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Replace those pinch clamps!

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  • Replace those pinch clamps!

    About 6,000 miles ago I did the 24,000 mile service on my '02 R1150R. One of the more unpleasant tasks involved changing the fuel filter, which I am sure all of you know is located inside the tank on a panel with the fuel pump. Not extremely hard to do but not my ideal Saturday morning task. I followed directions that I picked up on the R1150R forum and it went pretty smoothly except for my not following the instruction to mark the panel's location before you remove it. After buttoning everything back up I then realized that the fuel lines which were long enough when I took them off were now one inch too short. I had to undo everthing and rotate the panel to the correct position.

    Basically what you have to do is cut, prize, or grind carefully (watch for sparks) the clamp off the hose to the filter and replace the filter and both clamps with the screw tighting type. It is pretty hard to get the panel back into the tank, even more so it you do it wrong. You also have to change a big rubber o-ring that goes around the back of the panel sealing off the gas in the tank. I supposed that all had went well and went on a few rides with out incident after the service.

    Recently after a pre-flight check over I cranked the bike to let it run just a minute as I put on my helmet and gloves. Suddenly I noticed a pretty good stream of fuel running down the right side of my bike. I killed the motor and the leak stopped. My first thought was that I had stored the tank near empty instead of full as usually do. I thought maybe the o-ring had gotten dry and caused the leak. But after thinking on that I ruled that out because it only leaked when the fuel pressure was applied by the pump. There was no leak when rocking the bike sloshing the fuel around in the tank.

    I pulled the plastic panel that covers the quick disconnects and they were dry. The leak was north of there in the nether regions under the tank. So off with the tank again. I noticed immediately that the rubber gasket was not leaking (I have confidence in my mechanic). What was obvious was that the fuel line that attached to flange at the back of the panel was very lose. It would spin easily in my hand but would not slide off because of the built up lip near the edge. I believe that the pulling and twisting on removing and replacing the panel a couple of times had caused the hose to pull loose from its seal on the flange. The pinch clamp was still intact on the hose. I realize now that I should have replaced both of those clamps on the fuel lines on the outside or opposite side of the panel than the filter with the proper fuel injection clamps when I replaced the filter.

    The fuel hoses looked a little worn and bulged so I ordered new fuel hose and clamps as well as the brass quick disconnects from the Beemer Boneyard. (Do not use standard 8mm non-fuel injection approved hose for this application, it won't hold up.) I still had those factory plastic disconnects on my bike that are notorious for failure at the worst time. Anyway I am waiting on parts, just glad that it failed there at home rather than some remote location.

  • #2
    Wow Jeff! What an ordeal! I guess the good thing is it will be easier to do next time! Glad you were at home!!!
    Current Bikes
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    • #3
      I had BMW Ft Myers do my first 24000 mile service and left the o-ring gasket off. Of course it didn't leak till on the road and the bike was cold. Thought it was the quick connects so kept taking it apart uutil I found the problem. I did replace all fuel lines and connectors at that time.
      Gas running out of the bike while running is never a good thing.
      Greg and Melanie
      06 K1200LT
      05 VStrom 1000
      02 VStrom 1000 (in Germany)

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