Here is an old, but useful bit of info that may explain the "why":
(Thanks to Bill of **********)
The gas cap is secured to the tank by 3 screws, located at top, lower right and lower left. The other 4 screws, located left and right of the top screw, secure the cap to the outer ring.
The problem is the tank does not present a level platform, in that the lower right mount is too low, causing the cap assembly to be twisted when all mounting screws are tightened equally.
Loosen the screw at 5 o'clock and observe that the closing problem is absent.
Apply some blue thread lock to the screw at 5 o'clock and tighten 1/4 turn beyond the point that the screw contacts the frame.
Otherwise, if you require all crews to be tightened equally, I found it took about a .020 inches shim to raise the level of the pedestal at 5 o'clock, to be equal in height too the other two pedestals and allow all 3 mounting screw to be tightened equally.
Regards, Bill