Reserve fuel lever

Hello Thomas,

I would not advise attempting to replace the entire tap, mainly because it is made from brass, so corrosion is not a problem, and it may well up end up taking till Christmas to do... :LOL:

The only part which degrades is the rubber 'O' ring. To remove this item you will need two small imperial spanners so as to loosen the control cable. Then to release the actual arm from the tap a small screwdriver is required. Classicus offered some excellent advise in using clean white rags to sit beneath the tap just in case any item should fall.

Fit a new fuel resistant 'O' ring of the same dimensions and then refit.

You will need a good light source and lots of patience and be prepared for an aching back and sore fingers, but just make sure that no women or children can hear when you start describing the tap and the Rover using very colourful language... :LOL:

Ron.
 
In my earlier post, I did not make it clear that I was referring to removing the barrel which holds the O ring only. To remove the entire reserve tap is almost impossible in situ!
 
The only reason for jacking the front of the car up is to stop the weight of the petrol in the tank causing it to pour petrol out all over the place all the time that the tap is dismantled. Unless the tank is nearly empty, jacking the front up is far easier than draining the tank. (And to do that you have to jack the car up..........)
 
put a new seal in mine few years back. left wire disconnected. had a bit of running issues then found tap had closed partially! not had any issues since making sure was in open position and NOT on reserve. poking around it today to check if it 'moves' ..it did but gave me a damp fuel finger! so best leave alone if not leaking I think.
 
I like the reserve function, and I wouldn't do away with it, it's one of the things that make the P6 that bit special, although not unique. Anyone know of another car of the same time period that had a petrol reserve?
 
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I have a very dim recollection an old Triumph Herald that my dad had, a 1200 and later a 1360, had some sort of reserve on the tank. I seem to think he tried to use it once but it had seized.

Mick
 
I have a very dim recollection an old Triumph Herald that my dad had, a 1200 and later a 1360, had some sort of reserve on the tank. I seem to think he tried to use it once but it had seized.

We have a winner! Trouble with that one was that it was a switch on the tank and you had to get out of the car and open the boot to use it. Not in the same league as the Rover.
 
I suppose that the twin tanks on contemporary Jaguars that fed the engine through different switchable fuel pumps were something like a reserve. However, due to the size of this reserve being one tank, it doesn't really warn the driver in the way a normal size reserve does.
 
hi there,
if replacing the "O" ring in the tap, you need a "Viton" O ring, (special rubber composition to withstand petrol) size 9mm , inside diameter , 2 mm thick.

I know this because I replaced mine earlier in the year, now no more weeps or drips, a MOT fail....;)
Peter
 
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