Let's say you have a locked Opel GT gas cap. Now, let's say you don't have a key for it.
Are you screwed? Do you make a call for the bucket of keys? Do you disassemble the filler neck? Do you pray?
Well, today while contemplating the plight of a local Opeler and her locked cap, I had a thought. There is a really easy way to remove a locked cap and, chances are, you probably have everything you need.
Tools you will need:
Here's what you do.
Break hacksaw blade in half
Bend hacksaw blade in a circle
Carefully work the hacksaw blade under the edge of the cap. You can pull up on the cap, or push down gently on the rear panel to get room to get the blade under the cap.
Also, make sure you have the teeth of the hack saw blade facing up, into the cap.
Now position the gear puller under the cap to catch the edge of the hack saw blade as pictured.
Use the piece of metal (such as a nickel) as a base for the center pin of the wheel puller. You want to protect the tumblers of the gas cap.
Tighten the wheel puller just enough to get the hack saw blade to bite into the gas cap.
Gently turn the whole assembly counter clockwise to remove the cap.
The whole process took a couple minutes on the first attempt and was successful.
Are you screwed? Do you make a call for the bucket of keys? Do you disassemble the filler neck? Do you pray?
Well, today while contemplating the plight of a local Opeler and her locked cap, I had a thought. There is a really easy way to remove a locked cap and, chances are, you probably have everything you need.
Tools you will need:
- A hacksaw blade
- A small gear puller
- A piece of metal at least the thickness of a nickel
Here's what you do.
Break hacksaw blade in half
Bend hacksaw blade in a circle
Carefully work the hacksaw blade under the edge of the cap. You can pull up on the cap, or push down gently on the rear panel to get room to get the blade under the cap.
Also, make sure you have the teeth of the hack saw blade facing up, into the cap.
Now position the gear puller under the cap to catch the edge of the hack saw blade as pictured.
Use the piece of metal (such as a nickel) as a base for the center pin of the wheel puller. You want to protect the tumblers of the gas cap.
Tighten the wheel puller just enough to get the hack saw blade to bite into the gas cap.
Gently turn the whole assembly counter clockwise to remove the cap.
The whole process took a couple minutes on the first attempt and was successful.