Do exhaust butterfly valves still jam on later model 1200\1250's ? or is it solved?.

[pbbanks]

Does the exhaust flapper\butterfly valve still seize up on later model 1200\1250's after a certain length of time\mileage or have BMW altered the design so they don't?.
I know it is a well known problem on LC 1200's that the flap sticks open and jams on its bushes after a while, my previous 2015 1200 did it after 2 years and 15000 miles. I did manage to free it off get it working again but it needed constant maintenance to keep it free (every 3 months or so) .
I now have a 1250 , 8 months old\6000 miles and the valve is squeaking when the ignition is switched on\off . Sounds as though it is going to seize up??.
Wondered if anyone had any experience of problems on later 1200's\1250's post 2017??. And what BMW say about the problem?. Have they re designed it so it doesn't seize?

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Does the exhaust flapper\butterfly valve still seize up on later model 1200\1250's after a certain length of time\mileage or have BMW altered the design so they don't?.
I know it is a well known problem on LC 1200's that the flap sticks open and jams on its bushes after a while, my previous 2015 1200 did it after 2 years and 15000 miles. I did manage to free it off get it working again but it needed constant maintenance to keep it free (every 3 months or so) .
I now have a 1250 , 8 months old\6000 miles and the valve is squeaking when the ignition is switched on\off . Sounds as though it is going to seize up??.
Wondered if anyone had any experience of problems on later 1200's\1250's post 2017??. And what BMW say about the problem?. Have they re designed it so it doesn't seize?

First thing to do is get it logged at BMW just in case it seizes up, you are under warranty but sods law it will seize if it does in 3 years, or you can give it a nice coat of high temp Nikel anti seize.

https://www.dittmar-sba.de/WEICON-Anti-Seize-ASN-120-P-Nickel-Spezial-26050012.html

 

[pbbanks]

Thanks, taking it in for 6000 mile service so will ask them to at least log it with BM.
May also get some of the anti seize paste too.
Just wish BMW would find a permanent solution, can't be cheap for them replacing complete downpipes all the time under warranty, which I believe from other posts is what the dealers do.

 

[casbar]

Short answer yes. I saw one chap with a 1250RT has already had to have his valve replaced.

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Thanks, taking it in for 6000 mile service so will ask them to at least log it with BM.
May also get some of the anti seize paste too.
Just wish BMW would find a permanent solution, can't be cheap for them replacing complete downpipes all the time under warranty, which I believe from other posts is what the dealers do.

Your welcome just steal a few qtips off the wife, does the job fine, I check mine every 6 months, and if a little anti-seize needed re apply, fingers crossed all good at the moment bike is May 2017

 

[G&T]

Mmmm, I’m awaiting a call back from Ryebrook on this. I have greased the actuator thingy- no change. At the 6000 mile service I asked Ryebrook to check and I noticed lube had been sprayed on the actuator - still squeaky. It does seem you need to get at the flap. The bike is a 2018 GSA. Other than that the bike is fabulous.

 

[Geekay]

Mmmm, I’m awaiting a call back from Ryebrook on this. I have greased the actuator thingy- no change. At the 6000 mile service I asked Ryebrook to check and I noticed lube had been sprayed on the actuator - still squeaky. It does seem you need to get at the flap. The bike is a 2018 GSA. Other than that the bike is fabulous.

its easy to get to the flap as the exhaust silencer comes off very easily - remove the silver cover between silencer and cat (3 x T25 screws) and then theres only the 10mm bolt on the exhaust clamp and the T40 bolt on the mount bracket and off comes the silencer.

The issue is that even with access to the flap, actually getting any sort of lube into the bearing / bushing surface is nigh-on impossible!

I think these things need to be lubed "from new" as once they start sticking I suspect they are past the point of no return...

 

[G&T]

its easy to get to the flap as the exhaust silencer comes off very easily - remove the silver cover between silencer and cat (3 x T25 screws) and then theres only the 10mm bolt on the exhaust clamp and the T40 bolt on the mount bracket and off comes the silencer.

The issue is that even with access to the flap, actually getting any sort of lube into the bearing / bushing surface is nigh-on impossible!

I think these things need to be lubed "from new" as once they start sticking I suspect they are past the point of no return...

Thanks Geekay. Mine isn’t sticking yet, just dry it seems. I’m happy to do the maintenance, although I find it a bit weird one has todo this. Before I start I want BMW to check if there is any damage and to record it. The outcome will be what will be.

An RS 2017 pulled up next to me the other day and we discussed this issue. With no maintenance on his part he switched the ignition on and no squeak. You’d think it would be the same problem on all.

 

[pbbanks]

I will buy some nickel high temp grease\lube and do it if I have to but think I'll pester BMW under warranty first. The more complaints they get the more likely they are to try and find a permanent fix . (Well I can dream they might anyway ). Was hoping it had been fixed on later bikes but it sounds as though that's not the case.
I know from freeing the one on my 2015 LC that it's no good just spraying the spring and actuator wheel on the top as it's the bushes on the flap shaft inside the exhaust that seize up. Once the return spring\actuator cables can't overcome the friction in the bushes the flap gets permanently stuck in the open position. Problem is the flap isn't removable to clean out the bushes and lubricate them properly.
Should be BMW's problem not ours!. Not the end of the world , just a nuisance.

 

[casbar]

Thanks Geekay. Mine isn’t sticking yet, just dry it seems. I’m happy to do the maintenance, although I find it a bit weird one has todo this. Before I start I want BMW to check if there is any damage and to record it. The outcome will be what will be.

An RS 2017 pulled up next to me the other day and we discussed this issue. With no maintenance on his part he switched the ignition on and no squeak. You’d think it would be the same problem on all.

Its not inevitable, they don't fail on all bikes. My 2014 had new headers and flap at around 8k miles, done as good will and I paid £65 as it was out of warranty. Paying the contribution gave me another 2 years warranty, where as if they replaced under warranty, you apparently only get one replacement. At the 18k service, it was squeaking again and was replaced again because I had the 2 years warranty. I then sold the bike and bought a 1250, so back to square one I suspect. I lubed the second flap replacement every 6 months, still started squeaking and eventually stuck open. Crap design, although the second set looked different to the original set, so they obviously have tried to fix it, but looks like they failed

 

[G&T]

Well, maybe pbbanks and I can give an outcome on this thread once BMW have a verdict. So we have a 2018 1200 and an 1250 in for checking - let’s see.

 

[MartinK]

Some interesting stuff on the internet about this. a couple of good youtube videos showing how to free and lube the valve, but also a "Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde valve exhaust BMW R1200GS LC" where they manually override the flap, increasing BHP at certain revs (apparently!)

Next time i do a good clean on mine, I'll slip the can off and grease the pivots...

 

[slimpickings]

What are the consequences of it sticking open ,or closed

Does it make it difficullt to start, stop, or what ?

 

[casbar]

What are the consequences of it sticking open ,or closed

Does it make it difficullt to start, stop, or what ?

They normally stick open. There is no real impact on performance, but if its stuck, it throws a fault code that shows when the bike is plugged in at the dealer. That is why just disconnecting the cables will make the servo move too far, so there will still be a fault. On my 2014 if BMW wouldn't have replaced it, I would have just ignored it. Not sure when you trade though, whether they will take a stuck valve as a reason to give you less in trade in. When they replaced mine, the valve is built into the headers and those cost around £1200

 

[Budweiser]

My 2017 10k 1200RT has this problem which will require new headers, with labour £1400 approx according to the dealer. As I bought the bike from a dealer I have the 2 year warranty, thankfully.

Bike going in this Friday.

 

[casbar]

My 2017 10k 1200RT has this problem which will require new headers, with labour £1400 approx according to the dealer. As I bought the bike from a dealer I have the 2 year warranty, thankfully.

Bike going in this Friday.

Good result, but they will only change it once under warranty unless you make a contribution, so better look after the new one, or get rid before it sticks again

 

[ChazzyB]

Good result, but they will only change it once under warranty unless you make a contribution, so better look after the new one, or get rid before it sticks again

I've a feeling the headers on my current GS were changed twice under the original 2 year warranty, because of the squeak. The last set (done at 24K) is squeaking again at just shy of 30K and less than 4 months later. I've bought the lube...

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

I've a feeling the headers on my current GS were changed twice under the original 2 year warranty, because of the squeak. The last set (done at 24K) is squeaking again at just shy of 30K and less than 4 months later. I've bought the lube...

Interesting tip below to add on to the Anti seize, credit to the gent

 

[casbar]

I've a feeling the headers on my current GS were changed twice under the original 2 year warranty, because of the squeak. The last set (done at 24K) is squeaking again at just shy of 30K and less than 4 months later. I've bought the lube...

I would think you would be ok if the warranty was still running, but if you have the headers replaced, you don't get a further 2 years from that point, which you do if you pay a contribution. My second set was changed 4 weeks before the end of the warranty from the 1st set changed. Of course, BMW could have been feeding me fake news

 

[ChazzyB]

Interesting tip below to add on to the Anti seize, credit to the gent

Hmm, graphite. I wonder how hot the exhaust after the cat gets? Possibly not hot enough to oxidise graphite, especially as it's not exactly oxygen-rich in the exhaust.