Page 1 of 1

wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:12 pm
by doctorbrown
so i had to pull the tank and replace the fuel lines. tank had some gas in it so i had to store it vertically in a plastic trash can while i did the work. reconnected every thing. fuel is in the lines. wont start. starter fluid gets it to pop but that is it. what should i do? did fuel pump go dry? do i need to prime it somehow. help, really frustrating.....
your thoughts are appreciated.

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 10:02 pm
by sstein
Are you sure that all fuel lines are connected correctly and that all attachments from the tank to the bike are re-connected (vent hoses, qd's, etc. sounds like something straight forward. And make sure you have enough fuel in the tank.

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:07 am
by ldeijkva
Same here. Must be something really simple. Switched lines?
What kind of material did you use for the new lines? They don't pull vacuum?

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:11 am
by towerworker
Also, what type of fuel lines clamps did you use? The OEM internal clamps are the compression PITA clamps. Conventional screw type hose clamps are really not sufficient. There are "fuel injection" clamps at every auto parts store that are better. The FI system develops a lot of internal pressure so using all the right stuff (i.e. high pressure parts) is the way to go. You can also pop an internal line if something is not tight enough.

Also oft times the simplest answer is the right one. If the quick disconnects aren't properly latched (did you hear them "click"?) the system won't get fuel and all will seem normal in appearance. Also I've known of folks who had replaced their QD's and had managed to forget to install one in the opposite direction and then not realizing they hooked them up backwards.


(You also might want to check the coolant level in the tankside radiators. BMW has engineered in a coolant level sensor that will detect low antifreeze levels and kill the ignition system as a safety.) ;)

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:20 pm
by doctorbrown
my mechanic said that of the two spigots on the round plate up under the tank. the one with the arrow pointing up should go to the lower fuel line after the disconnects and the one with the arrow down should go to the upper of the two lines. does this sounds right? i dont want to burn out any components. will double check the dc's clicking when they are put together.
kb

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:57 pm
by sweatmark
doctorbrown wrote:my mechanic said that of the two spigots on the round plate up under the tank. the one with the arrow pointing up should go to the lower fuel line after the disconnects and the one with the arrow down should go to the upper of the two lines. does this sounds right? i dont want to burn out any components. will double check the dc's clicking when they are put together.
kb
"Up" or "down" doesn't matter; it's the arrow's direction relative to the pump cover's inlet & outlet that depicts flow. Arrow pointing away from metal tube = outlet from fuel pump. Arrow pointing towards metal tube denotes fuel return to tank.

See the following topic for fuel flow direction discussion:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20568

And you're sure that fuel pump electrical connector is fully seated? Sound of the fuel pump is obvious tell-tale.

Re: wont start after new fuel lines

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 3:23 pm
by doctorbrown
thanks for the link. i am having a terminology issue. i was told that the return line was the lower of the two where the quick disconnects go and the pressure line was the upper? pump does make sound. much louder than on my gs. really appreciate your help.