K100 fuel pump reliability?

[schrocketeer]

Should I go ahead and replace the fuel pump on my '85 K100RT while I'm refurbishing it after it sat for three years?
I ordered the 12/24k maintenance kit from beemerboneyard, so I've got a new fuel filter (and the other goodies) to go in.

If the fuel pumps have a history of being super reliable, I won't bother pulling it.

I've had white vinegar soaking in the tank for the last week. The bolts holding the pump in place have a lot of rust build up on them. The plastic clip looks pretty yellow, and I'm concerned they will break if I take it out unnecessarily.

[Timbox]

Nice selection of bikes you have in your signature block...nice :)

My pump sat in gas for 10 yrs and was locked up.  I pulled it and played with it for a long time...it is now working great.  I however will be putting in a new pump  E16037 from Oreilly auto parts $64.99 but there are many others. 

So bottom line, what condition is the vibration dampener that holds the pump (I think that is the kit you are getting) and is the pump working now or stuck?

Good luck.

[schrocketeer]

Lotsa ick insider there. Time for a new strainer, and retaining ring. Probably just order the pump package from Beemer Boneyard. Bike was manufactured in 9/84, but title say 1985.

[Chaos]

yeah, that looks pretty icky.  Mine is still original after 32 years and 200k but it's always been bathed in reasonably fresh gas it's whole life. 

[Timbox]

Lotsa ick insider there. Time for a new strainer, and retaining ring. Probably just order the pump package from Beemer Boneyard. Bike was manufactured in 9/84, but title say 1985.

That is nasty, sure hope the injectors are not as froze up as mine were.  I think I had them in the heated sonic cleaner for almost a hr, then hit them with 12V a few times and they started working.  Hope yours are in better shape.  Thanks for sharing the pic.

Chaos,
That is great news to hear that the original pumps will run that well and that long. After I got mine working again I was not sure, so went with a alternate pump. 

[Martin]

I replaced mine at 160,000 K's still running. It now resides in the tail as a backup.
Regards Martin.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I have been lucky in that of the four bricks I owned, all have had spotless tanks, including the fuel pump. 

Having said that, if I had a tank that was gummed up with a lot of deposits, I would not hesitate to replace the fuel pump.  Even if I could get it to run, I would not trust it because I have no idea of what wear and tear that crap could have done to the pump that may affect it's reliability.

My experience with injectors leads me to believe that even when you can get stuff to work, the process of cleaning to get ALL the stuff out can take many hours of run time.  with pumps, that means a lot of hard work that can finally kill a pump.