TA Gas Tank

[Rob Reilly]

Starting on the gas tank restoration. Don't you love that smell of really old gas? There was maybe an ounce or two (1 or 2 cc's).

I found some PO had cut off the tube in the main supply fitting and soldered the thing closed, so he was running on the reserve all the time.

The question for today is, how to get the filler lid off?
It looks like it has a big thread and should unscrew counterclockwise?

[Rob Reilly]

Update, I heated it up with a propane torch, used a hammer and a wood dowel to hit against the hinge, and got it off. The thread is 2-1/2" OD x 16 threads per inch.

[bloodysalmon]

Hi Rob, pretty certain that your petrol cap isn't the correct one for the TA, TB and TC range

[Rob Reilly]

No, I believe it's correct for early TA.

[Duncan M]

Hard to say what is original on an early TA. The nut and bolt would indicate a rebuilt cap, at least. No surprise there.

Everybody seems to get the "ribbed washer" on backwards on the T-type caps, which can allow fuel/moisture to become trapped between the ribbed washer and gasket. https://fromtheframeup.com/uploads/TT_C ... sembly.pdf

A rare glimpse of an unrestored TC cap (cork seal has long ago disappeared) showing the factory "rivet" fixing and the correctly oriented (silver colored) ribbed washer.

IMG_0861.JPG (72.03 KiB) Viewed 1794 times

[Ray White]

I thought this was original to my TC. ?

[Duncan M]

Good point, Ray. I never saw any evidence of any cork residue on my cap, and often wondered if there ever was any cork? People are emphatic there was, but what would be the purpose?

[Ray White]

Good point, Ray. I never saw any evidence of any cork residue on my cap, and often wondered if there ever was any cork? People are emphatic there was, but what would be the purpose?

I can imagine a good seal would be welcome if the car over turned... but in reality safety was a pretty low priority in those days. After all, the slab tank itself is a serious safety hazard.

[Rob Reilly]

Clausager says the early TA cap was different, but regrettably he does not give a picture. Harvey has a couple of pictures on pages 148 & 237 but they are distance shots not closeups.
The cap says ENOTS and Pat. No. 437532 which I found on a British patents website.
It was applied for in 1934 and granted in 1935 to Benton and Stone.

I read somewhere that the Stone family chose to spell their name backwards and call their business ENOTS.
This is the type/style Enots was making in the mid 30s.
The nut is soldered to the stud so I have no doubt it is original as shown in the patent item letter p.
So I have no reason to doubt it is the original cap.
There is a tiny vent hole in the sealing disc item letter n.
There was a seal on the threaded stub on the tank and I see another one inside the cap (letter O in the patent drawing) which I will replace.