Help ! it's dropped a pot !

[Klanger74]

Hello All,

Recently bought a 04 GS 1200 from a friend, who I've known for years (and I'm pretty sure is a member of this forum)

Anyway - he wasn't using it, so I'm now putting it to much better use (about 2000m since mid Feb) - apart from the usual grumblings about the standard screen (I'll sort that later) coming home last week it dropped a pot.

- it only wants to run on one (the left) at low revs, it happened going round a roundabout about a mile from home and it limped back without too much drama - I'd thought it was a little bit rough a couple of days before, ignored it, and it cleared up...

Since then I've had all 4 plugs out, cleaned and gapped them (I know the pains manual says I shouldn't...) and checked out the HT side which all seems to be fine....

Still won't run at low revs.

I've got the right hand injector out and in a bath of redex tonight, and I'm going to blow it out with a bit of air tomorrow to see if that helps.

Short of getting it to a dealer with a set of BMW diagnostics, does anybody know if there's a way to check the idle control valve ? (looks like a little servo sitting on top of the throttle body)

Or has anybody got any other thoughts that might help ?




At the minute I'm reduced to sitting in traffic with all the other 1000's of tin boxes, and it's not improving my sense of humour !

 

[oblertone]

Have you ...

... lifted the tank for any reason ?

 

[elevensies]

tank lifted, my thought too

 

[joness7]

Lower coils

I had a very similar problem on my '06. It was the lower coils as apparently they aren't as waterproofed as they should be.

Try swapping the lower coils and see if your problem swaps sides. If it does, replace.

 

[Wapping]

Assuming it ran OK for the first two months in your hands...and you haven't lifted the tank.... or fiddled with the throttle adjustment.....

Swap the coils over, first.... then, come back

 

[xjrjason]

Being a noob ... whats the story with lifting the tank?

(sorry to hi-jack the thread a little)

 

[Steptoe]

Being a noob ... whats the story with lifting the tank?

(sorry to hi-jack the thread a little)

Only applies to the 1100 and 1150 models.

 

[Demongroover]

I had the same fault recently.
Tried swapping stuff over and in the end it had a coil which cured the fault.

 

[oblertone]

Well ...

Only applies to the 1100 and 1150 models.

... I did wonder about that

ps - For those that asked, lifting the tank on 11** often slightly dislodges the throttle cable on the right hand side, which makes the bike run like a dog.

 

[Klanger74]

... lifted the tank for any reason ?

Thanks for the info / thoughts everyone, the 'swap stuff over' approach occurred to me too.

Had the tank cover off early on to remove a GPS mount, but it's done about 2000m since then so not sure if this is the root cause, but it's a good thought so I'll check it out.

I've cleaned the injector (or at least tried to) so that'll be the first thing back in, and even though the coils all checked out yesterday (it appears to be getting a spark from both plugs) - they're easy - so I'll swap them over too.

If that doesn't nail it I'll swap the idle control valve.

I'll let you know how it goes later tonight !

 

[Boxergs]

I had similar symptoms on my 1150. Turned out to be ht lead arcing onto cylinder...could see it in the dark but in daylight not visible

 

[Klanger74]

I had similar symptoms on my 1150. Turned out to be ht lead arcing onto cylinder...could see it in the dark but in daylight not visible

Injector replaced & swapped, all 4 coils swapped, Idle control valves swapped and throttle cables checked for free movement.

No progress yet....

Hmmm
Think the next step may be to get the compression tester on it - hopefully I'll be able to get it to fit without too much hassle.

 

[Timolgra]

RH cylinder on a 1200...

 

[Sooty09]

My friend bought a new R1200RT, on our first outing in the wet it lost power and eventually went onto one cylinder. It was Rescued to Robson's of York who did not start it for 4 days after sitting in a dry workshop, no problems its fine was the report. (0/10 Robson's)
Due to working overseas it was not run in heavy rain again until we were in Scotland over easter. On the final day in heavy rain it failed again. My friend lost interest and confidence in the bike, especially as we are touring Europe this May. He has chipped it in for a new R1200GSA, I do hope this dose not have similar problems.
We still have no idea what the problem was and the dealers seem reluctant to find the cause.

 

[Klanger74]

RH cylinder on a 1200...

Uh Oh...

I don't like that very much

Don't tell me these things starve the RH cylinder of oil if they're left to warm up on the side stand like the RD400 used to ?

Surely BMW haven't pulled that hilarious little jape ?

 

[Decster]

Uh Oh...

I don't like that very much

Don't tell me these things starve the RH cylinder of oil if they're left to warm up on the side stand like the RD400 used to ?

Surely BMW haven't pulled that hilarious little jape ?

do a search on here about 1200 RH cylinders and pray that yours is not one of them...

 

[Klanger74]

do a search on here about 1200 RH cylinders and pray that yours is not one of them...

Hmmm

Compression appears to be Ok (as far as I can tell from putting it in top and turning it over by hand), both pots [1 plug out of the other side] feel like they've both got similar compression - bit rough, but my tester's got the wrong sodding thread....

Anyway - swapped plugs left to right too, and it's still just the same, when they cam out they were as black and sooty as hell, so it's getting fuel...

So, appears to have fuel, a spark and compression - but it won't fire. Any history of ECU failures on these engines ? - Without and ECU warning light that is...

Sodding thing!

It's in need of a service, so I'll get on to Motobins tomorrow and order all that lot, but short of getting it to a main dealer (and main dealer rates) any body know a good independant near Bolton (North Manchester) ?

Hmmm

 

[Klanger74]

Ah ha ! Eureka moment.

While the cable to the right hand throttle is nice and free, and all running nicely - the throttle body it's self has seized up...

Quick service tomorrow, and hopefully it'll be right...

 

[bsogri]

rh cylinder

try setting valve clearances as this would make it lose power and stop it firing

 

[Snoopy]

Ah ha ! Eureka moment.

While the cable to the right hand throttle is nice and free, and all running nicely - the throttle body it's self has seized up...

Quick service tomorrow, and hopefully it'll be right...

If the cable is moving how has it seized given it usually pulls on the lever that makes the round bit move, or am I missing something?