Topic: Can I still get the gas cap recall?

[njcafe84]

I was told by a local guy and seen an article on here about honda replacing the thumb mechanism on the gas caps with a lock as a recall. My bike still has the thumb latch and same with my buddies 450. Can we still contact honda about getting the locks? If so how should we go about doing this?

[CBJoe]

There's a statute of limitations on recalls.... don't ask me what it is, but it's pretty safe to say that the time has passed for a 30+ year old bike 

What's wrong with the thumb latch??  If you really don't want it, source a locking one off of ebay or a new parts retailer.

Joe

[dave500]

like,err,my cb500 only has 5 miles on it and the shop wont do the first service for free?

[greasy j]

a lot of people seem to prefer the thumb jobs and they are getting hard to find, I bet you could sell or trade your thumb latch to someone who wants a restoration that is accurate.

if I needed one I'd just buy you the locking one and have you send me your thumb one. I'm sure someone would do this for you. people might even fight over your thumb latch.

[eastside750]

I'm having my cb750K3 serviced at Honda of Glendale, in Glendale, CA. They offered to do the gas cap recall for me, at no charge. My bike's 38 years old!

By the way, those guys are type notch. Brian, their lead tech, has been working on these bikes for 30 years. If you're in LA, I highly recommend them.

[Skonnie Boy]

I broke mine off my 750K3, found the same latch available for $125 on ebay.  Make the switch to a key latch yourself and pocket the profit.  Better yet, keep it the way it is.  Just my 2¢, is all. 

[lone*X]

I'm having my cb750K3 serviced at Honda of Glendale, in Glendale, CA. They offered to do the gas cap recall for me, at no charge. My bike's 38 years old!

By the way, those guys are type notch. Brian, their lead tech, has been working on these bikes for 30 years. If you're in LA, I highly recommend them.

The original thumb latches are becoming scarce. Bet your tech was well aware of that.  If you didn't ask for it back he probably is the Ebay seller that got 150 bucks for it.  No kidding, I know one of the local Harley Service managers that makes a killing on Ebay off customer pull offs.  He always has parts going out.  Amazing how many owners don't know what their pull off's are worth.

[kck3]

That or he put the thumb latch cap on his own bike.  I had the thumb latch on my cb350 and I loved it. 

[eastside750]

Nope, it's in my hand right now. These guys are straight-shooters.

[Brandotheamazing]

i have a thumb latch cap on a 550 tank. if someone needs it PM me (also show a picture of what you're looking for so i know i have what you're talking about) i'm not looking to make a killing on it either, just PM and we can work something out, specially if you have other parts you're willing to get rid of.

[dave500]

i was thinking of taking one down to a jeweler to see if they can make one from brass or similar,ide be prepared to finish the hole drilling and final shaping of the sear,i dont care for getting it chromed,after reading of the ridiculus prices these can fetch its sounding like a good idea,i just wont tell the jeweler that!

[Gordon]

FYI:  The "locking" latch that replaced the thumb latch isn't a lock.  It's just a twist latch that can be opened by anything that will fit in the slot. 

[dave500]

i havent seen a locking one,are they more sturdy?the normal thumb latch is fragile.

[lrutt]

I can't understand why you would want to remove the nice simple unobtrusive thumb latch and replace with that locking thing.

BTW, the purpose of the locking latch was to prevent a gas spill in case of an accident and the rider slid up on the gas tank and caught the latch with his %^&**.  Well....have you seen that lock? see how that big old square edge sticks out there. If I slid up on my gas tank and caught that with my %^^& I would not be a happy camper.

[Brown Bomber]

i havent seen a locking one,are they more sturdy?the normal thumb latch is fragile.

They are the same cap, just a PITA key switch in place of the thumb button.

[dave500]

thanks bomber,i thought they might have been an improvement,im still keen to show a jeweller one and see if he can cast a rough cheap enough,my wife had rings cast in white gold,most of the cost was the metal im told,im sure they could copy a supplied item and do one of them brass cheap if you do the final finish.ill look into it and re post.

[Brown Bomber]

thanks bomber,i thought they might have been an improvement,im still keen to show a jeweller one and see if he can cast a rough cheap enough,my wife had rings cast in white gold,most of the cost was the metal im told,im sure they could copy a supplied item and do one of them brass cheap if you do the final finish.ill look into it and re post.

Plating the original cap would be much cheaper, and have the same effect.

[Bodi]

"Well....have you seen that lock? see how that big old square edge sticks out there. If I slid up on my gas tank and caught that with my %^^& I would not be a happy camper."

happier than if you had a pants load of gas... on fire.

[dave500]

im talking about the actual little thumb latch that can break easy,the caps themselves can still be bought new,the latch is unobtainium.

[Johnie]

Here is a pic of the latch the dealers were replacing the thumb unit with. As for me, I have installed the small thumb latch on any 750 I got that had the lock. I like to keep it original and am not a fan of the lock unit. Just do not care for the bulky look I guess.

[Damfino]

Here is the recall notice sent to the original owner of my bike...

Front Cover

Page 1

Page 2

Back Cover

[drones76]

I've got a thumb latch on my 360.  It nearly breaks my thumb to get it open.  I am not too concerned about it 'popping' open to spill gas.  If I did slide up the tank and open that thing with my zippered area, I would be more impressed with myself than worrying about gas spillage.   

[Johnie]

The secret to not breaking the thumb latch is to push down on the gas cap to relieve the tension. Then push the latch.

[lrutt]

The secret to not breaking the thumb latch is to push down on the gas cap to relieve the tension. Then push the latch.

Bingo. I guess I've been doing this so long it's second nature to me. Been riding the old girl since 1978. I remember getting the notice and binning it after I saw what the lock looks like.

[dave500]

dont slam the cap shut either,depress the button and ease it closed.