I ran out of petrol the other day, in the box saloon. No harm done, it was on my drive. I thought it a bit odd, but hadnt used the car for a while, so maybe I'd misjudged it.
Today, I put a gallon in the tank, and switched on the fuel tap. Its the push pull type with cork washers to do the sealing. It was leaking quite badly. Now I know where my petrol went. I last replaced the cork several years ago.

I was just thinking, why not replace the cork with O Rings - Has anybody any experience of that?

I have found out over the years that if you don't use the car regularly, the cork seals dry out and leak.

When I used the Frankenstein Chummy every day to commute to and from work I never had a problem...as soon as I decided it could do with a rest, the petrol tap started leaking.

I cured it by driving it again!

Oh, sorry, I didn't even think of going for neoprene O rings!

Provided the cork is not too worn or cracked, plumber's PTFE Tape has worked for me, wound round existing cork.
Bryan

Location: Hertfordshire

Hi all, I m used to soak my cork seals for H1 carbs 24 hours in oil before fitting. That will last for years.
So before you change to O rings, get new cork seals and give it a try.

Cheers

Peter

Location: Bremen, home of the town musicians

I made a new centre for my fuel tap a couple of years ago and I put 2 grooves in to accept o rings and it's worked a treat ever since.

Location: Harworth,doncaster

OK, any idea where I can get corks from, then?
I'll try that first.

Available from Green Spark Plug Co. HERE
Bryan

Location: Hertfordshire

7 Workshop sell them also.

Thanks!!!!

Yes Nigel Mills does viton 'O' rings for the fuel tap, see his advert on page 38 of the A7CA 2011C mag £5.00 including P & P.

I should have added that no machining is required, they fit in place of the cork.

hi there i dont have access to this magazine could you give me more details of where to get these viton washers please

Location: United Kingdom

Richard, email Nigel - nmills@prime-function.co.uk

David

Location: Farnham

a good idea was passed onto me when built my first 7.

the corks supplied in one piece bulge in the middle when you tighten the screw up. giving one sealing edge

if you use a thin cork from the valve chest and stamp out a number of corks with a hole cutter. wilst there are several in the cutter you can drill a hole down the centre.

this way when fitted, you will have probably 5 thin seals. that when tightend will give you 5 sealing ridges.

mine never leaked again.

and they worked out to be free from an old piece of cork. which im sure many austin 7 boys will appreciate.

hope it helps tony

Without draining the tank to remove the tap - does anyone know what size bore it is?

After several years of storage the push/pull petrol tap plunger cork washers of my 1931 Box saloon had crumbled - as described in this forum. I have a new set of cork washers but there seems no way to unscrew the tap plungers to fit them - despite soaking in WD40 and heating. I wonder whether my taps are substitutes which are riveted together with no screw thread? The flat surface of the knurled head has a central nipple which looks like the head of the shaft running right through it. Also the body of the tap plunger is chrome or nickel plated - is that original? Any ideas? Is there a supplier for a new or used pair of taps? I don't have the equipment or skills to convert my taps so they have the original style of screw fitting.

Location: Bath, Somerset, UK

I bought a kit of Viton O rings for my RN and have only had a problem with the valve sticking a bit when not used for a month or so but once moved the valve continues to work easily.
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

There were or are some replacement taps available which were riveted together William. If you drain the tank and let the corks dry out they shrivel up.

I have been asked by William House to put on two pictures of the petrol tap valves that he has. As can be seen, these are a riveted type. Is it possible to stretch corks onto these types?
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

I tried the o ring idea,but found the internal holes sheared bits off the rings no matter how lightly I nipped them up.I had more success using nitrile bonded cork 1/8 thick.
For the riveted. Type tap as above many old bike specialist keep them I believe.
Tried punching them out of champagne corks but that didn't work either

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

I had a look at the LINKS for Seven Workshop and Green Spark Plug Company and couldn't find any cork seals. Can someone narrow it down a bit please?
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

I just bought a pack of 3 cork seals from the Green Spark Plug Company - exactly the right size (about 10mms). I phoned them - a very helpful and real human being answered and did transaction over the phone. She knew their stock very well.

Regarding riveted taps - I will explore some old bike suppliers - thanks to 'Austin in the shed' - which is where mine is at the moment!

William

Location: Bath, Somerset, UK

Thank you very much, Brian, for putting the pictures up. William

Location: Bath, Somerset, UK

I've just dismantled my petrol tap, fitted with Viton 'O' rings and find that there are pieces missing as previously described.
New corks on order from The Green Spark Plug Company.
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

Fuel tap corks arrived today from The Green Spark Plug Co. I was worried that they might be too big but they fitted perfectly, and easily with no leaks. I was puzzled why there were three in a set but two are for use and one is spare.
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28

Hello David, I did have a quick look at the catalogue but missed the cork seals. I've just had another look and there they are! Sorry, but I'll know where to look next time!
Brian

Location: Near M1 Motorway Jtn 28