If the gas cap doesn’t close, it might be because the tab is being pulled up (which is what you do when you open the cap). If you just press it down without pulling up the tab, it should snap right into its place.
Tried that, no go at this station. The only solution that worked for me was demonstrated in this vid. I even tried palming the cap down with force (no tab up) and would not close.
@@MotoBeemer Sorry to hear that. If you are using your palm, you might be pressing the middle of the cap. You might try pressing down the front edge of the cap just with your thumb.
@@ArizonaMotovlog I believe I tried that too. I sat at the pump for a solid 2-3 mins trying ways to get this to close. I was super close to (embarrassingly enough) googling "WTF BMW GAS CAP" and then I got it fixed after I started the bike with the cap open and rode it away from the pump. There were other ADV riders there and I'm thinking, do I have to ask these dudes how to close my freaking gas cap? Why is there a "trick" to do this? In any event, seems legit now and I know what's what.
I bought my RT new in '21 and with 11,500 miles on the bike this happened to me on a out of state trip last weekend. I drove home with it unlatched, hoping I could find the problem's solution on Google. Thanks for you clear explanation Ben. I (we) fixed it in 30 seconds! Greg, from Sacramento.
How many gallons of gasoline evaporated into thin air? I feel for you because I sat at Costco today looking like a freaking idiot when all the car owners were beginning to be concerned for me; especially, the car in line waiting for my spot.
This really helped me. Took off my tank bag to replace air filter and fuel lid would not shut when I put everything back together. Thought it was either misaligned or the locking mechanism was not working. Looked to see if the little cylinder would move when the bike was locked but did not see anything move. Your video showed me that the pin had to be up to close the lid and looking at my cylinder did not see the pin. Moved cylinder around a little until I heard a pop and the pin appeared, tried the cap and worked! Thanks for posting.
Problem (inability to close cap) solved in my case. I found that the small pin shown in the most helpful video, was bent. It appears this can result from too much force being applied, via the lever or slamming the gas cap down too hard. I removed the two Torx screws above the BMW logo and was able to remove the rear sheet metal cover on the electronic assembly. This enabled movement of the sliding mechanism to allow extraction of the pin. Used channel locks and a small crescent wrench to straighten the pin. Reassemble and pull the sliding mechanism outward until the pin raises and locks it in place. Reassemble and it works fine. The tiny locking mechanism is in my view under-sized for the forces it will experience over years of use. So long as a proper Torx is available, this can be fixed in the field.
Sorry, I’m remote camping with minimal access to Internet, but I recall that a RU-vid search yielded useful video on the subject. Disassembled the gas cap assembly as I recall and straightened a bent locking pin.
Great tip. I haven’t experienced an issue with closing the gas cap, on occasion the cap won’t open when I want to refuel it. I turn the bike on and wait until the bike cycles through to be started again, then I turn it off again normally this procedure addresses the issue.
This seems to be quite a prevalent issue among RT owners. I have never had these type annoying issues with my Honda but every time I own a BMW product, there's bound to be this kind of issues. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Let me try it out and see if it works.
Had this problem happen to me 2 days ago on my 2021 GSA. Fiddled around with it for about 5 mins and just pulled the slider back with my finger and heard a pop, figured it would work and it did. Found this vid and watched just for confirmation but seems like...if we can't get our gas caps right what else is potentially wrong.
Mine did not want to do that. Tried cleaning. No luck. Final Cut the back tab and pulled out the pin. Issue disappeared. Don’t care if the cap is not lockable any more as the bike is garage kept.
The gas cap on my 2012 1200R was a fiddle-arse, and now the gas cap on my 2019 RT is a fiddle-arse. What is it with BMW and gas caps? I wish they'd just copy one of the Japanese manufacturers as they've latterly done with turn signals.
I’d cover the opening into the tank and give that mechanism a good clean then lube with Dry PTFE. Try lifting the tab push down on the front of the cap’s rim and the lower the tab. Looks like BMW need to change the mechanism, not the first video I’ve seen about that tiny tiny tiny pin.
Mine has a bizarre issue. I close the lid and lock the bike, but the lid opens again. It's not getting locked after the handlebar is locked. What seems to be the issue?
If that pen is not in the right position its all fail wont open .just open the upper 2 screw and access and cycle the on off open door less than a minute and it will open
Thank you for sharing the operation of your.... hole ^_^ j/k hehehe cool informative video! But this should not happen in a bike of this range right? O.o
Thank you Ben, I have the same problem, and I did not know what it was, mine also does not open sometimes too, any advice you can give me please Kind Regards Le
I'm riding BMW R1250 GSA 2019 with under 11,000 miles. Riding in 100+ degree weather and the gas tank wouldn't open. I suspicious if it was a heat related problem. Around 9 PM, outside temps drop to low 80's and now the tank opens. Tried again next day, wouldn't open during hot part of the day, but worked when temps were cool in the AM and PM. I heard sensitive electronics hate the heat? Think this issue and others are heat related?
Your issue seems heat related. I have not yet learned how to lock the gas cap. Not sure it can be done on my model. Always opens fine for me but closing it is the issue.
How do you lock the fuel tank cap? I mean locking it so no one has access to your fuel compartment? Does it automatically lock when you turn off the bike?
Here is what the manual says for 2018 R1200GS Adventure: -Fuel filler cap automatically locks after run-on time expires. -The engaged fuel filler cap locks immediately when the steering lock is locked or during starting.
I just cleaned all round my petrol cap and opened it to put Redex in, and the thing was full of water, which started to pour into the tank when I opened it. WTF???
@@bwfrieds Managed to find the problem... the drain hole in the bottom, which is meant to let any rain out, was blocked. I just bought the bike and it was severely neglected in storage for a while. There were leaves under the fuel cap and I imagine they clogged up the drain hole. I'm hoping my bike runs okay tomorrow and not too much water got in. There's about 15l of fuel to dilute it. Might run a bit iffy for a while
@@bwfrieds no it went in because i thought it was using to much petrol turns out when they tried to fill it up after testing cap wouldnt open dealer called me told and then said "its ok its a knowen problem so we fit a new one when we can"
