Like a new bike??!!!!

[rando]

Did the canisterectomy last night. WOW???!!!! Can that make such a difference? Of course the trunk is still off too, so a couple things are happening, but it sure seems like a different bike. Seems like it's running much better! Free-er revving, smoother, etc. The canister was quite heavy when I pulled it out and I blew in one hose and gas spurted out the other. Not sure what was happening, but it sure does seem to run better. While in there, I put an old 12v compressor I had in the hole left from canister. Got to extend the hose to reach the tires and put a plug on the end. hope I never need it, but it's one less theing the wingers can have on me. On-board air. now for a mini bar.....

Randy

[petevandyke]

I know I am an idiot, and could probably spend an hour searching, but can someone post the reader's digest version of what that does?

[jers99lt]

I know I am an idiot, and could probably spend an hour searching, but can someone post the reader's digest version of what that does?

Hi Pete,

This might be what you're looking for: http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12026&highlight=canisterectomy

Jer

[Dean_BMW]

The main purpose of a canisterectomy is to prevent damage to the fuel tank in the event that the canister plugs up. Over filling of the gas tank can cause the canister to plug up. If this happens, the tank is not vented and then the tank will collapse as the fuel is pumped out of the tank by the fuel pump.

I don't really see much of a way you can see a performance increase unless you happen to be removing some vacuum leaks you didn't know you had when you remove all of the vacuum lines associated with the canisterectomy... otherwise, the bike should run the same.

[Lonewuff]

I had mine gutted a couple of weeks ago, but I sure didn't see any difference in performance of the bike. It really isn't a performance part...unless it isn't performing then it's a POS.

[rando]

Could be where the trunk is off at the same time. Last week, the bike cut off a couple times when stopping or turning a corner, low speed, clutch squeezed. And it had a couple of times when it was running like a vacuum leak or something. I didn't remove the long intake line, just plugged it. BUt it is not hesitant, nor has it seemed like it was going to cut off.

I also had the obligatory "whoosh" when removing the gas cap. So it's done. Maybe I just THINK it runs better 'cause I want to. At anyrate, it's done.

Randy

[CharlieVT]

,,,I don't really see much of a way you can see a performance increase unless you happen to be removing some vacuum leaks you didn't know you had when you remove all of the vacuum lines associated with the canisterectomy... otherwise, the bike should run the same.

Another possible explaination of performance improvement by cannister removal:
The cannister is purged under certain conditions. When the solenoid valve opens, gas vapors are sucked out of the cannister and into the intake manifold, mixed with the air/fuel mixture and then combusted. How often and under what conditions this purging occurs, I don't know. But, if the cannister was full of liquid gasoline, I can see how charcoal junk and gas would be sucked into the intake manifold. I speculate that this would cause intermittent bad running and performance loss.

A normally functioning cannister system would have no effect on performance when removed.

[355pilot]

Hi all,

I just wondered if the cannister is fitted to european spec LT's or is it just the American market models? Not able to take my bike apart at present to check it out as recovering from an auto wreck at the weekend so any answers welcome.

Mike

[Dick]

Hi all,

I just wondered if the cannister is fitted to european spec LT's or is it just the American market models? Not able to take my bike apart at present to check it out as recovering from an auto wreck at the weekend so any answers welcome.

Mike
Mike - I don't think the European model LTs have a cannister. It's EPA mandated over here, however.

[Ted]

Did the canisterectomy last night. WOW???!!!! Can that make such a difference...but it sure seems like a different bike. Seems like it's running much better! Free-er revving, smoother, etc......

Randy -

Dr. Doug Matson & Dr. Ken Meese performed a successful operation on my '03 today, and on my ride home I was experiencing the same as you. My bike seems much peppier and quicker to accelerate - from freeway speeds of 80 it didn't take much to get to 100.

Searched these forums for "canisterectomy performance" and came across your post.

I see where some say it shouldn't make a difference, but the bike sure seems better to me, too!

[JPSpen]

Sounds like you got it just in time.

If the canister was full of gas or water, then removing it from the system would make an obvious difference. Sounds like yours was full of gas from what you have described. The whoosh was the tank venting. so you hopefully saved yourself from a collapsed tank and all the bad things that go along with that.

Check your fuel guage to be sure that the tank indeed didn't collapse and cause damage to the float and stuff.

Good job..


John

[Lare]

I seem to be lucky and haven't noticed any problems. But I do have a question: How do you overfill the tank? :confused:

Even though I read the FAQ about properly filling the tank, I never get the needle quite to the "F" mark. It's always just below it and I put gas in right up to the bottom of the filler neck. (Where the "ring" is--it seems any more would end up on the gas cap when I screwed it in. But I'm not sure how I could overfill it since it looks to me like I wouldn't be able to put in more than a couple ounces more!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.:)

[mjordans2000]

I seem to be lucky and haven't noticed any problems. But I do have a question: How do you overfill the tank? :confused:

Even though I read the FAQ about properly filling the tank, I never get the needle quite to the "F" mark. It's always just below it and I put gas in right up to the bottom of the filler neck. (Where the "ring" is--it seems any more would end up on the gas cap when I screwed it in. But I'm not sure how I could overfill it since it looks to me like I wouldn't be able to put in more than a couple ounces more!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.:)
It's not a matter of the fuel gauge level. It's a matter of the fuel being high enough in the neck of the filler to get into the vent tube and eventually flowing into the canister. This can also happen in the 'rare' case of the big girl falling off of the side stand. With the canister removed the overflow just drips out on the ground without affecting the bike.

[Lare]

Oh, I see. I think.

Well since I never intend to let her fall over this shouldn't be a problem, right? :rotf:

We have IM240 emission testing here--I don't know if I could get away with removing the cannister so I guess I have to make sure I stay careful.

Sure would be nice to have an onboard compressor though...

[yechave]

I was considering removing the canister, but for what little it costs to replace it, why not just do that. A compressor does not take up all that much room even though it may be a great idea. The bike was designed to be used with the canister, and it is a safety feature. If it is full of gas, it is doing it's job.

Unless I hear a really great reason not to put a new one in (aside from my experience listed below), that is my plan for next year.

I did have a canister go bad in a Dodge pickup, which caused thousands $$ in damage to the carb and entire vacuum system. I noticed "something" was wrong and had a great deal of engine pinging at 48k. The dealer said there was nothing wrong and it went back three times. At just over 50k, they determined it was the canister, by which time it was too late, and all the tiny charcoal pieces went into every vacuum device on the vehicle. It should have been covered under some Federal Law, had they acknowledged and determined the canister was the cause, under 50k.

I recall saying something to the affect, "I hope someone hits the damn truck", and low and behold, shortly thereafter it was demolished in a most unlikely accident.......which resulted in back surgery, which I still suffer from, more than twenty years later. That was my initial reasoning for wanting to remove the canister. The dealer has suggested it is not a good idea. So.......

[Dick]

I was considering removing the canister, but for what little it costs to replace it, why not just do that. A compressor does not take up all that much room even though it may be a great idea. The bike was designed to be used with the canister, and it is a safety feature. If it is full of gas, it is doing it's job.
Unless I hear a really great reason not to put a new one in (aside from my experience listed below), that is my plan for next year.

I did have a canister go bad in a Dodge pickup, which caused thousands $$ in damage to the carb and entire vacuum system. I noticed "something" was wrong and had a great deal of engine pinging at 48k. The dealer said there was nothing wrong and it went back three times. At just over 50k, they determined it was the canister, by which time it was too late, and all the tiny charcoal pieces went into every vacuum device on the vehicle. It should have been covered under some Federal Law, had they acknowledged and determined the canister was the cause, under 50k.

I recall saying something to the affect, "I hope someone hits the damn truck", and low and behold, shortly thereafter it was demolished in a most unlikely accident.......which resulted in back surgery, which I still suffer from, more than twenty years later. That was my initial reasoning for wanting to remove the canister. The dealer has suggested it is not a good idea. So.......
If it is full of gas, it is NOT doing it's job. Read this (http://www.bmwlt.net/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=K1200LT&Number=201977&page=&view=&sb=&o=) for an explanation of what the cannister does. It's purpose is to collect and momentarily store fuel fumes and vapors and then introduce those items into the fuel injection system for burning and elimination thru the exhaust system, and thru the catalytic converter, rather than to atmosphere. Sounds good, but if it clogs with liquid (gas), bad things may happen.

The US dealer has to say that it is not a good idea; he's governed in that respect by the EPA requirement.

Item #10 in the 'Fuel System' category on this scroll-page has several inputs from various folks about pros and cons of the cannister removal process and why. Click here (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/faq.php?faq=how_troubleshooting#faq_how_faq_tseng) for the page and scroll down to the 'Fuel System' block, Item #10.

BTW - I'm pretty sure that many locations in Europe, as well as Canada, and some other locations than the US, do not require the cannister on their imported bikes. I'm not sure about Aussie bikes.