Modern Vespa

Hi

I have a plastic fuel tap that looks like this.. With the position that it is in now is this considered closed, then half way (say 3 O'Clock) considered "On" and all the way up is "Reserve" ?

The issue I am having is in the position that it is in the photo (all the way down), if I leave it for a week or so, when I come back, it floods and pisses a pool of gas all over. So before I go and replace the fuel tap (which is 2 years old) I want to make sure the problem isn't me.

If I start it with the lever position all the way up (what I _think_ is reserve) could this also cause the flooding ? I can't think why.. but that's how I have always ridden and started it.

Thanks

Now looking at this thread US fuel tap. Any replacements and position I am starting to think my fuel tap lever is on backwards..

Yup looks backwards. Here are 2 pics of mine that I took before disassembly. It's not going back on! I'm going with the Euro Style lever and plate. It seems very flimsy.

Hec

Bringing this back to life.

Winter came and I forgot about this problem. But I picked it up from storage today and I had another look. For sure the lever is on backwards.

But, I can also confirm that when the lever is in the middle position, that is, parallel to the ground, gas flows. I rode all the way home with it in this position.

So I am completely stumped with what position does what.

I guess the only way is to wait for the tank to be near empty and test.

Yours is on correctly.

Lever up - fuel is drawn from a tube that extends ~ halfway up the tank, so fuel will only flow when tank is filled above the "reserve" level

Lever down (reserve) - fuel is drawn from hole at the bottom of the tap, so fuel will flow as long as there is some in the tank.

Lever straight out - Tap off

Sometimes the reason these don't work is because the gasket on the tap is worn out or was put on wrong. You need to pull the tank out to check the tap gasket.

Easiest way to tell that it's on backwards, "Off" is upside down with lever out. Needs to be rotated 180°.

Edit: I can't remember if the actual shaft can be put in 180° off too. Fuzzy on whether the pin "T" at the end is offset to only allow installation one way or not.

Either way, rotate the selector, and if it's opposite of what's labelled, pull off the selector and rotate shaft 180° and reinstall selector.

I think most replacement taps are for older & Euro levers which are ON straight up or center position, OFF to the right and RESERVE to the left. You may have one of those.
Why some US bikes came with OFF in center position is beyond me,

You are one to something.

Here is what I can say for sure. As the lever is now, that is, backwards, I can confirm that all the way down is Off, middle is Reserve and Up is On.

I tested that this week and that's definitely how it is.

Thanks !