Need fresh water tank drain cap- are they NLA?

[Franklinstower]

I thought I read they are NLA. Do I have to find one at a junk yard? Does any one have a spare they would sell? What about from another application, like does an RV store have something with the right threads?

Thanks,

Paul

[r39o]

This may have already been discussed. Perhaps Delta Six has them. Maybe GoWesty. Perhaps a home improvement store has a threaded cap that will work. Did you try the VW dealer???

Place a wanted ad in the Classifieds under Vanagon parts.
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[Dogpilot]

Terry Kay claims to have some.
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[PDXWesty]

Mine cracked at the flat bottom end from overtightening for years. I was able to fix it by taking the rubber seal out, filling the bottom of the cap with household silicone adhesive, replacing the rubber seal in the bottom of the cap, and letting it dry. I was carful not to overtighten it from then on.

You can also use one of those rubber no-hub pipe end caps that are used in plumbing systems as a cap for open pipe. They have a stainless steel band clamp that is used to tighten over the pipe. It works but is not convenient for removal. Any plumbing store will have them.

http://www.pexsupply.com/categories.asp?cID=105&brandid=

http://www.missionrubber.com/Products/EndCaps.php

[Franklinstower]

I read the info from Terry K. - Apparently the threads are a straight cut and not compatible with any plumbing part. Go westy no longer has them and I did not find them anywhere else.

What about an older bay window water tank fill cap? do you think those threads are they same? I don't remember my bay window having a drain for the water tank except the pump.
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'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug
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[Dogpilot]

The other way to do it is the rubber stoppers that have the center flip up, like european cheap wine bottles. When you clamp down, they seal. I've seen them in different sizes at places like Target or the like.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[vw_nick]

[Dogpilot]

Nick, thats the one, the one I would frequently forget to put in my boat. I would notice a slightly higher nose elevation than normal. Light bulb goes on, boat plug, duh!

Yes they come in two packs from West Marine a couple of bucks. Eaiser than trying to unscrew that cap in the cold.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[Terry Kay]

<<Terry Kay claims to have some.>>

Terry Kay does have the stock Westfalia water tank drain caps--in stock.

There were only 20 left in VW's inventory world wide--I bought them all.

As I have mentioned before, even though folks claim to have used them--the threads on them drains aren't the same as Lowe's. or the Home depot PVC cap thread pitch--don't use them.

Verboden.

You'll strip the threads off of the water tank drain outlet as sure as the Titanic sunk--

If you need a stock fit , correct drain cap , drop me a line.
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T.K.

[John Sullivan]

I got mine at Busdepot. They have pre 87 and post 87 versions. http://www.busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&category=40&group=97&prodgroup=922

[wyomingresident]

I found an exact fit at Home Depot for 57¢.

I later replaced it with a plastic faucet that I can turn on and off fir about five bucks. I had lost the key and filled the tank from the threads that are on the end of the faucet. Works great.

[rhpaw]

I have not implimented my fix, it's sitting on the workbench waiting for 5 minites where I'm motivated enough to lie under the van.

Last night I measured, and the inboard diameter of the tank drain is exacty one inch.
I went down to ACE and picked up a 2-by nylon fitting, one end a 1" exact barb fitting, and the other end a 3/4 inch pipe fitting. Then I bought the matching pipe end cap.
With some silicon to seal it, I should have a perfect fit.. I tried the fitting last night when I came home, and the fit was.. 'virginal' . Give me some silicon sealing and my rubber mallet and I should have this nipped without depending a another NLA part.. (Lord knows we have to deal with that enough already)
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"z's house of boxer"

[tclark]

[Terry Kay]

<<I found an exact fit at Home Depot for 57¢.>>
You found what you percieved as a direct fit.
The threads on that HD PVC pipe cap ain't the same.

<<I later replaced it with a plastic faucet that I can turn on and off fir about five bucks. I had lost the key and filled the tank from the threads that are on the end of the faucet.>>

The reason you used this end result is you twisted off the threads on the water tank drain male fitting with the mircale cure HD PVC cap.
The threads aren't the same, and will get screwed up on the tank drain.
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T.K.

[noganav]

Look at that, I'm at my 100th post already

Sincere thanks for all of the useful Vanagon related information. This forum has been a great help to me on many occasions. It's the web's best Vanagon resource, and I've learned a lot from the friendly folks on this board. It's also nice to be part of such an inclusive and welcoming community, and I'm proud that I've been able to pay something back by explaining some of the things I've learned from doing things the hard way.

It doesn't even bother me that the classifieds are always cluttered with the same garbage. Boy that stuff really keeps coming back don't it? There ought to be some kind of limit. It's ok though, by now I know what not to look at. I just flash past the trash and hot foot it to the good stuff! I'm sure most of you folks do the same.

Thanks everyone!

[wyomingresident]

Yeah...I am a mechanical beast and checked thread gauge Screwed the cap on and off several times. Worked great.

Sometimes there is an easy way.

This was a few years back I'd have no way of finding part numbers.


Also...


I used a coupler to screw on the plastic hose bib to the bottom of the tank. Again, HD had something like fifteen different parts to accomplish this task. Again there was an easy way.

I lived in the bus for over a year ***on the road*** and used the tank & hose bib filling method for at least five months until I took a screw driver and forced open the water key on the side of the bus. I then secured it with velcro as to not loose the key thingee. Still works to this day.



Even in a small town like Jackson Hole a plumbing supply store stocks many different PVC types/widths/thread gauges.

[Terry Kay]

Regardless where the plumbing supply place may be really doesn't make a diference.

Pipe has pipe thread.

The tank drain has straight thread's and it just isn't the same.

I have never found straight thread in any plumbing supply store.

You might find it at a tubing / Heavy equipment hydaulic specialty shop--but not at the HD, Lowes, or Meanards.

You can run them pipe threaded caps, couplings onto the outlet--no problem.
But you'll tear the hell out of them in the process.

The silicone sealer you mentioned in an earlier post was your saviour--but this isn't the right answer either.

You glued up what you damaged on the way on---
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T.K.

[Terry Kay]

The Westfalia drain nipple has straight threads, which is not available at any plumbing supply store.

They proper equipment can be either obtained from someone who has the correct Westfalia cap, or any reputable hydraulic shop.
Any shop who handles Parker hoses & fittings will have straight cut pipe accesories.

This is what this thread was all about, what fits right, and what won't.

And the hardware store stuff isn't right, even though it can be heave hoed's on--one time.
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T.K.

[wyomingresident]

[Franklinstower]

I started this thread asking if the cap is NLA. I got the responses I was looking for: Yes, someone has the cap for $30.00 and someone else advertises the cap for $15.00. Some people use ingenuity to create a solution that will work for a couple of bucks.

I'm not one for censorship, if there is something on the radio that irritates me, I change the channel or turn it off, same with all media. It is unfortunate that I have to go through so much of this crap in this thread just to get the answers I was hoping to hear...

One more thing about this elusive cap, Has any measured the threads? Is there a size and pitch I can search for at a hydraulic shop?

Thanks in advance......especially if it has nothing to do with clay people.

Paul
_________________
'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug
YITB