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Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:08 pm
by Rich Bingham
My official Model T auxiliary gas can lost its filler cap on the way to the Co-op last trip. Obviously I failed to cinch it down tight before we left home. Roads are pretty rough, it rattled loose. The neck measures 2" OD, stands 1/2" proud, three coarse threads showing. Any ideas where I can find a replacement ? Metal cans of any kind are a rarity nowadays, so far any I've found don't quite fit. Most are too small diameter. Any help would be much appreciated !!

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:55 pm
by CudaMan
If you are going to Hershey, keep an eye out in folks' random parts bins. You can also check with anyone selling old gas cans at Hershey, sometimes they have a box of random extra lids.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:40 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Rich,

I have some. Do you want the style with hex or the style to hold the filler spout?

All the Best,

Hank

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 4:27 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
Had me worried for a minute! On the other hand, I fully understand the seriousness of such a loss. One's best old gasoline can is a special thing. May favorite can is one that belonged to my grandfather for decades before I was born, and I remember from my youngest days of walking in his shop. It looks almost exactly like your can, and is a Boyco.
I have found in the past that these metal caps varied a lot in exact size, fit, and thread. Out of curiosity, I tried several odd caps on my can many years ago. What I found was that although several were close, no paint can, kerosene can or other metal caps would quite work on either the large or small cap opening. I did find some plastic jug caps that fit the large opening. I have a box of spare caps of many sizes and will double check to see if any fit my can.

I would imagine that since my can is marked "Boyco", that other Boyco can caps should probably also fit. Check your can for a Boyco stamping. It could help in finding a replacement.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:03 pm
by kevinf
Rich,
Better strike while the iron is hot,
Best
Kevin


https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-METAL- ... Swe25c7Imj

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:19 am
by SurfCityGene
Sort of like Sheldon, I clicked on this worried about some TRagIETY you had that maybe I could offer some help.

Sorry I don't have a extra gas cap for you but maybe could offer some plastic wrap and a couple of rubber bands if you need them till you find one?

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:14 am
by Rich Bingham
:oops: I realized too late I headed this post a little too dramatically, especially when there are posts of real importance with bad news for our community here. I apologize. :oops:

Thank you all for the helpful posts, Hank, I sent you a PM. Gene, thank you for a good solution, I'll be in touch if I run out of rubber bands. Kevin, thanks for the link, that one could work.

Wayne, I realized I should have noted this is a little 2-gallon can. No maker's mark. It wore a paper label for many years, I think it said Eagle Brand. My Dad bought it about 1954 when he replaced our push mower with a used reel-type powered by a Briggs & Stratton motor. For comparison, here's a 5-gallon can I picked up that was abandoned at a remote boat dock about 35 years ago. Originally it held a Sinclair Oil product. Neither cap fits the little can. The big hex-top is too big, and the one with the spout is too small.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:53 am
by Original Smith
You may have to buy a whole gas can to get the cap. I often see those gas cans in antique shops.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:59 am
by Don D
Rich,

You didn't mention the distance traveled to the Co-op and whether you discovered the loss at the Co-op or after the entire trip, if the can was on the driver side or passenger side of your car.

You may want to consider fabricating a device to hang off your running board involving magnetic sweepers (used to clean shop floors) and slowly driving the course to sweep the road shoulder in an attempt to find the original cap. Harbor Freight sells a 17" for $10.99 and a 30" for 39.99. After you would have the sweeper for your shop.

It would be some work but finding the cap would be a great story to tell in the future.

Best of luck,
Dom

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:01 am
by Kaiser
Dom;

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:10 am
by Steve Jelf
Five gallon cans like the one in Rich's last picture are very common in these parts and often sell cheap at estate sales and auctions, especially if the can is rusted out and you just want the lids. The two gallon cans are much less common, but I do see them too. I like the Hershey idea. I would have the can in my car, and if I found somebody with a bunch of lids I'd bring in the can and see if any fit. Gas can lids are like Model T Fords. They're all different.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:56 am
by Rich Bingham
Yup. Steve's right about the variety. Trying limited options I'm amazed at the variation in metal caps for metal cans, all of which seem to have gone the route of the passenger pigeon. I'd love to go to Hershey, but then, I'd also like to go to Paris some day. Both are practicably inaccessible from my mountain fastness given my means and obligations.

I discovered the cap was missing when I pulled up at the pump at the Co-op. I thought about back-tracking at the time, but given the amount of cover over seven miles, gave up. The cap didn't oblige by lying visible in the road way when I returned.

Hank, you're my best hope ! Please check your PM ! Thanks ! And thanks to all of you !
(The magnet idea is a good one !) :D

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Still looking with some options, not all lost yet!

Hank

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:27 pm
by Ruxstel24
Not sure if it's still around, but the old man had one that was for a 2 stroke mix and the big cap had a cup on the inside to measure the oil to mix. 2.5 gallons I think it was...
And a flexible spout on the small hole.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:00 pm
by Rich Bingham
Thanks Hank !! :D

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:20 am
by gary80005
Last time I bought PVC primer and glue it came in a metal can. I took the brush off and it fit on my running board utility cans for gas, oil and water. Give it a try!

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:43 am
by Burger in Spokane
Rich, so sorry to hear of your loss. I would be bummed too.

I keep all my larger bulk fluids in cans like this, and am always on the hunt for
good condition examples with complete lids and handle. As mentioned above,
antique stores often have both good and ratty examples. I have tossed a little
coin at a shop owner many times to buy just the cap off a ratty can that will
only be used for decoration by the person ultimately buying the can. That same
buyer won't care if a cap is present or not, so the seller gets a few extra bucks
for the cap as a separate sale. Works out nice for both parties.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 3:24 pm
by Gus in Idaho
Hey Rich, I have the very same can but I backed over it with the lawn mower, the cap is good (a bit rusty) and should fit, send me your address to magnus(a)safelink.net and I will mail it to you if you have not already found one.
Gus

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 3:49 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Rich after another major search no luck!

Gus, good of you!

Hank

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:28 pm
by Rich Bingham
Thanks to all who responded, especially to Hank for making the effort to go through his "stuff" and to Gus - (email sent)

I really think a feller could solve most any problem with the help of this Model T community ! :D

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 10:16 pm
by Gus in Idaho
The interwebs are truly a great thing.

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:29 am
by Rich Eagle
If all else fails a tapered wooden plug and a wire bail would certainly work and look period correct. Perhaps even more charming that a proper cap.
Rich

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:39 pm
by Rich Bingham
Great idea !! Thanks Rich !!

Re: Tragedy struck. Help, please ?

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 10:23 pm
by tdump
I know the feeling.I lost the small lid to the 1 gallon metal can i used for 2 cycle gas.I have no words that I can type here to accurately discribe just how much I hate those new plastic cans for something small like a chain saw or trimmer.