Cough...

[daveg]

Hello folks. My 05 1150GSA has just developed an intermittent cough/hesitation which was getting more frequent during a five hour ride today. It just happens at random and has done it about 10 times, more often as the day went on. And, I suppose, as the bike got hotter.
I wouldn't be asking but I'm just starting a week away touring so would appreciate any thoughts so I can think about what I need to look for or do, if anything!
Cheers
David

 

[Colm Cummins]

http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-15102260...ottle-body-protection-caps-vacuum-plugs-4.gif
Are these all ok?

 

[Slipperyeel]

Could be lots of things. Hall sensor? Could that be heading south? Or maybe you've got a dying stick coil?

Just first thoughts.

 

[daveg]

Thanks for the suggestion. When the sensor or coils are failing is it usually intermittent and worse when they get hot? I've a feeling the 'cough' affects both cylinders but can't be certain.

 

[daveg]

Thanks Colm. Yes they're OK.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I guess if it's both cylinders and it's occurring when hot then the Hall sensor should be in the list of suspects.

There was a post on here not so long ago where the op's bike was OK until it got hot when it would misbehave and then not start until it had cooled down...it turned out to be the hall sensor. Hence my thinking. But fuel supply, ignition, to mention a few, could be on the list too.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

What fuel are you sticking in.

I noticed on several trips to the continent, that running on 98 octane, amplifies the surging and my bike behaved like a very sick puppy at hot starts and when in the closed loop between 2-3K rpm.

The recommend is 95, but it was hard to find 95+5 (5% Ethanol) mostly the fuel was 95+10 so I opted for the 98. A lesson learnt and I shall be sticking with 95.

Back home she's settled down on ASDA's finest.

 

[daveg]

What fuel are you sticking in.

I noticed on several trips to the continent, that running on 98 octane, amplifies the surging and my bike behaved like a very sick puppy at hot starts and when in the closed loop between 2-3K rpm.

The recommend is 95, but it was hard to find 95+5 (5% Ethanol) mostly the fuel was 95+10 so I opted for the 98. A lesson learnt and I shall be sticking with 95.

Back home she's settled down on ASDA's finest.

Thanks Ian.
Mmm, interesting! It started after I'd filled up with 97 Super at the Leicester Forest BP services. I'll fill up with 95 next time and see what happens. That's assuming it doesn't fail in the meantime because it's something else.
I was told by 'someone who knows' that the BP 97 octane fuel was one of the few available that didn't have ethanol added so I've got into the habit of using it in my old bikes and was on autopilot when I filled up today.

 

[duckspeed]

Broken ignition switch wiring around the headstock??

 

[daveg]

Broken ignition switch wiring around the headstock??

Thanks Duckspeed, good call, I've had that problem before but it wasn't the wiring, it was worn internals in the switch. When I got this bike I made sure the wiring wasn't pitched or restored but I'll be checking that shortly.

 

[Deleted account 220427001]

change the coils .

 

[daveg]

change the coils .

Thanks, I may well do that but I've got a feeling they were replaced not so long ago. The previous owner was meticulous with maintenance and preventive maintenance, I'll check the history when I get home.

It could be so many things but until it gets worse or the bike stops going I'm just collecting ideas in case it craps out while I'm away - I don't want to disrupt the holiday for everybody!

Today it faltered and coughed briefly three times later in the day and as long as that's all it does I'm happy. I filled up with 95 fuel when it was half empty this morning so doubt it's the fuel rating.

Cheers
David

 

[twizzle]

My 1100 just to cough and "falter"- felt like it was going to die, but never did.

Steptoe had a butchers and it was my Throttle butterflies needed to be balanced... ran sweet after that..... for two months when the Hall Sensor failed.

But when that went it died good and proper when hot - left to cool it would run for 30 minutes or so then die.

New Hall Sensor and sorted. Used one from that chap in Greece.

The bike ran sweet after the TB's where balanced.

 

[daveg]

My 1100 just to cough and "falter"- felt like it was going to die, but never did.

Steptoe had a butchers and it was my Throttle butterflies needed to be balanced... ran sweet after that..... for two months when the Hall Sensor failed.

But when that went it died good and proper when hot - left to cool it would run for 30 minutes or so then die.

New Hall Sensor and sorted. Used one from that chap in Greece.

The bike ran sweet after the TB's where balanced.

Thanks Twizzle. By the end of the week I reckon I'll know where the problem is! At the moment the fact it's doing it towards the end of the day suggests to me it's something, like the sensor, failing a bit when it gets hot.

 

[daveg]

Well I've been riding fairly sedately around the countryside in the NE on fantastic deserted roads all week and the bike has been almost perfect. Just the very occasional little 'cough' mainly later in the day and usually when revving 3500 towards 4000.

This afternoon we did the last 10 miles on the motorway and the bike was doing it quite a lot at a constant 4-4500 rpm. OK on acceleration and at lower revs. It could be the coils (as Sheene suggested) but this is very intermittent and I'm not sure it will be easy to check see if one or more are failing as the bike is fine the majority of the time. I don't particularly want to start buying new ones until I'm sure that's where the problem is.

Any thoughts? Coils or something else?

Cheers
David

 

[daveg]

Well I've been riding fairly sedately around the countryside in the NE on fantastic deserted roads all week and the bike has been almost perfect. Just the very occasional little 'cough' mainly later in the day and usually when revving 3500 towards 4000.

This afternoon we did the last 10 miles on the motorway and the bike was doing it quite a lot at a constant 4-4500 rpm. OK on acceleration and at lower revs. It could be the coils (as Sheene suggested) but this is very intermittent and I'm not sure it will be easy to check see if one or more are failing as the bike is fine the majority of the time. I don't particularly want to start buying new ones until I'm sure that's where the problem is.

Any thoughts? Coils or something else?

Cheers
David

Picked up some new coils today. The old ones looking a bit sorry....definitely needed changing!
I'll know by tomorrow night if it's cured my cough!


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[daveg]

It didn't cure it

In fact it was probably worse than before which is maybe a good thing as it's very intermittent and difficult to pin down.

Only very noticeable when the engine is hot and at higher revs. 270 miles today and it was fine at around 50-60mph but faltered every so often and occasionally died for maybe a second several times

Hall sensor?
Fuelling?
Bad connection?

Now I'm home I can start to investigate it but any suggestion very gratefully received

 

[Packer]

There was a thread on here somewhere about the wiring to the Hall sensor going hard and brittle with heat and age. A cheap ansd simple fix if it is that, easy to check too.

 

[daveg]

There was a thread on here somewhere about the wiring to the Hall sensor going hard and brittle with heat and age. A cheap ansd simple fix if it is that, easy to check too.

Thanks Packer. That's next on my list to try.

Now I'm home with a decent internet connection I can search the archives and try and get to grips with this. The problem with pinning the fault down is that I need to go and do 20+ miles at speed to get it to misbehave if this last week is anything to go by.

 

[Steptoe]

It'll be the TPS unit .....