Charcoal cannister

[stogiepuffer]

Hello all, I asked my dealer this question and they didn't really know so I will present it here. On the way home this weekend I filled up at my local gas station and rode home. I filled the bike when it was on its centerstand, stopped filling when the gas pump clicked off (about 5 gallons). Usually I fill up on the way out but this time I did it just before getting home (about 8 miles). When I got it home I left it outside on the centerstand so I could give it a bath later on in the day, temperature in the low-mid nineties. After a few minutes I noticed gas leaking from the overflow hose that runs down near the centerstand/rear wheel area. I know this is long but I wanted to try and answer all other questions first. My question: Is my charcoal cannister ruined? If it is I have seen where running without it is OK, does not hurt the bike. Is this true? If the can is ruined I will take it off, connect the lines directly and eventually put a good horn in that spot. Any opinions, expertise, ect is very welcome. Sorry for being so long winded.

[deilenberger]

Let's just say...

Filling the charcoal canister with gas isn't good for it. On R1150 models that would lead to the charcoal breaking up and plugging up the vacuum lines to the tank, causing a vacuum to be pulled on the tank. Caused some ugly problems.

And some people have temporarily disconnect the canister in order to get to their shock for adjusting the preload. There does seem to be a lot more room in the area when the canister is temporarily out of the way. The vacuum takeoff from the left throttle-body should be plugged (mine seems to be plugged at the electronic valve for it - other people plug it at the throttle-body) and the tank vent should be connected to the canister overflow vent hose (where you saw the gas leaking from.)

The conditions when you filled the tank are the reason for the leakage. Cold gasoline expands as the bike heats it up, and the volume increases. The tank overflow/vent eventually will vent off the expanding gas until the level drops below the vent. Hope this doesn't happen in your garage.

[eisen]

I too have a leak from the excess fuel lines on the right side of the bike.
I have to go back to the dealer (again) tomorrow to check why its happening.
We have already taken the tank to pieces, checking every o-ring and clamp - everything seems fine.
But still drip-drip drip....maybe my bike has an STD

The fluid seems to be a weird orange color - not colorless like fuel. So i am a bit worried & perplexed.
I checked my brake fluid reservoir and it is full.

As for the charcoal cannister, i think that they are only installed on US bikes. My Euro spec bike has loads of room under the headlight and near the front suspension...



I'll post here once BMW locate the annoying leak.

[stogiepuffer]

I kind of figured it overflowed from the expansion. When I get home tonite I'll take the can off off. Thanks, Guy

[MJB]

Does anyone have a picture showing the Charcoal Canister installed?

[Lost Rider]

Does anyone have a picture showing the Charcoal Canister installed?

[celticus]

I always get alot of comments from girls on how they like my big charcoal cannister. I would be happy to sell mine to you Eisen.
Mark

[eisen]

I always get alot of comments from girls on how they like my big charcoal cannister. I would be happy to sell mine to you Eisen.
Mark

Thanks for the offer, but i've already got that (inferiority complex) corner covered....i bought a MASSSSIIIVE K1200LT
You get the comments - i GIVE them the ride

[ErikM]

Very, Very important! Remember if you remove the carbon canister the left hand throttle body air nipple must be capped off. It can either be done at the throttle body or on one of the lines going to it. Personally I prefer to cap off the nipple on the throttle body. Not capping off the throttle body will cause a very lean condition possibly causing massive damage to the cyclinder.

[stogiepuffer]

I sorted out which ones went where, hooked up the gas tanks line to the drip tube (near back wheel). The other line went to the left hand throttle body via another connection of some sort. I left the line intact and plugged it up where it would normally hook into the cannister and zip tied it out of the way. Are there any other lines I need to look for or other pieces that need to be capped off? Guy

[deilenberger]

Guy - sounds like you did it just like I did.. can't think of anything you missed..

[RonR]

The only additional step I took was to remove the tube from the left throttle body and what looks like a solenoid of some sort that the tube connected to. That, in turn, was unplugged from the electrical system. I wrapped the now unused plug in black electrician's tape and zip tied it out of the way in front of the tank, and bought another rubber cap for the fitting on the throttle body, same as on the right side.

[MJB]

Joe

Thanks for the picture....

Here are a couple pictures from my Canadian Bike.
Don’t seem to see a Charcoal Canister???

Any other Canadians out there missing a canister?
I guess not required in Canada?

[deilenberger]

Michael - it's a US only "feature" - not on any other bikes BMW makes.. so in the spirt of Euro biking..

[celticus]

I removed my carbon canister yesterday. I found that on the line from my left throttle body it runs into a small device before in gets to the canister. I put a vacuum cap on the nipple at the throttle and plugged the hose after it left the small device. What IS this device ? Can I just unplug it and remove it? It has an electrical plug attached to it also.

[deilenberger]

I removed my carbon canister yesterday. I found that on the line from my left throttle body it runs into a small device before in gets to the canister. I put a vacuum cap on the nipple at the throttle and plugged the hose after it left the small device. What IS this device ? Can I just unplug it and remove it? It has an electrical plug attached to it also.

The small device is a vacuum switch controlled by the ECU. It opens after the engine starts to allow engine vacuum to suck on the charcoal canister, removing and burning fumes.

You do want to be certain of your plumbing changes. You MUST connect the tank vent to the overflow hose from the charcoal canister. Plugging up the tank vent would be a rather bad idea (it could eventually collapse due to vacuum formed by the fuel being pumped out of it.) You also want to make certain you haven't disturbed the rain-drain from the filler cap assembly.

[Dan-A]

I think it is a California requirement, and BMW builds the bikes for all 50 states. (There are still some non CA bikes in 2008 like the Kawi Versys that cannot meet CA emissions requirements and are not legal in CA. I heard the Versys will be avail in CA next model year. )

A gift to the rest of the country from the California legislature.

[celticus]

I removed my carbon canister yesterday. I found that on the line from my left throttle body it runs into a small device before in gets to the canister. I put a vacuum cap on the nipple at the throttle and plugged the hose after it left the small device. What IS this device ? Can I just unplug it and remove it? It has an electrical plug attached to it also.

The small device is a vacuum switch controlled by the ECU. It opens after the engine starts to allow engine vacuum to suck on the charcoal canister, removing and burning fumes.

You do want to be certain of your plumbing changes. You MUST connect the tank vent to the overflow hose from the charcoal canister. Plugging up the tank vent would be a rather bad idea (it could eventually collapse due to vacuum formed by the fuel being pumped out of it.) You also want to make certain you haven't disturbed the rain-drain from the filler cap assembly.

I am certain of my plumbing. I followed the explaination you gave earlier and it was straight forward. " Blow in one and it fills up and blows gas fumes back at you" ( I paraphrase) "Connect this one to the one that when blown on blow through to the drain on the frame". I think I found a 3/8 hose coupling that fit.
Mine had 3 screws holding it on. It was NOT going to fall off on it's own.
Thanks
Mark

[CycleRob]

stogiepuffer,

Your canister is a really good thing and I'm not a tree hugger. The huge oak firewood piles around my house are proof. It serves to prevent stinking up your garage and isolates water entry better than just the street drain. The canister's drain is at the low point so any liquid fuel bled into it is drained away without damaging the canister. The engineers aren't stupid. That's why the canister HAS a drain hose. It can be purged with an air blow gun on the other fitting to blow out the fuel and then the remaining heavy vapors out the drain fitting. That spares the bike's O2 sensor having to deal with the too rich mixture on one cylinder. Be patient and use low pressure. Don't be tempted to use your Bic lighter on the purge air, like I was. Just point it West, toward California when you pull the blowgun's trigger.

Purge it, mount it, use it.