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Just because nobody's mentioned it yet ...
... these were not factory fitted nor are any such filters available in the BMW parts system.
And, they're completely unnecessary.
Just because nobody's mentioned it yet ...
... these were not factory fitted nor are any such filters available in the BMW parts system.
And, they're completely unnecessary.
So they're not original BMW, but they ARE necessary!
These have saved a lot of leaky carbs where a spec of dirt got through the system and lodged in the float needle causing an overflow.
I sort of wonder why Max's BMW, RePsycle, and probably every other shop sells them. At $2 each, cheap assurance.
There was a reason why nobody mentioned it yet. Can you guess why?
I agree with lkchris - fuel filters not necessary or even desireable by design if good screen in tank and or aditional screen in fuel tap (some verticle drain types)
One possibility especially if the filter pictured is a paper type or very fine porous material - water and gas do not mix well.
If you are unlucky enough to get a bit of water in bottom of tank that wets a dry filter first with water then gas will not pass through it till it drys out - you could blow back through it (adding more moisture from your breath if by mouth) and just make things worse.
Another reason to get rid of the filters - a slug of water will make the engine stumble but probably not shut you off like a water contaminated filter will.
Here is a follow up....Today I was able to get out for a 15 mile ride. Everything seems to be ok. The fuel filters filled and stayed that way. The bike ran strong throughout the rpm range...actually I am impressed at how strong it pulls from 5000 to 6000 rpm's in 3rd gear.
The last two miles I ran at 4000 rpm, pulled in the clutch, hit the kill switch and coasted into the garage. I removed the spark plugs to see how they looked...
I adjusted the idle to 1000 after replacing the plugs....smoooooth!
After I get the idle/mixture tweaked a bit, I'm sure it will run even better.
Thanks to everyone for your input. It's great to hear so many varied opinions.
Looks great to me. I am SURE you will not regret the filters. Too much prevention? NO. Not for a few bucks a year!
Have you always run the BP7ES which is the coldest plug (equivalent to the Bosch W5DC)? I tend to run the W6DC plug in my R100/7, which is one step hotter. I think either will work fine...it could have an impact on the plug color as well.
I'll bite. Couple years back, float bowls always had rusty stuff in them. bothered me. All screens in place including with Dels third screen at carb fuel inlet. Put on Fram inline filters, next spring float bowls still had red stuff in the bottom, only very fine. So, with tank screens, petcock screens, Frams and Del screens, the bowls still had the red stuff.
At this point it was getting anal, like "what kind of oil should be used", but kept filters except petcocks, went to ninety degree units, and made an aluminum tank. this fall checked float bowls, finally, nothing. Success, but at a price. Redkote likely would have worked out real nice except that my old tank was coated with some kind of peeling yellowish sealer. FWIW that's the story. Time to order the pizza.
Bingo!
Godfather,
So . . . what was the final outcome? Were your old fuel line filters, in fact, the problem, presumably because they were plugged?
If so, that is a sign that the filters do, indeed, need installed. If they hadn't stopped that dirt the carbs probably would have, or worse, the engine itself would have sucked it all in.
JL
There was no visible sign of contaminants in the filters. They were new with less than 100 miles on them so I will assume there must have been water in the gas that caused the paper element filters to plug up. I blew through them comparing airflow to the new(est) ones and the air flow was restricted in the problematic ones.
I am a believer in prevention and will continue to use the inline filters until someone can prove they are detrimental.
Thanks again to everyone that contributed to this thread.
I would suggest that you should use the sintered bronze type next time.