Fuel filler cap refurbishment

[Alfredo]

Hello all,

My fuel filler cap has been getting harder and harder to get off so I thought I would try to refurbish it by following these instructions:

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fuel_System_Filler_Cap

All was going well until the final step, which isn't mentioned above, which is putting the securing pin back in.

Holding the red cap down and in place (which takes a hell of a lot of brute force to do) I cannot push the pin through the hole, it just doesn't want to go. Even with the red cap and spring off, it is a real struggle to get it started off into the hole.

The pin is 2.5mm diameter and under magnification I can see that it isn't solid. It has two grooves running along the length, one on each side.

Can anyone give me any hints on how to get this pin back in?

Thanks

[Mocki]

It’s years since i had one apart, but i seem to think they only go in from one direction , not sure how or why , or even if I’m misremembering

[Alfredo]

Done it.

Four hands, a metal sewing thimble and a pair of pipe clamps.

Works great now.