PETROL PI##ING OUT OFF BREATHER PIPE

[big mac]

just came back from a ride pulled on the drive and could smell petrol looked down to see petrol pissing from the tank breather pipe any ideas on what could cause this to happen .
+when i turnd the bike off it still pissed out for another 2 to 3 mins

 

[Stujw70]

Brimming the tank in hot weather maybe, it as to go somewhere when it expands

 

[big mac]

half a tank at the most . the fuel light was on for at least 20 miles and this morn i put £ 20 in and iv done about 40 + miles

 

[cookie]

breather pipe's fallen off inside tank?

 

[samodeller]

A friend had this on his 1100, we checked all the pipes then just ended up replacing them all solve the issue.

 

[davegs]

pipe

This happened to me filled up after filter change pipe had come off in the tank Just doubled it up fixed with a cable tie to get home.

 

[big mac]

cheers all will get the tank off and cross fingers that its just a loose pipe

 

[MattW]

As others suggest, I'd bet on a displaced / split internal pipe. There are two that could conceivably produce this leak - the tank neck drain and the breather. Whip the tank off (plenty of info on here abut how to do this), remove the access plate and have a look.

I replied all the internals on mine and it cured an intermittent breather leak.

Probably worth replacing the fuel filter while it's in bits.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Mine started leaking after replacing the fuel filter a week ago

Suspected one of the breathers so ordered new 'O' rings for the filler cap and fuel sender plate from Sherlocks, the old 'O' ring in the filler cap always expands and is a right b'stard to get back in.

Went to do the job today but then realised I didn't have the right size breather hoses a quick call to Sherlocks confirmed he is awaiting new stock but should be in within a couple of days. Tried various suppliers of hose in town but no one could match the type

Managed to fine the leak though.... where I had pulled off the breather hose to replace the fuel filter there was a tiny 'pin hole'.... ah well should be sorted once the replacement hose arrives.

One thing I did discover during all this, the male Black QDs are .009" smaller in diameter than the White ones.... worth knowing when you're trying to drain the tank via the White female QDs on the tank lobes

 

[Fanum]

Went to do the job today but then realised I didn't have the right size breather hoses a quick call to Sherlocks confirmed he is awaiting new stock but should be in within a couple of days. Tried various suppliers of hose in town but no one could match the type

Odd.......should be bog standard 6mm ID fuel hose.....
There's no pressure involved in either of the breather pipes, so if too loose, cable tie or clamp them on, if too tight, stick the end of the tube in hot water then slip on.

In theory, the tubes inside the tank should be the type that are submersible for long periods in fuel (durr) because some types have a finish on the outside than melts but I'm amazed you couldn't find any locally Paul

If you can't sort it, let me know, I've got metres of it in the shed

 

[NeilDD]

Sorry Bill
On my standard and TT tanks the breather pipes are 5mm ID

 

[Fanum]

Sorry Bill
On my standard and TT tanks the breather pipes are 5mm ID

I'm pretty sure I've used standard 6mm (5/16ths) ID tube on mine.....after so much ferking about though, I did use new SS hose clips on EVERYTHING, and as they are only breathers, as long as they stay on and don't leak, it's all cool

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Odd.......should be bog standard 6mm ID fuel hose.....

I do worry about you sometimes

Have a look at the bottom of here.... it is smaller ID and thin walled too.

I've got loads of 6mm fuel hose and even 4mm but this is right between the two.... I can force the 4mm on but will probably bugger something up in doing so.

 

[Fanum]

I do worry about you sometimes

Have a look at the bottom of here.... it is smaller ID and thin walled too.

I've got loads of 6mm fuel hose and even 4mm but this is right between the two.... I can force the 4mm on but will probably bugger something up in doing so.

No need to worry about me

So use 6mm, and clamp it on....don't think of it as a tube, think of it as a long hole....the size doesn't matter (within reason) because there's no pressure and no significant flow...it's just a breather

I'm quite amused to see from your link (above the bit you meant) that they can get away with charging over 20 quid for a 6 inch piece of (again) bog standard fuel pipe, just because it's bent 180 degrees

I have always run with a lump of bog standard tube in there, albeit I bent it over a longer distance so I know it will bend rather than fold and pinch it off.....

Common sense !!

Why are so many people fooled by this sort of thing

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

So use 6mm, and clamp it on....don't think of it as a tube, think of it as a long hole....the size doesn't matter (within reason) because there's no pressure and no significant flow...it's just a breather

It might be 'just a breather' but if the job's not done right it will end up 'breathing' fuel.... just like it is now with a split hose

I'll wait a couple of days and get the right hose

 

[Fanum]

It might be 'just a breather' but if the job's not done right it will end up 'breathing' fuel.... just like it is now with a split hose

I'll wait a couple of days and get the right hose

Just promise you'll never, EVER participate in a thread that concerns why BMW and all the other manufacturers are able to charge stupid prices for branded kit

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

I prefer reliability over cheap 'quick fixes'.

I think I may have sussed why you have so many 'issues' with your steed

 

[big mac]

cheers all took the tank off and found one of the breather pipes off as suggested . a nice quick fix

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Just promise you'll never, EVER participate in a thread that concerns why BMW and all the other manufacturers are able to charge stupid prices for branded kit

Job done, replaced both aging breather pipes with the RIGHT size hose.... all for £3.76