gas cap chrome plating

[Chieftain404]

anyone know how to take apart a 1940's Indian gas cap for chrome plating? Or will the vents still work if the whole thing is plated? Thanks

[pisten-bully]

Bryon....I'm no expert because I've not done this, but you notice the chrome piece is more or less a shell crimped over an inner cap that has the vent mechanism. Guess it would be feasible to expand the crimp and separate the two cap pieces.

The hole is important to keep clear, and having the cap chromed properly would be labor intensive because you'd want to etch or clean out all the knurling around the perimeter of the cap or else they'd fill in and your original cap would then look like a reproduction. That's all I got!

[pisten-bully]

...having said that, original caps are pretty hard to find, especially if the chrome is in good condition, so re-chroming is a good, but expensive, option!

[Chieftain404]

Thank you! I found some original caps and have sent them out for chrome. I will see what I need to do to them after chroming to keep the vents working. I will post the results....

[TH47Indy]

I have a few original caps that I wanted to have rechromed, but could find a good solution. Please post some before and after pics once you have them back.
Thanks.

[Chieftain404]

I got the gas caps back from chrome plating. I think they came out pretty good. I had to clean up the vent holes with a drill bit and work the inner plunger back and forth a bit to get them moving but they seem to vent properly when I blow through them. Time will tell! Here are pics of before and after the chrome shop.

[Skirted]

That was quick! Thanks for the follow up. Great to hear it worked out.

[TH47Indy]

Looks great, did they leave the cap in one piece, or was the top removed?

[Chieftain404]

they left them in one piece. they said they tried to tape of the 2 hole on the under side but made no guarantee it would stay on while plating.