Sanded ball

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Discussion

non_linear

Original Poster:

297 posts

90 months

Saturday 12th November 2022
quotequote all
I am having some bodywork done and the idiots have sanded the rotating ball on my T350 fuel filler. Does anyone know if it's possible to strip them down, so I can get it re-chromed? I've not seen these for sale anywhere. Let the innuendo begin...

Granturadriver

629 posts

268 months

Saturday 12th November 2022
quotequote all
Oh, no! What a mess frown

Unfortunately, I have not seen the mechanism dismantled so far.

Parts for TVRs list the later Sagaris cap only. Maybe one of the brakers have them. I assume more early cars have been wrecked than owners needed this part.


non_linear

Original Poster:

297 posts

90 months

Saturday 12th November 2022
quotequote all
I've contacted a few, waiting for a reply.
Now I've got into it, it just gets worse. They drilled out the screws securing the bezel, and somehow metal swarf and the remains of one screw ended up on the inside of the filler, jamming the ball and making it hard to open. I have to assume some metal swarf and maybe bits of screw have ended up in the tank. I suspect there will be filler dust in there too. frown
Do the pumps have filters on their inlets?

QBee

21,413 posts

151 months

Saturday 12th November 2022
quotequote all
I would be keeping photos and records of the damage - I feel a claim against their cockup insurance coming on.
Good luck getting your balls rechromed. Sounds very a TVR problem.

Granturadriver

629 posts

268 months

Sunday 13th November 2022
quotequote all
Does your car have the early bezel secured with invisible screws from below? Or does it have visible screws securing the bezel? Could you lift the bezel?

I assume the mechanism is removable through the wheel arche? Or do you have to remove it from the luggage compartment?

I assume there is no filter between tank and pump but you should insert one. The fuel tank has an opening on the top right, you can find below the carpet and under a cover, fixed with several screws. You could therefore open and clean the tank if necessary. There is also access to the fuel lines from tank to pump.


non_linear

Original Poster:

297 posts

90 months

Sunday 13th November 2022
quotequote all
Loads of photos.
The bezel was originally held on with hex headed countersunk bolts, but it came back with pop rivets. When I carefully drilled out the pop rivet heads I could see the full horror. Looks like they have drilled out the thread in the brass surround. I don't understand how the swarf and remains of the bolt ended up on the inside of the filler. At the very least the filler assembly will need to come out, and probably have helicoils put in. I don't know how successfully you can clean a baffled tank with it in place.