Fuel Filter Change *&!!#*!&!*%*@$)!!!!!

[Daryl_stamp]

What a pain in the spheres.
I've been putting it off since the Bash; but we're going on a big trip this weekend and I figured it was time.
Pre-#*!&&&$*#*@*!+!!!!

Start; get the tools out (I've got a bunch of these leather bags; they're great for putting things in).
Somebody suggested that only using the tools on your bike was a good way to ensure that you had the right ones with you on the road; it's been working for me.


I always put fasteners back in the holes they came out of; makes it easier to keep track of (for me anyway).

I forgot to disconnect the breather hoses; MLW had to pull them apart while I was holding the tank.
Good thing I marked them (safety wire) the last time I had the tank off.

Home-brew stand & de-gassing process;


What nit-wit thought it was a good idea to put the filter in there anyway?

This nit-wit neglected to photograph the original position; when I put it back together I was off one stud location; re-move, dis-assemble, re-assemble; if you're smarter than me you'll mark it prior to removal.
Doh!!!

Going back together; wasn't as bad as I though; but don't crank too hard on these (I'll see if it leaks; I tightened them until they felt like they were just barely bottoming out on the mating pieces. Breaking one of these would )*#)$(*#$)(*(#($*$*#*#*!*!*!!!!!!


This baby wasn't very clean; used a home-brew 'socket brush' to clean them up.



Don't do this;

or this;


I noticed it's a little grubby in there, time for some cleaning (windex & paper towels).


The timing belt change wasn't too bad either; levered one off & the other on; the old one is going in on-board spare parts supply.

Thanks to all of you out there in the ether, doing this kind of thing is pretty easy, especially when you know there are some smart & experienced people out there willing to offer some useful advice. I'm not sure how much maintenance I'd be doing now if it weren't for all the posts on here about how to do things.

Done; (no pics; it's late).

[FloridaBeakster]

I agree that inside the tank is a dumb place to put something that must be changed regularly AND/OR might have to be changed on the side of the road due to a bad tank of gas. One of the first things I did after purchasing the bike (used) was to relocate the fuel filter. I took it out of the tank and mounted it in the ABS area. The tank still has to come off to change the filter, but that's a whole lot easier (especially with metal disconnects) than removing/reinstalling the fuel pump/filter assembly (which, of course, still requires removal of the tank).

Hey, what's that rear rack you've got there?

[challey]

With apologies to Daryl for hijacking his thread -

Florida beakster said:

. . .relocate the fuel filter. I took it out of the tank and mounted it in the ABS area.

I was warned off mounting the filter on the frame by some older wrenches who claimed that the filters were prone to bursting. Given the possible consequences of gasoline spraying on both your leg and the exhaust header simultaneously, I opted to leave the filter in the tank. Relocating it to the ABS area seems like a reasonable compromise, with less catastrophic results in case of bursting. Do you have any pictures of this modification and mounting? I'm not due for a filter change for another 20,000 miles but it's never to early to plan.

Charlie

[FloridaBeakster]

I was warned off mounting the filter on the frame by some older wrenches who claimed that the filters were prone to bursting. Given the possible consequences of gasoline spraying on both your leg and the exhaust header simultaneously, I opted to leave the filter in the tank. Relocating it to the ABS area seems like a reasonable compromise, with less catastrophic results in case of bursting. Do you have any pictures of this modification and mounting? I'm not due for a filter change for another 20,000 miles but it's never to early to plan.

I was told not to install a plastic filter for the bursting issue, and that the metal ones (which included the stock BMW one) should be ok.

Unfortunately, I did not take any pics of it. I used the LuberFiner 3424 fuel filter (exact replacement for Deutsch FF424) from AutoZone and just zip tied it in place in the ABS area. I replaced the QD's at the same time, so I just ran a new piece of hose from the supply side QD on the bike side up to the ABS area for the fuel filter, then a hose from the filter to where the old hose connected to. I also took another new filter, put it in a ziploc bag, duct taped up the bag and zip tied that filter into the same ABS area under the tank. This way, if I do have a fuel filter failure, I have a spare on-board where it doesn't take up any useable space. With the metal QD's, spare QD O-rings, and my on-bike toolkit, I can remove the tank easily on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere without worries.

[MattPie]

What a pain in the spheres.
I've been putting it off since the Bash; but we're going on a big trip this weekend and I figured it was time.
Pre-#*!&&&$*#*@*!+!!!!

You were up at the Finger Lakes Rally this weekend, weren't you? If not, someone else has the exact same fairing on the same color bike.

[Jayken]

Sorry to butt in, here are some pics of relocated fuel filter
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192 ... G_0012.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192 ... G_0013.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192 ... G_0014.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192 ... G_0015.jpg

I plan on doing it tomorrow.
regards
Jay

[nonskid]

That's a real nice fairing. What kind is it?

[CycleRob]

The hose's bend arc is too small in This Pic and it will stress the fragile plastic QD's to the breaking point when they age to about 5 years.

The filter inside the fueltank was chosen for it's well protected centralized location along side the fuelpump and low fuel sensor. Odd, because they then selected mediocre quality plastic Quick Disconnects to carry 42.7 psi gasoline. The internal location also reveals to you the green inlet sock's condition every time you change the filter. Easy serviceability apparently wasn't on the list and that may have been purposeful to encourage dealer servicing. The plan has worked, except for many of the riders here.

Good job Daryl, except for those 2 tiny stumbles.

.

[Daryl_stamp]

What a pain in the spheres.
I've been putting it off since the Bash; but we're going on a big trip this weekend and I figured it was time.
Pre-#*!&&&$*#*@*!+!!!!

You were up at the Finger Lakes Rally this weekend, weren't you? If not, someone else has the exact same fairing on the same color bike.

I was there Saturday & Sunday nights. I camped near the path to the water crossing. I was also working at the tent selling soda & snacks each night.

Regards,

DLS

[R4R&R]

What a pain in the spheres.

You got that right!!!

Don't do this;

Been there, done that!