mattmurdock Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Having successfully refueled at the weekend at a Texaco garage in the Midlands and driven my new SV back to Bristol, I now appear to be struggling to find a petrol station in Bristol that actually has a nozzle that will fit into the fuel tank. They seem to be at a funny angle. Could any Bristol based peeps suggest a suitable fuel station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Remove the filler neck and hack out the cone and flap inside ... 3 spot welds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Or take something like a bit of wire to open the SVA flap ( or whatever it is called) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Being ex-Bristol, I used to use Tescos and Sainsburys. Never had a problem, but I did remove that stupid little flap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 If you get stuck, Plastic funnel is your friend....... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmurdock Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 Thanks for the replies, at the moment I think funnel is the winner given my lack of technical skills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 the corrugated flexible spout from a plastic petrol can fits down the hole, opens the flap and will take the petrol pump nozzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattie Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Matt, just try something before you get the angle grinder out. A standard unleaded nozzle has a narrow, straight nozzle then a flange where the nozzle gets much wider then bends down towards the handle. The narrow section has to operate the flap in the filler. Most of the flange bit catch on the edge of the aero filler if you try to put the nozzle in straight. However, if you hold the pump handle "gansta style", i.e. at a 90 degree angle, they usually slide in just fine, then you can let the gun drop down to vertical again while you fill up. Took me a while to work that out, and the aero filler used to be much worse and even this trick would not have helped. Many people on here haven't used the improved version, so still quote the old solution verbatim (usually invlolving violence with hammers, chisels, Dremels,etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmurdock Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 Cheers Martyn, will give that a go tonight and see how I get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Yep - that's about how I fill up too. I thought I had removed the flap, but on inspection, it's still there, 10yrs after build and lots of fill-ups all over Europe. Doesn't like mega-fast pumps, but I think that's the bend in the hose to the tank. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerman Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 May I respectfully suggest that YOU DO NOT remove the little flap. That is there to stop fuel pouring out when the car is upside down! Caterham had a batch of fuel inlets with a manufacturing fault. Although they look identical to ones with the correct dimensions their dia is slightly too small. Speak to Sean at Caterham Dartford and get a (free) replacement. I had this problem with my Roadsport kit last year. The correct filler solved the problem, although it is still a slightly jiggly fit. PeterC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich N Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 May I respectfully suggest that YOU DO NOT remove the little flap. That is there to stop fuel pouring out when the car is upside down! I thought we established a while back that it wasn't any good at that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 here 8th post Tim Edited by - tbird on 23 Mar 2011 23:26:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Tim, as you pointed out on the link; best thing anyone could do. Once done, the car can be filled at any Petrol Service station with ease. here here Edited by - RD on 25 Mar 2011 20:21:35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Faulkner Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Hi Matt How are you getting on with your refuelling? I'm due to pick up a new car from Caterham Midlands in a few days and I have had concerns since I read your post. I haven't had a Caterham for 10 years and there wasn't a problem with my previous one. I presume the pumps have changed since. Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P150NR Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 May I respectfully suggest that YOU DO NOT remove the little flap. That is there to stop fuel pouring out when the car is upside down! It's totally useless at doing that as I proved when I removed mine and stuck it under a running tap - the water passed the flap with ease so it would not stop fuel. The reason being the flap is in a cylinder within the fuel pipe and secured by three spot welds. Between the welds there is a large gap past which the fuel can flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 The flap does not seal, and may just restrict the flow slightly. Fuel will still come out of the breather, unless you have a one way valve fitted. My aero filler cap stops fuel coming out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerman Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Still wouldn't recomend butchering the filler neck. If you have the latest version from Caterham, this will allow all petrol pump nozzles to fit. The hammer and chisel solution is not approved by Caterham and my experience a year ago was that they replaced the offending article FOC no questions asked! Problem solved PeterC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P150NR Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 If your rear-ended as I was then neither method is much good as the filler pipe will be chopped in two by the boot floor and the fuel tank crushed which will result in the fuel spraying everywhere! Needs an armoured pipe IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmurdock Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 Quoting Clive Faulkner: Hi Matt How are you getting on with your refuelling? I'm due to pick up a new car from Caterham Midlands in a few days and I have had concerns since I read your post. I haven't had a Caterham for 10 years and there wasn't a problem with my previous one. I presume the pumps have changed since. Clive. Hi Clive, at the moment I have avoided any major rejigging by carrying a petrol can filler tube as per a previous suggestion. Unfortunately in my local area I still haven't managed to find a petrol station that uses the smaller filler nozzle. The closest garage I have found is the one up the road from Castle Combe :). So it does seem that most of the major franchise stations are now using a bigger nozzle, at least in the Southwest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Faulkner Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Hi Matt Thanks for the response. I agree with you that the easiest of the solutions appears to be the fuel can spout and I'm armed ready just in case. I can't tell from the different responses whether the problem is a random one with a bad batch or whether it's a problem with all fillers. If it's the latter then Caterham should address it post haste. Anyway, forewarned is forearmed and I shall have the trusty spout available! Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bone Rat Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Hi, I picked up my new build Roadsport 150 with Aerocap in Jan 2011. It had the restrictor in, found that none of the pumps on the motorway stations on the M4 would fit. After running on vapour eventually stopped at Newbury & ended up buying a can & decanting repeatedly on the forecourt. Did tarnish the first drive a bit & caused a bit of sphinter puckering. First job when I got home was grinding away the offending article, best thing I've done & nice easy introduction to the hands on type of ownership I have a feeling a 7 needs. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loverobot Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Must admit I am left a little confused by this as mine has the flap and havent had a problem filling up>? Probably jinxed it now but do wonder if some are ok therefore - mine is a 2001 car btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Does this only apply to the aero style filler? I have the plastic cap from Rover and hope to pick the car up soon. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P150NR Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Yep it only applies to the Areo cap as it has a smaller diameter opening - the rover capped fillers are ok as far as I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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