'06 GS non-starter...

[Jon T]

Chaps,
I wonder if you can shed some light on a slightly odd problem I have with my freshly purchased 2006, 3900 mile R1200GS? I bought it after it had stood unused for a year or two then been unsuccessfully exported to Canada & come back. As such, I'm re-commissioning it, re-registering it then hopefully riding it! To prepare it for export it had the fuel-tank drained & the battery removed.
When I first viewed it a few months ago we sloshed some fuel in it, borrowed a battery of a F650GS and fired it up with little fuss. After a few months the deal was done & I bought a battery (Motobatt MBTX12U AGM type) and had a go at getting it going again. After some churning it fired up, but for a few minutes would only idle, stalling instantly with even a little throttle. with a bit of heat in it it would eventually rev, so I figured I'd let it cool, stick some fresh fuel in and give it another go another day.
Now however, it won't fire at all! I've stuck an Optimate on the battery so it is now charged, and did the throttle pot thing where you switch it on, open and close the throttle a couple of times, then switch it off. It now turns over at a healthy rate, but doesn't seem to be firing. A possible clue is that the sidelight comes on with the ignition, then dip flashes momentarily as you press the starter, but goes out from there on. I'm guessing the problem could lie with fuel so I've ordered up a service kit inc fuel filter from Sherlocks.
I'm coming to the realisation that I'm a bit technically out of my depth with this device - there's stuff going on in there which is far beyond my usual carbs & points Stone-age tech!
Does anyone have any ideas what is going on here? Is there a diagnostic plug-in tool that the average punter can buy and interpret? Is this pretty much a dealer service only bike, in which case are there any independents in the Warwick / Coventry area?

Sorry it's a bit long, thanks for any help that ensues!

Cheers, Jon

 

[patzx12]

Someone near you will have a GS911 fault reader, this would be a start to se what faults are recorded.
It sounds to me like fuel problems, probably best to throw a few quid at it at a BMW dealer and get it running.
There are hi tech bikes but the electronics are reliable.
The most common failure is the FPC relay.
Do a serch you will find zillions of posts and also a workaround (hot wiring around the relay)
Good luck

 

[Pukmeister]

From the symptoms you describe my guess is a fuel pump controller failure. When you first make the ignition switch, can you hear a brief whirr from the fuel pump (not to be confused with the "eek" from the Servo ABS pump)?

If you do a search on here you will find plenty of info about FPC failures and work arounds, I had an FPC failure on my 2004 bike and made up a temporary lead to power the fuel pump to prove the FPC was at fault, perhaps you could do the same?

Be doubly careful to ensure the correct polarity if you do make up a test lead .

 

[TeaPig]

Unfortunately there's not a servicable fuel filter on the 1200 like there is on the 11xx.

Pat is right with what he says but there are a couple of checks you could try.

see if you are getting a spark. safest way is to push a spare spark plug into the coil stick with the plug resting on the cylinder. Crank it over and hope for a big blue spark.

If the fuel pump controller is working you should hear the fuel pump whine for a few seconds just after you turn on the ignition (don't press teh starter). Listen with your ear up near the front LHS of the tank. The pump should nake a whirring noise then cut out once the pressure has built to working level.

No whine could point to a dead FPC, it's far too common a problem. Do a search like pat suggests for quick fixes/tests

Have you actually put enough fuel in for the pump to pick up? I'd suggest at least a gallon. If you do hear a pump whine which does not cut out, then the tank may still be too empty

 

[Jon T]

Thanks for the replies. To answer some of your points - the bike has probably about a gallon in, it registers 5 bars on the gauge. When I switch the ignition on, there's a whir of about 1 sec duration from what sounds like the lhs of the tank. I haven't checked for a spark yet - I'll do that tomorrow, once I've found out how to get the plug leads off! God, I feel like a newbie with this bike...

 

[Demongroover]

Sounds like one or both of the3 throttle valves are stuck.
Happened to mine and is consistent with standing.
The right one was stuck open. The potentiometer then was trying to fuel the other the same but couldn't (it was shut). So it wouldn't start.

Feel up behind the throttle on either side whilst twisting the hand throttle.
You'll feel if it's moving or not. If it is, hopefully a squirt of WD40 and a wiggle may sort it.

 

[Jon T]

Well, progress of a sort! I had a feel behind both throttle bodies & the valves are moving ok, in fact I can hear them snap shut very positively. I gave it another try after that and it was actually firing a little on the RH pot. I wonder if the fuel is just too old & not very combustible? I'll slosh a gallon of the good stuff in it tomorrow night & see if that does the trick. Night all!

 

[iftikartaxis]

plugs

might sound daft have you changed the plugs

 

[TeaPig]

Another possibility is water in the tank and you're squirting that instead of petrol

FPC sounds OK

Some fresh fuel worth a try for sure. It'll take a fair bit of cranking to pump out the old guff.

There are ways around but not without risk of getting petrol everywhere, and if you are new to this game, well...

Then check for sparks if still no go

 

[Jon T]

Fire in the hole!

Success! I'm not quite sure why, but it now goes again. Thanks for the help. Next job is a service, registration then a few long runs.
Cheers, Jon.