Notes on Fuel Tank Hoses + Filter / Refurbish
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 11:10 pm
Timely warnings of fuel hose deterioration and realising my fuel filter is at least 7 years old!!! Prompted an investigation....
I drained the tank using a cheap and nasty (and time consuming) hand suction ball, syphon tube kit. Not too bad once it was going. I then removed the tank cap and mounting plate to get better access for viewing the tank internals and sucking as much fuel out as poss.
I knew I would be attempting to remove the tank completely so set about removing the seat and the 4 bolts at the tank rear to subframe bracket. All ok.
The overflow hoses stop the tank from being lifted initially, these were easy to disconnect, even if the tank actually sits ON the hoses as they then run across to the opposite side of the bike to ground.
This let me get decent access to the underside of the tank and enough for me to decide I didnt want to undo the braided delivery hose and instead, undid the fuel filter and pump plate bolts and lift the tank away, leaving the base plate connected to the bike.
I'd recently bought a right angled cordless screwdriver adapter and this was invaluable in getting all the base plate small bolts off, 8 or so I think.
The plate has to be twisted and jigged about with as the tank is lifted away but it worked, with only a few drops of fuel being spilled (as I waited a few days after draining the tank).
The fuel pump electric cable, outside of the tank had been wrapped around another cable and it was only with the tank off that I was able to unravel it and undo the white connector to give a lot more cable play for the plate to move.
I removed the fuel filter and its hoses and noted the longer looped hose seemed quite dull compared to the filter exit hose. The factory clip had bitten into the hose at fuel pump delivery point and I was able to pull the filter off WITHOUT undoing the delivery factory clip OR using excessive force. There are no flanges on these plastic spigots.
The rubber sealing ring on the base plate had NO gasket or sealant of any type present on it or the base of the tank. But I'm pretty sure it didnt leak either!
While I initially thought there was little water inside the tank, once removed and turned vertical, more water and brown liquid could be seen. Easy to mop out with blue paper through the large base opening.
There are small patches of flaking in various places on the tank inside surface. The slope near the throttle bodies being the worst.
I cant seen anywhere near enough space to move the filter external to the tank to make renewal MUCH easier & besides that would mean changing the braided hose which Aprilia have installed for a reason, I guess.
I'm simply going to replace the filter, internal hoses and the return hose and put it all back together. I have gasket sealant, hose and filters all on their way and will pass the remaining time ripping out the stupid Datatool alarm system that I have no idea WHY or how I have persevered with for so long...
Cheers - Fuel Funky Frank
I drained the tank using a cheap and nasty (and time consuming) hand suction ball, syphon tube kit. Not too bad once it was going. I then removed the tank cap and mounting plate to get better access for viewing the tank internals and sucking as much fuel out as poss.
I knew I would be attempting to remove the tank completely so set about removing the seat and the 4 bolts at the tank rear to subframe bracket. All ok.
The overflow hoses stop the tank from being lifted initially, these were easy to disconnect, even if the tank actually sits ON the hoses as they then run across to the opposite side of the bike to ground.
This let me get decent access to the underside of the tank and enough for me to decide I didnt want to undo the braided delivery hose and instead, undid the fuel filter and pump plate bolts and lift the tank away, leaving the base plate connected to the bike.
I'd recently bought a right angled cordless screwdriver adapter and this was invaluable in getting all the base plate small bolts off, 8 or so I think.
The plate has to be twisted and jigged about with as the tank is lifted away but it worked, with only a few drops of fuel being spilled (as I waited a few days after draining the tank).
The fuel pump electric cable, outside of the tank had been wrapped around another cable and it was only with the tank off that I was able to unravel it and undo the white connector to give a lot more cable play for the plate to move.
I removed the fuel filter and its hoses and noted the longer looped hose seemed quite dull compared to the filter exit hose. The factory clip had bitten into the hose at fuel pump delivery point and I was able to pull the filter off WITHOUT undoing the delivery factory clip OR using excessive force. There are no flanges on these plastic spigots.
The rubber sealing ring on the base plate had NO gasket or sealant of any type present on it or the base of the tank. But I'm pretty sure it didnt leak either!
While I initially thought there was little water inside the tank, once removed and turned vertical, more water and brown liquid could be seen. Easy to mop out with blue paper through the large base opening.
There are small patches of flaking in various places on the tank inside surface. The slope near the throttle bodies being the worst.
I cant seen anywhere near enough space to move the filter external to the tank to make renewal MUCH easier & besides that would mean changing the braided hose which Aprilia have installed for a reason, I guess.
I'm simply going to replace the filter, internal hoses and the return hose and put it all back together. I have gasket sealant, hose and filters all on their way and will pass the remaining time ripping out the stupid Datatool alarm system that I have no idea WHY or how I have persevered with for so long...
Cheers - Fuel Funky Frank