R18 Fuel Tank Removal/ Install Procedure

[NursePeter]

Hi all,

As the title suggests, I'm looking for anyones guidance what may know the best way to remove/ reinstall the R18 fuel tank.

On the weekend I managed to break the fuel line quick connect attached to the fuel tank. Part

16 14 9 444 697​

ANGLE CONNECTOR​

https://shop.maxbmw.com/fiche/DiagramsMain.aspx?vid=61577&rnd=09082020 (<- no association, just the first place I found with the schematics)

I've ordered it from my local dealer (Autoclassic Motorrad - Perth) and it arrived today (AUD$93)

I have a plan, but would love to hear if anyone has done this, as I really dont want to break it again.

I'll try and document what I did, for future people!

 

[NursePeter]

I managed to do it successfully. I took a fair number of photos...
The new part!

The broken connector vs the replacement

Broken Part insitu

New one fitted

For ease I taped the electrical connector roughly in place, as I'd found it didnt want to sit where it should naturally. (the other tape was there to indicate where the rubber buffer was meant to go - this was unnecessary)

I used a block of wood at the seat end and also disconnected the fuel line from the engine side to give more freedom of movement
*** It's important to note that the fuel line between the Tank and the engine is held captive by a rigid line - (Brake or clutch) so you cant just undo the engine side if taking the tank off

I secured the tank by the two bolts at the headstock, with the seat end propped up to facilitate space and ease to connect the fuel line to the tank spiggot

I then took the wood spacer out and slowly eased the tank into position and guided the engine side disconnect into place

Finally then connecting the electical plug on the other side.



Obviously i fitted the remaining bolts, ensuring tightness, and she started first try.

Hope this might help someone, someday.

 

[Anibal]

Thank you for the detailed instructions. I am sure it may help someone one day.
Not that it is my business but what was you trying to do initially that led you to breaking the connector?

 

[Alan neill]

I managed to do it successfully. I took a fair number of photos...
The new part!
View attachment 12182
The broken connector vs the replacement
View attachment 12183
Broken Part insitu
View attachment 12184
New one fitted
View attachment 12185
For ease I taped the electrical connector roughly in place, as I'd found it didnt want to sit where it should naturally. (the other tape was there to indicate where the rubber buffer was meant to go - this was unnecessary)
View attachment 12186
I used a block of wood at the seat end and also disconnected the fuel line from the engine side to give more freedom of movement
View attachment 12187
I secured the tank by the two bolts at the headstock, with the seat end propped up to facilitate space and ease to connect the fuel line to the tank spiggot
View attachment 12188
I then took the wood spacer out and slowly eased the tank into position and guided the engine side disconnect into place
View attachment 12189
Finally then connecting the electical plug on the other side.
View attachment 12190


Obviously i fitted the remaining bolts, ensuring tightness, and she started first try.

Hope this might help someone, someday.

Hi how did the connector get broken

 

[NursePeter]

@Anibal & @Alan neill - I was running a power cable up to the quad lock wireless charger on the handlebars... and when I put the tank back it was a couple of inches further down from the headstock, I didnt realise the fuel line is super rigid... and so it snapped it off.

Complete muppet/ rookie move... I'd owned her all of 3 days....

 

[Ulrich]

Thanks for the write-up and the pics!!

 

[Anibal]

@Anibal & @Alan neill - I was running a power cable up to the quad lock wireless charger on the handlebars... and when I put the tank back it was a couple of inches further down from the headstock, I didnt realise the fuel line is super rigid... and so it snapped it off.

Complete muppet/ rookie move... I'd owned her all of 3 days....

Thank you. It could have happened to anyone. Main thing now is that you have sorted it and helped everyone with the knowledge. Good stuff

 

[Alan neill]

@Anibal & @Alan neill - I was running a power cable up to the quad lock wireless charger on the handlebars... and when I put the tank back it was a couple of inches further down from the headstock, I didnt realise the fuel line is super rigid... and so it snapped it off.

Complete muppet/ rookie move... I'd owned her all of 3 days....

Thanks for passing that on I will watch out for that cheers mate

 

[NursePeter]

I've just woken and reread the comments... and realised i didnt add the fact the fuel line is captive on the spine/ frame. I added the following to the appropriate picture

*** Its important to note that the fuel line between the Tank and the engine is captive by a rigid line - (Brake or clutch) so you cant just undo the engine side!

 

[Star-Lord]

What's the expectation of emerging fuel, once I disconnect the captive fuel coupling line connection? 1. Just a few drops...? 2. Remaining fuel in the fuel line, which can be caught within a rattle can lid? Or - 3. The entire contents of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank?

I'll probably order a couple of the billet adapters that Milwaukee Dave found and ordered online for safe keeping, and or just upgrade the 90 degree adapter now, while I have the fuel tank off.

I'm preparing to remove the OEM handlebars today, so that I can take them to a machine shop in order to have the Beach-bars milled out in the same fashion as the stock bars; the handlebar control wiring is up underneath the fuel tank..

 

[NursePeter]

The expectation is very little - even less than a few drops - unless you break the connector like I did

 

[Star-Lord]

The expectation is very little - even less than a few drops - unless you break the connector like I did

So the coupling connector doesn't allow the fuel to drain from the tank? I'm working on dissembling the handlebar controls now and saving the fuel tank as the last step in retrieving the wiring.

 

[Ulrich]

So the coupling connector doesn't allow the fuel to drain from the tank? I'm working on dissembling the handlebar controls now and saving the fuel tank as the last step in retrieving the wiring.

I have removed my tank a few times and all I ever got was a few drops ... even with the tank quite full.

 

[R18 100]

Im thinking to buy a metal replacement for that cheap white plastic elbow. MilwDave posted a pic of the metal replacement.

 

[Star-Lord]

I ordered two billet adapters yesterday, one for the First Edition project and one for my Model B (future preventative maintenance); the tank removal went well yesterday... A small hurdle though, I just noticed that BMW sent me the wrong wiring harness for the beachbars, which appears to not to accommodate the heated grips wiring ...

 

[Puck]

What's the expectation of emerging fuel, once I disconnect the captive fuel coupling line connection? 1. Just a few drops...? 2. Remaining fuel in the fuel line, which can be caught within a rattle can lid? Or - 3. The entire contents of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank?

I'll probably order a couple of the billet adapters that Milwaukee Dave found and ordered online for safe keeping, and or just upgrade the 90 degree adapter now, while I have the fuel tank off.

I'm preparing to remove the OEM handlebars today, so that I can take them to a machine shop in order to have the Beach-bars milled out in the same fashion as the stock bars; the handlebar control wiring is up underneath the fuel tank..

I’m looking to do the same with some beach bars. Not sure why BMW didn’t have the holes already there for the electronics cables. I saw some on AliExpress that appeared to have holes already but you know….its Ali, so you never know what your gonna get.

 

[harrisrc740]

Same here I removed the tank several times on my 18B and barely a drop, but I did destroy the fuel line and had to replace it. Modded some pliers to squeeze the white release clamps to get the tank loose. Afterwards the fuel line would not stay locked in, kept disconnecting. So even replacing that I did not loose any fuel from the tank.

 

[Star-Lord]

I'm definitely going to upgrade the plastic adapter with the newly ordered billet part; I have some time before I will start to reassemble the fuel tank, turns out the extended wiring harness that the dealership sent me is missing connectors... I suspect the missing wiring is for the heated grips..