Fuel caps, Deluxe vs. Standard

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:57 pm

Well, have you seen or heard of the Deee-LUXE fuel caps?

Oooooh WEEE! They are SOME KINDA FANCY!

As you can see, the deluxe one is on the right. Behind it is just the cap. It really works nice and is worth the extra loot, I think. They sell for $75 each and is money well spent.

They open without tools, which is a big improvement on the standard caps. The standard ones require a screwdriver or something to lift the little handle out of the well. These are machined out of a slice of aluminum billet and are top notch!

TIP: get them with your wing kit so you don't have to send the standard ones back later for credit!

This is what they look like cleco'ed into place:

Pretty slick, huh?

The tops are machined so that the curvature of the tank skin is taken into consideration, too!

Really nice!

CJ

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:40 pm

John,

You said the cost $75. Is that the next cost over the std ones, or is that the individual cost?

Take care,

Jim

Captain_John wrote: As you can see, the deluxe one is on the right. Behind it is just the cap. It really works nice and is worth the extra loot, I think. They sell for $75 each and is money well spent.

TIP: get them with your wing kit so you don't have to send the standard ones back later for credit!

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:09 pm

John,

How airtight/fueltight do you think the delux caps are going to be?

Pat

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:11 pm

That is the cost of the caps, each.

They also sell a version that ProSeals into the existing filler necks, bit I can't comment on that style as I haven't seen them. I have only heard about them from Van's.

The purpose of those caps is for QB's like yours, I believe.

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:12 pm

Now that is sweet!!

-- John

Submitted via email

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:29 pm

Pat, I have no doubts in my mind that these caps are DA NUTZ!

They operate on a nice cam action that is adjustable and smooth.

Wicked Stick has pressure tesed two tanks with these caps installed and both tanks have passed the test.

I too have confidence!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:22 am

...and THAT's how they do it on TV!

CJ

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:26 am

CJ,

That Proseal stuff looks like a mess! Be sure to keep the pup away from that! I would hate for him to try and lick that off his paws.

Take care,

Jim

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:28 pm

Ya know, it really ain't that bad.

It does look mean, nasty and stinky but if you are careful and keep your work area neat you won't have a problem.

For those of you who have this on the list of things to do, may I suggest the Coleman Fuel for a solvent. It isn't as aggressive as acetone or toluene for removing residue but works adequately. It IS better on the nose and skin, though!

CJ

mustang · Post by **mustang** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:51 am

John,
We picked up a set of locking caps at Van's when we picked up[ our wings and fuse. They seem pretty cool except that they have two different keys?!?!?!?! Now which one is for the left??? I can just see the confusion when refueling.

The good thing about the locking, with the price of fuel, locking might be the way to go??
Cheers, Pete

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:42 am

Hmmmmm, Odd.

One would think that Van would have done better planning than that. Perhaps they gave you a mismatched pair inadvertently? Mine are not lockers, sooooooo...

Have you contacted Vans? Maybe they can hook you up?

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:14 pm

Well, mine just came in. They are now $100 per side.

CJ is right though, these really are sweet pieces of kit. Very well done and I am sure they will be worth it.

- Spike

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:13 am

captain_john wrote:Ya know, it really ain't that bad.

For those of you who have this on the list of things to do, may I suggest the Coleman Fuel for a solvent. It isn't as aggressive as acetone or toluene for removing residue but works adequately. It IS better on the nose and skin, though!

CJ

I second the Coleman lantern fuel. It works almost as good as MEK I think and it's a lot safer and smells a LOT better. I actually like the smell. But them I'm weird.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:15 am

mustang wrote:The good thing about the locking, with the price of fuel, locking might be the way to go??
Cheers, Pete

Is fuel theft a big problem these days? I've never had fuel stolen. Just curious.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:06 am

I didn't get them, but I suppose TAMPERING with the fuel supply is probably a larger concern.

Interesting thing about the locking style, people who have them tell me that they ARE NOT keyed alike! I am unsure if that is really true, but the Cirrus has the SAME CAPS!

Theirs ARE!

But, of course... they have a Cirrus and that comes with another set of problems!

CJ

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:47 pm

I couldn't justify spending what Vans wants for the deluxe caps so I did the next best thing. I polished one of my fuel tank caps. I started by disassembling the cap. Next I started sanding with 240 grit sandpaper. I progressed through 320 grit, 400 grit, 600 grit and finally wet sanded with 1000 grit. All in all it took 30 minutes for the first cap.

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cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:56 pm

I plan to get my standard caps polished to a mirror finish or chromed and engraved. They'll look SAWEET when I'm done!

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:46 pm

Well, call me paranoid, but I wanted the locks. I drank the kool-aid

and bought the Van's DELUXE caps and am glad I did. I think they have gone up quite a bit though since I got mine. I don;t remember for sure but I believe they only cost me about $100 extra. (Did I really say only $100 extra?)

Mine are keyed the same though I have heard of others that were not. Besides the lock I was told by another builder who has the non-locking ones that he thought mine looked like they sealed better than his.

I guess it is kind of what you prefer. For me I like the deluxe ones and am glad I decided to go that way.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:59 pm

It's way more than looks. The function is why I bought them! They are like SILK comapred to the stock caps!

They DO come kinda loose. It is a matter of tightening the nut on the underside. I haven't done mine yet. For test purposes, I taped over them with electrical tape but will tighten them later when I fill them with fuel.

CJ

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:51 am

Plus, with those smooth tops I bet I'll pick up 15-20 kts!

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