CL350 gas cap removal/replacement

[Tremelune]

My '71 CL350 has a busted gas cap latch such that I need to dig around with a bent key to open it. In general, I really don't like the design, and I was hoping to replace it with something like this:



Just a simple screw-off gas cap. I couldn't figure out how to get the current cap off, and I was afraid too try to hard in case the tank was incompatible with the simpler gas cap. Am I just an idiot or is this a trickier swap than I expect?

 

[Tremelune]

No one has ever popped a gas cap off?

 

[HerrDeacon]

Is your current one a flip-up style? If so, there should be a pin at one end of the cap (I think its the end closest to the handlebars). You'll need to drive that pin out, use a small punch or nail.

Is it like the one in this pic? If its not, post a pic.

 

[Tremelune]

Yeah, it's the flip-up...Thanks for the pic--I haven't gotten too many close looks at it, because mine is a real pain to open.

Sadly, it doesn't look like the standard "two wing" gas cap will work here. That's a bit of a bummer...Maybe I can just cut notches...Maybe I'm asking for trouble...

 

[Tremelune]

Ugh. From sniffing around gas tanks on eBay it looks like caps went from two-wing to flip-up in 1971, and you can go fom one style to the other...It also looks like I can't simply replace my flip cap, as it's not the cap that is busted, but the latch you press to open it up. I guess I'll need to get it open and investigate.

Ugh.