Fresh water filler cap problem

[Folkranger]

This water filler cap hasn't locked since getting the van. The key has always turned but not locked the cap. Until now............. Went to remove the cap and it wouldn't move, clearly locked. Put in the key but it wouldn't turn at all and wouldn't pull out either.

Removed the cap by a process of brute force, waggling and prayer.

The key is stuck solid in the cap and no amount of impact maintenance, WD40 or pliers will remove it. I guess I'll have to decide whether to cut off the key and use the cap, or demolish the cap in the hope of extracting the key.
The key is one of the three that open all doors and flaps.

Anyone had this? and/or fixed it? suggestions welcome.

 

[Diabalo]

Folkranger Chuck the whole cap in a bucket of boiling hot water, it works dont know why.

 

[rb62]

WD40 and plastic don't mix

 

[Folkranger]

Folkranger Chuck the whole cap in a bucket of boiling hot water, it works dont know why.

Kettle's on.

 

[Folkranger]

WD40 and plastic don't mix

Desperation. Anyway, not sure that's entirely true.

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[Folkranger]

WD40 and plastic don't mix

Extract from the WD40 website:

What surfaces or materials are OK to use WD-40 on?

WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint.
Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.

 

[rb62]

Extract from the WD40 website:

What surfaces or materials are OK to use WD-40 on?

WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint.
Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.

They would say that wouldn't they,plenty of threads about seized locker hinges due to swollen bushes etc.

 

[Folkranger]

They would say that wouldn't they,plenty of threads about seized locker hinges due to swollen bushes etc.

Thank you for your input. Any suggestions as to my problem?

 

[Folkranger]

Diabalo Thanks, that worked great. Key is now out and the cap turns. Actually when removing the key (easilly) the lock barrel started to come out.
Now have to decide whether to get a new cap or rely on this one not getting stuck on site.

 

[Stoosal]

If it’s similar to mine I have had similar issues.

Gently prise back the blue tabs to release the inner white part. Inside is the lock/spring etc.
Gave it a good clean and lubrication and worked the key lock mechanism a few times and works easily now. Easy enough to do but just need to be gentle to ensure the tabs etc don’t break.
Avoid WD40 !

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[Gellyneck]

This water filler cap hasn't locked since getting the van. The key has always turned but not locked the cap. Until now............. Went to remove the cap and it wouldn't move, clearly locked. Put in the key but it wouldn't turn at all and wouldn't pull out either.

Removed the cap by a process of brute force, waggling and prayer.

The key is stuck solid in the cap and no amount of impact maintenance, WD40 or pliers will remove it. I guess I'll have to decide whether to cut off the key and use the cap, or demolish the cap in the hope of extracting the key.
The key is one of the three that open all doors and flaps.

Anyone had this? and/or fixed it? suggestions welcome.

We had a similar problem a year or two back where the key stuck in the lock but managed to get it to move eventually however despite unlocking the key wouldn't come out the lock. Needless to say didn't use it again and just bought a new cap so now have a different key for it alone.
A few months later came across the old cap \ key in the locker and whilst being bored watching the world go by I decided to have a bash at getting the key out. After much huffing and puffing and using a pair of pliers to push the inner sealing ring the key gave way and popped out. Don't ask me why!

 

[rb62]

Glad you got it sorted,try to find some graphite oil spray to squirt into the lock barrel.

 

[Gellyneck]

If it’s similar to mine I have had similar issues.

Gently prise back the blue tabs to release the inner white part. Inside is the lock/spring etc.
Gave it a good clean and lubrication and worked the key lock mechanism a few times and works easily now. Easy enough to do but just need to be gentle to ensure the tabs etc don’t break.
Avoid WD40 !

View attachment 777874

That's probably, inadvertently, what I did with the pliers!

 

[Gellyneck]

Diabalo
Now have to decide whether to get a new cap or rely on this one not getting stuck on site.

Wise move as you'll always be sitting there thinking when it gonna fail again!

 

[Dorset Diver]

My money is being on the key having worn such that it can't operate the lock. Had the same problem. Hot water worked and a new key was needed.

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[Folkranger]

The key is good but that particular lock has never worked. Unfortunately the key won't re-enter the lock and the cap won't work as it's stuck in the locked position so it'll have to be a new cap.

 

[JJ]

Mine was stiff and difficult to turn...

A quick application of silicon spray and it was fixed instantly...

JJ

 

[Folkranger]

Just a warning. Boiling water distorted my water cap. When I found this out I put it back in boiling water and when it came out the cap was as soft and pliable as rubber and cools down all distorted.

Also I've removed the lock and it works perfectly so the problem was with the all plastic cap, probably had some distortion inside fouling the lock tumblers.

 

[spigot]

Diabalo Thanks, that worked great. Key is now out and the cap turns. Actually when removing the key (easilly) the lock barrel started to come out.
Now have to decide whether to get a new cap or rely on this one not getting stuck on site.

Get a new cap, don’t risk it again, you might not get it off next time.

 

[Diabalo]

Folkranger Is yours the normal white cap? Mine is very hard plastic and didn't go soft or distort at all when I did it and I know others on here have done the same without problems. Apologies if my advice has caused you grief.

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[DDJC]

Never understood why it is lockable. I have chucked it for a plain one without a lock. It's like, why is the khazi cassette locked away? Who is gonna steal a box full of human egesta?

(cue someone: "It happened to me"!!)

 

[gwyntaxi]

Diabalo Thanks, that worked great. Key is now out and the cap turns. Actually when removing the key (easilly) the lock barrel started to come out.
Now have to decide whether to get a new cap or rely on this one not getting stuck on site.

I think I would be inclined to try it first, if no joy bin it and buy a replacement cap.

 

[The Wino]

Never understood why it is lockable. I have chucked it for a plain one without a lock. It's like, why is the khazi cassette locked away? Who is gonna steal a box full of human egesta?

(cue someone: "It happened to me"!!)

Just about to say that we never lock ours. Perhaps people are worried about tap lurkers the people you see with a watering can going to the bourne on aires while there are a couple of litres of free water left.

 

[The Wino]

Just a warning. Boiling water distorted my water cap. When I found this out I put it back in boiling water and when it came out the cap was as soft and pliable as rubber and cools down all distorted.

Also I've removed the lock and it works perfectly so the problem was with the all plastic cap, probably had some distortion inside fouling the lock tumblers.

Just leave it unlocked. There's no risk of it not unlocking then

 

[gwyntaxi]

Never understood why it is lockable. I have chucked it for a plain one without a lock. It's like, why is the khazi cassette locked away? Who is gonna steal a box full of human egesta?

(cue someone: "It happened to me"!!)

Not so much a cassette full of human poo, it could be empty, and if some lowlife scum-
was looking to steal a spare cassette, well simples, there are people like these about....
........Just sayin.

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[TonyEmm]

Not so much a cassette full of human poo, it could be empty, and if some lowlife scum-
was looking to steal a spare cassette, well simples, there are people like these about....
........Just sayin.

Sadly, I agree with you. There are folk who’ll nick anything, and without any reason other than the kick of nicking something!

I had my 3D house name in gold lettering, on a stone at the end of my drive. Some towrag prised off just one letter… why??

 

[Folkranger]

Folkranger Is yours the normal white cap? Mine is very hard plastic and didn't go soft or distort at all when I did it and I know others on here have done the same without problems. Apologies if my advice has caused you grief.

No problem, it was knackered anyway but this is a pic of what happens when you put it in boiling water. This may look like soft plastic but it was hard rigid plastic before the boiling water. It went all soft and deformed.

 

[Folkranger]

Never understood why it is lockable. I have chucked it for a plain one without a lock. It's like, why is the khazi cassette locked away? Who is gonna steal a box full of human egesta?

(cue someone: "It happened to me"!!)

I dislike the idea of a non lockaable cap to water that I may drink. It's about protecting the water from pranksters or worse, not preventing theft.

 

[Purrfecttune]

On the previous picture I noticed that one of the three lugs was damaged.
We have replaced the original ‘common’ blue cap twice within 2 years from new, both times because of lugs breaking due to poor operation and stiffness.
Our third replacement was a white cap (I think aimed at the marine community) much better quality, locks/unlocks smoothly and doesn’t feel like a loose fit like the previous two.
Don’t know if the barrel can swapped as I didn’t try and don’t mind having a different key to all the other lockers.

 

[ChrisL]

If the barrel is a Zadi one as used on Hymers you can get a special key to extract it on ebay for around £10, replacement barrels and keys are available, you need to use the correct key for the barrel when fitting the new barrel not the extraction key.