Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Hillsboro
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
I just inherited my granddad's old 1978 Ford F150 Ranger Lariat (dual fuel tanks). It's just been sitting in the driveway for the past few years, and I just picked it up yesterday. Only problem is that those stupid locking gas caps are stuck or something! 
Spent an hour at a truck stop at 11 pm last night, was finally able to get the auxiliary cap off, and replaced it with a new one. However, the main tank's cap is still stuck. The key will go in, and then it starts to turn, makes kind of a clicking sound, but then it won't do anything else. It looks like it can't turn all the way over to get the spring-clip things to fold down. We tried WD-40 in the lock, hoping to loosen it up some, but it didn't seem to help. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to get it off?
Also, does anybody out there know about size differences in the main vs. aux gas tanks? I was just curious...
Thanks!
Spent an hour at a truck stop at 11 pm last night, was finally able to get the auxiliary cap off, and replaced it with a new one. However, the main tank's cap is still stuck. The key will go in, and then it starts to turn, makes kind of a clicking sound, but then it won't do anything else. It looks like it can't turn all the way over to get the spring-clip things to fold down. We tried WD-40 in the lock, hoping to loosen it up some, but it didn't seem to help. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to get it off?Also, does anybody out there know about size differences in the main vs. aux gas tanks? I was just curious...
Thanks!
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Jun-02 AT 06:31 PM (EST)]A lock smith should be able to manage it.
Main Tank is the rearward tank,and it fits between the frame equally.
The Aux tank is the forward tank, and sits as a saddle tank between the frame rails.
I have cometely eymptied both of mine to see how they held.
They both hold 76 Litres right to the cap.
Which of course is the same as 67 U.S. Quarts.
[font color=red]Dennis
Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTE Moderator]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]
Main Tank is the rearward tank,and it fits between the frame equally.
The Aux tank is the forward tank, and sits as a saddle tank between the frame rails.
I have cometely eymptied both of mine to see how they held.
They both hold 76 Litres right to the cap.
Which of course is the same as 67 U.S. Quarts.
[font color=red]Dennis
Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTE Moderator]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
1 Litre = 1 US Quart
4 liters = 1 US Gallon
[font color=red]Dennis
Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTE Moderator]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]
4 liters = 1 US Gallon
[font color=red]Dennis
Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTE Moderator]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
[font color=red]Dennis
Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTE Moderator]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
From: Bryan/College Station
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
ford likes to run 17 and 19 gallon tanks. ibelieve most rear tanks were19 and the front is 17 or 19 depending on the wheelbase
BROKEBRONCO
BROKEBRONCO
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Mount Prospect, IL
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
is it to soon to recomend the use of oxyacetylene?
WAIT STOP JUST KIDDING,
whew the last thing I need is someone to take my advise.
i think the locksmith is your only choice, and not because he will get it unlocked, but because he will have the tools to break it off, and not cause any sparks. I dont think you will get it unlocked, I bet it is frozen...i.e. rusted.
good luck
WAIT STOP JUST KIDDING,
whew the last thing I need is someone to take my advise.
i think the locksmith is your only choice, and not because he will get it unlocked, but because he will have the tools to break it off, and not cause any sparks. I dont think you will get it unlocked, I bet it is frozen...i.e. rusted.
good luck
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Hillsboro
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
Good news! I finally got the darn thing off! I had it in to my mechanic for a tune-up, and he did it for me. Thanks for all your suggestions though everybody! 
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
A guy sold me a buford century for $300. Problem was it hadn't run for 5 years and someone stole the carb off it, and it had a locking gas cap and no key. So I used a hacksaw blade and cut the end of the filler neck off (it was the car that had the filler behind the license plate). I then removed the cap. Then I took the part I cut off to an exhaust shop and got them to stretch a piece of exhaust pipe just larger than the fill pipe. Then I JB welded the sleeve, fill pipe and gas tank back together.
Wouldn't recommend it but that's what I did.
Epilogue:
The heater hose blew off in San Jose traffic, I couldn't stop, the engine overheated, I dumped cold water in the radiator when I could stop. Later I realized the head gasket blew.
Wouldn't recommend it but that's what I did.
Epilogue:
The heater hose blew off in San Jose traffic, I couldn't stop, the engine overheated, I dumped cold water in the radiator when I could stop. Later I realized the head gasket blew.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
>is it to soon to recomend the use of oxyacetylene?
>
>WAIT STOP JUST KIDDING,
>whew the last thing I need is someone to take my advise.
>
>i think the locksmith is your only choice, and not because
>he will get it unlocked, but because he will have the tools
>to break it off, and not cause any sparks. I dont think you
>will get it unlocked, I bet it is frozen...i.e. rusted.
>
>good luck
I was reading a post a while back, and someone was having problems with their front rotors rusting. The devil on my shoulder was saying, "Tell him to use silicone spray!" but I resisted.
Told him to try WD-40 instead.
Just KIDDING!
>
>WAIT STOP JUST KIDDING,
>whew the last thing I need is someone to take my advise.
>
>i think the locksmith is your only choice, and not because
>he will get it unlocked, but because he will have the tools
>to break it off, and not cause any sparks. I dont think you
>will get it unlocked, I bet it is frozen...i.e. rusted.
>
>good luck
I was reading a post a while back, and someone was having problems with their front rotors rusting. The devil on my shoulder was saying, "Tell him to use silicone spray!" but I resisted.
Told him to try WD-40 instead.
Just KIDDING!
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: revere SUFFOLK
Locking gas caps are stuck!!!
i know on the gas tanks that the rear tank is a 19 gallon
and your front tank is 16 1/2.
i have an 85 f-150 and the chiltons book call from
the 78 -86 there all the same