[Yardman]

Okay. This is the second time this has happened to me. I'm out mowing with my ZTR and start smelling gas. I look and see that one of my gas caps is missing! The first time it happened I thought I might have forgotten to put it back on. I looked in the shop where I gas it up. Not there. I walked the property where I just mowed and couldn't find it. Forunately, the cap on my MTD tractor fits, so I borrowed that one to finish mowing until I could get a replacement. "Maybe" I left it on the mower and it fell off...

So yesterday, I gassed up the ZTR and sure enough, about half way through, I smelled gas and it was gone again. Now I KNOW I put them both back on and made sure they were tight! But I walked back to the shop and checked. No gas cap. I walked the areas I had mowed. No cap. I found it on the mower down on the frame.

Here's my theory; My Ariens Zoom 1640 has two gas tanks. The deck discharges to the right. That means I mostly trim on the left side and when I get closer to large evergreen trees and bushes, it brushes past and loosens the cap. Vibration does the rest. I checked and that side does turn counterclockwise (open) as it goes past front to back. The obvious solution would be a reverse thread gas cap, but I think that would be too unconventional for most people.


One thing I learned about gas caps. They not only keep the gas in, but they keep grass clippings OUT!

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any ideas on how to prevent this from reoccurring?

 

[jerryh20]

they make a flip up cover - after market that would solve the problem. just have to find one that fits, put some silicone on the threads and problem solved, maybe.

 

[Yardman]

Thanks Jerryh20! I'll definately look into that. It's not so much the cost of replacing the lost caps, but keeping the grass clipping out of my gas tank.

 

[ME2]

this is strange .Your theory makes sense tho ..I would put a flip top on it like Jerry said

 

[waffler]

How about good old Duct Tape

 

[Yardman]

they make a flip up cover - after market that would solve the problem. just have to find one that fits, put some silicone on the threads and problem solved, maybe.

Okay, I've spent a couple of hours searching (I hate Google) and I can't find anthing like a flip top gas cap for a mower. Lots of them for cars and bikes...

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[ME2]

How about good old Duct Tape

LOL the red green way always works to but its a pain to get off when you want to put gas in it lol

 

[Mark / Ohio]

Maybe glue a hook or loop of wire on the cap and then use twine with a dog leash clip to the tractor?

Or another thought would be like my leaf blower. If you could attach a piece of wire to the inside of the cap and then have a cross piece of wire dangle inside to catch the inside of the tank neck if the cap fell off.

So far I've only lost the cap off my Deer once in 10 years going around shrubs. I thought at the time how much smarter it was to have it on the hood like my old Jake.

 

[tmlong]

gas cap

how about slightly roughing up the threads,worked for my exmark

 

[framedoctor]

You could make a guard that fastens to the tank. Just make sure you seal he screws with RTV or equivalent

 

[Gil]

You bring up a subject that could be corrected by manufacturers. Attach the cap to the tank by some means. Have Stihl chain saws and weedeaters and all gas and oil caps attach to tank. As mentioned by Mark, find a way to attach the cap to the mower. Be careful that you don't attach in a way that it leaks.

 

[joebd5]

I have a similiar beef. I used to have a zero turn, I don't remember if it was my dixon or the cub cadet. I think it was the cub RZT 50 and the throttle was on the left side. Every time I cut close to shrubs and bushes the throttle shut down. I was so aggravated I sold both machines--- and of course wondered what engineerintg school the designer went to, because he obviously graduated last in his class.

 

[joebd5]

I had a similar problem with a Cub Cadet RZT50. Some brain dead engineer who designed it put the throttle on the left side. Every time you cut close to shrubs and bushes the throttle shut down. It was so aggravating I sold the machine. What are these people thinking?
Joebd5
Kubota ZD-221

 

[[email protected]]

Recent changes in California's Air Resource Board (CARB) rulings now require mowers sold in that state have a method of securing the factory fuel cap so it's not easily lost. Honda mowers use a plastic tether, sort of a inverted "T" shape device that allows the cap to spin on / off, then flop over to the side when refueling. The reason is the factory caps now are part of a redesigned fuel system designed to capture evaporative emissions. On the Honda mowers, this means there's a large charcoal "donut" built into the vented part of the cap that captures the fumes.

Right now, these rules only apply to California, but it's likely the Federal Govt / EPA will make them nationwide. So expect to see tethered caps in the future.

FYI, the same rules also require the cap to employ a device to provide positive feedback to the operator that the cap has been correctly tightened. The Honda mowers have an internal torque point where correct tightness, when reached, the cap "clicks" and slips, indicating you've turned it far enough.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

 

[joebd5]

Honda does have their act together. I have a Honda 4-stroke weedeater and the gas cap is on a plastic tether much the same as Stihl blowers. My Kubota zer-turn has a large gas cap on the left side but it is mounted inboard and has never spun off. YET that is.