Hi everybody,
I bought a used 06 LT about a month ago. Only put about 400 miles on it so far due to the snow so I'm still quite new to it.
I've noticed when I fill it up the black bar on the gas meter goes up to about 7/8 full, never to the top. I've been filling it on the center stand and trying to top up to about 2" from the top. Do I need to fill it on the side stand to get it to register FULL?
Yes, an LT should be on the side stand, and even then its hard to get it to register all the way full. Sometimes I get it just right but be careful not to over fill.
Yup, side stand allows you to fully fill the tank. Another suggestion since you're new to the beast. I'm in the habit of leaving it in gear when I stop and just putting down the side stand which kills the engine. That makes sure she doesn't roll forward on you and take a nap against the fuel pumps.
Do not practice filling up the gas tank all the way . . .
Two things to keep in mind when filling up the LT:
1. Leave the gas level low in the filler tube. Attempts to fill as much as possible result in gas flushing back into the charcoal canister clogging it and causing gas tank vacuum problems, engine performance issues and the list goes on and on.
2. Be careful not to leave the gas pump nozzle hanging in your filler tube - or at least be careful if you do not keep your hand on it at all times. I have a seen at least two LT's who's filler tubes are cracked and cannot seal because the filler tube was split by gas pump nozzles.
...when I go on long runs, I always fill it up to the brim knowing that I will burn it off as soon as I get going. I've been doing this since day one and never had a problem. I don't know if I'm "lucky" or this is an exaggerated or an isolated problem. I think that little extra gas has saved me a few times on long runs between gas stations.
We have those silly "vapor barrier" fillers here - I got tired of holding the rubber up to fill the tank, so I bought the rubber filler adaptor at BMWOR - tank fills to the top & clicks off, every time.
Some have had leaking problems with them (overfill), but it's yet to happen to me. Don't know how it works on the old style nozzels..
Hey, that's great. On my trip to CA ten years ago, I wondered what those black rippled things were around the fuel filler nozzle. Another of life's mysterys solved.
Here in Australia we don't have such fancy vapour "catchers". We let the vapours do their thing and just pump the stuff till it poors out the filler. Then we know she's really full.
Do not practice filling up the gas tank all the way . . .
Two things to keep in mind when filling up the LT:
1. Leave the gas level low in the filler tube. Attempts to fill as much as possible result in gas flushing back into the charcoal canister clogging it and causing gas tank vacuum problems, engine performance issues and the list goes on and on.
2. Be careful not to leave the gas pump nozzle hanging in your filler tube - or at least be careful if you do not keep your hand on it at all times. I have a seen at least two LT's who's filler tubes are cracked and cannot seal because the filler tube was split by gas pump nozzles.
Simple solution to #1 is to remove the canister. A search will pull up a lot of information on how to do this with pictures. Leaves space accessories....
We have those silly "vapor barrier" fillers here - I got tired of holding the rubber up to fill the tank, so I bought the rubber filler adaptor at BMWOR - tank fills to the top & clicks off, every time.
Some have had leaking problems with them (overfill), but it's yet to happen to me. Don't know how it works on the old style nozzels..
The Aerostich answer to the black accordion "vapor barrier" thingy, is called the "E-Z Fill Nozzle Key", and it costs $8 (plus shipping).
I cut one out of .060" aluminum and "velcroed" it to the underside of the fuel cap door.
The Aerostich answer to the black accordion "vapor barrier" thingy, is called the "E-Z Fill Nozzle Key", and it costs $8 (plus shipping).
I cut one out of .060" aluminum and "velcroed" it to the underside of the fuel cap door.
Yup, side stand allows you to fully fill the tank. Another suggestion since you're new to the beast. I'm in the habit of leaving it in gear when I stop and just putting down the side stand which kills the engine. That makes sure she doesn't roll forward on you and take a nap against the fuel pumps.
I don't have a dog in this hunt (I _may_ pick up an LT on Friday, but I'm not counting my chickens til they're on the trailer) but my MSF instructor suggested getting in the habit of using the kill switch on the handlebar....every time.
For that one in a million event where the bike is on it's side, screaming for the moon, and you have to figger out how to turn it off...you already have the habit ingrained in memory.
But still...leave it in gear! Heck, even kill it with the kickstand...then hit the killswitch.
broke off the emergency kill switch by using it everytime, on an rt i had. use the kickstand, then let it roll till bike stops, and inch or two, forward or backward, esp forward so u don't come back and find it laying on it's side
Who parks their car in neutral? Why would you park your bike in neutral? The engine cut off switch is for a reason. To shut the engine off. The kick stand switch is there so you don't drive off with the kick stand down. Not all bikes are make this way, so it's a big surprise when you put the kick stand down and the bike keeps running. Listen to your instructor.
Same here, I stop the engine with the key because the kill switch feels as though repeated use will shorten its life. On the filling issue, no cannisters on the Australian spec models, not on my '05 anyway, so I gently rock the bike to the extreme left whilst on the sidestand and I can usually get to within 1 or 2 bars of the top of the gauge. That normally reads out at 490 +/- Km's till empty initially. 98 RON wherever possible, 95 if not.
Hey I thought this was about topping off.
OH well the cut off switch was a different thread. I have tried topping off on the side stand a few times and after a trip around the forum and the book just fill to the bottom of the filler. When my bike was new I did test fills and kept my receipts notably for the gallons. Now when I am at a prejudged mark I go to the pump knowing how many gals. to fill up. At today's prices I just stop at the next $.
ride safe :bmw:
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