Stuck fuel cap

[Frank G]

2012 RTL 7500 miles. This afternoon we stoped for gas in Disney World Florida, fuel cap would not unscrew (just clicked). After about 20 minutes and dousing it with cold water it finally came off. Do I need a new cap? Any thoughts?

BTW stoped at Central Florida Power Sports to check out the F3, turned around and the wife was setting in a Slingshot with a smile.

 

[WA5VHU]

Happened to us too!

The fuel cap, that is. We had driven our 2011 RT-S SE5 on our first long trip and after about 100 miles in 85° sunny weather, pulled in for gas and the stoooopid cap wouldn't come off, just clicked like an expensive party favor. The Spyder smelled very strong of gas. Pulled away from the pump and messed with it for about 45 minutes and the stoooopid cap finally came off. I could then hear the gasoline boiling inside the explosive chamber Can-Am calls a gas tank.

Wife wants to stick with 3 wheels so traded the fireball-waiting-to-happen in on a 2014. World of difference.

I hope the NHTSA does a thorough job and the pre-2014 owners get reasonable relief.

Oh, and I think our sucky Spyder pulled a vacuum that prevented the cap from coming off. If it had happened again I was going to use my Leatherman to make a hole in the cap to release the Spyder's suckeniss. I don't think the gasoline fumes could have gotten any worse.

Ask me sometime how I really feel...

 

[jerpinoy]

Boiling gas inside the tank is no brainer and the click click sound not for me. Sounds like it's ready to go off. I'll be scare ignition might be strayed somewhere.:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[Chupaca]

Little checking..!!

there have been issues with the caps and a recall. You could check by vin# if yours was done. If it happens if you squeeze the sides while turning like a medicine bottle you will be able to remove the cap...:thumbup:

 

[Frank G]

Up date....there were no gas fumes or boiling gas. I have never had any issues with the gas fumes. It has the new style gas cap.

Thanks to everyone who are responding.

 

[DrewNJ]

Can am gas caps are known for sticking. It has nothing to do with anything except the quality of the cap itself.
You will weaken the cap if you tighten it to the point of it clicking and they can be tough to get off after awhile.
Personally I only snug down my cap just before the clicks and don't have any issues. There is no reason to tighten the gas cap like a gorilla.

 

[WA5VHU]

Yes AND NO!

there have been issues with the caps and a recall. You could check by vin# if yours was done. If it happens if you squeeze the sides while turning like a medicine bottle you will be able to remove the cap...:thumbup:

Recalled/replaced gas cap, yes.

Squeeze sides, along with all the suggestions from wife and I plus all other folks passing by, no! Just wait for the gas tank to stop sucking.

 

[WA5VHU]

Huh?

Can am gas caps are known for sticking. It has nothing to do with anything except the quality of the cap itself.
You will weaken the cap if you tighten it to the point of it clicking and they can be tough to get off after awhile.
Personally I only snug down my cap just before the clicks and don't have any issues. There is no reason to tighten the gas cap like a gorilla.

Gas caps are made to click to assure the user they have been properly tightened.

From my 2011 Spyder's Owners Manual:



So you will weaken the cap if you follow the manual?

 

[WA5VHU]

Maybe but mine really pulled a vacuum...

Can am gas caps are known for sticking. It has nothing to do with anything except the quality of the cap itself.
You will weaken the cap if you tighten it to the point of it clicking and they can be tough to get off after awhile.
Personally I only snug down my cap just before the clicks and don't have any issues. There is no reason to tighten the gas cap like a gorilla.

The Can-Am gas caps may be known for sticking due to their apparent poor quality but when mine finally turned loose it sounded like opening a bottle of pop, except it didn't blow, it sucked. It actually happened twice on warm days and lucky for us we hadn't gone that far the second time so we only had to wait about 10 minutes.

Perhaps my previous Spyder was the only one that pulled a vacuum when it got hot?

 

[DrewNJ]

You've got something else going on. The emissions system on the spyder is not like a car. It does not pressurize/test the tank and there certainly shouldn't be vacuum on the tank.
The spyder system is always open to the atmosphere through the canister.

As for tightening the cap. You can crank on that cap all you want, but your asking for problems doing it that way. Just snug it.

 

[mtdoragary]

Solved my problem with a Stant 10833