www.iFourWinns.com

As I was filling the tank I pulled the hose out (which is actually above my head with the boat on the trailer) and the chain came off that holds the cap to the boat. I tried to look in there but can't see how it connects. I would guess there would be a female connector since I have the chain on the cap. Put my fingers in and can't feel anything really...I googled it with no luck. Anyone here know how to re-attach? My guess would be I would have to remove the fuel filler pipe from the hull...but no idea what I will see behind there. I know when I bought the boat it was off and I made the dealer re-attach it...wish I would have asked how they did it.

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

There may be a diagram in the manual... Check if the chain is metal with a magnet. If it is then get a mechanics magnet and stick it in the filler to see if you can pull it back up if it is still there. You can probably get a connector at your local hardware store. It may be connected using a hose clamp on the outside of the filler neck and passed inside the hose. Could be a tough one to replace if you don't have good access.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
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Did you ever find a solution to this. I have the same boat with the same problem. I am just super careful when filling gas, but I am always afraid of dropping the darn cap in the water.

I havent even looked at it since. It broke when I filled the tank and I still have 3/4...
I did call the dealer where I bought her, because it was broken when I bought it and I insisted they fix it before I took ownership. They said I would probably have to pull the intake tube and put it on a bench to fix it.

You would think this design could be improved. I don't like the idea of removing that fuel filler tube. I think I might try something like this?



Anyone else have any insight?

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

There's a little metal pressing that is folded over the last ball in the chain so it's trapped,wWhere those two ends of that pressing meet a screw is used to attach it to the cap or a boss on the inlet fitting.

Graham, yes I can see that but no way to reach it i can barely touch it with my fingertip, and at that point my whole hand is in the way and unable to do anything. Do you know a way to do it without removing the tube?
Thanks

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Chris,

Could you slacken off the screw and put something like a sliding loop of fishing line around it and the clip using some long nosed pliers to stop them falling falling into the tube, and then unscrew it fully ?

Or maybe plug the tube with rags to the level just under the screw so they fall onto it and then retrieve the screw/ clip with long nosed pliers?.

Another possibility is magnetising the screwdriver ( I just attach a very powerful rare earth magnet when doing that); very often screws and clips are not 316L/ A4, but a "lesser" stainless grade that can be picked up by a magnet. The screw/ clip is probably the same as on the cap, so you could test if it works first.