Help with the synchronisation of carbs/throttle

[sburny]

Some advice if poss ( 2006 R1200GSA )
The locking nut on the throttle cable adjuster on the top of my O/S carb came undone, according to my workshop manual this is the adjuster that synchronises the throttles????? My main dealer is telling me that when the synchonisation is carried out at the service, it is all done electronically and the throttle adjusters are set at the factory and if any further adjustment is required it will attract a further charge.
My query is;
How can they synchronise the carbs if the throttle adjuster is all out of sync, surely this must be covered and if these adjusters are set at the factory then why are they not sealed with loctite etc.

 

[EasySushi]

Some advice if poss ( 2006 R1200GSA )
The locking nut on the throttle cable adjuster on the top of my O/S carb came undone, according to my workshop manual this is the adjuster that synchronises the throttles????? My main dealer is telling me that when the synchonisation is carried out at the service, it is all done electronically and the throttle adjusters are set at the factory and if any further adjustment is required it will attract a further charge.
My query is;
How can they synchronise the carbs if the throttle adjuster is all out of sync, surely this must be covered and if these adjusters are set at the factory then why are they not sealed with loctite etc.

Your main dealer is talking B******s,

You sync the throttles as you have mentioned, I use my Twinmax, and a couple of spanners


Ty

 

[Big Lee]

For a kick off theres no carbs on your bike, it fuel injected and heres how to sync your bodies http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231335

 

[sburny]

Thanks Matt.
I know very little about synchronising the carbs but it doesn't sound like what you have descibed will be covered in the service, you don't get a lot these days for passing over £300 to the main dealer.

 

[Pukmeister]

Big air screws on a 1200 ?? Really ???

The idle air is controlled by stepper motors. The stepper motors are 'driven' by the bikes electronics.

The throttle bodies are synchronised by adjusting the throttle cables to balance the butterflies. This has to be done at a point well above idle so that the idle steppers are no longer active. Say 4000 - 4500 rpm.

The dealer can use their diagnostic computer (GT1) to 'park' the idle steppers which then allows them to mechanically adjust the throttle synch at low RPM without interference from the idle steppers.

I adjust mine by using a 'Carbtune 2' gauge above 4000 rpm. Be warned that the adjustments are typically very small to get perfect balance, don't go swinging off the adjusting screws. Be sure to recheck balance once you tighten the locknut.

Do not unplug the power lead for your idle steppers or you will throw up an error code in the bikes memory.

 

[MattW]

Oops - thinking of 11** - disregard wot I said

 

[sburny]

Thank Lee for point that out to me and thanks for the link

 

[sburny]

Thanks Pukmeister.
You obviously know what you are doing.
The service schedule, mentions synchronisation. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to work out that if you have two 600cc pistons running out of ballance, that the bike will not run well.
What has happened on my bike is the locking nut on the throttle cable adjuster at the (for want of a better explaination) carb end of the cable has come undone and the bike runs like a bag of nuts and bolts. I was led to believe ( rightly or wrongly ) that part of the adjustment for the synchronising would possibly require the adjustment of this locking nut. BMW want to charge me half an hours labour charge for investigating this loose locking nut, where I believe it should be all part of the synchronising process.
Really what I want to know is am I being ripped off or not, if not I'm happy to pay but I really do feel I'm being charged twice for this job.
Thank to all who have posted.

 

[Womble]

That description makes a lot more sense and would lead to the bike running roughly off idle.

When was the bike last serviced - if it wasn't long ago, it's very possible that they didn't do up the locknut and that's why it is now out of sync.

For the price of half an hour's labour, you could buy a Carbtune and do it yourself.

 

[Pukmeister]

I see you are in Plymouth.

Ocean BMW perhaps? I have read about their ' best UK dealer' reputation in Bike/Ride magazine (salt, one in number, large pinch of).

The last time my bike ran rough after a service I took it to my local dealer (Then named SPC) and they did the throttle synch for nowt, nada, zilch and it ran beautifully. It took the mechanic about five minutes to diagnose and adjust.

IMHO either they are very busy at the moment so they are charging you for this five minute job, or you need to find another dealer (or you could buy the synchronising tool/make your own manometer and do it yourself).

 

[Steptoe]

but it doesn't sound like what you have descibed will be covered in the service,

It is part of the service schedule.

 

[John Armstrong]

It is part of the service schedule.

Every 6k etc service according to:

http://www.bmwgsclub.nl/schematics/R1200GS-Maintenance-Schedules.pdf

"Check synchronisation of throttle valve cables" Whether this is a check of the synchronisation of the throttle though, I don't know.