1200 Sport Fuel Filter

[bisbonian]

I've heard horror stories about the new CARC Guzzis having an issue with the in tank fuel filter, seems like the stock filter can be half plastic and doesn't react well to being immersed in fuel.

Since my Sport is in pieces at the moment awaiting some interesting performance upgrades and the tank is mostly empty I decided that caution was the better part of valor and removed the fuel pump module to see if I might have an issue.



As you can see the filter is indeed a half & half deal and you can also see that the plastic half is swelling.  What is difficult to see from this picture is that the plastic hose nipple is tweaked as well.  I've heard that in extreme examples the filter has actually come apart where the halves meet with the predictable result of the engine stopping immediately.

Others have come up with a BMW filter that is all metal and costs something like $20.  I'm way cheaper than that and crossed the BMW filter number over to Wix and came up with a 33032 which cost around $5.

I still have to find some small clamps that will work on the ultra-thin hose used in the tank as the stock clamps are a one-time use deal but that shouldn't be a big deal.

If you have the tank off it might not be a bad thing to check the filter.

[BobW]

Thanks for the post and the heads up on the cheaper filter.

Cheers

[chornbe]

The good news is, it looks like this gasoline stuff is going to be around a while so anyone making in-tank filters will have plenty of time to figure these things out.

Seriously, how does something like this even make it to production...?  

[johnnyquest]

Wow, that's amazing. I just don't understand how/why MG wouldn't use an all metal fuel filter for this application. I know the type of filter you're talking about, my old BMW used the same in-tank all metal fuel filter. I'll have to ask the guys at MI if they've dealt with this before. Thanks for the heads-up!

JQ

[blakebird]

The good news is, it looks like this gasoline stuff is going to be around a while so anyone making in-tank filters will have plenty of time to figure these things out.

Seriously, how does something like this even make it to production...?  

Come on.....this is FAR from the first time plastics have been used in fuel delivery systems. (I have been using plastic in-line filters in my dirt bikes for years).

But I appreciate the heads up that the two-piece nature of this assembly has a history of it coming apart, so as a replacement I would definitely opt for a one-piece metal bodied filter to replace it.

Does not sound like an easy roadside fix though....  

[chornbe]

Come on.....this is FAR from the first time plastics have been used in fuel delivery systems. (I have been using plastic in-line filters in my dirt bikes for years).

But I appreciate the heads up that the two-piece nature of this assembly has a history of it coming apart, so as a replacement I would definitely opt for a one-piece metal bodied filter to replace it.

Does not sound like an easy roadside fix though....  

Well, that's kind of my point... in a situation where a known submersible might fail, the use of known-swelling plastics is just... dumb.

[azccj]

If you want to go with the OEM style clamps, you can get them here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Guzzi-Motorcycle-Fuel-Filter-Clamps-11-3-x-7-64-10-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad156baa9QQitemZ390059178665QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

The same guy sells the tool to crimp the clamps as well. Both items make the fuel filter replacement a breeze, if not cheap.

[bisbonian]

If you want to go with the OEM style clamps, you can get them here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Guzzi-Motorcycle-Fuel-Filter-Clamps-11-3-x-7-64-10-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad156baa9QQitemZ390059178665QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

The same guy sells the tool to crimp the clamps as well. Both items make the fuel filter replacement a breeze, if not cheap.

Yeah I found that link on Wildguzzi and ordered them last night.

I'm going with side-cutters for the installation tool, seems to work for others...

[azccj]

Come on.....this is FAR from the first time plastics have been used in fuel delivery systems. (I have been using plastic in-line filters in my dirt bikes for years).

But I appreciate the heads up that the two-piece nature of this assembly has a history of it coming apart, so as a replacement I would definitely opt for a one-piece metal bodied filter to replace it.

Does not sound like an easy roadside fix though....  

In your dirt bike, the plastic fuel filter most likely isn't pressurized, fuel just passes through it. In the Guzzis that half plastic filter has a lot of internal pressure in it as it is fitted down stream of the fuel pump, on the pressure side not the sucking side. Below is a picture of how mine looked at about 12K miles when I changed it out for an all metal filter. It may have been fine for many more miles but if it had popped from the pressure, I would have been stuck on the side of the road, hopefully not to far from home.

[Orson]

I might be wrong, but I think they don't sell ethanol gas in yurup, therefore the plastic swelling issue hasn't reached Mandello.

and since there is no internet connection at the factory, it's possible that they just aren't aware of the issue.

[chornbe]

I might be wrong, but I think they don't sell ethanol gas in yurup, therefore the plastic swelling issue hasn't reached Mandello.

and since there is no internet connection at the factory, it's possible that they just aren't aware of the issue.

Good point.

And  

[sempervee]

  *Caution is a good thing....>>  I called Moto International in Seattle and Service Manager Misha said he knows people have changed them out but has had no bikes brought in because of an internal fuel filter failure.

[j1mmyj4m]

  *Caution is a good thing....>>  I called Moto International in Seattle and Service Manager Misha said he knows people have changed them out but has had no bikes brought in because of an internal fuel filter failure.

Sounds like every other dealer response when you call for a known problem.

[bisbonian]

  *Caution is a good thing....>>  I called Moto International in Seattle and Service Manager Misha said he knows people have changed them out but has had no bikes brought in because of an internal fuel filter failure.

If you check on Wildguzzi there are a few which have come apart at the connection between the 2 halves.

FWIW one of the dealers reported that the filter looked like this when he took it out of a bike that was brand new with no fuel ever put in the tank, so I don't think ethanol is the cause.

I'm not saying that your bike is going to leave you stranded because of this filter, only that it's something to be aware of and if you're in there you may as well replace it since it's a relatively cheap fix and not difficult (unless you have a full tank).

I have about 7500 miles on my Sport, I don't know if we have ethanol fuel down here in AZ or not but the stuff I pumped into it in Mexico, well let's just say I don't know what I pumped into it in Mexico.  I don't know that mine was anywhere close to coming apart but by the time you get in there to check it why not just replace it?

[sempervee]

 I am not saying it is not a  pressing concern or a problem.  I am just reporting what was told to me.  
   I  DO plan on changing out the fuel filter in the future, Hopefully on my own timeline !

[Roadscum]

  *Caution is a good thing....>>  I called Moto International in Seattle and Service Manager Misha said he knows people have changed them out but has had no bikes brought in because of an internal fuel filter failure.

I'm one of those that got the parts from M I to change out the filter. Very nice folks t deal with.

[bisbonian]

 I am not saying it is not a  pressing concern or a problem.  I am just reporting what was told to me.  
   I  DO plan on changing out the fuel filter in the future, Hopefully on my own timeline !

I agree, I just don't want to be an alarmist.

I bought the replacement filter months ago and just haven't bothered with it, I only replaced it now because it's apart anyway.