CURRENT MILES
22,022
It all started with this video. It came across my subscription feed a year ago.
Watching that I realized I had the same fuel pump in my bike and I would bet that mine had never been replaced. Also watching this I knew that I wasn’t going to replace it with anything BUT a TacoMoto version.
I’ve ordered from TacoMoto before (Hell, my bike is wrapped in TacoMoto) and knew they were in Las Vegas. I was going to be in Vegas for a weekend and thought it would be a great idea to pick them up direct. Not sure if you can tell why I was in Vegas with this obscure picture….
TacoMoto is mail order only but I had permission to stop by on Friday. I actually bought two pumps and filters – one for my bike and one for Kyle’s.
THE INSTALL:
With the gas tank already pull into the upright position from replacing my Shock Spring it was an easy access to get to my fuel pump plate. You can see that I cleaned up the area pretty good before anything. You don’t want to get crap in your gas tank, right?
First up, I had a clean oil drain pan sitting next to me. I knew there was little gas in the tank but you never know. I removed the 4 torx and then broke the seal by giving the plate a nudge. Gas immediately started flowing out and I caught most of it with my oil pan. Once it was mostly empty – it never got completely empty – I could start to pull the fuel pump and filter assembly out of the tank.
SIDENOTE: While I was in there…. There was one other project I wanted to do. I wanted to get the adapter plate for my Safari Tanks mounted in place. I’ll expand on this at the bottom.
There are three connections that need to be undone. The electrical plug, and the two quick release fuel line connections. Notice how the two fuel connectors are reversed – one is male the other female?
To release the quick release connections you push back on the white part while pulling the black hose. The first one I did was the fuel pressure side (coming from the filter) and it opened up easy. The other one was a lot tougher and I had to really work the hose in and out for it to come free. It almost took three hands before I got it. You don’t need to label which is which as there’s only one way for them to go on (male and female sides).
Once out I moved it to the workbench to start disassembly and inspection.
I had a stock pump and I bet a stock filter. I was amazed at how filthy dirty the filter was. Those black stains on the towel came from the fuel stuck in the filter. Ugly black stuff.
My TacoMoto kit came with a couple of flex lines, hose clamps, star washers and of course the filter and pump.
Considering that these are going to be hidden inside a tank for the rest of their lives, they really are a thing of beauty. Right now those QR codes do not go anywhere – but they should go to install instructions, right?
I next lined up everything I was going to need to replace.
What my kit did not come with was the end screen and adapter plate. So I had to remove mine and reuse them. The screen was easy to pop off. The adapter plate is held on to the pump with a star washer and plastic washer. I had to be careful in removing them but they came off with my destroying the star washer. I had two new star washers in my TacoMoto Kit.
I cleaned the screen and adapter plate with carb cleaner then clamped the new pump ever so lightly and attached the adapter plate on the new pump. I think I used a 1/4 deep socket to push the star washer down onto the shaft.
Next it was a simple thing to assemble the rest of the fuel pressure side. I used the new flex line for the first part between the pump and filter and then reused the old one for the end. There were three small zip ties on the old unit that I had cut so I replaced them in pretty much the same spots. That black plastic plate at the bottom is supposed to stay clipped to the top and house the fuel pump inside. Mine would not stay clipped closed if I jostled it around.
Next up I wrangled the assembly back into the fuel tank. It seems like it’s a gangly mess but I guess that’s the way it works. You can see I also took extra time to super clean up the mating surface for the plate. Just say no to crud!
Torque settings for those little bolts is pretty small so don’t crank them down.
With the assembly in place I secured the four torx bolts and this project is done!
Almost.
Remember at the top that I had wanted to install the Safari Tank adapter plate at the same time?
These tanks came from Kyle and we assumed we had all the right parts. I noticed right away that I was missing a rubber o-ring type of gasket. I can see it here in the instructions.
My adapter plate is a little different. It’s outlet is on the side rather than in the middle of the bottom – and it’s interior is cut out, not solid.
That would mean that it would go above the stock base plate like this.
No matter what style I have, there obviously need to be a big rubber gasket to seal everything up. I don’t have that. I asked Kyle what he had on his bike. He wasn’t home at the time but when he got home he pulled his out and sent me this picture.
So, before I do anything else to further this project I need that big rubber o-ring. Virtually anything else I can manufacture or fake.
So for now, no Safari Tanks for me (yet). I’ll have to do the Nor Ca BDR with my aux fuel bottles.
For those at home keeping score. Here was the big list of things I had to do.
I checked the radiator for leaks, put in the new fork springs, the new rear spring, the fuel pump… but with this setback I cannot put on my Safari Tanks and their Vinyl to match – at least not yet. It looks like it’s my Tail Tidy and then I’m done for now.
He's an avid hockey fan, rides a mountain bike, sometimes rides a road bike, has a few motorcycles (he had a really fast one, had a big cool orange one, rode a really slow one, and is currently building a perfect "BDR Weapon"). If that isn't enough, he makes cheese and sourdough bread, loves strong beer and good red wine, and poorly plays the Mandolin.
- My Pre Nor Cal BDR Settings - September 15, 2024
- New Pump, No Pressure, What Did I Do? - September 9, 2024
- Studs > Bolts for the Rear Rack - September 5, 2024
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