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16H reserve fuel tap

Submitted by paul_gooch on Tue, 09/04/2013
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Can anyone offer some wisdom?I have recently fitted a reserve fuel tap to my WD 16H. When I got the bike the reserve tap hole just had a blanking plug, so once the tank fell below half full the fuel in that side couldn't be used. OK on short runs, but a bit inconvenient.Anyway, today I removed the blanking plug and popped in a nice new fuel tap, however the tap (and the fuel pipe from it) come VERY close to the cylinder head. I have an angled connection to keep the pipe away from the head, but there isn't much of a gap between the spigot and the fins, only about 2mm. I have 1 inch spacing rubbers under the tank, the tank is an original Norton one, not a copy, and the orignal tank bolts just manage to "bite" before tightening, so I'm pretty certain the tank isn't sitting too low.Does anyone know if it is normal to have such little clearance (I am concerned about fuel vaporisation in the feed), or is there a "non standard" or shorter type of fuel tap I should be using on the reserve side? Could post a photo if needed, but not tonight, the garage is cold and dark now.Paul

Submitted by david_cooper on Tue, 09/04/2013

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Paul

Here's a photo of mine - it's a 1937 civilian which is in theory the same. Taps seem to be well further back than yours sound like.

Do you have the full thickness rubber mounts on the tank support lugs? Russells have them in stock.

Attachments IMG_5740.jpg

Submitted by richard_payne on Tue, 09/04/2013

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I believe that not all taps will fit on the 16H due to the lack of space below the tank boss. I have an idea that I tried a pair of the 'BAP' taps that I use on the Commando and they were too long. The old hexagON Enots should fit but even then, the fuel pipe has to be routed carefully away from the carb spigot.

Just a thought as well - The WD16H has an inch or so more ground clearance which is achieved by shortening the main tubes resulting in the fuel tank on the WD versions sitting closer to the cylinder head.

[IMG]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/commando16h/TimingSide_zpsed0bacc6.jpg[/IMG]

Submitted by paul_gooch on Wed, 10/04/2013

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Thanks for your help guys, David my tank rubbers are full thickness, I think Richard's comments on ground clearance may explain why your civilian framed version appears to have more space below the tank, I hadn't thought of that. Richard your photo looks much more like my situation, and the suggestion of a shorter push-pull Enots make sense, I'll hunt on ebay.

Cheers

Paul

Submitted by paul_gooch on Wed, 10/04/2013

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Well I found an old enots tap with side exit in a box of "fuel stuff" and it fits in perfectly and gives around an inch if clearance. Have no idea what the tap is from orignally, I think I may have taken it off of a BSA Starfire that I had years back, anyway it was a bit leaky (probably why I took it off the Starfire) but I have seen a rubber O ring kit to replace the always leaky cork on the stopper, at £3 it's got to be worth a punt. Think the problem is now solved, would never have looked had you not mentioned enots tap so thanks for that.

Paul

Attachments IMG_0061-reduced.jpg

Submitted by richard_payne on Wed, 10/04/2013

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Paul, I believe that the tap with the plunger is a 'Ewarts'. The 'Enots' use two cork discs compressed by the nuts on either side of the body. ('Enots' was the 'Stone' of Benton & Stone backwards). They are fairly easy to get fuel tight with new discs but I have no experience of the plunger type. Good Luck !

 


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