Follow up - changing fuel pump with limited tools

[tyclyd]

Thanks to everyone for the support following my recent post. I now know the fuel pump has died and as there are non in France or Italy at the moment one is being shipped from the UK to me for tomorrow PM. I have with me my Letherman, some basic tools and the use of a local garage to swap the pump. I have had the tank internals out a few times before and replaced the sender, filter and strainer in the past on my 50K 1150 GSA. Question are;

1. Are their any tips or techniques or bits I need to be especially careful off when replacing the pump with just some meatball surgery tools?
   
2. Also do pumps just fail totally unexpectedly with no warning?

Gary

 

[Dr Bones]

If it's not got the original bmw fuel pipe clips on, than all you should need is an 8mm spanner for the access plate nuts (go easy with them, so you don't break off a stud)a flat headed screwdriver for the fuel pipe clips and some long nosed pliers to get the electrical connectors off. If it's got the original bmw fuel clips on they can be a bit of a pain to remove.

 

[tyclyd]

Thanks, I did the sender last year so I know I have the clips to deal with - going to get some screw clamps from the dealer tomorrow

 

[Dr Bones]

if you've got a pair of pliers and a reasonable flat bladed screwdriver you should be able to get them off. Are you anywhere near a Carrefour Hypermarket (or similar) ? They normally have a good selection of tools and automotive stuff like pipe clips, and other service items etc.

 

[Fanum]

There may well be not many BMW 1150 fuel pumps available, but try any VW/Audi/SEAT dealership..........

HERE is a list of Audis that have the same fuel pump for example.....plus a list of alt parts you can ask for.

As for things to look out for.....be careful with the Fuel pump plate O ring, but you WILL be able to use it again.......a smear of grease or even a tiny smidge of silicone sealant will get you sorted there......

Cut off any original BMW one-use fuel clips with a pair of pliers/snippers (you may have to pry them up with a flat blade first), and bin them...replace with small jubilees or (preferably) fuel hose clamps (don't just look at car dealerships, try agricultural machinery places for those)

If you come across any, get some 8mmID fuel hose......submersible if poss, but not critical in short term.

You MAY need this when you get the pump/plate out.

Get a tiny prick.
(to poke out breathers...thin wire that's quite rigid IYSWIM)

While you're in there, change the fuel filter if poss, it'll save you doing it all again for another 30k miles.....BMW, Mahle, Ducati, basically any inline high pressure Fuel filter with 8mm barbs that fits the gap)

Be careful taking the float arm out...DAMHIK

Oh....the bit of fuel hose I mentioned that might come in handy? I just remembered why.......

Inbetween the top of the pump and the spigot above it, there's a 5cm (ish) section of pipe....when I did mine (for the 3rd or 4th time ) i found that bit of pipe really floppy and balloonable (new word, 5 points to me ) so I replaced the section


Last tip.....get a clean bit of cardboard or table top to work on....do not do this on the floor or you'll pick up swarf and shit which will go into the tank....that's neither big nor clever

 

[tyclyd]

Yes will try that as well - the garage are quite happy for me to work in their workshop which is a great bonus - just going to be fun trying to empty the tank first...

 

[Fanum]

Tell your son to put that fekking fag out while you're coated in petrol as well

EDIT....to empty tank, pull off the balance pipe from one lobe bottom once tank is off.........have a funnel handy (it pisses out like a drunk man pissing) and replace clip with fuel clamp afterwards

 

[tyclyd]

Thansk

Thanks Fanum - I'll close the post hopefully tomorrow when its all done.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

...the garage are quite happy for me to work in their workshop which is a great bonus...

Yer jammy git. I can't find anyone around here to let me use their workshop, and I've tried, so I'm in an underground carpark tomorrow at dawn to take on the swapping of the HES.

Good luck with the task and be careful with the nuts and studs as mentioned by someone else.

It's epic being away...

 

[Fanum]

Yer jammy git. I can't find anyone around here to let me use their workshop, and I've tried, so I'm in an underground carpark tomorrow at dawn to take on the swapping of the HES.

Glass half empty alert!!!

You have a hotel underground car park.....that means it's dry

That means you're out of the burning sun

That means you have a bar very very close

What more could you wish for in a breakdown

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Glass half empty alert!!!

You have a hotel underground car park.....that means it's dry

That means you're out of the burning sun

That means you have a bar very very close

What more could you wish for in a breakdown

Very true but I'd rather have one of the several Geezers I have tried to allow me to use there tools and workshop. It'll be done tomorrow and I can hopefully move on.

The real problem is that I took myself to a city center where the hotels are and I am now kilometers away from the Geezers with sympathy for a fellow biker. Try finding that in London's West End, which is what my location in Zaragoza feels like.

The bars and tapas es bueno BTW.

 

[Steptoe]

Yes will try that as well - the garage are quite happy for me to work in their workshop which is a great bonus - just going to be fun trying to empty the tank first...

No need to empty the tank, you can change the pump with it half full. And no need to remove the pump holder and all the ancillaries from the tank.

Sit on the floor, prop the tank up on the rear inbetween your knees, undo the pump housing, extract the internals but leave everything attached.
Flip the fuel pipe off the pump using a large flat bladed screwdriver type implement on the crimp, undo the 6mm and 7mm nuts, remove old pump, fit new pump. Small dob of grease on the fuel pump spigot, refit hose along with the bmw crimp. nip up the crimp.
All back in the tank, job done. About 15 minutes work from start to finish. .


Remember remember remember - if your doing emergency mechanics at the side of the road keep it as simple as possible. Don't undo or remove anything that you don't have to, otherwise you have the chance of creating more problems. Keep your tools within reach and in an order of use.

Rarely does anything work out the way you want if left to chance.

 

[DrFarkoff]

A handy tip if the bike shop have an old rear tyre off something you can rest the tank in the old tyre on a flat surface (I find a bench is great as it makes everything handy height wise to see and work at )

If you are lucky you'll find one that is deep enough to not scratch your tank on the surface

If your studs are dirty or rusty go find a wire (or brass is better no sparks that way ) brush

If you wire brush the nuts and exposed threads before you start and soak them with the equivalent 3 in one oil of even the dreaded WD40 You will give yourself a better chance

Good Luck with the pump change If a Hose is off just recrimp it, a pair of diagonal cutters is okay for this

Crimp the pipe clamps so that the centres nearly touch and that the rubber looks a little squished

If you you have to change the pump BE CAREFUL with the terminals on the pump try not to break them as finding terminals could be a right bollix whilst abroad and no speaky da lingo

Let us Know how ya get on Photos should be taken to preserve the moment for you and the little un!

 

[tyclyd]

All done - many thanks

OK so the new pump is in and the bike is up and running. Did not get Neil's tips until after i did the job but was not too bad. Managed to get a few jubilee type clips from Carrrifor and had to make a small length of hose to bridge a connector that broke on the tank balance pipes - all done now so will last for a few thousand km till we get home next week - have updated the blog to thank everyone - Cheers

Gary and Gareth

www.tyclyd.com

 

[MattW]

No need to empty the tank, you can change the pump with it half full. And no need to remove the pump holder and all the ancillaries from the tank.

Sit on the floor, prop the tank up on the rear inbetween your knees, undo the pump housing, extract the internals but leave everything attached.
Flip the fuel pipe off the pump using a large flat bladed screwdriver type implement on the crimp, undo the 6mm and 7mm nuts, remove old pump, fit new pump. Small dob of grease on the fuel pump spigot, refit hose along with the bmw crimp. nip up the crimp.
All back in the tank, job done. About 15 minutes work from start to finish. .


Remember remember remember - if your doing emergency mechanics at the side of the road keep it as simple as possible. Don't undo or remove anything that you don't have to, otherwise you have the chance of creating more problems. Keep your tools within reach and in an order of use.

Rarely does anything work out the way you want if left to chance.

That's a great post - nice one Steppers