K11 Owners Group

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:13 am Post subject: Overheating and Gas

Hi all. I am new to bikes so obviously, new to K bikes so please forgive my ignorance. I also have very little mechanical experience but am anxious, ready and willing to learn. I did a search here before I started this thread and found stuff on overheating but not with the gas issue. so.....

I got my '93 K1100lt back in the spring. Aside from 1 drop at a stand still just after I got it, it's been a wonderful relationship with just over 6,000 smooth running miles ridden so far.

I did an oil change yesterday and went for a ride. She ran great! Not sure the oil change has anything to do with this issue at all but I figured I'd mention it just in case.

Today I went for a short ride. It was in the middle 80s. I was mostly in traffic. I noticed it got hot enough for the fan to kick in much sooner than usual and the fan was kicking back on quicker than normal. I have ridden in hotter weather and traffic before without this happening.

I then met a fellow rider and we hit the city roads for a little spin. More of the same.....running hot, fan kicking on a lot but now, a strong smell of gas. I then noticed that it was releasing gas through the tube on the bike's right side. This happened once before just after I filled up. I researched it and concluded that I had overfilled it. I never did that again and it never happened again....until now. But this time, the tank was 3/4 full at best.

So, I cut our ride short and headed for home. It was only a few miles but with several traffic lights on the way....all of which I hit! The fan ran often all the way home and the gas poured out but the K and I made it home safely.

I had to go to work so I didn't have time to explore. But I wouldn't really know what to look for anyway. What do you guys think? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Doug
_________________
1993 BMW K1100lt

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:35 am Post subject:

Doug,

My first thought would be a thermostat that isn't opening.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

N41EF · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject:

The thermostat is easy to replace to test it. I have a used OEM thermostat if you want it.

Send me a PM with your address if you want it.
_________________
2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:11 pm Post subject:

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the help so far. Any thoughts on the gas release? Does this sound like a normal thing when the bike is so hot?
_________________
1993 BMW K1100lt

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:42 am Post subject:

It sounds like your bike has had "the cup" installed.
The overflow line was intended to direct gas vapor back to the engine block so it could be recycled and burned.
The problem, like you and many, many others have found is that the pickup for this line can also draw liquid gas, thus you ended up with gas mixing with your engine oil.....ugly mix.

The fix was called an "air accumulator" or as we call it "the cup".
The overflow line is disconnected from the bottom of the fuel tank and this cup assy is installed directly below the nipple of the overflow line. The outlet of the cup is then directed down the side of the bike frame rail and allowed to empty to the ground.
This cup also collects rain water from the rain drain at the left side of your gas tank fill cap.(the little round hole)

Does your tank still have "the flapper" installed yet. It's not as easy to overfill a bike with the flapper, but it can be done. Most owners have also removed the flappers as you can get a little more fuel in the tank with out it.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
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
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 3:08 am Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 7:32 pm Post subject:

Here in this thread explains with pictures.

http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4558
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
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
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Scott.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:33 pm Post subject:

Weatherman2112 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:40 pm Post subject:

Well, not enough time today to do much. Unable to dig deep enough to see if I have the cup. Looks like I'll need to remove the tank...a scary prospect for me. I did however remove the seat and took some pics.

Here's the overflow tube and some of the mess it causes.

More of the mess.

Also, coolant resevoir cap looks a bit rough. Not sure if this is an issue.

Chuck was kind enough to donate a thermo to me. It should arrive soon. I'll install it and see if that fixes my heat and boiling/spewing gas issue.

_________________
1993 BMW K1100lt

N41EF · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:08 pm Post subject:

The resevoir looks like mine, a little residue. Clean it up and see if the mess comes back. Car wash soap shod clean up the rear drive. I'd try to re route the drain tube down and to the right so it wouldn't slash on anything.

You have to remove the tank, or at least slide it back. With the seat up, look under the two rear corners of the tank and you should see c-clips that are on two posts sticking down from the tank. I use needle nose pliers to remove them. Don't crush them, don't drop them. Then lift up the rear of the tank and you'll see if you have the "cup".

When I did my thermostat I just slid the tank back about three inches without disconecting anything. That give enough room to get to the radiator fill cap which is under the right front corner of the tank.
_________________
2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

Jim · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:51 am Post subject: pumping gas (out the overflow)

Doug - that's exactly what my bike was doing before I got it fixed. Add a fan switch - easy to do, and helps keep the temp down.

Take a look at this thread:

http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8157&highlight=gas
_________________
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."

Weatherman2112