2004 1150 RT hard to start after fill up

[maacova]

Drove my bike to work today and on the 30 mile ride the low fuel light came on. Filled up (251 miles) when I went to the bank at lunch. Only drove about 500 feet to station. When I went to start up after fill up bike would not start. It took at least 4 or 5 min to get it going. I had to hold the starter on while the engine was "just" running. When I left the bank the bike started perfectly. Started fine the rest of the day. I am lost on this one. Battery almost ran out before I got it going. This has never happened before.
1. Did I run out of gas just as I got to the pump?
2. Did I drive such a short distance that I flooded the plugs?
3. Bad Gas?

Ken Denton

[2bikemike]

Ken, I tend to think that you did indeed run out of gas just as you pulled in to gas up. Can't imagine why it would take 4-5 mins. to fire up afterward tho.:scratch

[NavyDad]

Does your bike still have the charcoal "canister" mounted by the right rear fender? If you overfill the tank and some gas gets into that canister it will make the bike hard to start. Had the same problem a time or two on mine and then I read somewhere (probably here) about it. I removed my canister, but not filling the tank all the way up works too. I could fill mine all the way up and ride right away with no problem. If I filled up and then took a short break I was in for some cranking.

[TheRoss]

Canisterectomy time!

I recently saw an ad where some dude was wanting to buy a canister to make his bike "stock again". So try to sell the thing if you still have it and decide to take it off. There really are fools out there.

[OfficerImpersonator]

Does anyone have a link to the instructions for the procedure for conducting the cannisterectomy?

[maacova]

Yes bike still has canister. I will try not to overfill if you think that is it.

[dbrick]

I think that once it's filled with gas, the cannister is ruined and becomes unusable. If your bike's cannister was drowned, not drowning it in the future won't solve the hard start problem.

[kgadley01]

How much gas did you get. that bike holds about 7 gal. I doubt you ran out of gas. as far as the canaster issue, the mechanic at the BMW shop I use said to simply remove it and extend the hose that was connected to it downward like an overflow.:thumb

[maacova]

On side stand put in 5.8 gal

[bikerfish1100]

On side stand put in 5.8 gal

clearly not out of gas, not even close.
here's a thread on cannister removal. http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/index.shtml also one(or more) on Pelicanparts R1100S forum.

[irish]

You are talking about the black metal cylindrical canister, correct? I have been wondering what that was and was unable to find any answers on line. What function does that have? Emissions control?

[bikerfish1100]

about 4 threads down - http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=44702 post #4

[maacova]

Same gas station same pump same 5.5 gal in tank but no problem at all starting. I will chalk it up to gremlins and move on. Thanks for the advice. I may at some point remove said canister but I don't think it is hurting anything and it must be there for something.

Ken Denton

[bikerfish1100]

I may at some point remove said canister but I don't think it is hurting anything and it must be there for something.

Ken Denton

ostensibly, it is there to recapture gasoline fumes before they hit the atmosphere. as for your bike's operations, it does nothing, unless it gets gas or water soaked, in which case it screws things up for ya.

[bdspler]

i messed up my cannister! and it made a vacume in the tank that collapsed the fuel gaudge ! so dont think its ok to LET IT GO! take off the thing or replace it!
my fuel tank never reads lees than half tank !
sorry for the bdspllin !