Coleman 502 tank cap gasket

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by Darren Trudeau, Jul 14, 2021.

  1. Scrambler

    Scrambler Australia Subscriber

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    I can't quite get my words to work. Sorry. I mean top and bottom seal but inner and outer edges do not, they just position. You only need one (inner or outer) to be correct. Your trouble is that neither match your cap inner.
     
  2. Murph

    Murph United States Subscriber

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  3. cottage hill bill

    cottage hill bill SotM Winner Subscriber

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    There are two styles of insert as shown by Darren's last photo. The first and third insert being one style and the second and fourth the other. They are apparently a production change but are all listed as the same part by Coleman. The same gasket will fit all of them. While the rounding over of the side wall on the "beveled" style does reduce the diameter at the top of the side wall the diameter at the bottom is the same as the straight wall style. The trick is working the gasket outer edge in past the bevel and into the lower portion of the insert. I find that a couple drops of soapy water makes the process much easier. Lubricate the gasket with a bit of water with a bit of liquid dish soap in it or use a small amount of WD40. Work the outer edge of the gasket into the insert then work the inner edge down flat. I've been fettling a bunch of three-piece caps in the past couple of weeks of both styles and only have one gasket available, purchased from Old Coleman Parts. Excluding lamps, where my experience is limited, there are only three Coleman fuel cap gaskets, early small caps as on 242 lanterns and 500 stoves, three-piece and one-piece caps found on later model 200a, 220 and later lanterns, 500a, 502, suitcase and later stoves. I've got well north of 100 lanterns nearly as many stoves and only those three gaskets for Coleman stuff.
     
  4. Darren Trudeau Canada

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    The seals that Ross sent would/could probably be squeezed into the other three inserts although the third would be a fight but I've tried 3 times to get it into the first one and there's too big of a differential between insert both inner and outer dimeters and there's too much seal to go in. First insert is smaller than all the others for some reason.

    I measured 508 thou for innner insert which converts to 12.9mm and Ross's seal is 14mm.

    I measured 675 thou for lip where seal has to squeeze into outer insert which converts to 17mm and Ross's seal is 19mm.

    The seal being rubber like by nature will stretch or shrink somewhat either way but not enough in this case.
     
  5. cottage hill bill

    cottage hill bill SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I was not arguing if Ross' gaskets are the correct size. Mistakes can happen and if they're wrong I'm sure Ross will make things right. I was simply stating that there are not different size inner pieces for Coleman three-piece caps. They all take the same gasket even though they may be made slightly differently.
     
  6. John Eggert

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    It should be noted that there ARE, in fact, some EARLY three piece Coleman caps that use a larger format gasket.

    227 lanterns, 220-228 slant generator lanterns, and some 427 lanterns use this larger gasket.

    A few table lamps too. Mostly late 1920's to middle 1930's production items.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
  7. Darren Trudeau Canada

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    1) Every post I've put here quantifies with both pictures and measurements that there are different sizes of inserts in 3 piece caps.

    2) Yes the gaskets Ross made/sent me would work in 3 of 4 inserts as seen again by pictures and the description of the pictures I added.

    3) The 502 insert is quite a bit smaller then the rest except the overall outermost diameter is the same as the rest, maybe I have the only one like it size wise.

    Perhaps we may have to disagree on these points.....which is ok by me, you??
     
  8. Darren Trudeau Canada

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    I just want to retract some of the stuff I stated here and say that Cottage hill bill was right in saying that it could be done and it took me reading his directions again and trying for a fourth time.

    The other seal of the two from Fettlebox Ross should pretty much just drop in about any of the other sized cap inserts.:mrgreen:

    The seal was pretty difficult to get in there, the last 1/8th inch kept twisting around 1/4 turn in the groove but with persistence comes reward so again sorry for being a putz.
    Thx,
    D
     
  9. cottage hill bill

    cottage hill bill SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Glad you got it to work.
     
  10. Darren Trudeau Canada

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    Thanks,
    stay stovie.:D
    D