K11 Owners Group

Splund · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject: Fuel tank removal

Hi, can anyone tell me if you have to drain the fuel tank before removing it on a 1994K1100ltic?

Thank you.

Stoked Steve · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

You don't have to drain it, but you'll only be able to move it to right next to the bike and set it on a chair or something, because the fuel lines will still be attached. I've done this a few times when I only needed the tank off for a bit of under tank wiring.

But if you need to completely remove it and get it out of the way, you will have to drain it. They do make quick release connectors so that you can take the tank of without draining it, but I imagine you'd have to drain it to install those.
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Mystic Red · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

Just take a pair of vice grip pliers and crimp the hose that stays hooked to the tank and you can completely remove without draining. It's a little tidier if you do the other one also.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

You don't have to drain the tank. I've had my tanks off many, many times and have never drained either one.

Ideally you want to run the tank down a bit first. Undo the forward hose (to the fuel pressure regulator) first. Next, undo the rear line to the fuel rail.

If you've recently run the bike there will still be some residual pressure in the fuel lines so close your eyes or turn your head.

Once you remove the fuel rail line gas will start to leak out of that outlet so put your finger over it right when you remove that hose. Then lean the tank up against the wall with the front pointing upwards.

When you put it back on, put your finger over the rear outlet when you place the tank on the bike and get the fuel rail line on there quickly.

I usually just put a towel over the left side fairing and set the tank on a tall chair next to the bike though since there's a fair amount of slack in the fuel lines.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Rider · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject: Fuel tank removal

And for cryin' out loud, if you are going to pull the fuel lines loose move the bike out into the driveway so that little spray of gasoline doesn't create a problem from a stray spark or if your gas fired water heater gets wind of it.
Just think, there goes your K bike the rest of your motorcycles, your car(s), the house and the whole neighborhood.

Ed
_________________
2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

Mystic Red · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject:

I've also pulled my tanks many times without draining.
I pull the lines off and loop them back.

Pull the line off at the fuel rail and connect it to the rear nipple on the tank,
the line off the rear nipple placed on the open nipple at the fuel rail.

Also helps keep dirt out of the lines.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Splund · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:20 am Post subject:

Thanks for all your help. Scott that's a particulary neat idea looping the lines back onto the nipples on the tank and fuel rail. Is that by design or just good luck?

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:34 am Post subject:

I'm guessing that with one of the clamps not being designed as "removable" it is easier to not get them mixed up when putting things back together.

Many times I've had that "ok now, which one goes where??" situation.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: Fuel tank

I don't disconnect the hoses, but I like those fancy quick dis-connects.
Maybe some day.

I use a 5 gallon bucket with an old blanket pushed in. Like Drake said, it's better if your tank is half full or less. I set the tank right in the bucket with the blanket, back end of tank in first. Sits nice & low & rigth next to the bike, very stable.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Fuel tank

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: Disconnects

Yeah true, not too often ya gotta take the tank off.

Good point on the disconnects, they look solid and all, but I'm a bit nervous of them wearing out and or leaking. I think I'll just put that off.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

RAL88 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

I have also taken my tank off when full with no problem, just plug the nipples. I also have quick disconnects and I'm glad I put them on. They are shutoffs so when you take them off they don't leak. The ones I have on now are chrome plated brass and they are rock solid. I had a set of plastic ones which probably would have held up if they put viton o-rings in but they had buana o-rings which don't work with gas so they swelled up and I broke the fitting trying to get them apart. I have had no problems with the brass ones and they have been on for four years now.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Saltcreek · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject:

So I had my tank off this morning to install a combination switch and I notice two hose fittings sticking down from the tank with nothing on them. I look around and find a couple of vacuum looking hoses which seem to be routed to nowhere. So I stuck them on there and put the tank back on and went to look at the parts fiche and .pdf manual. Nothing. Haven't looked at Clymer yet. What's up with that?

Thanks to Scott Anderson for the right combination switch. I'll try to rehab mine to have in reserve for someone.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject:

They should be attached to drain hoses routed down inside the right peg plate.

A better solution is that BMW sells a little square cup that mounts to the frame underneath those two outlets and then has one drain hose running from it down to behind the right peg plate. The part name is "Air Accumulator" and the part number is 16132307467. It only costs a couple of dollars.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Saltcreek · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject:

I attached the hoses this time. My question now is, what are they draining? Why are there two? Does it matter which hose goes where?

Why didn't I notice them before, why does one of them appear to be pinched closed at the end, How do you accumulate air?... I could go on
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

The part name is crappy translation from German. Look up the name of the dash pad someday. That's called a "Hub Cap." Laughing

One used to go to a breather on the top of the timing chain cover. Usually they are capped off pinched near where the hose leaves top of the timing cover there. I've heard that was done for CA emmissions requirements or some such.

The other is for overflow from the hole under the left side of the gas cap.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Saltcreek · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject:

So I guess it could be a bad thing if the drain is hooked to the pinched off one. Do you know which is which?
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject:

The rear one drains from the fuel cap.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Jim · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject: