fuel gauge woes gs1200gsa

[john1961]

arrived home from 17 days working away,tried to start bike but battery dead, tried a small jump pack but failed to start,left battery on charge
came back a few hours later and fired it up, running sweet then yellow triangle and fuel indicator flashing,took bike for a spin filled tank up,still flashing lights,have i damaged fuel gauge with jump start pack,or just coincidence?

 

[buncobooth]

Could be a coincidence. I am now on my 7th fuel strip, last one lasted 200 miles

 

[Bendy toy]

If you have a fuel strip you got lucky it failed at home. They are flakey at the best of times. Im hoping the float conversion thread will come up with a permanent fix. It's powered off the ECU/canbus so could not have directly flattened the battery.

Check the battery. They don't go dead for nothing.

 

[Tractors are go]

Depends, do you believe Elvis is still alive and living in Cleethorpes ?

Worry more about battery failure and be amazed that your fuel strip has lasted so long...

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Assuming you have the strip sender this is standard practice, they are totally garbage. Replace it if you must (it WILL just break again) or use the trip and mpg readout.

 

[john1961]

thanks for replies, the battery is a odyssey but it was on bike when i bought it,so it could be past its sell by date,bike is 2010 with 41000 miles ,its my first 1200 and am very happy with it,
am back away working now so will get a new battery ordered,i know the trip can be used but the light and fuel flashing up pisses me off, i got the bike about 6 months ago,no other problems just solutions!

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

There are a few threads around that will show you how to get rid of the flashing light.

 

[Bendy toy]

There is a circuit diagram on www.advrider.com that shows how to spoof the gauge to read full all the time.
You won't have much idea how much you have but the warning stops flashing.

 

[john1961]

thanks for that,may try the zapping method,looks like a temp fix,

 

[Bendy toy]

Zapping works for a while and can't ignite fuel in the tank. Not enough oxygen and anyway the spark is contained within the mylar fuel strip.

 

[john1961]

whats the best fix in your opinion, i am crap with electrical issues,
should i zap it or would you get a new one, just like to have things working correctly,
if its daft money i will live with it,but dont mind spending reasonable amount,

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

If you and it right then go get a new one fitted. It's £200 odd but you will get a 2 year warranty with it for when it fails again and it will fail.

Differing opinions on self fitting as some say including me that it needs to be calibrated. For that you need a dealer or a gs911. Some have been lucky and had it work without calibration most though it reads inaccurate. Testimony would say it's difficult to claim warranty with self fitting as well as you can be blamed for not installing it properly.

Choice is yours and I stopped fixing mine after the 3rd failed. It wasn't a money thing as they were all replaced in warranty I just got fed up wasting my time at the dealers.

 

[john1961]

thanks for that marki,
will give it a thought while am working away, am tempted to have one fit at williams bike has full service history with them,
at least it will have warranty,

 

[milleplod]

My ST's one went earlier this year. I had it done at RGM in Croston - http://www.rgm-uk.com/index.php. It cost me £180 all in, the new strip carries the BMW 2-year warranty, Roy includes a 3-month warranty on his labour costs.

Pete

 

[john1961]

cheers pete,
have heard good reports about his work,
bike is due a service at 42000, bmw have quoted over £400, wondered about ringing this chappy
to see what he can do? i can stand the £180 may have him service it at the same time,

 

[milleplod]

I read more than a few good reviews about him before I went there - I think he was head tech at Southport Superbikes (now Bowkers) for ages before going independent. There's a very nice cafe overlooking a lake just a 5 minute walk from his place, handy for killing time if you're waiting while the work's done.

Not being a smartarse, but had you thought about doing the 'easy' servicing bits yourself? You'd save quite a bit!

Pete

 

[john1961]

am quite happy changing oil and filters, but have never checked tappets on a bmw,
also think final drive will probably need checking , do they change brake fluid at 42000,
time is also a big factor,working away all the time and to cap it all i have very little tolerance for things which
will not undo if you get my drift.

jb

 

[milleplod]

Yeah, I get that regarding time....and things that won't undo! I've got plenty of time, being retired, but to be honest never came across anything that I'd say was a bastard to do. Mine hasn't got ABS, which makes the fluid change a very simple job. I did the tappets for the first time only this year (at 30k miles) - I followed Jim von Baden's guide for the the job - http://www.jvbproductions.com/R1200_Hexhead_24K_service.html and it really was simple, it took me no more than 30 minutes.

I also followed his guide the first time I dropped the final drive, I spent more time worrying about whether or not I could do it than the job actually took!

Back to RGM though - I reckon he'll save you quite a bit over a dealer, you even get free coffee and tea....although I didn't spot any pot plants or complimentary newspapers in his office!

Pete

 

[Bendy toy]

The brake fluid is quite easy with ABS you just need to bleed a bit more fluid through the system.
If you do decide to bleed at the ABS unit be VERY careful to clean off any spilt fluid. It will chew through the engine paint.

 

[john1961]

cheers boys,
no abs so i think i can manage that,tappets dont sound a bad job now you have mentioned the video
will order a new battery just to rule that out,it may be foolish but am planning trip to morroco around xmas all been well,
dont want to spoil holiday for price of battery,
some great replies on here thanks to all,