Technical Panda 4x4 Fuel filler neck pipe repair

kolza · Sep 30, 2015

Dear all panda 4x4 users.

We all were living under constant fear of geting our precious and hard to source filler pipe damaged.

No need to be affraid any longer, if somebody will face this problem please get in touch with me as after some deep research and hours off browsing through the web, numerous contacts with manufactures and stockist i have come up with solution.

As long as your filler neck will not be damaged above middle of the corrugated it is still repairable.

An example of damaged filler neck next to good one.

The repair section is a proper fuel hose made from rubber resistant to all type of petrol, wire reinforced but pretty flexible, suitable for instalations when exposed to the elements while under the wheel arch. Supplied with Hi-Grip UK made 12mm jubille clips.

northernchap · Sep 30, 2015

Nice work mate! Is it double skinned, i.e. if the tyre rubs on the pipe and exposes the wire reinforcements, it still won't leak?

lewisreeves · Sep 30, 2015

I seem to reconise that exact Fuel filler pipe.

kolza · Sep 30, 2015

Yes, it won't leak straight away.

And it will not rub if you will use the metal sleeve protector as well.

lewisreeves · Sep 30, 2015

kolza Have you seen my comment on facebook?

kolza · Sep 30, 2015

I'll send the details across tonight.

andyholli · Sep 30, 2015

Excellent work kolza!

AndyPanda4x4 · Sep 30, 2015

I don't mean to put a downer on this but I have already been through this modification on one of my many attempts with the wire reinforced piping, it took a bit longer but the wheel still rubbed through.

What does look good is the steel pipe bend though, this is fantastic. Are you providing this section as part of your kit Jacob?

panda1408 · Sep 30, 2015

AndyPanda4x4 said:
I don't mean to put a downer on this but I have already been through this modification on one of my many attempts with the wire reinforced piping, it took a bit longer but the wheel still rubbed through.

Those were my thoughts too Andy, it needs to be all steel or aluminium to stop the tyre rubbing through. A Mk1 steel filler pipe would work very well, but they are not exactly easy to come by!

It really does seem to be dependent on the tank as to whether you get rubbing issues. Digger has 155/80 13 tyres fitted and there is no sign of any rubbing, but my red 4x4 rubbed through the pipe with standard 145/80 road tyres! I've not compared the angles of the inlet on the tank, something I must do.

AndyPanda4x4 · Sep 30, 2015

I know for a fact that Lewis has the same tank as me, with the dodgy angled inlet which is the problem. Even with the standard size tyres mine rubbed until I put the 24mm spacers on the back wheels (it was rubbing still with 16mm spacers on). I have looked at several different types of exhaust pipes in the scrap yard to find a decent bend as Jacob has illustrated here. The diameter required to sleeve over the standard filler neck for a snug fit is 52mm. I will be putting a bend like this on mine as soon as I find one correct, as the coke can sleeve is still not enough to fully protect!

panda1408 · Sep 30, 2015

Perhaps a custom exhaust place could bend something up. I guess the problem is every car and tank will be different so the angle of bend is likely to be different each time.

Fuel tanks and fillers do seem to be the most problematic thing on a 4x4, cuase nothing but trouble!

AndyPanda4x4 · Sep 30, 2015

Let the light continue to shine on Jacob for an excellent repair job on the pipe though :thumbup:

We can all crack this problem by putting our ideas together I am sure.

kolza · Sep 30, 2015

Andy, I've got one protective sleeve for you made already - just waiting next to sisley mudflap to go back to Masham. Sleeve is approx. 2 inch longer than that one above.
Probably there are several ways and solutiions to get away from rubbing/leaking filler neck, as Freddy mentioned each case is different therefor must be treated individually.

You can say there are two types of actions:
- protecting/ preventing good filler neck - slim line protector from outside.
- fixing already damaged filler neck - as above.

AndyPanda4x4 · Sep 30, 2015

Thanks a lot Jacob where did you get the bends from by the way?

kolza · Sep 30, 2015

They are made from flat zinc plated steel sheet, cut and bend to fit.

onemanmade · Oct 1, 2015

Doesnt help with the wheel rubbing, but what I did with engelbert's (sorry, axel!) was used underseal with waxoyl to coat the pipe so that it will not get brittle with age, as they are starting to do now.

Just an idea.

Giacosa · Oct 1, 2015

panda1408 said:
It really does seem to be dependent on the tank as to whether you get rubbing issues. Digger has 155/80 13 tyres fitted and there is no sign of any rubbing, but my red 4x4 rubbed through the pipe with standard 145/80 road tyres! I've not compared the angles of the inlet on the tank, something I must do.

It sounds like the axle location is all over the place. Old leaf springs and or worn bushes allowing too much fore & aft movement?

onemanmade said:
Doesnt help with the wheel rubbing, but what I did with engelbert's (sorry, axel!) was used underseal with waxoyl to coat the pipe so that it will not get brittle with age, as they are starting to do now.

Just an idea.

I hope you have a sick note to account for your abscence

Bartpanda · Oct 1, 2015

It sounds like the axle location is all over the place. Old leaf springs and or worn bushes allowing too much fore & aft movement?

That is also what I think about the problem, I had 62cm tyres {165/80-14} and still no rub, whats more there was also rear plastic arch present between the wheel and the neck and no sign of the contact there, but trekking had new big leafspring bushes and also new rear ones. In oposite to that on pandabella I had 165/80-13 wheels- 59,5cm, plus mk1 metal filler neck and rear tyres were rubbing the plastic filler neck cover and touching the neck itself sometimes{ through the hole in the plastic cover

}. All the rear bushes in pandabella were totally worn out, axle had excessive travel in all directions.

Second thing to consider is the upper fastening "ring" of the filler neck, it must be firmly "clicked" on all four "teeth" to prevent the neck from moving/turning towards the wheel.

165/80-13 with old bushes and before moving the axle 10mm to the back, the whole axle/leafsprings were moving to the front/back depending on the car action braking/accelerating/ reversing etc, on the picture it is in its "closest to the wheelarch" positon after reversing.

hole in the plastic cover rubbed by the tyre{ covered with gray ducktape

}

Now all bushes are new in pandabella and the whole axle is moved 10mm to the back on its mounts, tyres on the pictures are 155/80-13 -58cm, still plenty room for bigger tyres , tank is marbella one, filler neck is panda 4x4 1986 plus{ trekking 92}

onemanmade · Oct 1, 2015

Giacosa said:
It sounds like the axle location is all over the place. Old leaf springs and or worn bushes allowing too much fore & aft movement?

I hope you have a sick note to account for your abscence

Rofl been busy getting things ready for baby coming and getting the beamer improved

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