The retaining strap is held at the fuel flap end by a plastic retaining pin
that can easily be removed.....the other end of the strap is moulded into
a semi flexible collar that sits/fits in a groove around the fuel cap.
Below i have listed 3 possible solutions,...read them all and decide.
BUT...before you tackle any of the 3 you MUST do the following :-
1/ Remove the retaining pin for the old strap that is in the fuel flap.
(it can be prized/levered/popped out)
2/ At the fuel cap end, carefully prize/lever the collar for the broken strap
from out of the groove in the fuel cap.
3/ Cut off the broken end of the strap from the 'flange' on that collar.
4/ Drill a suitable small size hole in the central part of the 'flange' of the collar.
(size determined by which choice of the 3 as listed below)
A
Use a long zip-tie-cable and thread it through the hole and loop the other
end through the hole in the fuel flap where the pin used to fit, then connect
both ends of he zip-cable-tie together....do not make the zip tie too short...
you may actually get away with using one loonngg thin zip-tie, or you may
need to connect more than one zip tie together, if one is not long enough.
(Zip ties come in many different widths and lengths...so you should be able
to get hold of one/some to do this job)
Finally, put a drop of Superglue into/onto the point on the zip tie where the
ends join...this will stop anyone closing up the zip tie (or ties) any further...OK
B
Use a length of small diameter nylon rope...it must be long enough to do
the job + about another 1/3rd extra in length that will be melted to retain
it in place !
The diameter of the rope will need to be small enough to go through the hole
you will have drilled in the flange of the fuel cap collar, but also big enough for
the old retaining pin hole in the fuel flap. (You could always pop a small nut on it
first...to increase the size to stop it falling through the hole.)
To 'hold' this nylon rope in place you will have to heat each end with the flame
of a cigarette lighter so that the nylon fibres of it will form a 'blob' of congealed
nylon...this is necessary to stop either of the ends from falling out or through
the holes that it is threaded through in either the fuel cap collar or the fuel filler
flap retaining hole.
C
Or...use a NEW shoe lace..!
It should be quite long....long enough to go between both of the mounting holes
when the fuel flap is fully open AND....with enough spare at each end so that you
can put a 'loop' knot at each end of the lace.
(If anyone uses this solution it would be VERY wise to check every few months
to ensure that contamination from fuel or dirt etc does not rot it away !
It's easy to replace if it does...shoe laces usually come in pairs.)
