Reinstalling spring-loaded gas-door latch? What's the trick?

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-24-2009, 09:45 AM

I'm trying to re-install my gas-door latch in a new fender on an '83SC. Damned if I can get the little coil spring in place, which I assume is intended to take an upside-down L shape, bearing on the moving latch at the bottom and against the fender mount at the top.

I'm trying to do it with the gas filler pipe in place, and I'm beginning to think I need to take it back out to do the install. Am I right?

Carrerax · 09-24-2009, 09:52 AM

Put a small zip tie on the center round part of the spring, pull the zip tie through the hole in the center of the latch. Put it all in place, pull zip tie, it will collapse spring, insert pin, cut zip tie.....5 min max

bluesky · 09-24-2009, 10:06 AM

Steve, Here you go.....

Fuel door lock - sticky cable fix

It's just like Carrerax said.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-24-2009, 03:13 PM

Amazing! Who'dathunkit.

Carrerax · 09-24-2009, 03:14 PM

Amazingly simple huh

bdisco · 09-25-2009, 07:56 AM

Steve have you installed it already. Because even with the zip tie trick the cotter pin is still a pita to get in I recommend stocking up on band-aids and a cold six pack of your favorite beverage for when your done. Good luck.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-25-2009, 08:19 AM

Gave it a shot this morning and saw what you're referring to. Got a haircut, had a beer and some wings for lunch, I'm ready to go again. At least I'm glad to hear that I'm not a total klutz, what with all these guys talking about "five minutes..."

Carrerax · 09-25-2009, 08:22 AM

It really was 5 min. Use needle nose pliers to hold the cotter pin. Oh yea, it takes 2-3 beers before you start though. Go back in and have 2 more

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-25-2009, 09:22 AM

This is just not working for me. In the "sticky cable fix" thread referenced above, the photos show the coil part of the two-legged spring facing forward. Can that be right?

Carrerax · 09-25-2009, 09:35 AM

If my mind serves me correct the coil part was towards the front. Super small zip tie, patience, pull zip tie through hole in clip, push clip back until holes line up and with needle nose pliers put cotter pin in. Also, you must set your beer down first. It takes 2 hands.

1982911SCTarga · 09-25-2009, 09:35 AM

I replaced my original spring with a softer one that I made up. It's ridiculous that Porsche sourced those original fuel door springs from Peterbilt.

Brian

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-25-2009, 10:07 AM

Okay, I got it done. I think part of my problem was that I couldn't imagine such a kludge was intended to work so coarsely.

joseph · 08-22-2018, 11:19 AM

OK this worked great took 15 minutes after we figured out how to do it!
You will need two people, aircraft safety wire, needle nose pliers, and a thin screwdriver.
1. Take the pull knob and cable all the way out.
2. Push the safety wire through the cable hole from the inside of the car until you have enough wire sticking out at the fuel door to make a small loop on the end.
3. Take another piece of safety wire run it through the center of the spring and secure it in place by wrapping the safety wire around the top part of the opener where the black knob is on top.
4. Take the small loop from the safety wire you put through from the inside of the car and put it around the bottom part of the spring.
5. Have one person inside the car to pull the safety wire which will pull the bottom of the spring toward the rear of the car taking so he will have all the tension as he holds it.
6. The person outside the car can then very easily put the lever back on using a new cotter pin and be able to slide the cotter pin through the spring to hold it in place. Then release the pressure off the safety wire and it is back together.
7. Take a thin screw driver and stick it through the opening of the lever to slid off the loop that is on the bottom of the spring and slid it back out through the inside of the car
8. Remove the safety wire that secured the spring from the top.
9. slide the opening cable through from the inside if the car and reconnect it.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1982911SCTarga

I replaced my original spring with a softer one that I made up. It's ridiculous that Porsche sourced those original fuel door springs from Peterbilt.

Brian

Try the spring on the outside rear view mirror. They are from locomotives. Crazy hard to put back together.

gopopracing · 12-21-2020, 03:24 PM

Has anyone installed a fuel door spring on their 911 recently successfully, following one of these threads. Using the wire tie method seems simple, however, the spring orientation in the thread does not seem correct to create tension. If anyone has a good method for doing this I would be most grateful.

I have been struggling for several hours and have tried everything, except running the aircraft grade wire from the inside as suggested.

Thank you,