Is this a dumb idea? Magnetic gas cap rain cover

Ballardst · September 27th, 2016, 04:32 PM

My gas cap is leaking (I assume, since I found a ton of water in my tank), and I street park on a city street.

I don't really want to deal with a full motorcycle cover every time I ride, and that also won't do much if I'm riding in the rain. Instead, I'm thinking about a small tarp about 1 square foot, with magnets around the sides. The magnets hold the tarp down tight over the top of the gas tank, the gas cap is protected from the rain, no more water in my tank.

I was thinking about making a square from this magnetic strip and gluing the tarp to it: https://www.amazon.com/XFasten-Flexi...magnetic+strip

Brother Michigan · September 27th, 2016, 05:02 PM

Might just be easier to fix the problem, I'd think.

Ballardst · September 27th, 2016, 05:11 PM

If you have a suggestion for how to fix it, I'm all ears!

As far as I can tell, I can't buy the gasket to replace it, new OEM gas caps are almost $200 and I haven't seen any aftermarket ones without reviews complaining of water leaking.

VaFish · September 27th, 2016, 05:45 PM

Cut a new gasket out of a sheet of gasket material?

Motofool · September 27th, 2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballardst

If you have a suggestion for how to fix it, I'm all ears!
......

Your idea may work.
It may not work well while riding in strong winds.

At least for the pre-gen models, there is a drain tube (inside the tank) from the cup of the cap that connects to a hose that discharge on the road.
Sometimes, that hose gets kinked, the drainage is interrupted and the cup overflows into the fuel.
Sometimes, that internal tube develops a hole and water runs directly into the fuel, before reaching that hose.

Please, see:
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show....php?p=1064021

Ballardst · September 28th, 2016, 05:35 AM

Yeah, my idea may not work for actual riding.

Motofool, that's a great description and photo, thank you. It explains another comment I read in another thread that I didn't understand.

Do the 2008+ models have that system, too?

InvisiBill · September 28th, 2016, 06:41 AM

Most bikes have a system like that. There's a drain around the filler hole, so that any water that collects will run out, instead of building up and running into the tank.

My suggestion is also to fix the root problem, rather than coming up with crazy ways to deal with the symptoms. If the cap is otherwise in good condition, making your own gasket might be the best solution. But if water's been going where it doesn't belong, you may have rust issues elsewhere on the cap. Before you rule out the idea of buying a new cap, make sure you really don't need a new cap. You might be able to find a part-out to get a replacement cap (either in full or as a parts donor) cheaper than buying new, though you'll obviously want to be careful about condition of the gasket.

If you do want to rig up some sort of cover, I suggest a full magnetic sheet. Something like http://www.mag-knight.com/Simple%20Sheet.htm, though you might be able to find something comparable cheaper (I love my Mag-Knight tank protector). With a heatgun, you can form it to perfectly match the top of the tank over the cap, and it will be completely sealed anywhere it touches the tank. I think that's a much better solution than trying to add pieces of magnet to a piece of a tarp, in both form and function.

allanoue · September 28th, 2016, 12:17 PM

tank bag is all you need

Mohawk · October 31st, 2016, 12:24 AM

be careful if you do that, as any fuel with ethanol could damage the paint with the trapped fumes. Ask me how I know ;(

September 27th, 2016, 04:32 PM	#1
Ballardst ninjette.org member Name: J Location: Washington, dc Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250 Posts: 18	Is this a dumb idea? Magnetic gas cap rain cover My gas cap is leaking (I assume, since I found a ton of water in my tank), and I street park on a city street. I don't really want to deal with a full motorcycle cover every time I ride, and that also won't do much if I'm riding in the rain. Instead, I'm thinking about a small tarp about 1 square foot, with magnets around the sides. The magnets hold the tarp down tight over the top of the gas tank, the gas cap is protected from the rain, no more water in my tank. I was thinking about making a square from this magnetic strip and gluing the tarp to it: https://www.amazon.com/XFasten-Flexi...magnetic+strip

September 27th, 2016, 05:02 PM	#2
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	Might just be easier to fix the problem, I'd think. __________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: I generally have no idea what I'm talking about.

September 28th, 2016, 06:41 AM	#7
InvisiBill EX500 full of EX250 parts Name: Bill Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Aug '15	Most bikes have a system like that. There's a drain around the filler hole, so that any water that collects will run out, instead of building up and running into the tank. My suggestion is also to fix the root problem, rather than coming up with crazy ways to deal with the symptoms. If the cap is otherwise in good condition, making your own gasket might be the best solution. But if water's been going where it doesn't belong, you may have rust issues elsewhere on the cap. Before you rule out the idea of buying a new cap, make sure you really don't need a new cap. You might be able to find a part-out to get a replacement cap (either in full or as a parts donor) cheaper than buying new, though you'll obviously want to be careful about condition of the gasket. If you do want to rig up some sort of cover, I suggest a full magnetic sheet. Something like http://www.mag-knight.com/Simple%20Sheet.htm, though you might be able to find something comparable cheaper (I love my Mag-Knight tank protector). With a heatgun, you can form it to perfectly match the top of the tank over the cap, and it will be completely sealed anywhere it touches the tank. I think that's a much better solution than trying to add pieces of magnet to a piece of a tarp, in both form and function. __________________________________________________ * Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 28th, 2016, 12:17 PM	#8
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	tank bag is all you need __________________________________________________ Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99

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September 27th, 2016, 05:11 PM	#3
Ballardst ninjette.org member Name: J Location: Washington, dc Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250 Posts: 18	If you have a suggestion for how to fix it, I'm all ears! As far as I can tell, I can't buy the gasket to replace it, new OEM gas caps are almost $200 and I haven't seen any aftermarket ones without reviews complaining of water leaking.

September 27th, 2016, 05:45 PM	#4
VaFish ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Tom Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '16	Cut a new gasket out of a sheet of gasket material?

September 28th, 2016, 05:35 AM	#6
Ballardst ninjette.org member Name: J Location: Washington, dc Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250 Posts: 18	Yeah, my idea may not work for actual riding. Motofool, that's a great description and photo, thank you. It explains another comment I read in another thread that I didn't understand. Do the 2008+ models have that system, too?

October 31st, 2016, 12:24 AM	#9
Mohawk ninjette.org guru Name: Chris Location: Bristol, UK Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): ZZR250, VFR800 Posts: 478	be careful if you do that, as any fuel with ethanol could damage the paint with the trapped fumes. Ask me how I know ;(