K11 Owners Group

drikko · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject: Stupid fuel tank circlips

I have big clumsy fingers and having just now managed to use a pair of needle nose pliers to get these fuel tank circlips back on it it occurred to me it would be easy enough to solder or braze some brass or copper handles or tabs to the back of these that almost stick out past the back of the tank. Has anyone else done this?

It would make it SO much easier to get them off and on!
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Stoked Steve · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I just use my needle nose pliers to get those off, I find it trickier getting them back on.
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:54 pm Post subject:

I had my 1st LT for 2 yrs before I realized that there was even supposed to be clips on there. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

hockeyshifter · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:31 pm Post subject:

I do not think fuel and flame mix very well.... if you want to attach something that has the same properties as brazing use JB Weld... i have used it to attach a pair of driving lights to my Xterra.. but keep this in mind do not get the quick set stuff.. just my 2 cents worth.
_________________
fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.

drikko · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:38 pm Post subject:

Um, I meant to add the tabs to the circlips themselves, so thought I might like remove them first then solder them.... Smile

_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject:

Just becareful when you are brazing/soldering so that you don't get it too hot that it looses it's tension and then becomes useless.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:19 pm Post subject:

Or drill a small hole and put a small machine screw through it.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Jim · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:29 am Post subject: tank clips

Or - leave them off. None of the three K's I've owned have had them. I haven't had a gas tank go flying yet...
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

6899 · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

I found one circlip missing and remember 2 yrs ago that I did have two...OK I guess we have a thieving mouse some where. Shocked

I'd get them just to be safe 'cause I'm POSITIVE the enuchs in Munich knew what they were doing.
Wink

_________________
1996 K1100LT, 73K (bought at 61K on 2006)
1977 R100/7, bought new, rode 97K in 29 yrs before parting out
1970 R50/5, bought used, rode 40K & sold

BMWMOA #6899 since 1976
Indy BMW Club since 1975

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: tank clips

old guy old bike · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject:

I don't have them on mine either. The straps for my tank bag loop around the chassis in the back and around the headstock in the front. Don't know if that would be enough to hold the tank on or not. I guess if I went down hard enough to break the 3/4" wide straps on the tank bag I wouldn't be caring if the tank came off or not.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Jim · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:54 am Post subject: Re: tank clips

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:26 am Post subject:

Stock seat pans aren't that hard and seats can become detached. Also a near full tank of gas has a lot of inertia. And who cares about the bike in a real accident? I think it's more about the tank coming off, ripping away from the fuel lines and spilling gas with lots of sparks around. A worst case scenario yes but why have that become even worse with a fire? Best if the tank stays on the bike.

Anyhow, those clips are little buggers.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

6899 · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:49 am Post subject:

I would not want to chance roasting my family jewels... Laughing

_________________
1996 K1100LT, 73K (bought at 61K on 2006)
1977 R100/7, bought new, rode 97K in 29 yrs before parting out
1970 R50/5, bought used, rode 40K & sold

BMWMOA #6899 since 1976
Indy BMW Club since 1975

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:00 pm Post subject:

When I was still a pedant about fitting them, I grabbed some wire ties ( the plastic covered thingies that cables on new electronics are bound with) & tied them to the heel of the circlip. Two advantages:- They are piss easy to remove & almost as good to replace, as I can hold them in place on the wire whilst pushing with a flat screwdriver.
_________________
Regards Tim,

Grey haired riders don't get that way by pure luck
1996 Guzzi Cali3 LAPD
1972 750 Commando
G6HRN
#485

drikko · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject:

Hhhmm, now that sounds like a good idea.

BTW if the accident is big enough to get the fuel tank to damage the seat enough to come off then I don't reckon the little circlips are strong enough to stop it anyway! Pretty sure they'd just bend enough to let the post rip out.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

AUSBRICK · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:58 pm Post subject:

I'm with Jim never existed on any of my k's and I haven't missed them just one more hassle when I want to remove the tank . Do yourself a favor loose them.
_________________
92k1100 lt with sidecar. 93K1100 CAFE..86K75C.95 k1100lt

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject:

I guess BMW put them on there to increase manufacturing costs. Rolling Eyes

Anyhow, I don't care what you guys do. It's your bike. Me, I'll keep using them.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE