Fuel pump nightmares

[Tom48]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help pplleeassee

I have a 2002 R1150Gs. It's done 11k miles. When I bought it the fuel pump was knackered, so I replaced that and the fuel filter. It had about9k miles at that point. Since then used it loads, happy days.

Recently I've had an issue where the fuel pump wouldn't prime. So drained the fuel checked it all, put it back together and was all ok for a few weeks. Then it went again. Just wouldn't prime. Only thing that would fire it up again was a well placed slap/ punch to the side of the tank where the pump was. Didn't work every time though. Sometimes it primes but sounds awful, just a really low pitched groan as opposed to the usual cheerful upbeat whine. It has happened a few times during riding, usually stop start type riding.

Any ideas, I'm really stuck. I've checked fuses relays etc and all seem fine..

 

[flatdog]

Try changing the under seat relay for the indicator one or horn.
They can fail with these intermittent faults showing.
Did this on mine a few times as I hadn't realised two existing relays had intermittant faults, so ended up replacing all of them for brand new - no problems since.

Also the rhs electrical tank connector by your knee can cause problems when the female recievers splay too much. Bit of surgery closing the gaps can help too.
Check the cable ties holding the wiring around the headstock has been cut to free the wires - a known failure point. Rotating handlebars left right with the key on may help identify this as an area of fault - as the pump may prime then stop, prime then stop as you move the handlebars

That low mileage should rule out the fuel pump itself.

 

[MikeO]

The culprit is almost certainly the connector - give it a good clean & fettle. It's unlikely to be relays if it has responded to a thump to the tank - that would have affected the connector, though...

 

[Tom48]

Thanks Chaps, I will try that. On occasions I have switched the ignition on and off a few times In a row, and the whine from the pump has got progressively lower pitched and apparently slower on each occasion, until it has stopped altogether.

I know the battery is ok, and it always sits on a bmw trickle charger, so it's not that....