Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

Bap Filling?

Forums

Have about 6 pairs of these kicking around in various states of "usability" , What I have run out of is the internal plastic pipe to create a reserve. Two points, can you get the plastic pipes anywhere and, second, would they be ethanol  proof these days? The last one I removed was a pitiful shrunken thing.  BAPs are still better than anything else so its worth trying,   Thanks

Permalink

Hi Alec,

I can suggest that you try a model shop (one of the proper ones where 'real' modellers go for stuff)?

As I posted a while ago in the Heavy twins section, I have a 'BAP' type tap (From Hitchcocks, the Enfield people) on my Dommie, but it was effectively hidden behind the frame tube. My fix was to move the tap down using some plumbing fittings,. To provide the 'reserve' supply, I needed to extend the 'main' feed tube upwards. I bought some thin walled 4mm copper tube from a model shop and cut it 35mm longer than the original ‘main' feed pipe and with a light “tap” it was solidly in the fuel tap. I may have been lucky in that the Indian made tap I have used 4mm plastic tube, or maybe they all do?

pipes  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used the bike from June onwards last year without issue, main and reserve work just fine.

Hope that this helps,

George.

Permalink

I have had an Indian BAP break at the thread root near the tank, luckily when I turned the tap on in the garage so it was easy and quick to repair. Out on the rod would have been more difficult. Try to find the Italian made ones that Meriden used to fit.

Permalink

Nylon tubing is resistant to petrol and ethanol. Widely used for pneumatic applications so readily available from any hose supplier such as Pirtek. Common size is 4mm od and 2.5mm id.

https://www.beaumanor.com/Products/0049000b001f0003/MNT04SUP

Permalink

Hi Steve,

Whilst there are plastics and there are plastics, standard 'nylon' as was used  in the past is not much good with ethanol - During the  '80s it was very common for nylon to be used in fuel systems. Brazil went big scale over to ethanol in the mid '80s and there were huge problems for the entire car and bike industry there with fuel lines breaking, carburettor floats and parts breaking, fuel injection parts failing big time etc. Ok, They did go to E85 (85% E), not the 5-10% we have, but cars and bikes ended up with stainless steel fuel lines among other things to cope with it.

OK, this was 35 years ago now and things change I know, but at work (I retired 2 years ago) there were strict rules as to what tubing was allowed near fuel and the opaque nylon tube used to connect pressure sensors to engines wasn't one of them. 

Tubing for pneumatics is somewhat different to tubing for petrochemicals or hydraulics, so just to be safe, make sure what you use is OK with modern fuels.

Regards,

George

 


Norton Owners Club Website by White-Hot Design