Strange Petrol Leak

[DShannon]

I just thought I would post this to see if anyone else has either experienced it or know why it was caused:

I was showing my bike to a colleague and decided to start it - in my garage - it was from cold, so I used the choke. After it fired up and was running for 1 min or so, I blipped the throttle a couple of times - this was so that he could understand the "boxer engine pull". The bike then proceeded to piss out petrol, from somewhere high up near the tank. As this was more than a dribble, more of a steady flow - I shut down the engine, frightened of the exhausts warming up enough to perhaps start a fire.

I left it a little while and started it again - same thing. As it was into the evening, I left it until the next day - when I expected to have to trailer the bike into the dealer. (It had just been in for a new sub frame). When I started the bike to check again - it was as dry as a bone and has been since !!

The service manager at the dealers had said he had heard of this once before - but no-one knew what had caused it.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has seen this?

Dave

 

[MikeO]

Dave,

the culprits are almost certainly the clamps on the petrol pipes on the right side of the bike.
Take off the black plastic cover on the right side of the bike (just below the tank) and have a look at the two petrol pipes there. Your dealer should replace the sh1te original clamps with mini jubilee clips, which will solve the problem. You should not be charged for this.
If your bike isn't already equipped, this would be a good time to get quick disconnect fittings put on the pipes (makes removing the tank a lot easier).

Mike

 

[City Slicker]

Tighten the clamps on the fuel hoses - get the dealer to do it and report it as a fault to BMW - most later bikes have the same problem and I've personally seen three back at the dealers with the same thing. Mine did the same. Try to get them replaced with jubilee clip-type clamps as fitted to models to 2001. If your crankcase is stained you might get someone to do something under warranty.

 

[Richard34]

Yep - mines doing it as well.

Getting it sorted at the dealer on Saturday - I'll see what they say/do and let you know.

Having looked closely it would seem that it's definitely a loose clamp so hopefully I can get them replaced with said jubilee clips.

(2003 GS twinspark)

 

[Tim]

toast

Same thing happened to me - except the exhaust was hot so I got off sharpish! (see the toast thread). Dealer had same problem finding the fault but found a loose clip on the hose to the injectors and replaced them with the jubilee clips.

The Other Tim

 

[Madmountainman]

Same for me too!!

Those bloody stoopid clips that require a special plier to crimp them up. Fortunately happened just before the 12k service so got sorted straight away. When the clip is loose the vibration causes the pipes to come apart, just push em back together and voila!, no more leaks.

 

[Beesley6]

Let BMW sort this one out!!!

Same thing happened to me. Take it to the dealer and thay will tighten up the clamps on the hose. It's a common fault and it gave me quite a scare too. BMW are also aware of any staining that may occur as aresult of this fault.

 

[David Price]

Bugger Me! After reading this thread went out on my GS. Half a mile later petrol was pissing out of the n/s. Got it home and could actually see the stuff escaping from one of those pipes, flowing over the engine. Vines now have it back, and said......they can't find a leak. Bollocks.
That was today (Fri) and they say they won't be able to look again till Tue.
So now I'm bikeless for the weekend and probably half of next week.

 

[DShannon]

Looking at the replies, I am a bit suprised that my local dealer (Ocean) couldn't put 2 & 2 together and suggest the fuel pipes was the problem. This thread seems to have rung a bell with a few owners.

Dave

 

[Richard34]

Surprise surprise - dealer tightened up clamps with stupid plier things and hey presto - no more leaks.

He did tell me that I was lucky not to have any staining - so watch out for it.