Butterfly Valve - Exhaust Valve - Exhaust Flapper - Sticking or Seized Valve - Delete BMW R1250GS/A

[Bigcats]

Thought this may be of interest to people. An very good detailed video on the good old flapper valve and how to prevent/fix etc

Butterfly Valve - Exhaust Valve - Exhaust Flapper - Sticking or Seized Valve

 

[mw3230]

I agree… a very comprehensive review although he doesn’t go into too much detail about the implications of removing the valve (unless I missed that section)

 

[Bigcats]

I agree… a very comprehensive review although he doesn’t go into too much detail about the implications of removing the valve (unless I missed that section)

He gives a link to one of his other videos where he goes through the pos/negs in more detail but its on a ducati, but I would think its pretty relevant to all bikes

 

[GSADavidZH2]

This is interesting considering my bike has thrown up the emissions/pollutant error 3 times in about 1000 miles, each time clearing itself. Bike is booked in to investigate.

 

[siddo]

What we did on the Multistrada was wire it open and put a small spring on the flap cable to fool the ECU that it was operating.

 

[rjwojcik]

Thought this may be of interest to people. An very good detailed video on the good old flapper valve and how to prevent/fix etc

Butterfly Valve - Exhaust Valve - Exhaust Flapper - Sticking or Seized Valve

Watched it, good job I don't wash it that much.

 

[Buttertub]

Now that is a very good video, thanks for the link. I'm no mechanic / engineer but i think what he says seems to make sense and shed some light on the dreaded sticking valve. Mines not seized but its been a squeaka for at least 3 years, i think i'll give his cleaning and lubrication suggestion a go.

 

[Oldrat]

Interesting and useful Vid. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I just stripped mine down. A 2015 GSA had its valve (Headers) changed because of a seizing valve. This is strange. My Current GSA Rallye, I took the cover off. Turn the ignition on, And the valve didn't open & close. I plugged in my GS911 and ran a scan. No Faults. I then ran a service test on the valve, And the test was Good. No faults, The valve opened and closed. Which is strange. I then spoke to a friend at a BMW Dealership and explained. He said that's normal and how it should work. I started the bike and valve fluctuated with the throttle revs. Cleaned it and put back together.

 

[ChazzyB]

Now that is a very good video, thanks for the link. I'm no mechanic / engineer but i think what he says seems to make sense and shed some light on the dreaded sticking valve. Mines not seized but its been a squeaka for at least 3 years, i think i'll give his cleaning and lubrication suggestion a go.

My exhaust was replaced twice on one GS under warranty because the valve was squeaking. The dealer picked it up both times and dealt with it. When it started doing it again I took a look. What I found was it didn't do it with the black plastic cover removed. There were witness marks in the insde of the cover where the mechanism was rubbing against it. Sheesh!

 

[Buttertub]

My exhaust was replaced twice on one GS under warranty because the valve was squeaking. The dealer picked it up both times and dealt with it. When it started doing it again I took a look. What I found was it didn't do it with the black plastic cover removed. There were witness marks in the insde of the cover where the mechanism was rubbing against it. Sheesh!

That's interesting, i've had the cover off a few times and given it a lube with some high temp spray but it usually comes back pretty quick, given what you found i'll see how it goes with the cover off and i might be lucky. Thanks for that.

 

[Hann]

He says i the vid that disconnecting the cables and turning the ignition on/starting the engine will cause the ecu to go into an apoplectic meltdown/ electronic failure frenzy and throw up a tft fault.
can anyone here confirm this through first-hand experience?

 

[siddo]

He says i the vid that disconnecting the cables and turning the ignition on/starting the engine will cause the ecu to go into an apoplectic meltdown/ electronic failure frenzy and throw up a tft fault.
can anyone here confirm this through first-hand experience?

If he says it does, it does.

 

[casbar]

He says i the vid that disconnecting the cables and turning the ignition on/starting the engine will cause the ecu to go into an apoplectic meltdown/ electronic failure frenzy and throw up a tft fault.
can anyone here confirm this through first-hand experience?

It will throw an error, orange engine warning light will show. It won’t go away until you reset with a 911 or BMW

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Sounds great
That’s progress that, designed right in
Can’t you just delete it, run Decat headers and code it out of the ecu with a 911

 

[Morety]

Funnily enough I watched that video this morning before seeing this thread. Comprehensive if about twice as long as needed! Stripped both of my boxers exhaust valves and did pretty much exactly as he suggested. Brush out any muck, clean the spring of any crud and taken out a slight build up of carbon from the pipe. Reassembled and all good. People really shouldn't get any issues with these if they made this part of a regular maintenance routine. I try and do mine twice anually. Interesting about the implications of Euro 5 bikes compared with Euro 4. It seems with each new standard, they make things more awkward!

 

[casbar]

Funnily enough I watched that video this morning before seeing this thread. Comprehensive if about twice as long as needed! Stripped both of my boxers exhaust valves and did pretty much exactly as he suggested. Brush out any muck, clean the spring of any crud and taken out a slight build up of carbon from the pipe. Reassembled and all good. People really shouldn't get any issues with these if they made this part of a regular maintenance routine. I try and do mine twice anually. Interesting about the implications of Euro 5 bikes compared with Euro 4. It seems with each new standard, they make things more awkward!

 

[casbar]

Interesting observation. I’ve been carrying out the cleaning etc, but have had 4 sets of headers since 2014 on a 1200 and 1250 under warranty due to stuck flap. If it was as simple as keeping it clean wouldn’t BMW do it routinely at service and save themselves the cost of new headers. One flap seized on my 1250 after less than 3 months.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Interesting observation. I’ve been carrying out the cleaning etc, but have had 4 sets of headers since 2014 on a 1200 and 1250 under warranty due to stuck flap. If it was as simple as keeping it clean wouldn’t BMW do it routinely at service and save themselves the cost of new headers. One flap seized on my 1250 after less than 3 months.

Do you do majority short journeys ?

 

[casbar]

Do you do majority short journeys ?

No. Blood biker and we use our own bikes a lot of the time. Average 10k a year. If I do go out for a social ride, never less than a 100 miles. Just to add, this is on a RT but exactly the same flap. Our fleet 1250s have also all had new headers