1150 Fuel Pump Suddenly Noisy

[Cook1e]

OK, did a search, nothing conclusive or informative...

Question - is my fuel pump dying, or is it something else?

Up to now, fuel pump has "whirred" normally for a few seconds when switching ignition on. Otherwise, I don't hear it.

Changed fuel filter at last service, about 1,000 miles ago. No problem.

Had tank off this weekend to get at electrics to fix heated grips, apply ACF50, etc.

Didn't do anything with fuel tank. It only had a couple of litres of petrol in, mind (usually I forget and fill the bugger up a few miles before I need to hoic the tank off, but this time I planned it )

Finished what I was doing and put bike back together. When I turned ignition on, fuel pump gave a very loud whine for the same few seconds as it used to whirr for. The bike started and ran fine.

Now it gives this loud whine every time on switch-on, but it runs OK. A few times when I was riding this afternoon, just about 50 miles to Hornsea for fish & chips (and back), I noticed the same loud whine for a second or 2. BTW Whiteheads - probably the best fish and chips... ...in the world.

So, it's not the filter, unless it's blocked up very suddenly and unexpectedly.

It seems unlikely to be anything I've done, unless it sucked some air in, being a nearly empty tank it may have swilled about a bit and uncovered the pick-up pipe when I was removing/re-fitting it. I would expect an air bubble to clear itself though - yes?

However, something's happened, co-incidentally or caused by something I don't realise I've done. I don't want to be stranded, but neither do I want to replace a good pump unnecessarily.

Anybody had similar?

PS, yes I did search, so I know about the Audi 80 pump and also that it's a fairly easy job - I will swap the pump if there is any doubt, but I would be sick as the proverbial parrot if the new one made the same noise

 

[Fanum]

The new Audi/VAG pump will set you back 35 notes......there's a universal filter kit to replace the 'sock' on the bottom of it.......

FWIW, next time I need to delve into mine, I'm just going to stick a new pump in and keep the old one f it turns out to be OK still.....by the time you've taken of the tank, risked the broken stud syndrome, dried out the O ring so it won't leak, taken the gubbins out to see if there's a problem, you may as well replace the fekkin pump anyway......it's a litle like breaking the bike open to change the clutch plate......you may as well change all three parts while it's broken open....false economy not to IMO.

The sock filter could have collapsed (therefore needs a new SS spring to keep it erect)
The piping can go soggy, so it expands and balloons out,= no pressure= poor running

Before you open up the tank though, check the vent pipe......if that's blocked, it can easily create a vacuum in the tank, so the pump has to work hard and whines.....that's a 5 minute pokey pokey with a thin wire job.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

^^^ That's the best bit of advice I've read on here for a long time ^^^

 

[davegs]

The new Audi/VAG pump will set you back 35 notes......there's a universal filter kit to replace the 'sock' on the bottom of it.......

FWIW, next time I need to delve into mine, I'm just going to stick a new pump in and keep the old one f it turns out to be OK still.....by the time you've taken of the tank, risked the broken stud syndrome, dried out the O ring so it won't leak, taken the gubbins out to see if there's a problem, you may as well replace the fekkin pump anyway......it's a litle like breaking the bike open to change the clutch plate......you may as well change all three parts while it's broken open....false economy not to IMO.

The sock filter could have collapsed (therefore needs a new SS spring to keep it erect)
The piping can go soggy, so it expands and balloons out,= no pressure= poor running

Before you open up the tank though, check the vent pipe......if that's blocked, it can easily create a vacuum in the tank, so the pump has to work hard and whines.....that's a 5 minute pokey pokey with a thin wire job.

You might have kinked it when putting back the tank.

 

[chad]

^^^ That's the best bit of advice I've read on here for a long time ^^^

fanny always give sage advice when it comes to lebben fiddys

 

[Timolgra]

Well following that advice, the next time I open the fridge I'm going drink all the beer

 

[Cook1e]

Thanks chaps, a couple of pieces of sage advice there. Tomorrow, I shall check for kinks, have a pokey-pokey and drink all the beer!

Cheers

 

[Steptoe]

No need to "go inside".
Take the tank back off, give it a shake around and replace, making sure you've not trapped or twisted any of the fuel lines.
And as you replace the tank tilt it to the righthand side so the fuel is all on the pump side.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Well following that advice, the next time I open the fridge I'm going drink all the beer

I reiterate my point - it's excellent advice!

 

[Cook1e]

Thanks Gents, that's sorted it.

No kinks found, no pokey-pokey necessary, just took tank off, gave it a shake (glad I only put a tenner's worth in it) and replaced. Fuel pump is now normal, but one of the O-rings on the (very expensive, metal) quick-disconnects was shredded.

Partly me being ham-fisted, but for about £60 quid or more I would have expected them to take the sharp edges off!

So, maybe it was Mr Steptoe's suggestion to dislodge air, or maybe it was sucking air in through the damaged O-ring.

Now the pump whirs happily again. Thanks again

Oh and need more beer now

 

[Tsiklonaut]

I reckon my pump's on the way out as well, after 260 000 km - the bottom plastic part and intake is broken off (from the crash in India, but I superglued it back on, the bottom came off after additional 40 000 km somewhere in Afrca, free stuff floating around the tank I'm amazed it still runs though and sucks in fuel in if it's high enough) but it's getting more noisy by the month.

The new Audi/VAG pump will set you back 35 notes......

Care to share the Audi pump's part number, or where to get one? Is it a straight replacement or does it need some sort of adapter?

 

[Cook1e]

Care to share the Audi pump's part number, or where to get one? Is it a straight replacement or does it need some sort of adapter?

Details here:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?301524-Whine-free

Seems to be a straight replacement.

 

[Keith Chapman]

Cook1e, If you take the tank off / replace it when there is not much fuel in, fuel can flow to the lobe away from the pump. this will make the pump sound noisy until any fuel has reached the right hand side of the tank. Shaking the tank moves fuel around so the pump is covered.

 

[Cook1e]

Thanks Keith - I initially guessed it was just a temporary air-lock or something, but it persisted after putting £10 worth in, so the pump was definitely covered. Removing/shaking cleared something - could have been an air-leak at the QD connector.

I'm just pleased it wasn't the pump