Help needed - Broken down

[muddypuddles]

Hi. After some mechanical help please as currently broken down in Uberlingen, S. Germany. I returned to pick up my 05 1150 gsa having left it with a friend at the end of June and as I feared she now won't start. The battery was charged a few times over the months I was away apparently and the bike started but not for a few weeks at least. I must have tried cranking the bike 30 or so times over the past 48 hours and up until yesterday evening the starter motor was whirring but producing no cough from the engine to indicate it was coming to life. Battery fully charged over night and even tried jumping it with a 12 volt car battery. However theres a chance that the starter motor now is shod as all I get when firing the ignition switch is a click. When I cease pressing the ignition switch the electrics do their familiar whir but that's all?

There is a BMW dealer about 20km away in Stockach who charge €140 for just collection and can't do anything till monday. Any suggestions for fault finding along with independent BMW dealers in the Uberlingen area would be much appreciated. First time the bike has truly broken down but admittedly she is getting her own back on me for leaving her for a few months.

Thanks!

 

[Timolgra]

Have you checked the plugs for fouling, are they sparking as you crank it, is there fuel in the bike ...... that's a start.

 

[muddypuddles]

Thanks for your quick post! Fuel yes. Not much but enough and unlikely to be stale. Removed the side spark plug pullers and tested- yes both producing spark. Cant physically remove the deep side sparks as without the puller tool so need to pick that up and will inspect the sparks below. Got a bad feeling it's the starter motor. Just makes a loud click when pressing the starter button!? Thanks

 

[Timolgra]

Cant physically remove the deep side sparks as without the puller tool so need to pick that up and will inspect the sparks below.


Got a bad feeling it's the starter motor. Just makes a loud click when pressing the starter button!? Thanks

If you mean the coil sticks on each upper spark plug you can remove those by carefully using two screwdrivers or something similar.

If there's not much fuel in it (is the fuel light on when on the centre stand?) lay the bike on it's RH side to get all the fuel to the pump.

Was it spinning the engine normally at first when you tried?
Yes it could be the starter but first make sure you have a good battery before trying again.

Try swopping relays 6 and 7 around to see if there's any change

 

[Slipperyeel]

If you think its the starter then take it off and check the internals. It's easier than getting to the battery! The link below was forwarded to me just 2 weeks ago when i was stuck and was a huge help as that flippin grease plate had stuck itself to the armature. But yours could be the magnets? This all depends if it is the stater of course! Has the tank been off? They're was a post on here just a few hays ago about fuel lines not being connected properly and consequent causing a problem?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207984

I'd also suggest getting more fuel into it if it's that low...

Keep us posted.

 

[muddypuddles]

Guys thanks so much for your posts. Been quite an afternoon or trying to use my limited mechanical skills and german to communicate the problem. After taking the tank off to look at the battery realised the Allen key securing the positive terminal clamp in place was burred so needs drilling! One of us also managed to get burnt trying to take the cover off the starter motor - was fairly dramatic but fortunately nothing permanent. Anyway loaded her into the back of a trailer and with a local mechanic so will let you know if they are worth recommending and keep you updated on the fault. Slipperyeel reckon you are right - the starter internals are naffed. Update to come. Hopefully be on my way back next week! Thanks all.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Starter motor almost certainly....easy to get in and out...borrow a good one and see?

 

[Slipperyeel]

I owe my own thanks to people on here who were great feeding me with ideas and suggestions, most of which were right . Combined with the entertainment, this site is superb.

Good luck and let us know how things go. I'll be passing just by Überlingen on Sunday as I head to stuttgart before the last hop home.

 

[ahebron]

I owe my own thanks to people on here who were great feeding me with ideas and suggestions, most of which were right . Combined with the entertainment, this site is superb.

Good luck and let us know how things go. I'll be passing just by Überlingen on Sunday as I head to stuttgart before the last hop home.

Why are you hopping through Germany?
I would have thought riding the bike would be easier

Adrian

 

[Slipperyeel]

Why are you hopping through Germany?
I would have thought riding the bike would be easier

Adrian

I dropped a spanner on my foot. Bike will be under one arm, luggage under the other

Sadly I won't have time to take a nice route back on Monday. Tight timetable

 

[muddypuddles]

Slipperyeel, feel free to drop by Sunday if you've time. Can PM you details. Otherwise happy hopping!! Off to the black forest today by car fortunately. Cheers.

 

[muddypuddles]

Jeez. Problems going from bad to potentially disastrous. New valeo starter motor fitted. Battery ok but alternator possibly fecked- will go into further detail later.

Fortunately have a spare alternator along with coil plug and sparks sitting back in England which will post over. Can anyone recommend an affordable rapid international courier service?

Combined weight is going to be around 6kg.

Much obliged. Taking the bicycle or train next time!

 

[MikeO]

6kg 30x20x20 package looks to be about £50 for an express delivery, or £16-22ish for a three or four day delivery

Interparcel

Parcel2Go

 

[Slipperyeel]

Sorry the trouble seems to be growing, but why would the alternator affect starting if the battery is in good nick? Sure your advise is good? But maybe I'm missing something!

Weather not looking good for tomorrow's leg. But if that changes and I'm ahead of schedule I'll gladly make a detour and share a coffee to discuss some mechanics. Will send a pm with my number.

 

[muddypuddles]

Mike O thanks for the courier suggestion. Ended up going with DHL - £65 quid express delivery for 5.5kg package of those approx dimensions so not too bad.

Slippereel - thanks but don't make a detour on my behalf. Stick with your route but if you decide to pass by then do stop by for a brew. Be good to meet you.

The mechanic gave me a call today and said drop in as he had some bad news so did so. Bike was up on the bench with the new starter motor fitted and working. It was the original starter motor and indeed the magnets had gone.

Next concern was the engine oil level. We drained it out and 3 litres came out. A litre and bit short. No sign of leak from sump plug. The last oil and filter change was back in the UK before setting off to Romania. The bike was running perfectly for the whole trip, never missing a beat or not starting and i topped up on oil as i went. However i think she must have been guzzling more than i realised and i find the sight glass to be an unreliable indication as to the level so as usual didn't pay too much attention to it. Like I said no problems, left her in Germany returned few months later and here we are!!

He pressure tested the left (foot clutch side) cylinder which indicated 5 bars of pressure and the other other one 7 bars. Healthy range is 9-12 im informed so not good. Plus he seems to think there is an alarming noise coming from rear brake side cylinder. To be honest I suspected something before I left. Demonstrated it on cranking. Faint tapping maybe?

Alternator is the next step in the starting problem elimination procedure list along with replacing the coil plugs. Fortunately I picked up a spare so that can be fitted weds/Thurs next week when it gets here.

Perhaps she will start. Perhaps not!? Either way it's an expensive lesson. Will keep you updated for mechanical / comedy value all the same. Cheers again!

 

[mspenz]

Man, I feel for you, hope it all works out...

 

[ahebron]

.......The bike was running perfectly for the whole trip, never missing a beat or not starting and i topped up on oil as i went. However i think she must have been guzzling more than i realised and i find the sight glass to be an unreliable indication as to the level so as usual didn't pay too much attention to it. .....

Feeling your pain Adventure27 and yes it is getting funnier by the day.
But I am having a bit of trouble with your statement that the sigh tglass is an unreliable indication of oil level. Unless the glass is caked with baked on oil I find it the most reliable and idiot proof way to check oil level. It is what it says it is, if you see no oil then the engine needs oil if you see oil covering the whole glass then there is too much oil. As long as you read the level under similar conditions everytime it cannot fail.
Good luck with your mission.

Adrian

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Me too I find it fine, but you have to stick to the same routine EVERY time

My way

At the end of the ride

10-20 mins on side stand

Then onto centre stand

Leave overnight

Check in the morning

 

[Flipfly]

I find the bacon butty routine to be most effective. Out early, stop for bacon sarnie and check upon return, sometimes I have found that eating 2 gives the bike enough time to drop the oil into the sight glass

 

[DrFarkoff]

Just get it back making sure its running "Okay" and bring it back home

The park it on the sidestand when hot THEN centrestand after 15 mins will give you a better indication as it allows a fair bit of the 3/4 litre (ish) oil to syphon down from the oil cooler

So If you didn't park it on sidestand last time when it was hot you have app 3/4 litre still in the oil cooler

Is the oil capacity not 3.8 litre inc filter??

German Spanner jockeys are even MORE fussy than me and thats saying something