Billet Fuel Cap on GS with keyless ride?

[ramble]

And.......everything at this point in time......is blamed on Covid! Excuses Excuses
Hope you get it soon and have a warm shop.

 

[akbeemer]

+40 here and the shop is heated.

 

[ramble]

 

[lee]

Gas cap has still not arrived. Was scheduled to arrive Wednesday but still not here today. USPS tracking says it will arrive late and is on the way to the next facility. .

Did it arrive?

 

[akbeemer]

Supposed to be delivered today, but I’ve heard that before. 13 days in the mail.

 

[lee]

Supposed to be delivered today, but I’ve heard that before. 13 days in the mail.

 

[akbeemer]

It arrived, it is installed and fits well. I had to remove more plastic than the fuel tank center piece. A significant piece of plastic is not used with the new fuel cap. The plastic houses the electrics, the connectors for the overflow and vapor capture hoses, and the funnel like piece that protrudes into the tank. To reach the electrical connector I had to remove the left side panel that goes forward and becomes part of the beak. Here is a picture after install, more pictures to follow when I am released from grandchildren herding duty.

 

[lee]

It arrived, it is installed and fits well. I had to remove more plastic than the fuel tank center piece. A significant piece of plastic is not used with the new fuel cap. The plastic houses the electrics, the connectors for the overflow and vapor capture hoses, and the funnel like piece that protrudes into the tank. To reach the electrical connector I had to remove the left side panel that goes forward and becomes part of the beak. Here is a picture after install, more pictures to follow when I am released from grandchildren herding duty.

Looks good.
Thanks for adding more pictures later as I can't picture in my head what you removed. I've never lifted the complete assemble out of the tank.
Here's a picture where someone wanted to remove part of the fillet tube.

 

[lee]

I'm thinking of trading in 2022 and if it gets complicated to order bikes without keyless I'll order a couple caps from Pirate.
One problem for me I never thought of, I wont be able to screw in the cap and get it perfectly perpendicular or parallel to the bike
It's not easy being OCD

 

[GTRider]

It arrived, it is installed and fits well. I had to remove more plastic than the fuel tank center piece. A significant piece of plastic is not used with the new fuel cap. The plastic houses the electrics, the connectors for the overflow and vapor capture hoses, and the funnel like piece that protrudes into the tank. To reach the electrical connector I had to remove the left side panel that goes forward and becomes part of the beak. Here is a picture after install, more pictures to follow when I am released from grandchildren herding duty.

So, the vent and evap hoses just get deleted and/or capped off? I like the looks and function of the cap but am unsure about how to treat the hoses that used to feed through the removed plastic piece.

Thanks,
DeVern

 

[akbeemer]

Okay, time for a bit more detail. This is the installation of a SSR brand, billet aluminum fuel cap on a 2017 R1200GSA. (http://pirateslair.net/SSRgascap.htm) There were no instructions included, so if there is a better way, then please tell me.

Pictures of the fuel cap:

Top view

And bottom view. In this picture I have installed the two provided hoses that are (I think) intended to slide into the OE overflow and vapor vent tubes. They do so quite snuggly and I think will not leak unless under high pressure; whether or not those high pressures will occur is unknown. The inside diameter of these tubes is much smaller than the OE tubes and their ability to handle overflow and vapor is suspect. There is a robust o'ring that should provide a good seal.

This is the assembly that is removed from the bike. As was pointed out to me by my SD friend, the absence of the expansion tube in the new gas cap will mean that more gas can be put in the tank, but that will leave no space for thermal expansion. Too much fuel could result in a flammable mess. Also notice the two captured nuts on the assembly. Those are for two fasteners that are inside the small storage area in the center panel of the fuel tank cover. There is now no place to fasten those screws; it does not seem to cause any looseness in the panel. I think that the OE plasic ring could be modified to fit with the new gas cap and the expansion tube could be retained; it will take a great deal of cutting. Given that it is part of a $438 assembly (keyless ride version) and not sold separately, I do not intend to try to make it fit.

The picture below shows the fuel cap electrical connector. It is the white connector in the right center portion of the picture. It is located under the body panel on the left that runs from the fuel tank forwar and become one half of the beak. You do not need to remove the upper crash bar on a GSA to gain access. After separating the two parts of the connector, the white portion can be pulled away from the frame and the assembly can be removed. I capped the remaining female portion with silicon tape. Bikes that do not have a keyless ride will not need to worry about an electrical connector. The connector's location will vary from model to model.

The finished version. I have not started the bike since the install since the winds were howling today, so I do not know if odd electrical alerts will result.

And a SWMotech quick release tank bag collar will fit.

Somewhat concerned with the tubing and lack of the exspantion tube, but plan to run it and see how it goes.

 

[akbeemer]

Looking at the bottom of the fuel cap assembly; I do not understand why they made this fuel cap with the towers that form holes for the screws. Had they made the bottom of the gas cap flat like the OE gas cap, then the plasitic assembly could remain and the OE overflow, vapor capture and expansion tubing could be retained. Looks like it would be an easy job for a mill to remove them.

 

[henzilla]

Just my thoughts...
Looks like one here on a buds K12S and the posts work on that filler setup and would on my Hex and Camheads .Maybe the manufacturer hasn’t caught up with design change on Wethead?

 

[omega man]

Looking at the bottom of the fuel cap assembly; I do not understand why they made this fuel cap with the towers that form holes for the screws. Had they made the bottom of the gas cap flat like the OE gas cap, then the plasitic assembly could remain and the OE overflow, vapor capture and expansion tubing could be retained. Looks like it would be an easy job for a mill to remove them.

Is there multiple applications for the cap?
OM

 

[GTRider]

Looking at the bottom of the fuel cap assembly; I do not understand why they made this fuel cap with the towers that form holes for the screws. Had they made the bottom of the gas cap flat like the OE gas cap, then the plasitic assembly could remain and the OE overflow, vapor capture and expansion tubing could be retained. Looks like it would be an easy job for a mill to remove them.

Thank you very much for the additional pics and information! Does it look like the new cap would seal correctly if the towers were machined off and the cap mounted atop the OEM ring? And would the height match up correctly with the bodywork?

I like the look and function of the new cap but am hesitant over the venting and tip over issues.

Best,
DeVern

 

[lee]

Looks great for sure!

My only issue will be I will need to hold or set a gas cap someplace when I fill. I can get over that I think.

It looks really good though.

I would need to set it on the seat so I don't ride off without it.

 

[lee]

Also notice the two captured nuts on the assembly. Those are for two fasteners that are inside the small storage area in the center panel of the fuel tank cover. There is now no place to fasten those screws; it does not seem to cause any looseness in the panel.

I think that's only a GS thing. The R and RS does not have it and I'm guessing the same for the RT.
Thanks for the detailed pictures.

 

[lee]

As was pointed out to me by my SD friend, the absence of the expansion tube in the new gas cap will mean that more gas can be put in the tank, but that will leave no space for thermal expansion

If it had the short stub of the expansion tube, the cap would be perfect.

 

[akbeemer]

Is there multiple applications for the cap?
OM

Yes. That is likely the reason for the design. I have a friend who is a semi-retired machinist, I’ll see what he says about removing the extensions.

 

[lee]

I remembered I did not like the very small fuel filler opening and flapper on our K75 bikes and removed that part.
If I remember right this was the only thing that allowed for expansion.
I just remembered to not fill to the brim and did not have any problems in 16 years.