Fuel Pump Cover...Your Opinions

[MIKE R]

I recently had the dreaded fuel pump relay failure on my GSA...all fixed now but I trying to minimise the future risk.

Looking at a number of 1200s at Hawes today I noticed some have and some do not have the black pump cover. Talking to one rider he informed me his 07GSA did not have one from new.

I personally do not see the point of this cover as water can still get in through what appear to be ventilation slits, and then lies hidden waiting to strike! Without the cover the water lodging in the fuel pump housing can easily be seen and therefore disposed of, but more will probably get in.

Any 'informed' opinions out there?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[Clive]

I recently had the dreaded fuel pump relay failure on my GSA...all fixed now but I trying to minimise the future risk.

Looking at a number of 1200s at Hawes today I noticed some have and some do not have the black pump cover. Talking to one rider he informed me his 07GSA did not have one from new.

I personally do not see the point of this cover as water can still get in through what appear to be ventilation slits, and then lies hidden waiting to strike! Without the cover the water lodging in the fuel pump housing can easily be seen and therefore disposed of, but more will probably get in.

Any 'informed' opinions out there?

Not sure I'm "informed"
but I have removed the cover from my GS so I could see if/when water was present and be able to remove it without having to take the side cover off etc.

I think the best way of minimising the risk is to dismantle the pump relay every 6 months or so and smear silicone grease over the electrical bits and the rubber seal.

 

[MIKE R]

Thanks for that.

I used the word 'informed' to try and reduce the number of replies from the 'sell the 12 and get a superior 1150' (which I still have) brigade.

Mike

 

[ECM]

I have a 2004 1200GS.
It did had it's lot of problems, but the fuel pump electronics was not one of them.
Recently I simply ducktaped that black cover. It's not getting warm, so why would it need the slots......

Just make sure the rubber seal is in good order and in place. Can't harm to open it up and check. Mine was still very dry after 3 years (and a lot of rain in between)

 

[Paul90]

Mine had a good dose of ACF50 and I blanked off all the vents in the cover.
It's been like that for 6 months.

I used to check it from time to time after a long run but it never really seemed to get hot or even warm.

Perhaps the vents are to let the heat out if / when it fails

 

[Gaulois]

Whilst he was fitting my HID's Les Wassall kindly covered the slits on the cover with gaffer tape and sprayed ACF50 liberally over the 3 month old (and already badly corroded ) unit. No problems since and does not seem to have got worse. Just resprayed it for the winter.

 

[Engineer]

Whilst he was fitting my HID's Les Wassall kindly covered the slits on the cover with gaffer tape and sprayed ACF50 liberally over the 3 month old (and already badly corroded ) unit. No problems since and does not seem to have got worse. Just resprayed it for the winter.

Whenever I wash the bike I cover the ventilation's slots with duct tape - silver is the best colour for the job.

If I have been out in a downpour I take the cover off and wipe out any water.

Not a single spot of corrosion on the controller and never failed in 24,000 miles (standard 1200GS, April 2005).

I have a saying ... "look after your bike and it'll look after you" ...

 

[Buckhouse]

Wick it out!

I fitted an oil lamp wick from the lowest part of the inner housing, forward and down the side cover bar towards the front fixing. no more water around fuel pump and no corrosion. Been on for two years now!

 

[Gipsy]

On my third relay. The problem isn't what you can see when you take off the black cover. It's the bird bath effect of water getting past the gasket into the recess that accepts the lower part of the relay. and then the bottom of the relay sitting in it!

 

[Tartan Terror]

As a matter of interest, where would I find this cover? What has to be removed to gain access? Pictures if possible please.

TT

 

[wilbjr21]

BMW don't fit this cover to the 1200 GSA model - no room. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the GSA and later model 1200s

 

[MIKE R]

BMW don't fit this cover to the 1200 GSA model - no room. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the GSA and later model 1200s

Sorry to disagree. Mine is an 07 GSA and the cover IS fitted and the relay DID fail due to water corrosion.

Mike

 

[MIKE R]

As a matter of interest, where would I find this cover? What has to be removed to gain access? Pictures if possible please.

TT

The unit is either a large round silver unit or it is underneath a large black vented cover on the left hand side of the fuel tank, partially hidden by the side panel.

Mike

 

[MIKE R]

On my third relay. The problem isn't what you can see when you take off the black cover. It's the bird bath effect of water getting past the gasket into the recess that accepts the lower part of the relay. and then the bottom of the relay sitting in it!

Agreed but get rid of the 'bird bath' and you solve the problem of water getting past the gasket.

Mike

 

[wilbjr21]

Sorry to disagree. Mine is an 07 GSA and the cover IS fitted and the relay DID fail due to water corrosion.

Fair enough. But neither of mine had the cover fitted from new (I've had two GSAs). I asked my dealer about it and used his answer in my previous reply.

The controller just stops the pump running at full power and can be wired out on a "get you home" basis (thread on Advrider). You still need to have some wire with you of course.

I'm trying to be helpful by the way. Although I've never had a failure I carry a spare controller (and a spare ring antenna) just in case .....in a remote area ......etc.

 

[Gazzabart]

Pix

any one got a pic
cant picture in my head exactly where this is
but would like to follow your advice and clean it
ta Gaz

 

[cookie]

The controller just stops the pump running at full power and can be wired out on a "get you home" basis (thread on Advrider). You still need to have some wire with you of course.

got a link?

 

[wilbjr21]

There you are:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57153&page=2&highlight=fuel+pump+controller

Post number 21

A new one is about £50