Fuel Tank Removal

[roy]

Hi all, time for my dumb question of the day.

On an 85 K100 is their any reason that the fuel tank needs to be empty prior to removal other than weight? I had a local mechanic tell me that if I don't empty the tank it will leak out everywhere.

I have read through the Clymer & Haynes manuals as well as the IBMWR tech page by Mr. Don Eilenberger on this exact year of bike. None of these publications say anything about draining the tank prior to removal. If fact Don's tech page states it will not leak out but cap the ports to keep dirt out which is always a good idea.

Wanting to errror on the side of caution, and being new to Beemer renchin, I would appreciate feed back from people that have actually removed fuel tanks and stayed dry.

1) Is their a maximum fuel level recommended?

Thanks

[kioolt]

I've only had the tank off of my 91K100LT a few times in the last 14 years but I don't remember ever having any trouble with fuel leaking out. I do try to run the tank down low before removing it for weight reasons. Maybe I was just lucky.

[bikerfish1100]

have had both a K75 (older than yours) & a K11 (newer than yours), both tanks off frequently. remember to disconnect the fuel pump wiring (has a quik-clip), and the fuel lines on left side of tank. that's it. no need to plug ports if you're careful where you sit the tank (plastic milk crate works real well). i'd put a towel underneath it as a caution, but it never seemed to need it. you might want to plug the fuel lines on the bike itself (a small screw or golf tee works pretty well) one of them will likely drip a bit at first, so have a rag handy when you disconnect it.
less fuel = less weight, that's the only reason for wanting it closer to empty.

[2whelman]

I have pulled the tank off probably 8 or 9 times over the years on my 85K100RT,sometimes full, most times at low levels. It usually drips a bit and then quits, but there was one time that it did continue to drip. It is much easier and safer to handle empty or close to it. Remember to have a nice padded area to sit it on and be carefull with the connections on the bottom of the tank, They look like they could be damaged pretty easily. Oh yeah, if you have a dumb kid around the house (I wonder where he gets it from?) that decides to move the tank full of gas, and ends up laying the gas tank on its side, the gas can leak out and lift the paint if left 20 days. I found out the hard/expensive way. Be carefull.

[johnnyquest]

I had my tank off right after I bought my bike, Clymer manual said to take it off before changing my fork seals. My tank didn't leak much if at all, but I do remember dripping some fuel out of the lines after I re-connected everything. Would help to wrap a shop towel/rag around the base of the lines before hooking everything back up. Also, in my Clymer manual it mentioned a procedure to relieve pressure on the lines, but if I remember correctly the procedure was to just disconnect the lines....go figure. I think I had about 1/3 of a tank of gas when I took mine off and it wasn't that big of a deal. Just lay it flat on a shop towel and watch out for the electrical connectors.

JQ

[roy]

Thanks all,

Oh 2whelman, the only dumb kid in my house is me, thats why I am asking the questions before destroying something. I am estimating $400 - $500 on maintenace repairs without doing stupid things. Usually have enough brain freezes without help :doh I am blonde

[Bobmws]

have had both a K75 (older than yours) & a K11 (newer than yours), both tanks off frequently.

A pre 1985 K75???!!! A collectors item for sure, worth a small fortune! :stick

[deilenberger]

Roy entices me with a single NUMBERED paragraph :)

Hi all, time for my dumb question of the day.

On an 85 K100 is their any reason that the fuel tank needs to be empty prior to removal other than weight? I had a local mechanic tell me that if I don't empty the tank it will leak out everywhere.

I have read through the Clymer & Haynes manuals as well as the IBMWR tech page by Mr. Don Eilenberger on this exact year of bike. None of these publications say anything about draining the tank prior to removal. If fact Don's tech page states it will not leak out but cap the ports to keep dirt out which is always a good idea.

Wanting to errror on the side of caution, and being new to Beemer renchin, I would appreciate feed back from people that have actually removed fuel tanks and stayed dry.

1) Is their a maximum fuel level recommended?

Thanks

1. No. Doesn't matter a lot. The tank is obviously heavier when full and a bit might dribble out the tank vent pipe if REALLY full (the vent intake is up at the very top of the tank..)

I keep a few rubber things that came off the ends of 1/4" copper tubing - soft vinyl, and as soon as I disconnect the hoses - I pop one on each tank fitting and then one into the end of each hose. The ones in the hoses keep crap (tech-term) from falling into the hoses.

On your '85 - several things:

1. Remember to remove the SIDEPANELS before attempting to remove the tank. Not good if you don't. DAMHIK..

2. The fuel-level, fuel-pump connector is in the front left corner under the tank (later models it moved..) - if the bike doesn't start after you reinstall the tank - go back and plug that back in.. DAMHIK

Not a big deal.. don't overtighten the 10mm nut that holds it down - doing so can crack the rear of the tank. Just "snug" is good.

Best,

[1flyer]

I've got a K1200LT and here is another idea about removing fuel tanks with fuel still in them. Depending on what the tank is made of and how it is supported on the Bike, there may be a chance of deforming a heavy tank as it is removed. If you remove a heavy fuel tank and don't support it in close to the same position as when it's mounted on the bike, the tank dimensions may "shift" as the weight of the remaining fuel is distributed differently. What this means is, it may not line up correctly when you put it back on. The tank is designed to pass the fuel weight through the tank mounts to the frame. On the 1200 there are two mount bolts passing through the tank. If a heavy tank sits on one side or another or it's top (like when removing the K1200 fuel filter) it could be much harder to refit. Removing the fuel first helps reduce the chances of problems later.

[bikerfish1100]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bikerfish1100
have had both a K75 (older than yours) & a K11 (newer than yours), both tanks off frequently.


A pre 1985 K75???!!! A collectors item for sure, worth a small fortune!

hmmm, that's what i get when i don't pay close enough attention to the dates, eh? the K75 was actually an '86. maybe it just LOOKED older :dunno

[bikerfish1100]

Bill McA- have you known of or experienced a tank deformation as you talked about? i've never heard of such a thing, and the dynamics really sounds pretty strange to me. [Unless of course you're dealing with a plastic tank, which i guess could warp under load. The K tanks were all steel tanks.]

[GSTom]

[Unless of course you're dealing with a plastic tank, which i guess could warp under load. The K tanks were all steel tanks.]

When I originally got my then "new-to-me" '88K100, I assumed it had a steel tank. I quickly discerned it wasn't ferrous when I got home from the local accessory emporium and tried to mount the brand new magnetic base tank bag I had just purchased. Some K tanks may be steel but mine sure isn't.

[1flyer]

Bill McA- have you known of or experienced a tank deformation as you talked about? i've never heard of such a thing, and the dynamics really sounds pretty strange to me. [Unless of course you're dealing with a plastic tank, which i guess could warp under load. The K tanks were all steel tanks.]


Gee, that's sure funny. No, you are wrong. My tank is plastic. And I have a K bike. Why do you think all K Bikes have steel tanks? And yes, it has happen. What? You think I'm making this stuff up?

[kioolt]

Early K-bike tanks are aluminum.

[johnnyquest]

Early K-bike tanks are aluminum.

Pre 1990?

JQ

[kioolt]

All K75's , K100's, and K1100's to the best of my knowledge.

[tjtraver]

I too bought a magnetic tank bag , only to have it slide off onto the floor . The original fuel tank on my 1995 appears to be aluminum.