Both Secondary coils dead?

[Shunt]

Evenin`

After a fairly long ride the other week, Lowestoft to Lands end an back, Over half of it in the hissin rain .
My 05 gs ran really lumpy at anything under 3000 rpm, After 3k its like someone flicked a switch, Suddenly really picks up an goes great, But shite under 3k.
Its bloody irritating when filtering.

So Ive pulled the plugs These are the left cyclinder



An the right




S an M = Secondarys an Mains

Would both secondarys die an show this up?

Ive disconected the leads with the bike running, Every coil i disconnect causes a change in tone??

But i havent tried riding it on just Mains or just secondarys yet,

Any advice

 

[Fanum]

Any advice

Go back to basics.

Dunno id the 12xxs have a primary coil but I imagine they do.......start from that.

 

[MikeO]

1150 or 1200?

 

[Shunt]

Sorry, 1200

Why start at the prims?? Sorry im clueless at that one

 

[MikeO]

You are dealing with four separate coils - and from the look of your plugs, two of them may have failed. Did you notice any rough running or lack of power before this trip (which might indicate one of them having failed already)? A simultaneous double failure seems unlikely. I don't have a wiring diagram - how is power supplied to the secondary coils? Is it from a common source - separate from the primary coils?

I'd replace the plugs, run it up to a working temperature and then remove/replace a plug lead at a time, seeing how this affects the running. If you remove the primary plug from a side which has a secondary failure, the engine should stop...

Mike

 

[mark71]

I had the same problem a while back when I was running after market headers and it turned out to be the plugs, changed the headers back and never a problem again.

Try new plugs as a first stop then go from there, it has been known to have the spark blown out by the compression.

Hope this helps

Mark

 

[Shunt]

Cant say i noticed rough running, Im new to boxers, Only had the Gs for a couple of months, Its possible it did, I just called it caracter

http://www.r1200gs.info/R1200GS-WD2.pdf

Page 5

Looks like every coil is independant

Ive got a new set of plugs so I`ll give that a go,

When i tried disconnecting the coil packs on at a time there was a change in note on every disconnect. It stumbles on every pull, but never stops.
But I did this test from cold,
But, It stumbles all the time. Cold or Hot.

I`ll try an sling the new plugs in tomorrow after work if i get chance an take some more pics

Cheers So far

 

[Shunt]

I had the same problem a while back when I was running after market headers and it turned out to be the plugs, changed the headers back and never a problem again.

Try new plugs as a first stop then go from there, it has been known to have the spark blown out by the compression.

Hope this helps

Mark

I have a wide open end can if that makes a difference, With standard headers with the cat still in there. If this makes a difference?

 

[mark71]

Start with the basics my friend as it's very unlikely that all four secondary coils will of gone at the same time, start with the plugs and I'm pretty sure this will clear your problem.

Regards

Mark

 

[Shunt]

Cool, Will do

Cheers All

 

[Pukmeister]

Look very closely at the centre electrodes of your existing plugs. Do they look like they have worn slightly oval in shape, eroded by the spark action across the gaps? If so, fit new plugs and the difference should be obvious as soon as you ride off.

Also try disconnecting the battery for 30 seconds then reconnect and do a TPS reset.

 

[G5RJO]

.

Have a close look at the secondary coil sticks. There's a cast in groove on them and when my 1200 did exactly as you describe there was evident rusting and delaminating on the coil stick in that groove area.

My coil pack failed after going through a long and deep water crossing.

Maybe a long rain emersion has finished it off.

Change the plugs first and whilst in there have a detailed look.

Roger.

 

[MUD]

Whats the mileage on these plugs ??

I was told that the secondry plugs are always sooty and as these are showing signs of sparking (electrode has cleaner parts where it arc's) then the coil sticks are working.

Mine has a massive burst on fully throttle over 5k and its a very different bike but rough idle.....want to invest in a GS-911 in the near future

 

[Shunt]

Plugs mileage are a about 4k. Assuming that BMW changed them at the last service

 

[Steptoe]

Whats the mileage on these plugs ??

I was told that the secondry plugs are always sooty and as these are showing signs of sparking (electrode has cleaner parts where it arc's) then the coil sticks are working.

The secondary/lower plugs are usually sooty and oily, even on perfectly running bikes. It's not a sign of anything.

Test the coils by disconnecting the coil plugs on both the bottom coils at the same time, and run it on just the mains, and i mean take it for a ride, not just rev the engine while it's on the stand.
Then try the same on the main coils, disconnect and ride using only the lowers.

Using this method if one or more of the stick coils have failed completely the bike won't even run.
But if they are failing under high load only it'll show up when you ride it.

 

[MUD]

The secondary/lower plugs are usually sooty and oily, even on perfectly running bikes. It's not a sign of anything.

Test the coils by disconnecting the coil plugs on both the bottom coils at the same time, and run it on just the mains, and i mean take it for a ride, not just rev the engine while it's on the stand.
Then try the same on the main coils, disconnect and ride using only the lowers.

Using this method if one or more of the stick coils have failed completely the bike won't even run.
But if they are failing under high load only it'll show up when you ride it.

Now this is the sort of advice that helps me out.....thanks Steptoe

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine had symptoms as described by OP even down to being worse after rain (though I was never able to fully confirm that). It turned out to be one main coil failing and the other one going very shortly after. Both smelled burnt.

Test methods posted by Steptoe were a really helpful for sorting out what the actual problem was.

 

[Shunt]

Well, all I've managed is gettin the new plugs in. No funny smells noticed.

But some rusty blustering on the lower coils. (secondary's)

Did a tps reset too.

Definitely smoother on tick over an rises smoothly ish to 3k fine
. But no chance to ride it yet. I'll find out tomorrow as I've gotta get myself down to Essex.

 

[G5RJO]

Rusting blisters on the secondary coils is a BAD sign. Water ingress will probably mean a trip to the BMW parts bin.

Sorry but that's exactly what I expected you'd find...

Roger.

 

[Mr K]

Make sure there's no water in the FPC well.