1150 GS/A tank fuel canister.

[Captain Black]

Just curious but has anyone ever had one of these cause a problem through lack of changing ?
I know they're a service item and I was going to change both the GS and GSA filters, both bikes on about 25k miles, the 02 GS I've had from new so I know that's still on the original, although that bike has been to Morocco.

What's the consensus ? Leave if they're running ok or change at 25k miles or more ?
Also can you bend and reuse the original hose clips on the pipes to the filter ?

 

[Grim Rider]

Seems to me that they are a service item for a reason and the cost of changing against the possible costs of having problems because you haven't bothered to change it is not a calculation worth making. I have always changed mine at about 30k but can't recall what the actual service sheet says about them.

Also worth doing regularly to make sure the nuts holding the tank cover in will come undone and have been copper slipped, they WILL seize and the studs snap off if left too long!

I think you can replace the original BMW hose clips but I have always ground them such a pain I replaced them with the hose clips which are like jubilee clips (but nite not jubilee clips themselves as they tend to dig into the pipe).

 

[MattW]

I change mine whenever I have the tank off and it seems like a while since I last changed it, the last time being when I swapped my original plastic tank for a new steel one. Probably works out at a ridiculously conservative interval. I've never tried to reuse the crimped hose clamps - get a handful of fuel hose clamps (eBay if you local motorfactor doesn't do them).

As Grim Rider above, take it easy with the studs which hold the access cover onto the tank. Soak them with plus gas or similar (ACF50 actually makes a really good releasant but give it a few hours to work) before you try to undo them and then when you've got the cover off, clean them gently with a fine brass wire brush. When re-tightening the nuts, I use stainless nuts, spring washers and a little socket in a screwdriver handle - it takes very little torque to tighten them properly - don't overdo it. When they're tightened 'just snug', I blob ACF grease over the nut and stud to keep moisture out.

 

[Captain Black]

Thanks.

The only reason I asked is some items are over kill in the service schedules.
Even though I know my from new GS hasn't been changed I think I'll run it to 30k miles then change the filter.
Unless I get a sudden urge to do it when I service the bike

 

[DrFarkoff]

Only problem is if you let water in the tank for some reason it seems to get stuck in the paper of the filter

I've had a couple with Bunged tank drains and running like a bag of schite even when the tank was drained and mopped out

If I get one like that I change the filter now too

The last one I cut the filter over a plastic tray and pulled the paper out and when I squashed the paper there was a lot of water in it

PLUS

there is the added bonus of cleaning the threads and regreasing them on the rebuild rather than breaking on in later life because you were lazy?

 

[monkeyboy]

I didn't change mine till 100k. It had been down to Timbuktu and from Ushuia to Alaska on its travels. I sawed in it half to see what state it was in. It was still fine. The mesh over the fuel pump intake takes care of the big stuff. I doubt I'll bother changing it again.

 

[Captain Black]

100k

Don't think I'd push my luck that far! It's an interesting subject, maybe fuel is much cleaner these days ?

 

[monkeyboy]

Maybe - who knows! If it's coming through a pump I'm usually happy. If its coming from a can or other contraption by the side of the road then filter it through gauze as it goes in. The only thing that I would worry about is fuel left in the tank for months and months when it can turn to jelly

 

[YYguy]

I'm with MattW here. It's one of those maintenance jobs that's pretty easy to do so it's hard to see a downside. At 60K Kms I'm replacing the filter and the internal hose because it's cheap and easy to do. Better safe than sorry, especially when it only costs a few bucks! Recently on advrider some guy was looking for a cheaper alternative to replacing his engine oil sight glass. WTF? They're about 15 pounds--what's he looking for, a cork?