Anyway to go with a Keyless Gas Cap?

[dakota7557]

Hi, I completed Gadgets tutorial on the hard bags so now I can open them without the key. Has anyone figured out a way to open the gas cap without using a key? I really don't need/want to use a key each time I open the gas cap. Thanks for any suggestions, Jody

[macmac]

Not that I am aware of... All I can think of is to 'waste' a key, inserting it, then cutting ot off 1/4 inch high, and creating a knob of somesort to suit your taste. A small dob of clear shoe goo on the knob to keep it there, but none down the lock.


Over all I think this is a poor idea, as i do with the bags latches. Getting too sloppy for mere convience isn't going to end up the best idea.

A locked bag closed properly stands little to no chance of popping open, One that isn't locked stands a far higher chance.

Not to mention you lost the security from some theft and illegal search and seizure.

In the other had do what suits you. I carry one key and have another not easy to get hidden on the bike.

[cactusjack]

You'd still have to have some way to release/secure the latch mechanism inside. It's not like the cap screws on.

[dakota7557]

I can still lock my bags...If I choose...I have lived without locking my bags now for about 40 years with no mishaps. The only time I lock the bags is when I'm in a populated area which is far and few in South Dakota.lol...Since my tank is only 4.2 gallons, it seems like I'm always reaching down for the key to unlock the cap...Somebody, somewhere who is alot smarter than me must have figured it out...Thanks for the replies, Jody
Not that I am aware of... All I can think of is to 'waste' a key, inserting it, then cutting ot off 1/4 inch high, and creating a knob of somesort to suit your taste. A small dob of clear shoe goo on the knob to keep it there, but none down the lock.


Over all I think this is a poor idea, as i do with the bags latches. Getting too sloppy for mere convience isn't going to end up the best idea.

A locked bag closed properly stands little to no chance of popping open, One that isn't locked stands a far higher chance.

Not to mention you lost the security from some theft and illegal search and seizure.

In the other had do what suits you. I carry one key and have another not easy to get hidden on the bike.

[wheelie]

I'd do as macmac suggested. Get a cheap key cut at a key shop, grind it down, epoxy glue or solder a chrome drawer pull knob or something plastic like a color matching dice on it and leave it in the cap. If you feel the need for a more secure fuel filler can then pull it out and stick it in a saddle bag. If memory serves me right, I think the Nomad is the first bike I've had with a locking cap. I may do this myself, thanks for the idea.

[dakota7557]

Yes, I think Mac has the right idea

[refugio]

I don't think it is a good idea at all....If you leave a cut off key with a handle on it in your gas tank cap for convienance.....Can't someone (a thief) just take the key out of your gas cap and into your ignition...then start it up......and ride off with your bike????

[dakota7557]

I don't think that would be a problem because when you cut a key for the gas cap, you would have to cut off more because it doesn't go in very far to trip the lever on the gas cap. If I were to take it out of the gas cap and try to start the bike, it would be to short, therefore it wouldn't go in all the way...At least on my bike when I measured it that's how it came out...I appreciate your reply though, Jody
I don't think it is a good idea at all....If you leave a cut off key with a handle on it in your gas tank cap for convienance.....Can't someone (a thief) just take the key out of your gas cap and into your ignition...then start it up......and ride off with your bike????

[wheelie]

Yes that is a possibility. Hence the remove it when you feel the need advice. If I leave my ride where I can't see it I always lock the ignition switch. I might talk to our local locksmith / biker to see if he can change the tumblers in the cap lock then the cap key could stay in place unless I'm afraid of gas thieves or mean little kids dropping rocks in the tank.

[Yellow Jacket]

I don't think it is a good idea at all....If you leave a cut off key with a handle on it in your gas tank cap for convienance.....Can't someone (a thief) just take the key out of your gas cap and into your ignition...then start it up......and ride off with your bike????

Not to worry. The key only goes in halfway in the gas cap. Just have the blank cut for the first half and it won't work in the ignition.

[Jared]

I don't think it is a good idea at all....If you leave a cut off key with a handle on it in your gas tank cap for convienance.....Can't someone (a thief) just take the key out of your gas cap and into your ignition...then start it up......and ride off with your bike????

That's what I was wondering??? It would be quit obvious would it?

I'd bet you could find one that has a base ring is held in place with one screw and then a top that screw on. Have you tried a google search?

[wheelie]

Yellow Jacket has it right. A short key for the cap would not work the ignition. Problem solved!

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Now let me see, I have the key in the ignition when I pull in to a service station. I just reach over and pull it out and stick it in the gas cap. I must have used five calories doing that. I don't find that to be a big problem unless you don't have fingers.

I'm with Mac and the others. You never know when someone may want to steal your gas. When I am around people I don't know, I don't trust any of them. Most bikers can be trusted, it is the other part of the population I worry about. I don't want to tempt anyone that might be broke and want my gas.

[dakota7557]

This has absolutely nothing to do with losing the 5 calories, although that wouldn't hurt me. It has to do with the convenience of simply opening up your gas cap without taking the key out of the ignition and putting it into the slot for the gas cap to fill up the tank. I'm not paranoid about someone stealing my 4 gallons of gas or putting rocks in my tank or anything else... In over 40 years none of that has happened yet and I never had a lid with a lock on it...I simply want to be able to pull up to the pump, lift my lid and fill the tank and close it. Not dealing with a key. American ingenuity is alive and well and I will figure it out. Oops, I hear someone outside my door now trying to steal my 4 gallons of gas, while someone else is walking down my driveway with a bucket, I think he's going to be putting rocks in my unlocked tank, I'll have to get up and burn 20 calories to see what's going on... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Thanks for the replys though, it makes me more determined than ever...Jody
Now let me see, I have the key in the ignition when I pull in to a service station. I just reach over and pull it out and stick it in the gas cap. I must have used five calories doing that. I don't find that to be a big problem unless you don't have fingers.

I'm with Mac and the others. You never know when someone may want to steal your gas. When I am around people I don't know, I don't trust any of them. Most bikers can be trusted, it is the other part of the population I worry about. I don't want to tempt anyone that might be broke and want my gas.

[kenb]

Now let me see, I have the key in the ignition when I pull in to a service station. I just reach over and pull it out and stick it in the gas cap. I must have used five calories doing that. I don't find that to be a big problem unless you don't have fingers.
I'm with Mac and the others. You never know when someone may want to steal your gas. When I am around people I don't know, I don't trust any of them. Most bikers can be trusted, it is the other part of the population I worry about. I don't want to tempt anyone that might be broke and want my gas.

Some folks pull the key out after start-up and pocket it. You can turn the switch nearly off, shutting off all power, and be able to turn switch back on to start w/o the key. Very convienient. The inconvienience is getting to your key(s) to unlock the tank.

[Top Cat]

As long as you are not worried or paranoid just get another key made and leave one in the ignition all the time and one in the gas cap all the time.
Then change your screen name to MR. Trusting. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[dakota7557]

Because like my first thread asked: "Has anyone figured out a way to open the gas cap without using a key"?[ This thread isn't anything about being worried or paranoid, it's about finding a solution to figuring out a way to open the gas cap without a using the key. If you don't have a constructive idea to my question, move on to the next thread...Those who have constructively contributed, I appreciate it, thanks, Jody

[wheelie]

I always pull the key from the ignition to keep my key chain from rattling on the dash. As far as rocks in the tank it happens. Some kids put a bunch of rocks in the tank of a 64 XL rag top I once owned. And a friends 57 Chevy suffered the same attack in a different city.

[dakota7557]

Thanks macmac, cactusjack, REFUGIO, Utah Motorcyclist, and KenBob for your statements, they are greatly appreciated. I live in a small town in South Dakota with a population of 616, so I'm more concerned about a solution and you've contributed with thought provoking statements, and for that I thank you, Jody

[macmac]

I live in Hell's Bump New Hampster, leave keys in cars, the house is never locked, ect ect..

If anyone comes here to take, they better run faster than my .308 can fly, if not they will die tired.

Yup I knew wasting a key and leaving it with a pretty knob of choice should work, so long as a dob of goo holds it there temp like. I am not sure how to goo it there temp like, since it could still work the saddlebags.

These days I like locked bags for legal reasons to keep both crooks and cops out of my bee's wax. I am having a hard time telling the difference between these two types.

Whats locked in my bags is my bee's wax, and with no warrent no one gets in them and tells about it later. I do just carry a gun, not a big deal.

My 1981 Liberty bike has a OEM locking gas cap too.... Just the way they came...

I am willing to bet bikes before 75 and that Nixon gas crunch were key-less, but after that time all bike had locking caps.

To me there is just tooo many loose wacko's around doing chit they don't even know they are doing.. like talking on a cell on instant and wondering why they are 25 feet below street level the next, saying ouch.

Last summer a couple from the city somewhere ran thru here like the devil was on em. I yelled as they ran 'whats wrong?' Still running they screeched 'bear!'

I just went back to work. ::)

[Yellow Jacket]

I think a half key might be the easiest solution. Only the first half of the key opens the gas cap and bags. It could be made into a knob sort of thing that you could leave in the cap. That might not work though since it might fall out while riding.

Maybe the cap could be taken apart and you could remove the lockset. I'm thinking maybe some sort of gadjet could be fabricated to take the place of the lockset which would cam open the latching lugs when turned. Just brainstorming here, don't know if it would work.

[dakota7557]

Mac, I had a 2005 FXD Harley that I bought new and put over 32,000 miles on, that I just sold last month in order to get my nomad. I guess I was fortunate or spoiled because it never had a locking cap and I could always leave the key in the ignition, unless I was in Rapid City or Sturgis, then I would take the key out. This nomad is sure different (in a positive way) than my Harley and I plan on riding it out to Mt. St. Helens this summer. I am still going to attempt to figure out how to open the lid without a key, just for the convenience of it. Thanks again for the reply Mac, Jody
I live in Hell's Bump New Hampster, leave keys in cars, the house is never locked, ect ect..

If anyone comes here to take, they better run faster than my .308 can fly, if not they will die tired.

Yup I knew wasting a key and leaving it with a pretty knob of choice should work, so long as a dob of goo holds it there temp like. I am not sure how to goo it there temp like, since it could still work the saddlebags.

These days I like locked bags for legal reasons to keep both crooks and cops out of my bee's wax. I am having a hard time telling the difference between these two types.

Whats locked in my bags is my bee's wax, and with no warrent no one gets in them and tells about it later. I do just carry a gun, not a big deal.

My 1981 Liberty bike has a OEM locking gas cap too.... Just the way they came...

I am willing to bet bikes before 75 and that Nixon gas crunch were key-less, but after that time all bike had locking caps.

To me there is just tooo many loose wacko's around doing chit they don't even know they are doing.. like talking on a cell on instant and wondering why they are 25 feet below street level the next, saying ouch.

Last summer a couple from the city somewhere ran thru here like the devil was on em. I yelled as they ran 'whats wrong?' Still running they screeched 'bear!'

I just went back to work. ::)

[biscuitsngravy]

I don't know about you all, but after I put the key in the gas cap, I have to also press on the cap to get the key to turn and unlock the cap. It seems like it would be difficult to make the cap keyless. Also there is a remote chance that the cap might fall off the tank when you dump the bike, of course that never happened to me...... ha ha. BnG

[medicaldawg]

dont know if there are any others on here but my ignition key doesnt open my gas cap my bag key does.

[hammer]

I think it's not a bad idea really. What's the harm. Get the key cut, cut off the top part and expoxy on some funky knob.

[dakota7557]

Yellow Jacket - when you said "maybe the cap could be taken apart and you could remove the lockset". That's kind of what I was thinking too.
BNG - You're right about pressing the cap down to get the key to turn, so perhaps something like this would work. http://www.baronscustom.com/catalog/display/653/index.html
Medicaldawg - When you said that your ignition key doesn't open your gas cap, but your bag key does, I thought they were all one and the same? I had a couple of keys made at the lock smith in Rapid City and both of them fit all three, the bags, ignition and the gas cap...hmm, I wonder if this is isolated or is it normal on all bikes, first time I heard of it.
Hammer - I may just end up doing what you suggested, if I can't figure out how to not use a key.
Thank you for the responses, Jody

[medicaldawg]

yep i have two diffrent keys one for bag an one for switch

[Yellow Jacket]

yep i have two diffrent keys one for bag an one for switch

I would bet a beer that the ignition switch got replaced at some point in time.

Which key works in the fork lock? The one that works in the bags or the one that works in the ignition?

[Top Cat]

yep i have two diffrent keys one for bag an one for switch

Holy Crap, can you imagine if dakota7557 owned this bike http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif He would have a nervious breakdown having to use TWO different keys. ;)
oopps, I forgot, I was supposed to move on to the next thread. :-[

[phred]

Wow, very informative and thought provoking, what a great contribution to this thread. Hope you still have some brain cells left after that analysis. TC, you might want to click on the spell check button at the bottom of the page before sending the next thread.;) Ride Safe, Jody


Holy Crap, can you imagine if dakota7557 owned this bike http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif He would have a nervous breakdown having to use TWO different keys. ;)
oops, I forgot, I was supposed to move on to the next thread. :-[

Dakota, a lot of the members here like to kid each other and generally have a good time. Along with the ribbing (which has all been in good fun, not maliciously) you've gotten several ideas on how to go keyless on your gas cap. I can't understand why you need to respond the way to do to some of the jovial posts.

With that said, I'm moving on to the next post...









P.S. I ran spell check, so don't go calling the spelling or grammar cops on me http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[coacha]

yep i have two diffrent keys one for bag an one for switch

I agree, your bike has probably had the ignition replaced. I have a '99 and it is same key for everything. I just carry two keys and leave the ignition key in.

[dakota7557]

yep, you're right...I deleted my post...my bad, Jody

[medicaldawg]

yep i have two diffrent keys one for bag an one for switch

I would bet a beer that the ignition switch got replaced at some point in time.

Which key works in the fork lock? The one that works in the bags or the one that works in the ignition?
the bag key works the fork lock!

[taranis]

A machine shop might be the way to go.

I'm thinking you'd create a wide, flat nob that would fit over the existing cap, then cut a notch through it where a key could be tightly inserted. Once you get the key to the right depth, simply cut what's left of the top of the key off flush to the top of the cap, weld/expoxy the key in the slot, then weld it shut. Then for looks, have it chromed to make it look good. The key cap itself wouldn't need to be very thick - maybe 7/8"? I'm not sure on your bike, but on my '06 the cap tilts back, so you would want to make the cap shallow enough not to lean back and knock the top of the tank when the cap is opened.

Hope you get some good ideas - that'd be my best one. For the record though, I think it's a bad idea too. It takes me all of 10 seconds to get the key out of the leg pocket of my chaps, and I'm in no rush to do anything while on the bike.

Moving on to the next thread... http://s2.images.proboards.com/lipsrsealed.gif ::)

[Top Cat]

yep, you're right...I deleted my post...my bad, Jody

You didn't have to do that. I have pretty thick skin. I have been on here a long time and expect to get my balls busted in return to some of my posts. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif ;)

[cactusjack]

yep, you're right...I deleted my post...my bad, Jody

You didn't have to do that. I have pretty thick skin. I have been on here a long time and expect to get my balls busted in return to some of my posts. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif ;)

That's good to know...you actually expect it! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Top Cat]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Yeah CJ, Sometimes my feelings get hurt when I don't get a response. ;)

[cactusjack]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Yeah CJ, Sometimes my feelings get hurt when I don't get a response. ;)

You know me, TC - I'm not usually one to disappoint.