Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: PlaynInPeoria on June 20, 2018, 12:27:29 PM

Title: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: PlaynInPeoria on June 20, 2018, 12:27:29 PM
Riding home from California.  95 degrees in Nebraska, my C14 started bucking and got progressively worse.  I knew I would be stranded on the slab, so I pulled off and got lucky, there was a gas station with a big shade tree behind it and 2 picnic tables.  I figured it was the filter clogged but didn't want to deal with it right there.   Checked into getting a rental truck to get it home, only 20 foot Uhauls available and that was $750, plus the gas and we couldn't get it till the next day.

So that settled that, we tore off various fairing parts and the tank and flipped the tank upside down on the picnic table and tore the fuel pump out.  Cleaned the filter with starting fluid (all they had at the gas station) and ended up poking some holes in it with a pick.  Bolted it back up and made Council Bluffs that night after leaving Vernal UT at 5:30 am, so 845 miles that day with a 2 hour breakdown.  Got home the next day (last Saturday) at noon and put a new filter in the next day.  I replaced it the first time around 30k. Now the bike has 67k on it and it was apparently due to be be replaced at 66.5k.  Learn from my mistake, be proactive.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: connie_rider on June 20, 2018, 02:23:36 PM
Thanks for the great info.

Ride safe, Ted
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: just gone on June 20, 2018, 06:09:54 PM
Makes me wonder what is going on with the fuel supply in the rest of the country. Between the clogged fuel filters and the gas cap corrosion deposits that some of you have, it makes me so glad I live in Texas.
I have a little over 77,000 miles on my '10 C14 and no gas cap corrosion (that I can see anyway, and I've never greased it) and still on the original fuel filter.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vPbXKC5/0/863034d6/S/i-vPbXKC5-S.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vPbXKC5/0/863034d6/O/i-vPbXKC5.jpg)
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: PlaynInPeoria on June 20, 2018, 07:03:43 PM
I thought I was fine too.  Till I wasn't, at a rather inconvenient time.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on June 20, 2018, 08:58:14 PM
Makes me wonder what is going on with the fuel supply in the rest of the country. Between the clogged fuel filters and the gas cap corrosion deposits that some of you have, it makes me so glad I live in Texas.
I have a little over 77,000 miles on my '10 C14 and no gas cap corrosion (that I can see anyway, and I've never greased it) and still on the original fuel filter.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vPbXKC5/0/863034d6/S/i-vPbXKC5-S.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vPbXKC5/0/863034d6/O/i-vPbXKC5.jpg)

well bro, all I can say is... you never should have boasted about that...
tomorrow is coming...
 :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :banana :1DeadBanana :banana :1DeadBanana :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: maxtog on June 20, 2018, 09:22:18 PM
Makes me wonder what is going on with the fuel supply in the rest of the country. Between the clogged fuel filters and the gas cap corrosion deposits that some of you have, it makes me so glad I live in Texas.
I have a little over 77,000 miles on my '10 C14 and no gas cap corrosion (that I can see anyway, and I've never greased it) and still on the original fuel filter.

Damn I wish my gas cap looked like THAT.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: just gone on June 20, 2018, 11:33:29 PM
Damn I wish my gas cap looked like THAT.

As much as I enjoy picking on you max', I wish your gas cap looked like mine too. However now that MOB has turned his evil eye curse in my direction,
he's got me worried about my fuel filter a bit. Nah I'm sure it's fine....maybe? I hope. :-\
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: Conrad on June 21, 2018, 04:30:17 AM
As much as I enjoy picking on you max', I wish your gas cap looked like mine too. However now that MOB has turned his evil eye curse in my direction,
he's got me worried about my fuel filter a bit. Nah I'm sure it's fine....maybe? I hope. :-\

As PiP said, 'it'll be fine, till it isn't'.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: tweeter55 on June 21, 2018, 05:18:13 AM
Damn I wish my gas cap looked like THAT.
It did...7 years ago. :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: bob h on June 21, 2018, 05:48:02 AM
Seems to me the fuel filter didn't "fail", it was just doing it's job!
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: PlaynInPeoria on June 21, 2018, 06:55:14 AM
Point taken, but apparently C14 fuel filters do their job better than any other motorcycle I have owned, because they have 'done their job' 2x on me, causing my motorcycle to lose the ability to travel as I desire.

No other bike has ever clogged a fuel filter on me. Also, I know of no other bikes that exhibit this 'functionality'.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: gPink on June 21, 2018, 07:01:19 AM
if a filter quits filtering how is it doing it's job?
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: bob h on June 21, 2018, 07:54:28 AM
Not criticizing, but if the filter plugs up from many miles of filtering, it's doing what it's supposed to. (although maybe a bit too well!) Sounds like the media filled up completely, cleaning out often doesn't work, and temporarily poking holes in plugged media is a good although temporary solution.  Sure beats renting a truck!
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: lather on June 21, 2018, 09:50:45 AM
I had the symptoms of a clogged filter while on a trip. I poured a bottle of carb cleaner in and I made it the 700 miles home with no further symptoms. I replaced the filter in my garage
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: B.D.F. on June 21, 2018, 10:41:18 AM
Fuel injector, fuel system, carb. cleaner and similar really do work to clean the fuel system and even the combustion chambers, as well as the valve faces and spark plug. I am a big fan of the stuff myself. And of course, it would go a long way, if not outright eliminate fuel pick up screen clogging.

I try to use the stuff every 8K to 10K miles or so. The only downside is that the stuff turns the crankcase oil black and really thins it a tremendous amount so I always use F.I. cleaner on one tank, run that tank down to nearly empty (so the stuff is actually gone and not mixed in with future fill- ups) and then change the oil and filter immediately.

Brian

I had the symptoms of a clogged filter while on a trip. I poured a bottle of carb cleaner in and I made it the 700 miles home with no further symptoms. I replaced the filter in my garage
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: B.D.F. on June 21, 2018, 10:43:52 AM
There is not really any media in the fuel filter, it is just a nylon screen with openings just a bit bigger than the average window screen. The openings are little squares and the black crud that builds up starts to close them off. Poking through the nylon with some type of probe, or better yet, scrubbing the sock down with some type on [will not eat nylon] solvent works very well to restore them.

Brian

Not criticizing, but if the filter plugs up from many miles of filtering, it's doing what it's supposed to. (although maybe a bit too well!) Sounds like the media filled up completely, cleaning out often doesn't work, and temporarily poking holes in plugged media is a good although temporary solution.  Sure beats renting a truck!
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: PlaynInPeoria on June 21, 2018, 10:57:54 AM
The mesh is way finer that a screen door screen.  Here is old vs new.

Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: B.D.F. on June 21, 2018, 11:34:52 AM
Maybe they were changed along the way; mine is an early '08 and the holes were pretty big. (yeah, and Easy Boys joke in there somewhere).

But either way, my point was that it is not an actual filter with any kind of media, it is just a 'sock' that fits over the pickup on the fuel pump ass'y so mechanically cleaning it really will work.

Brian

The mesh is way finer that a screen door screen.  Here is old vs new.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on June 21, 2018, 01:01:02 PM
I've seen 3 or 4 permutations of the filter so far, one is an aftermarket one, and 3 were OEM

the OEM's seemed to contain some 'fluff' media inside the teabag...

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17490.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17490.0)

damn, I can't find my other pics...
anyways, here's the aftermarket
https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-23443610-quantum-t35-intank-fuel-pump-with-strainer-for-kawasaki-concours-14-zg1400-2008-2018-replaces-49040-0024.html (https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-23443610-quantum-t35-intank-fuel-pump-with-strainer-for-kawasaki-concours-14-zg1400-2008-2018-replaces-49040-0024.html)

Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: B.D.F. on June 21, 2018, 02:34:23 PM
I have at least 5 C-14 fuel pumps from various years and all have a nylon sock over the fuel pick up. None have anything inside of them such as a filtering media.

Really, this 'filter' is just a screen.

Brian

I've seen 3 or 4 permutations of the filter so far, one is an aftermarket one, and 3 were OEM

the OEM's seemed to contain some 'fluff' media inside the teabag...

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17490.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17490.0)

damn, I can't find my other pics...
anyways, here's the aftermarket
https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-23443610-quantum-t35-intank-fuel-pump-with-strainer-for-kawasaki-concours-14-zg1400-2008-2018-replaces-49040-0024.html (https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-23443610-quantum-t35-intank-fuel-pump-with-strainer-for-kawasaki-concours-14-zg1400-2008-2018-replaces-49040-0024.html)
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: maxtog on June 21, 2018, 03:23:01 PM
Fuel injector, fuel system, carb. cleaner and similar really do work to clean the fuel system and even the combustion chambers, as well as the valve faces and spark plug. I am a big fan of the stuff myself. And of course, it would go a long way, if not outright eliminate fuel pick up screen clogging.

I am a believer in the magic "Techron" stuff, myself.  It absolutely seems to work to cure hesitation and poor idling in every vehicle I have owned.  I try to remember to run a tank of it through my vehicles at least once every year or two, or when symptoms appear.

Quote
The only downside is that the stuff turns the crankcase oil black and really thins it a tremendous amount so I always use F.I. cleaner on one tank, run that tank down to nearly empty (so the stuff is actually gone and not mixed in with future fill- ups)

LOL!  I do the EXACT same thing.  I won't use Techron unless/until I can put it in and run the ENTIRE tank through in a short period of time (one trip, or one day, if possible).

Quote
and then change the oil and filter immediately.

Well, I don't do that (and haven't noticed those effects, myself).
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: VirginiaJim on June 21, 2018, 10:20:45 PM
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17493.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17493.0)  Fuel filter stuff
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: 2talltim on June 27, 2018, 09:19:28 AM
I think it would also depend on the station and or pumps you get your fuel at. If you consisantly getting fuel at a station that has dirty tanks and or pumps your going to clog up sooner. I just did my 08 for the first time at 62k miles and it was dirty but not causing any issues yet. I was just being proactive. So maybe some of you that are "needing" to replace it every 30 clicks should look into where your getting your fuel.
Title: Re: Fuel filter failure on the road
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on June 27, 2018, 04:22:50 PM
x 1000
as someone that over 5 years, purchased water laden fuel from a place 1/2 mile from my door, exclusively, and found I had about 2 gallons of water in my 30 gallon tank, (when it all froze solid) in my trucks gastank,fuel line, and fuel filter,  I agree.. but they denied any possibility of that occurring.... right.....

I don't buy fuel there anymore.