Burnt Out Valve Question

[mrTickle]

My '02 Adventure has just started running very badly at constant throttle, so I've been searching the forum for possible faults. After my findings, I'm now extremely worried that my valves may be the problem.

When I installed my Y-piece, I removed the Lamda sensor at the same time. I kept it out but didn't put in a Techlusion or BB chip in -I just removed the cat coding plug. I have now done 5000 miles with it removed and had no problems. From what I can gather, it seems that I should have left the Lamda probe in when I installed the Y-piece, otherwise the mixture runs lean and causes valve damage.

My question is, if I have valve damage, how do I tell? At the moment, the bike accelerates as normal but it won't run at a constant speed i.e throttle held in one position. When held at constant throttle, it seems to loose power and slow down so I have to accelerate to get back up to speed again. If it is a burnt out valve, wouldn't I loose power alltogether? Wouldn't the valves have burnt out before 5000 miles? Can I do a compression test or anything similar to find out if my valves are buggered?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[cookie]

Can I do a compression test or anything similar to find out if my valves are buggered?


yes, compression test.

minor valve leaks often manifest first as erratic tickover (not GS specific).

 

[Howard Millichap]

GRASS SEED

My '02 Adventure has just started running very badly at constant throttle,

Your problem is undoubtedly that your bike has ingested a ton of grass seed from our trail ride on Sunday.
Your air intakes point forwards and so gathers all sorts of things coming from the front.
I suggest that you remove the air filter and give it a thorough clean out.

 

[mrTickle]

Hmmm come to think of it, it only started running poorly on the way home from our off-road ride...

I'm giving the bike a full service today - new oil, new air filter, checking valve gaps and balancing the throttle bodies. I'll see if that helps.

I'm probably ( hopefully ) just being paranoid after realizing that I should have left the Lamda probe in when I fitted my Y-piece. I'll post the results here when I know the outcome of todays service.

 

[judge]

Best you forget all about that 'ADV' or 'Adventure' tag - it really is just a styling thing. If you look around you'll probably find a warning in German sayng "not for off-road use) Best you push along with getting that real traillie quick or get a shed like Howard's if it has to be a GS for your off-roading exploits.

 

[Howard Millichap]

or get a shed like Howard's

What are you trying to say???

Nothing wrong with my shed. It's somewhere to put all those bloody BMW's that don't work.

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

yes judge

you not fit for an adventurer or something???????

 

[mrTickle]

Turned out to be no more than the right hand air intake being loose where the plastic intake connects to the metal throttle body. I tightened the jubilee clip back up and it's sweet as a nut. Pheew!

I would never have thought such a dramatic effect on how the engine operated would be the consequence of a loose jubilee clip. I guess all that extra air being sucked into the right hand pot was upsetting the throttle balance and causing the engine to run very poorly indeed. I took the opportunity to re-tighten all the clamps ( 3 on each side ) just in case. Not that I'm planning to fall off again...

I also ordered a Techlusion R259 today,

http://www.tts-performance.com/cata...99&PHPSESSID=0383b99f881a40c1a4bbe5e18597e833

as my plugs were on the "white" side of tan. Hopefully it will richen up the fuel mixture ( plus give me a few more bhp )

 

[BAKERMAN]

not reading any of your bollox till your face is back

 

[Richard34]

I also ordered a Techlusion R259 today,

I've also got one on order - let me know when you intend fitting it as I'm mechanically "brain dead" when it comes to things like this - whereas you seem to know what yer doing!!!

 

[mrTickle]

The moon is back

 

[MikeO]

I've also got one on order - let me know when you intend fitting it as I'm mechanically "brain dead" when it comes to things like this - whereas you seem to know what yer doing!!!

Richard,

if you have the time, why not take a trip up to Silverstone & get TTS to fit it for you & dyno your bike at the same time? (TTS are the importers for Techlusion)

http://www.tts-performance.co.uk

Mike

 

[mrTickle]

I've ended up getting the Techlusion TFI Fuel Injection Manager, as the R259 was out of stock. TTS have told me that it's essentially the same bit of kit as a R259 but that it's hard wired into the bike, unlike the R259s' easy push fit connections.

I would have got the R259 but I'm an impatient b*%stid! Be warned that BMW may get funny about the warranty if they see one of these fitted whereas the R259 can just be unplugged and no worries...

It was £70 for TTS to install & setup a Techlusion on their dyno. Here is a link for the unit that I got:

http://www.tts-performance.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=35

 

[adamski49]

If anyone's interested I have an R-259 that I could be persuaded to sell having returned my S to stock. It was on the bike for all of a week and 200 miles.

I found all the 'go faster' bits didn't make for a happy top end and as I was leaving for France imminently I removed everything. Since returning I've decided that the stock motor is plenty for my needs.

Adam

 

[mrTickle]

I fitted the Techlusion yesterday and the bike is definately smoother. Performance is slightly better than before.

Here is a picture of the Techlusion, showing the pots that you need to fiddle about with for setting it up. I used these settings ( Y-piece, standard filter and standard end can ), -3,4,5,8.

Since fitting it, my bike now backfires far more than it used to. I will probably have a trip to TTS and let them set it up on a dyno.

 

[mrTickle]

Bye Bye warranty

 

[mrTickle]

I connected the Techlusion to the right hand side injector wires, as you sit on the bike.

It was easier to access as you can pull the plastic cover off. The plastic cover also hides everything once you put it back on. The injectors are wired in parallel so it shouldn't matter which side I connected it to ( well that's the theory anyway... )

 

[mrTickle]

The finished installation. Test ride went great.