Wooly15 Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Any tips or tricks to remove and replace that mesh? I picked up a few caps at the junk yard this weekend and the old mesh is falling out like snow. I'd like to replace it before it falls down in the motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 You could probably take a die grinder and remove the metal tabs on the bottom and pull the old mesh out with a hook. It would be a matter of re-inserting new mesh and tacking the tab back on to the bottom. My father and I were going to do this because my caps were also dropping sediment whenever they were set down with some moderate force, but I just opted to buy new Stant caps from the local NAPA. I wouldn't know where to get the mesh, but I can't imagine it being any different from stainless steel wool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 I was wondering if I could fold those tabs back and take it apart. I have an aftermarket cap on now and am looking to get back to all original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Wooly15 said: I was wondering if I could fold those tabs back and take it apart. I have an aftermarket cap on now and am looking to get back to all original. Folding the tabs back won't buy you the access you are looking for. The tabs hold on the spring steel locking ears but there is still the tabs base once the ears are folded back. You can cut the tabs base away but then there is the problem of replacing it to hold the locking ears. If a guy was REAL good it could be TIG'ed back but delicate work for sure. The entire locking ears base could also be cut off and TIG'ed back together. The mesh is easily found. SS or brass pot scrubbies work just fine. Or you can spend the time to pick the old mesh out with a crochet hook and unravel a scrubbie and snake it in. In any case a fun project............Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Haha! NOTHING is ever easy. Is the original stuff stainless or aluminum? If it's the latter, I could dissolve if with acid as long as the cap itself is steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 15 minutes ago, Wooly15 said: Haha! NOTHING is ever easy. Is the original stuff stainless or aluminum? If it's the latter, I could dissolve if with acid as long as the cap itself is steel. Not sure of the material. May be aluminum. If so the best agent to remove it is lye. Does a good job, cuts the grease/oil and won't affect the steel cap. Doubt very much it's SS. See what your magnet says.......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) I've got to correct myself. I checked and the mesh filler IS stainless steel. Further complicating the job is a fiber gasket trapped in place to seal the cap to the rocker cover. That will complicate TIG or brazing. Of course an O ring or flat neoprene gasket could possibly be substituted for the fiber. Unless you have a lathe and are good with a TIG setup, picking and stuffing may be the safest bet as the least damaging first cut at the problem. Still doable but getting more difficult. ...........Bob Edited August 1, 2016 by Bhigdog (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 2, 2016 Author Share Posted August 2, 2016 Looks like I'm going to be digging all that mess out with something. I don't think it's worth cutting and re-welding. Thanks for all the tips though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 10 hours ago, Wooly15 said: digging all that mess out with something Try a crochet hook.................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 2, 2016 Author Share Posted August 2, 2016 I'll see if the Mrs. will let me use one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 have you considered rinsing with kerosene, drying, and then just stuffing a new layer in on top of the old? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 2, 2016 Author Share Posted August 2, 2016 I soaked them in mineral spirits overnight and when they dried it still falls out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Got the mesh out of the the center area. The rest around the outside won't hurt anything if ot comes out. Now to find some stainless steel wool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Wooly …. just a point regarding just using regular ol steel wool. What you want is not a wool cut but a fiber cut. The greater surface area is what is required for the breather dynamics to work properly. Stuffing fine milled steel wool that one finds off the shelf is too fine and has little to know surface area. We use copper or stainless scrub pads sourced from kitchenware sections of your store, but with the correct wide surface area of each strand. They look kinda like accordions strands. Hope this helps ….. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 These are available new....I don't know that I would go through all the trouble of replacing the mesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Oh I know not to use the fine steel, it wouldn't last. As far as finding a new one, I'm trying to keep my Buick all original (looking). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 7 hours ago, Smartin said: These are available new....I don't know that I would go through all the trouble of replacing the mesh. If his are like mine, they say OIL on both sides and not AC OIL. Might just be enough to keep them, but in case Wooly didn't know, here's a link to the repros: http://www.oldbuickparts.com/cart/oil-filler-cap-1939-60-show-quality-ac-p-4758.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Correct. Old old stock, filter mesh shavings and all: If anyone is interested, one of these is extra. I only needed to replace one. Shoot me a PM. Edited August 3, 2016 by Wooly15 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Turns out the mesh in mine is aluminum. Going to dry and dissolve it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Interesting. I'm certain mine is SS. Non magnetic, Heated to red doesn't turn the flame green so not brass/copper, can't melt with a propane torch so not aluminum..................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 I never knew stainless wasn't magnetic. Hmm. Well, according to Sgt. Maj. Google, some is, some isn't. I just assumed since mine wasn't magnetic is was aluminum. Learn something new every day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Most common SS, series 300, isn't magnetic. Series 400 is. 400 is mostly used in applications where it is hardened. I'm thinking yours is also SS..............Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Tedious, but not real hard to open the crimp on the bottom (and only a little bit of blood). That is if you are misguided and anal like me. The mesh in those that I have worked on was aluminum. Willie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooly15 Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Of the two I bought at the junk yard (from the same car) it seems one had stainless and one had aluminum. Put some very potent drain cleaner (sulfuric acid) in both for an hour. One had a very strong reaction and the mesh completely dissolved. The other must be stainless because it's still there. Guess GM used what was available to shred and make filters from. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Tastes like aluminum to me. Oily aluminum. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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