Fuel valve alignment

[RvP]

This will be my last question for awhile as my fingers are tired and I feel I am close to over taxing the members who have already answered my previous posts. The fuel valve on my 45 does not align properly. The seat and fuel rod fit great when not installed but gets bound when installed it the tank. I am assuming this is due to misalignment and I am looking for a way to resolve this without purchasing the $100+ tool for a one shot operation.

I searched the archives and I did not see any posts I can reference. So here goes:

1) Is there a way to do this without the alignment tool?
2) Never having used the alignment tool, exactly what is it doing to correct an alignment problem? If it is cutting new threads in the bottom of the tank, how many times can this be done before there are no threads left?

Ronald V. Papasso
#3129

[Sargehere]

Ron, Is the problem that of the rod that serves as the plug descending from the top of the tank completely missing the center of the valve in the bottom, or the is the valve body in the bottom a little skewed, or "tilted"? Can you tell?

Seems, first think I think of, would to be something for a just-a-little-undersized rod, perhaps tempered, to plumb the depths, and then either tweak the top (if it's "missing" landing dead center in the bottom) side to side or front to back to make it find the center of the valve, or tweak the valve in the bottom, if it's a little misaligned, with that rod. Don't go rethreading anything!
And nice to talk to you again! -- Q-1

[rwm]

it tweaks the lower bung. tool is about a foot long.you grab and yank intill rod fits .if your tanks are painted good luck last thing i put on my bike was fuel shut off rod.it didn't fit i found a guy who had the tool.when he saw my tank he laughed then placed the tank on a leather pillow screwed the tool in yanked it banged on it tugged it pulled it shoved it i had to leave when i came back shut off rod worked great and not a scratch on the tank all that 25$ i tipped him well. if your near nj. go to nicks custom cycles the do it. look at my tank photo under some pics of a wla

[rudy]

fule valve

I got a tool you can use,.... Rudy4536@aol.com

[Sargehere]

There ya go. I agree, go see Nick. I'm sure he will take care of your misalignment. Nick won't steer you wrong.

[RvP]

So easy a caveman can do it

First, as always, thanks to everyone that replied. Second, ALWAYS glad to hear from a fellow Seaboard Member and founder of the Seaboard Chapter, Mr. (NJ) Q1 – Gerry Lyons. Nick’s is close to my house (less than 10 miles) and Nick is also a member of our Chapter. I like to get tools I need and when possible, get the next best thing. I now fully understand how the tool works to re-align the “bung hole” position in the bottom of the tank. I thought there was something more to it than “so easy a caveman could do it with brute force”. Rudy, thanks for the offer of your alignment tool, I will take you up on it if I can’t work with the resources I have available to me. Thanks again to everyone. (Good to hear from you Sarge!).

[flthead]

tool rental

Ron ,I have the tool an it's practically in your back yard . stop by an pick up if ya still need it

[T. Cotten]

I've got a question about the Factory tool:

To straighten or move metal, it must be moved past the point of 'straight' so that it can relax back to 'straight'.
The Factory tool appears to pull everything to 'straight", but has no provision to take it further.

What am I missing?

....Cotten

[Chris Haynes]

I've got a question about the Factory tool:
What am I missing?

....Cotten

Maybe the part when ya smack it with a hammer.

[T. Cotten]

Chris!

The instructions do say to beat on it with a hammer, don't they!

How crude; My tool only requires a vise and a firm hand.

....Cotten

[jorrow]

I've used the tool and it worked fantastic. I got the feeling that through the years the two openings are compressed towards each other (through constant tightening) as well as misaligned. The tool actually seemed to expand it back to where it started out. its now SMOOTH.

[jorrow]

By the way , it was a loaner too!