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Fuel tap with reserve to fit a Navigator?

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Tue, 28/01/2020
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Light Twins

Can anyone recommend a good quality fuel tap (not one with a dreaded cork seal!) with a reserve setting which fits straight into the Navigator fuel tank and looks appropriately ‘period’?    I know I should be more diligent over keeping tabs on how much is in the tank on a long run but I’m fed up with running out of fuel......!  

Cheers, Nick

Thanks Dan, sadly I’m working so can’t get there.   I’ve searched eBay and all the normal sources on the internet found nothing with a reserve facility and the 7/16” thread for the tank - incredibly frustrating!   Great run on the Navigator today starting in clear blue skies, luckily ran out of gas en-route to the petrol station and only had a half mile push on a flat road!   A tank full of 97 octane followed by a brisk drive home in torrential rain - the dear old Navi didn’t miss a beat!

Nick

Submitted by robert_tuck on Wed, 29/01/2020

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If you can find an original long bodied Ewarts tap Fitted to many Nortons Stamped UK pat 758264&abroad. Pull on .then turn and pull again for reserve, I have some spare original plungers .  This is the tap I use on my 99 . Have not had a problem for years with mine.Make sure it comes with screw to secure plunger,these are especially difficult to replicate.

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Wed, 29/01/2020

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Thanks for the kind offer Robert, I will search through my 'never throw anything away' boxes and see if I have one lurking in there and get back to you!   Nick

 

Love the pragmatic and practical solution Graham, I must admit I have considered a small portable fuel supply solution and may have to go down that route if I can't find a 7/16" thread tap with a reserve facility.  

Nick 

Submitted by jack_holgate on Wed, 29/01/2020

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My problem has been finding a fuel tap short enough that the fuel flows downward to the card and not up.  And, of course, finding one to match the thread in the tank is a challenge.

I share your pain Jack, I spent ages trying to rebuild my very worn original tap using the various cork seals offered by NOC shop but without success - no matter what I did the tap weaped fuel.    I then tried the period looking tap they advertise and frankly that was little better and didn't have a reserve.   I finally used their excellent 'modern style' fuel tap (NOC shop ref 041323L) and the 90 deg adaptor (NOC shop ref 93/4) which works perfectly and lines up nicely with the carb's float chamber...…….but sadly it doesn't have that illusive reserve!!!

Nick       

Submitted by jack_holgate on Thu, 30/01/2020

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Thanks for tip Nick.  My current tap is barely workable.  So, I definitely plan to look into your solution.

Jack

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Thu, 30/01/2020

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Woops, sorry for the typo Jack, good luck - I've been very pleased with it for over a year now so it should work well for you.

Submitted by ulrich_hoffmann on Thu, 30/01/2020

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I have a double pull tap on my Navi with a 90 degree elbow. Fuel flows almost horizontally towards the carb. Haven´t used the reserve tap so far.

Navi fuel tap

 

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Fri, 31/01/2020

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Looks ideal Ulrich, do you know where the tap is on sale?    Have you had a chance to ride the bike since you replaced the pistons?  

Nick

Submitted by ulrich_hoffmann on Sun, 02/02/2020

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Nicholas,

I bought the tap on Ebay.UK. Look for Ewarts taps. I also ordered new plungers and corks.

I rebuilt the engine in November and made a short ride on a warm day in December.

The bike ran fine with the correct ignition timing (check, check, double check!!)

I returned to my workshop and the timing side looked like this:

Navi timing side

Looks like oil came out of the top screws of the cover and also the ignition housing.

Currenty I have no time to adress this problem, I am moving into a bigger workshop, luckly it is next door. When I have set up my stuff, tools and workbench I will have a look.

 

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Sun, 02/02/2020

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Thanks for the advice Ulrich and great to hear the top end rebuild and timing has been a success but sorry to see the oil leak problem.   Sadly it will mean retiming the engine if the timing cover has to come off to replace the gasket and oil seals.   I had much the same problem with mine with oil leaking past the timing side cam shaft oil seal.   After replacing it twice without success I realised it was getting damaged by the end of the cam shaft when I slid the cover on.   After much research I realised it needs a guide to hold the spring loaded seal open so the cam shaft can slip into it without tearing the rubber.   I use a short length of 22 mm copper pipe now and the problem is solved.   A word of warning though, I found that oil seal very difficult to remove without scoring the casing and difficult to drift in without distorting the seal's metal shell.   It also has to be inserted with the spring side facing inwards towards the cam shaft and the plain metal side facing outwards.   Being neurotic about good lubrication I always replace the main crankshaft oil seal whenever I disturb the timing cover - again making sure it is replaced the right way round, which is the opposite to the timing oil seal.  A careful read of para 22 Timing Cover Oil Seals and 23 Timing Gear and Cover, Re-Fitting in the original Norton maintenance manual gives you the right guidance but doesn't give you the tip about using a guide for the timing seal.   I expect you already know all that but hope it is helpful!    Keep at it, the Navigator is a great bike once sorted!   Nick  

Submitted by peter_holland1 on Sun, 02/02/2020

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Hi Nick,

I've fitted the modern tap and 90 degree outlet fitting listed on the NOC Shop.

The original Ewarts pull-for-on was so stiff it seemed to flex the bottom of the tank when opening. And it leaked after a while.

The rotary on-off in modern material is much better.

If anyone can find a similar rotary tap with reserve function to fit the Lightweight tank thread (1/8 BSP) let us know please. Not many bikes use this small thread. Bantams did. Other Nortons and most British are 1/4 BSP connection to the tank.

Happy riding

Peter

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Mon, 03/02/2020

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Hi Peter, that's exactly my experience with the original tap, various reproductions which ended up leaking once the cork seal had deteriorated and then finally that excellent modern tap which works a treat!   Just one point, isn't the Lightweight tank thread size 7/16" which is so rare with 1/8" BSP fittings?   Oh the joy of Lightweight foibles!!!

Nick

Submitted by dan_field on Mon, 03/02/2020

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I bought one like Ulrich’s,  new from CMS Exeter, it leaked badly even with new corks. So am looking for a better design with out the push pull cork plungers.

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Mon, 03/02/2020

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Thanks for the feed back Dan, I must admit my experience with cork seals has been entirely negative and even with new corks from several different reputable sources they have all ended up leaking within a few weeks.

Nick

Submitted by ulrich_hoffmann on Mon, 04/05/2020

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My Ewarts fuel tap with reserve also started to leak despite of new corks.I bought 3x3mm NBR 70 O-rings and fitted them. Hope they last longer. You can put three rings on the holder. In the picture you see a spare fuel tap body without filter mesh. It is also an old dried out cork. My tap is with mesh. I had to drain the tank first.

fuel tap fix

Fuel tap fix II

 

Submitted by robert_tuck on Mon, 04/05/2020

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You can get good service from a cork tap. The quality of the cork is important ,not fissured. The size is also critical, too loose--leak,too tight can't operate.  and the fit from dry to wet varies. Not that easy to size once wet!. Tank rust sediment will also wear out the cork .  Allowing the tap to dry out while stored over winter ,not good. . The double action tap with one cork has less things to leak. Mine has worked ok for some years now ,so it is possible.

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Mon, 04/05/2020

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Great solution Ulrich, I will see if I can find a decent Ewerts double action tap and give it a try!   I hope your front mudgaurd has been repainted and is back on your Navigator and your oiling issues have been cured!

I'm impressed Robert, it obviously can be done - I'm afraid I lacked your patience and couldn't find a supply of good quality, correct size cork seals! 

Submitted by dan_field on Mon, 04/05/2020

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Robert I challenge you to get my ewarts Tap (modern copy) to stop leaking! For the moment I’ll try Uli’s fix and see if that works.  I’ve not found anything else that fits.

Dan 

 



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