HELP!! Engine died on motorway

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Zed3

Zed3

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Location
Saddleworth, W.Yorkshire
05 R1200GS
Full Akrapovic system fitted
filled up with super un-leaded fuel 25 miles previous

Riding home late last night on M66 - Cruising at about 80, thought engine sounding just a touch rough, then big loss of power. Pulled clutch in and engine died immediately.

Coasted to hard shoulder. Tried to re-start. Engine turned over well and was trying to start but very lumpy and "asthmatic" sounding. Had a couple of tries and felt it wasn't going to start so called RAC.

20 mins later (pretty impressive:thumb) RAC guy turns up. Checks bike over with torch for any loose leads/sensors etc. Try starting and this time it fires up but running v.rough. He suggests seeing how far we get with him following.

Limp the 10 miles home with no improvement in bike's running. (if it had 4 cyckinders, I would have said it was only running on 3, or even 2!!). RAC man suggests it is probably a problem with fuelling linked to one of the many sensors and suggests visit to main dealer.

My nearest dealer is Williams in Manchester and have not had great experience with them (3 visits to sort out brake squeal - when I told them on first visit what the problem was. Replaced indicator switch under warranty which fell off after 2 miles cos they hadn't screwed it up properly...)

Anyway, question is anybody any idea what problem may be :nenau and also there did used to be a guy somewhere in Manchester area (Stretford?) that was a BMW trained mechanic - anyone know his phone number??
 
Sounds like the fuel pump controller, cost 70-80, there is a thread on Adventure rider on bypassing the controller as a get you home fix.

Good Luck

Shep
 
Zed3,
Saddleworth, W Yorks? I live over th'hill in Newhey, Lancs !!
Seriously, I have always dealt with Jeffries rather that the 'Manchester Car Dealer'
but if you want a good 'Independant Mechanic' try RGM 07976212903 Croston Lancs.
Good Luck

robfin
 
I havn't been happy with Jeffries I have gone to Williams. This shows how different people's experiences can be. :nenau
 
Have been in touch with Motorrad services in Manchester and he seems to think it sounds like a coil problem - will let you know when he has had a look.

Thanks for the info!:thumb2
 
if it is the coil(s) or fuel pump is it likely that running home for 10 miles will have done any further damage? - bike was sounding very rough by time I got home.
 
Zed3 said:
if it is the coil(s) or fuel pump is it likely that running home for 10 miles will have done any further damage? - bike was sounding very rough by time I got home.
Click to expand...

Who knows?

But i think its doubtful, the again if you've dropped a valve that may be a different story:eek:

Shep
 
Dont worry mate, they all do that.
Brilliant bikes arent they.
Mine cut out after 50 miles.
Dont worry Sir, they all do that sometimes. I guess thats ok then, sorry to have troubled you Mr BMW dealer.
 
BMW TEKKY said:
Dont worry mate, they all do that.
Brilliant bikes arent they.
Mine cut out after 50 miles.
Dont worry Sir, they all do that sometimes. I guess thats ok then, sorry to have troubled you Mr BMW dealer.
Click to expand...

OK gents - this is a technical section - please limit your comments to technical answers :thumb2
 
I had a similar issue last year - I had kicked a connector on the left hand throttle body when I rode off with the disc lock on.... Result was very lumpy, running, wouldn't rev etc. Fortunately I found it myself and was able to make an escape from my "audience". Worth checking.
 
All bikes have faults....dont make the mistake of throwing your GS keys in.
They really do get you hooked with time.....:aidan
 
Worst nightmare confirmed - Mitch has bike on diagnostics and fault is "Engine" - compression well down on one cylinder. Probably a valve - although having run it home for 10 miles I guess may well have done other damage. Mitch getting bike back and having a look today to cofirm fears.

Just wondering about what may have caused problem (assuming it is valve).

Bike has never been over-revved - majority of use since I acquired it last March has been 15 mile "commute" into Manchester and back each day plus a couple of trips to South Wales and one down to Ipswich last year. Have no proof but pretty sure the guy I bought it from (on this forum) did not appear to be a hooligan from looking at tyres, pegs etc.

Full Akrapovic race system fitted - might this have played any part?

Had just filled up (about 20 miles before problem) with super-unleaded fuel. The first time I had ever used this in the bike cos station was out of normal unleaded.

Had had an intermittent problem over the past month or so when maybe once a week or so the bike was running a bit rough (technical term!) and the revs weren't dropping immediately on pulling up at lights etc. But this usually cleared itself either during the journey or by the next day.

Anybody any pearls of wisdom on causes/likelihood of happening again?

Bike now 8 moths out of warranty - any point having a whinge at BMW?
 
Always worth checking with BMW as they may come up with some goodwill. You may have to do the work in their workshop though:eek:
 
Still searching for answers here!

only possibilities seem to be that:

1. Engine has been over-revved - it hasn't. I've never even hit the rev limiter and the majority of riding has been commuting (30 mile round trip) and a couple of longish trips in the UK.

2. Full Akrapovic system has in some way contributed. Even if exhaust system did affect the fuelling, shouldn't the lambda sensor etc adjust the mixture accordingly. And Akrapovic is the only BMW approved after-market exhaust so aurely they must have teted it.

3. Valve clearances wrongly adjusted. Bike has full BM service history. Last service at Williams, Manchester July 2007. Unlikely but I guess it is possible.

4. Component failure..?


:confused: Anyone out there any other ideas?

Anyone heard of similar problems with any other GS? a search of this forum has thrown up a couple of similar failures (both at around 15000 miles and 2.5 years old) - but probably down to timing chain failure.

Any thoughts gratefully received
 
Zed3 said:
Still searching for answers here!

1. Engine has been over-revved - it hasn't. I've never even hit the rev limiter and the majority of riding has been commuting (30 mile round trip) and a couple of longish trips in the UK.
Click to expand...

It dosn't need to hit the limiter to over rev, just needs a bodged down shift the tangle the valves:thumb

Good luck

Shep
 
worth a go at bmw - i know they sort problems out of warranty if its something that shouldnt have failed with normal use -

as im in Rochdale i agree about Williams - keep away.

suggest you remove the exhaust system before trying the warranty card as
if i am reading you right and you have the race system - ie the twin stacked system - im not sure this is backed by bmw? might be wrong though!

A friend of mine took his 05 gs in as the final drive had packed up . Bmw replaced this f.o.c as a good will gesture -
alternatively - part ex it as Williams - give those feckers the problem:augie
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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