Help : My Quail Tried To Fly Away

[davehc]

Today I went to check the water in the radiator , opened the cap , all OK , started to close it and the Quail came off in my hand . My first thought was , WOW glad this didn't decide to let go on the road . Then as I started trying to figure out what was going on with it , I noticed where and why it came apart . So I thought before I start trying to come up with a fix , I would try to find out if anyone else here had had this happen , and if you were able to do a fixable repair on it . Here are a couple of pics of what it is .

[CarlG]

Same thing happened to me. I couldn't determine just how to "fix" it adequately, so I am now using a stock looking cap. I have a couple of Quails (one with and one without the temp gauge) on the shelf that I might decide to use one of these days when I get bored.

[JOHN CT]

Here's what I think of the quail radiator caps
My wife and I were out for a Sunday drive. Stop at a traffic light just looking out the front windshield. And the quail just fell over as it bounce down in the front fender onto the running board my wife opened the door reached out and handed over to me. That was the second one that broke with in 2 years.
Now I use a plain rad. cap

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Evidently a different or cheaper manufacturer. Close to 18 years and 33,000 miles, and it hasn't come apart yet!

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by JOHN CT

Here's what I think of the quail radiator caps
My wife and I were out for a Sunday drive. Stop at a traffic light just looking out the front windshield. And the quail just fell over as it bounce down in the front fender onto the running board my wife opened the door reached out and handed over to me. That was the second one that broke with in 2 years.
Now I use a plain rad. cap

John
What happened to the fender?

[taffrail]

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I had it happen to my quail also. I drilled and bolted it back together with a stainless 1/4-20 carriage bolt, washer and ny-lock nut. Doesn't look any worse than a thermo- quail. I did put a moto-meter on till I got around to fixing it, I do like seeing the temp.
but quail is mucher nicer.

[JOHN CT]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

What happened to the fender?

I was lucky I couldn't find any damage. But its in our model A history book. Just another story we can laugh about.

[RUNNERBUN]

Originally Posted by taffrail

I had it happen to my quail also. I drilled and bolted it back together with a stainless 1/4-20 carriage bolt, washer and ny-lock nut. Doesn't look any worse than a thermo- quail. I did put a moto-meter on till I got around to fixing it, I do like seeing the temp.
but quail is mucher nicer.

Did the same fix when mine broke. Head of the stainless carriage bolt on the outside under the Quail and a nylock nut inside. I buffed and polished the head of the bolt to make it nice and shiny. Worked fine for me.

[old car guy]

They know when hunting season is getting close to opening .

[SSsssteamer]

We have had our quail roosting on top of our '29 Tudor's radiator for 48 years now. Still looks great and no problems. Older is usually better............

[marc silva]

Nothing wrong with old

[updraught]

I've got a 40 year old one. The hinge crumbled to bits and the quail fell off breaking the thermometer.

Is that old?

[davehc]

Originally Posted by taffrail

I had it happen to my quail also. I drilled and bolted it back together with a stainless 1/4-20 carriage bolt, washer and ny-lock nut. Doesn't look any worse than a thermo- quail. I did put a moto-meter on till I got around to fixing it, I do like seeing the temp.
but quail is mucher nicer.

taffrail , That is exactly what I was thinking of doing , it was a swapmeet find ,[ and surely an aftermarket lower quality] , though it is in nice shape , it matches the rest of the car . Thanks for the comments .

[Steve Wastler]

Doesn't even need drilled, epoxy the nyloc nut in the underside recess with the washer and bolt Up from underneath.

[bobpo1]

When my Quail turned around and started looking at me on the road one day. I stopped, removed and too off. I found that there was an upward pressure being caused by the Stainless Steel radiator shell. So I took the radiator off, took it to a radiator shop where the kid slightly extended the neck of the fill nozzle. Never a problem since. That happened several years ago.