Fuel Pump Noise R1100 GS 1999
 

My fuel pump recently bit the dust. I am out in West Africa (How normal is it for a fuel pump to go after 8 years, 30000 miles, maybe bad gas here in West Africa?). I got one off another R1100 GS 1999, same year, from the USA. It works, can start the bike nicely. Replaced the O Ring, and put in a new Fuel Filter for the used pump. I noticed my old pump had a lot of metalic shavings. It must be rust from the gas filler cap. Tank looks very clean.
Anyway I hear the normal fuel tank whine when I start it. But I don't remember it being so loud when I click into first gear and drive off. When I rev the engine I can still hear the distinctive whine in the tank. It sounds pretty consistant. Not much fluctuation that I can tell. I have taken off the Cat Converter, and put on a racing tube, so it is pretty loud. But I can still hear the pump. I imgine if my helmet is on I would not hear it.
I am wondering if this pump is OK, and the loudness is nothing to be concerned about.
I take this bike up to some rural areas in the West African bush, alone, and I can't afford to break down up there. I don't have a film crew and Charlie watching my back.
It has been a month since I broke down and finally running again, so I may be over cautious with the odd noises I hear. I have been a little cautious since my Hall Sensor unit gave me a scare once and I was down for a week.

Cheers,

Nomadusa in West Africa

Look for another spare as you're traveling if it worries you. It should always be running with fuel injection. They're noticably louder when the tank is low, less fuel to absorb the sound.

pump probs
 

I have had a couple of probs with r1100 and r850r pumps, both in-tank, the first stopped dead but after removing it and giving it 12v reversed so it pumped back it cleared whatever and started running ok but noisey, the second was noisey all the time, when I investigated found the small plastic envelope on the pump intake had gotten doubled up on installation , once that was twisted round and put back the noise was gone, does not use as much petrol now either....best bet is to take a spare as in last post...also always make sure you are pumping petrol when you test as they go funny if you run them with 12v and no petrol for any length of time.....good luck..

Check the pump is mounted correctly - if it rubbs on something it will make a noise.

The pump runs flat out all the time (on the R12s they vary the speed depending on demand, uses the CAN bus to do this) the motor is running.

I've had blocked fuel filters .. but not a pump failure. So I carry a spare filter or two. If the filter is partly bolcked teh pump has more work to do - so is louder. Someone (?) was measing the current drawing by the pump to determine its condition and that of the filter... should be around 6 amps .. if much more you have a problem .. how is teh fuel consumption .. if bad could be the pressure regulator partly jammed - increasing teh pressure going to teh injectors = more fuel to the motor.

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With the hall effect switches . if you mount the new ones (not from bmw .. the actual small switches themselves to the bmw plate) using screws rather than rivets they come with .. then you can replace them in the bush .. you 'll still need a soldering iron though. Spares are small when carried this way.

For extreme travel it's better to take spare fuel pump with you, along with filter. It's mostly clogged fuel filter causing fuel pump noise, since it has to do more work to push the liquid through. Rarely the fuel pump goes, but if it does go, you're dead on the road if your bike is an EFI bike. Also route the fuel filter outside the tank - easier to replace on the road.

I also carry the Hall sensor plate with me I bough s/h cheapo and in working order - takes very little space. If it goes, it's a bout 10 minute job to replace it in the bush. Remove the alternator belt's bottom pulley, scratch the position of the old one precisely on the crank, then take the old one out and put new one on exacly on the same position, and you're good to go again. :)

Ride safe, Margus

Hopefully you haven't thrown away the pump.
You might be able to find one that will work(i.e. pump out similar pressure) in a West African Capital city...spefically Dakar or Bamako...or get a local shop to cut open your old one and fix it. A replacement pump has to put out a similar PSI and the fuel pressure regulator will take care of the remainder.

I wish I had carried a spare one on my trip, but luckily broke down on my way to a dealer in the US...with MollyDog at my side!

All the pumps I know of put out a similar PSI - about 90 PSI when flow is stopped. What changes is the rate of flow at 30 PSI (that is where most systems sit using a pressure regulator). Basicly you'd like a bosh pump about the same physical size as the one you have - go to a car wrecker and look.. Or in a large city an EFI speciallist.

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