!!!!

[cad169]

Hi All

New here, just got myself a nice shiny 1150GSA and hope to put lots of miles on it!

Just going over it and all the weird sticky out bits and keys (always had jap sports bikes before) and came to a small key which I finally narrowed down to the locking oil filler cap on top of the LH cylinder.

My question is, how the hell does it work. I'm pretty sure its the Touratech one. I put the key in and turn, and the inner silver 'barrel' pops up slightly and I 'unscrew' the cap, but nothing happens. It just turns. The outer bevelled ring just turns no matter what position the key seems to be in. Am I supposed to pull it out? or is it supposed to unscrew.

What is supposed to happen? I'm not sure I want to ride it now as I am sure the filler cap is sticking out of the cylinder more than when I first started pulling and turning! In its closed state, is the cap supposed to be flush with the cylinder or does it, like mine, stick out by about quarter inch?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks All.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just get the fecking thing undone and bin it

Useless tat

Buy a OEM plastic one from a BMW dealer for about £5 (don't forget the O ring too)

 

[oblertone]

While I agree ...

.... with the sentiment expressed above, it might be more useful to the OP that it's a 'bayonet' type fitting, when it pops up it's free, just wiggle it out. Then throw it away and get a plastic one

There are no recorded examples of oil being stolen through the filler cap

 

[cad169]

Yup, why make something that's originally really easy to use, really difficult to operate!!

So it just pulls out does it? How do I know when its released? Do I just turn the key and tug, because I'm trying that and nothing seems to be happening, and I'm worried bout the key breaking in the cap!

 

[oblertone]

You won't ...

... break it, it's just seated using two lugs. You can just lever the whole lot out with a screwdriver, but that's a bit drastic. There is a plastic collar sealed into the cover with an 'o' ring, the metal plug you're trying to release fits into this with a second 'o' ring. ISTR that the original plastic one (which fits just the same way) needs a 90 degree twist to release it. Hope that helps

 

[STUBBS]

keep it on you want to watch out for the oil pirates in hertfordshire

 

[MikeP]

Hold the outer ring with one hand, insert key and turn it until it stops, then release the grip on the outer ring and turn the whole cap with the key until it releases.

 

[motobiker]

I would only throw it away if it leaks.. some of them do. but if its oil-tight then its doing its job. so why bin it?

 

[Steptoe]

Who needs a key - Most "lockable" oil filler caps can be undone by wearing a workshop rubber/latex glove while pressing down and twisting on the locking filler cap.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I would only throw it away if it leaks.. some of them do. but if its oil-tight then its doing its job. so why bin it?

Cos, it's a pain

You may lose the key/the key may break in the lock (seen this happen a few times on a tour)

Having owned BMWs for 20 years, I've never had my engine oil stolen or my oil filler cap tampered with

Complete overkill, for a non existant problem - invented up by aftermarket BMW 'bling' manufacturers

Take it off and sell it.................someone will pay you an exorbitant price for it

 

[motobiker]

Cos, it's a pain

You may lose the key/the key may break in the lock (seen this happen a few times on a tour)

Having owned BMWs for 20 years, I've never had my engine oil stolen or my oil filler cap tampered with

Complete overkill, for a non existant problem - invented up by aftermarket BMW 'bling' manufacturers

Take it off and sell it.................someone will pay you an exorbitant price for it

yeah yeah.. I know all that. though the breaking bit is a new one but hey ho. I don't 'do' paranoia.

I thought the main problem with these 'secure' locks were they are nothing of the kind... lose the key and use a hex, or a simple push and twist of the thumb. THAT and the fact some of them leak. (both great selling points)

I certainly wouldn't buy one.... but if one had come with the bike and didn't leak. why worry.

pure bling? oh yes.. but of all the 'must have' nonsense I see added to these bikes the least offensive and not worth getting over excited about.

does make me titter.

 

[mozzup]

I always assumed they were for stopping some fecker putting something (sand?) in, not stealing the oil out? - or is that just my twisted mind.

 

[flatdog]

I always assumed they were for stopping some fecker putting something (sand?) in, not stealing the oil out? - or is that just my twisted mind.

Yes, thats what I thought.
If I wanted to nick your oil, I'd loosen the sump plug.

 

[Steptoe]

I always assumed they were for stopping some fecker putting something (sand?) in, not stealing the oil out? - or is that just my twisted mind.

It's an epedemic - I've seen hordes of people walking around with pocket fulls of sand looking to pour into engines at every opportunity.

 

[mozzup]

It's an epedemic - I've seen hordes of people walking around with pocket fulls of sand looking to pour into engines at every opportunity.

Glad I don't suffer from it - having never actually bought said filler cap

So why do they make them?

 

[motobiker]

Glad I don't suffer from it - having never actually bought said filler cap

So why do they make them?

the Touratech one costs £42 and has enormous kudos for any self respecting Ewan wannabe. And generates a nice tidy profit as a side effect.

They say:

Stolen oil filler caps are a thing
of the past.

What more reason do you need?

There's a whole cottage industry based around stolen original oil-filler caps...

 

[MattW]

There's a whole cottage industry based around stolen original oil-filler caps...

I hear most of them just get shipped to eastern Europe in containers...

It's a hopeless situation - the police don't even want to know

 

[Steptoe]

So why do they make them?

Because people buy them.

 

[MMC]

Hold the outer ring with one hand, insert key and turn it until it stops, then release the grip on the outer ring and turn the whole cap with the key until it releases.

FFS, don't try that! Get it wrong and the cap will break, spewing tiny metal parts into the engine.

You'll need a couple of mates to help you, and two scaffolding poles to support the weight of the bike... You just need to hold the cap steady while they lift and gently turn the bike.

Easy when you know how.

 

[cad169]

Ha, some great replies. Cheered me whilst I been trying to get this fecker off!

For the life of me the ba*s*ed wont move. In its 'natural state, when you hold the outer ring and turn the key, then turn the inner barrel till it stops, are you supposed to just pull it up, cos it aint gonna budge!!

Does the standard one screw off or has that a bayonet fitting?

Thanks All.