Petrol Overflow

[Jam]

I have swapped my standard GS tank for the GSA one. I have also changed the internals over so that i now have the GSA one fitted.

The problem i have is that having just filled it for the first time i have a small overflow problem. It is coming from the pipes near the footpegs. Its not a major problem as its not continuous but it is leaving an patch about the size of the palm of your hand. The main problem is that is kept in the garage and that is part of the house. It is leaving a petrol smell that is going through the house. Suffice to say that SWMBO has banished the bike to the garden until its resolved.

It never happened with the standard GS tank and i have swopped the 2 pipes from the tank over incase they were mixed up..........

Any assistance available please..........

 

[Spout]

These two pipes are just breathers - one for rain water in the filler area, and the other to vent the tank. BMW in their wisdom (?) have routed these pipes through the tank.
Petrol coming through these will be from a loose connection (2 per hose inside the tank) or from a split in the hose.

Good luck.................

 

[Jam]

Thanks for that Spout,

I have discounted the split hose because it seems to be just a single occurence after the bike is moved and not a constsnt flow.....what do you think?

 

[Gas'd Off]

On my standard tank this sometimes happens just after filling to brim and in hot weather petrol expands enough to escape out the overflow pipe

 

[Colban]

On my standard tank this sometimes happens just after filling to brim and in hot weather petrol expands enough to escape out the overflow pipe

+1.
Especially if you have just filled an Adventure tank to the brim and left the bike in the sun.Heat rising from the engine also causes tank incontinence.
Side stand or centre?.

 

[Jam]

seems to be center at the moment..........

I had the fuel light on when i filled up and put 26 ltrs in.......may very well be that i guess..Its starting to look like my handywork is not a fault here........which is nice

 

[STUBBS]

sounds like a good excuse to go out for a ride and use a few litres to see if thats cures the problem

 

[Possu]

sounds like a good excuse to go out for a ride and use a few litres to see if thats cures the problem

Good idea.

Whilst you're messing about with fuel tanks, make sure that the water overflow pipe is not blocked up. I didn't, mine was blocked & after a recent heavy burst of rain, water got in to the tank, causing the bike to run rough i.e. 3,500rpm idle speed at the lights to stop it stalling. Emptying the tank, fitting a new fuel filter & O'rings cured it (plus fresh fuel of course ).

 

[Jam]

the fuel is definately comibg out of a breather pipe....

Water overflow pipe........which ones that?

 

[Possu]

Open filler cap & you'll see a hole to the left - this is where rainwater drains away. Can become blocked (see my earlier post). To check if blocked or that it's connected properly, try blowing through the pipe from the end near the swingarm pivot. If you can't feel your breath venting next to the filler opening, it's either blocked or has worked itself loose on the inside, allowing fuel to leak out. There's another pipe inside the top of the tank, it's connected to a plastic vent, it sucks in air as the fuel level drops, prevents a vacuum forming within the tank. You should also be able to blow through this pipe, also near swingarm pivot & hear your breath venting in to the tank. Once again, a loose (or holed) pipe will cause the fuel overflow.

You need to blow through each pipe to establish which is which but I think you'll need to empty the tank & remove contents to confirm pipes are in good order & securely fastened. Fuel would normally only drip out of a pipe if you've brimmed he tank & left it sitting the sun, fuel expands & has to go somewhere.

 

[Jam]

Thanks to all that posted a reply..........it was an overflow expansion problem thats now been resolved.

Cheers all