So I did, by eamail, today.
I wonder if you can help me, please?
There have been several (probably lots, if your dealers' responses are genuine) well documented reports of the fuel controller, that sits on top of the fuel pump, failing on 1200GS and GSA machines.
Quite why the controllers are failing seems to be a bit of a mystery. The answer, depending on who you talk to, seemingly ranging from:
(a) They get flooded. I guess this is linked to the pool of water that they often seem to sit in? Possibly explaining why the 08 GS now has a more sloped recess for the unit?
(b) They are getting overly hot and 'frying'.
Leaving aside the precise cause(s) of failures, I would be interested to know:
(a) What the controller does, precisely. Again, there seems to be several theories but no definite facts.
(b) Whether - as a simple 'Get you home bodge' - it can be removed?
What is well known is that, when the fuel controller fails the bike is left completely immobilised. So, having a 'bodge' - to at least get you moving towards home or help - would seem practical and sensible, especially on an 'adventure' motorcycle, notwithstanding the efforts of BMW Assistance, obviously.
Using the female plug off a failed controller, I lashed up a simple live power feed (via a fused connection) straight to the battery. This misses out the controller completely. Of course the fuel pump runs continuously but at least it is now pumping fuel. The bike will run, apparently as well as ever. The lead can simply be detached when at rest and silence is restored.
This is, as I said, nothing more than a roadside fix. I would definitely not want to run the bike 24/7 with this lash-up in place. I see it very much more as a real, in-extremis, solution. Indeed, to avoid using it at all. I now have one spare controller riding along with me, courtesy of BMW's spares department at Battersea.
I was wondering whether the lash-up was likely to do some unseen damage of which I am unaware? Or, whether, after several miles, somehow the lack of the controller would somehow 'confuse' the fuelling system, leading to other problems.
I hope that you can help me and look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, my 06 GSA is performing faultlessly and is great fun to ride.
Thank you and kind regards,
). Nipped out and bought a new one, but will look at making a "get-u-home" lead from the old one -as you describe (from Optimate socket)
