Copyright © 2001 by Lambretta Club of Scotland. All rights reserved.

Problem Broken Petrol Tap

Actual/common cause

A bent rod had led to pressure on the tap causing the front of the tap to break off.

Solution

Take off the 'eye' shaped flange that holds/held the actuator and take out the internals.

Use the flange as a template to cut a gasket to cover the whole face of the tap (with only the two holes for the screws) from some card - I used the back of a fag packet, which meant cutting two to get a decent thickness.

Centre a one pence piece on the back of the eye-shaped flange and next, with the two screws in place, gently fit the gasket(s) on top of it making sure not to burst the gasket(s) near the bolt holes.

Offer the whole assembly up to the tap and tighten down making sure the penny stays centred. There's no need to risk stripping the threads by over-tightening.

The penny should be visible from the outside if you've assembled in the correct order.

Complications

Obviously your fuel will now be 'on' permanently so avoid parking the scooter on steep hills or laying it over for wheel changes etc. as it'll flood easily and/or leak fuel through the carb breather(s). If you can't avoid that, you can disconnect your fuel pipe from the carb and block it with a suitable-sized pencil or similar - I used the wife's eyebrow pencil! Filling up presents the problem of having your two-stroke oil, which is heavier than petrol, sinking straight down through the tap and into the carb bowl! I had to dribble in the oil as I was filling - quite awkward but I didn't have room for a gallon can to pre-mix it.