More IMS 4.5 installs

speedfiend wrote:

We might need to pack a turkey baster to transfer some gas to the pump well at startup.



Is anyone getting troublefree service out of this tank?

I am not sure there is much if any "pump well" around the main pump inlet. When the fuel level was below the main pump I could not tell that there was any sort of "well " around the main pump that would keep a little fuel up there. This could cause issues with the engine running on just the flow from the vacume pump when the level is low. We may have to point the outlet from vacume pump directly at the inlet of the main pump.

Shine a flashlite in there and you'll see a little depression meant to hold fuel around the main pump. Not that it works very well and yeah, it may need modification.

Add me to the list of poor I mean NO fit tanks. I ordered a blue one, and it arrived last week. I wanted a long weekend to do the install so I could take my time. Taking everything apart was a snap. Instead of doing the fuel pump, I wanted to see how things fit up. I took the mounting hardware off the stock tank and attempted to do a mock up install on the IMS tank. Front mount was perfect. Rear mount, not so much.

Instead of having both bolts run parallel to each other " l l " the bolts lined up like this: " \ l " . It appears the brass fitting that was molded in place is askew, and the rear mount will not sit in the correct fashion to allow both mounting holes to line up. I ended up putting the bike back together in frustration, and forgot to get any pics.

Another issue I saw with my tank is that the finish looks poor. There are many little "bubbles" and voids in the plastic near the wings, and a few are deep. The are about the size of pin holes. Will it leak thru these bubbles? If my tank could be mounted, I was willing to find out. Also, on one side of the wing, it looks like the tank was dropped, as there is already a divot and scratch present when I unwrapped it. I'm being nit-picking with that last one here, cause after a good ride, I'm sure I'd add my own marks.

With all these issues, I'm not really happy with this IMS tank and it needs to be returned.

Uhhhh..... My bike sputters every time I try to ride it now, any speed, and it eventually dies. Vaccuum line is not pinched. Full of gas. Wtf? Ran fine before the tank install.

Man, all of these problems with the tank, installs, or potential issues from a fall, makes me feel pretty lucky. I got one of the first tanks and besides some minor trimming on my seat pan to get the seat bolts in, I've had absolutely no issues. I just keep filling it up and riding. I feel bad for those that have had problems.

I have an email in to IMS on these issues, I suggest everyone email them with any install or function issues so we can get them all documented. I am going to do some experimenting with Mers bike this weekend to figure out the cause of the fuel starvation issue and try a couple of fixes if I have time.

I also suggest everyone make an effort to get the fuel level well below the stock pump and see how well yours is running. Remember to test it riding under acceleration nor just at idle.

I think I just had a lightbulb moment on the fuel starvation issue. Gotta do some checking though.

Just finished the install (blue tank on a 2009 "R") and ran the tank dry (well almost).

Overall....everything worked well

Installed the tank and headed out to the country roads.

Kept the speed between 70-75 mph (indicated). Fuel light came on after 143 miles (left reserve sensor in the stock position on the fuel pump). After the light came on....I rode closer to town.....so there would be a gas station near by when I needed it! Kept the speed between 60 and 70 mph until I felt a little "lurch/stumble". Pulled off onto the shoulder thinking I would have to nurse it....but was able to take it up to 60 mph for about a mile....and pulled into the gas station (no noticeable stumbling in the fueling other than the initial lurch).

Looked inside the tank and the right wing looked dry.....some fuel visible in the left wing. Filled the tank and added 4.69 gallons! Assuming the tank hold 4.86 gallons (from a prior post)....there was only 0.17 gallons of unusable fuel left in the tank! To be honest, the bike was still running fine when I stopped to add gas.....so I could have burned even more....just didn't want to trash my fuel pump. As far as I'm concerned, that's pretty damn good.

The only thing I forgot to do, was to turn off the bike and try to restart it when the tank was almost dry...... Sh*t!

So in a nutshell....I ran the tank almost dry and clocked 245 miles. Just what I was hoping for

Having said this, there were a few niggles.....

Fit: Had to muscle the rear bolts into place. Installed one bolt, then used a screw driver to reef the other mounting tab into place so the other bolt would fit. Then installed the front bolt. Seat required a little force, but no modifications. To be fair.....this tank went on much easier than the Safari tank on my DR650. While I don't like it, I think it's the nature of a big plastic tank, that swells and changes dimensions over time. I'm not sure that it's feasible for the molder/tooling to hold the tighter tolerances. Just force it on.....it'll go. Done it many times over the years on my Safari/DR650 without issue.

Quality: One of vacuum line brass fittings is installed at an angle, instead of flush like the other side....(i.e., looks like it's cross threaded). So far it isn't leaking. Hopefully it'll take a drop. I'm sure it won't take me too long to test it out! With any luck, Seal All will work to stop a future leak, if need be.

Over all, I'm happy with the results and glad I bought the tank.

Breeeze, thanks for the test and letting us know the results.

I'm curious, did some of the people with starvation issues zip tie the line too tight and pinch it off? Or push it down too far against the pump housing to block the end. IMO the end needed a 45 degree chamfer and the zip ties just need to be snug. Any little flow restriction could add up to starvation at high rpm.

So far I haven't noticed any starvation, I will keep my fingers crossed

Rode my WR 406 miles with my new tank this weekend.

First tank-low fuel light came on at 160 miles. Continued to ride and filled at 227-exactly 4.0 gallons-which meant .8 gallon left in tank. Ran OK with vacuum pump.

Second tank-low fuel light came on at 179 miles just before I arrived home.

Rider_WV wrote:

I'm curious, did some of the people with starvation issues zip tie the line too tight and pinch it off? Or push it down too far against the pump housing to block the end. IMO the end needed a 45 degree chamfer and the zip ties just need to be snug. Any little flow restriction could add up to starvation at high rpm.

So far I haven't noticed any starvation, I will keep my fingers crossed

I had my lines pinched some and went in and replaced the zip ties with barely snug ones and snipped the top of the line at an angle and no help. It's definitely a booster pump problem because I can slosh fuel into the pump well and it'll rev good but otherwise it'll just idle and starve with a little throttle. I'll get around to replacing the vacuum line "T" and using the shorter line later.

gediehl4 wrote:

Rode my WR 406 miles with my new tank this weekend.

First tank-low fuel light came on at 160 miles. Continued to ride and filled at 227-exactly 4.0 gallons-which meant .8 gallon left in tank. Ran OK with vacuum pump.

Second tank-low fuel light came on at 179 miles just before I arrived home.

I had mine come on at 188 so I'm probably getting better mileage and I didn't have any starvation symptoms until 230 miles so you might not have been on your booster pump yet. I always like to run a new tank dry under my typical riding conditions so I can learn my true range and skip unnecessary refueling stops.

Patiently awaiting some comunique from IMS today.

Got a message from Jack that he is kicking it up the command chain.

TierHawg can you get some pics of those misaligned bolts and whatnot?

I applied a few wraps of whit teflon plumbers tape to the bolts in the wing and it appears to have stopped my leak. I really don't want to send me tank back as it's prime riding season for me.

Meredith slam tested hers this weekend and no leaks. Didn't get enough miles on to get the fuel level down below the stock pump though.

Muddyrabbit wrote:

Got a message from Jack that he is kicking it up the command chain.

TierHawg can you get some pics of those misaligned bolts and whatnot?

I contacted IMS and UPS will be picking up the tank. I did take pictures of the affected areas. I can post more when I hear back from IMS.

OK, here is my theory on the fuel starvation issue.

Those of you who ARE having problems, do you still have the AIS system on the bike?

Those of you who ARE NOT having problems, do you still have the AIS system or have you removed it?

I noticed in the pics from a couple of guys who are NOT having problems that they have removed the AIS system from the bike. So instead of splicing into the vacuum line with a T fitting the vacuum line runs directly to the fuel pump. That means their vacuum line is only providing vacuum to run 1 thing (the fuel pump) instead of 2 things. So by having it routed directly are they getting better vacuum, whereas those of us who have not removed the AIS are not getting enough vacuum pressure?

Your thought?

AIS removed on my bike, vaccum line for the fuel pump goes directly to the throttle body.

No fuel starvation problem with my tank. AIS is in place (bike is totally stock).

OK, just spoke with IMS.

First, if you are having fitment issues, call them and have them walk you through it.

Second, if you are experiencing fuel starvation issues, you may have tapped the wrong vacuum line. The pump needs a vacuum PULSE to work properly because it is a diaphram type pump. There are two vacuum lines there, and you must use the one for the AIS and not the MAF sensor or the pump will not work!

Again, if you are having any issues call IMS, this is why they have tech support!

Well. Sorry to everyone else, but my install went like a dream. Put some Tusk D-Flex hanguards on too and took off the seat strap and plastic thing on the rad while I was it it. Need some sort of rad guard if anyone has an extra...

Nice tires.

SheWolf wrote:

Nice tires.

Haha, thanks. I feel invincible with them, so I'm holding you responsible if I crash