How far without alternator belt?

[G5RJO]

I know.....

31 miles.....

08GSA 50k miles. Belt been on for about 14k.

Slap slap noise emanates from under the front cover swiftly followed by red triangle of death and a battery symbol.

All ok for a while as I dashed to nearest relatives place, shortly after 20 miles headlamp drops out, no indicators, ABS drops out and death was imminent.

Just managed to limp it to a relative's place where it died.

Thankfully just the belt and not a seized alternator.

The 60 odd mile ride in the RAC truck was slow but effective...

It's worth pulling the cover to check your belt each service guys. That one will leave you stranded. It's only 2 mins to check, 5 bolts and the cover WILL come off without removing crash bars.

Replaced belt, jump started it and have put a few miles on to recharge the battery, hopefully that's sorted it.

I'll probably keep a spare under the seat it's a pretty easy DIY fit....

Roger.

 

[mrjim130]

Belt change now recomended @ 24K down from 30k. I think you can put it down to bad luck.

 

[drinkingparrot]

Good luck fitting one without damaging the belt, and make sure it's a stretchy belt and not a cheap non BMW replacement that rips when you try forcing it over the pulley

 

[Bendy toy]

If the flat battery wont accept a charge, dont scrap it just yet. Though if its old you might choose to chuck it anyway.

A 12V lead acid battery taken below about 9.5 volts suffers a permanent chemical change in the plates. They usually wont recover on a normal charge cycle. But if its simply been discharged too much an Optimate (or other) conditioning charger with a battery recovery function will kick it into taking a charge.

My Optimate saved a 12V gel battery that had been discharged to zero by a caravan tracker/alarm system. It went on as a mower start battery for a year and would have lasted a lot longer but for the vibration.

Anyone with a Ballistic battery would be stuffed. Their website says they are scrap if taken down too low (e.g. by a busted generator belt). If you have one of these (as I plan to do) dont attempt to ride home with a broken alternator belt.

 

[G5RJO]

it was a genuine BMW belt, as is the one that went on today.

It had failed in a very strange way, one row of grooves had ripped away over half the circumference, I think that the exposed ends had pulled it off the pulleys,.

The only thing I can think is that I put it on misaligned by one groove causing it to wear and fail, who knows..

It certainly wasnt damaged when installing it..

Roger.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

If you'd turned the headlight off you would have gained a few miles.

 

[Bendy toy]

My headlight is on all the time.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

There is a way of turning it off. On some newer models (can't remember which years) it comes straight back on. But the earlier models it works just fine

 

[Seatownmaster]

Er!

 

[(RIP) Miff]

http://www.r1200gs.info/misc/tricks.html

It can also be done with the engine running...

 

[Sooty09]

Take the bulb out, 30 second job.
Make sure you don't catch your expensive gortex trousers on the exhaust while reaching in, I did £3.50 bulb and £220 for trousers.

Never had a headlamp bulb fail in 10000s of miles on old Triumphs and Nortons. Our BMWs both F800 and R1200 series eat bulbs, mainly during the start up diagnostic check.

 

[Magwych]

From 08 onwards the head light comes back on as soon as a wheel starts to rotate.

One could just disconnect the headlight at the connector.

 

[GrinningGSer]

You can turn the headlight off, but it comes back on again as soon as the abs unit senses rear wheel rotation. Me thinks you'll need to re think that idea
Edit: beaten to it by Magwych, but also applies to 07's and perhaps all of the bunch, or perhaps only the ones with ABS ?

 

[(RIP) Miff]

On my 2005 WITH ABS, once off, the light stays off.

 

[Bendy toy]

From 08 onwards the head light comes back on as soon as a wheel starts to rotate.

One could just disconnect the headlight at the connector.

Or fit a handlebar switch and relay.

 

[Dellis]

Or fit a handlebar switch and relay.

Not that easy - enter canbus

Dave

 

[Pukmeister]

I recently replaced my belt due to noise, it was full of tiny flint chippings in the rubber grooves. Perhaps yours had the same, causing failure?

 

[Wreford Miles]

Not on a GS or a belt but it is GS and alternator related....

Towing my GS back from the Cambrian a few years back the Alternator went on my Jeep just outside Newport - it was October late afternoon and I had to get back to StAlbans 150miles 'ish I guess.

I avoided using lights until it became to dangerous and on the final leg f the M25 the warning lights started coming on until I had the full set glowing away.

My bike was kept in a lock up garage so I could not go straight home so I left it running as I quickly unloaded the bike and the gear and when it was all done it gave in and stopped!

The AA arrived in 10 mins gave me a boost to get it started so I could drive home... The next day Jump leads got it going again and I drove it few miles for a new alternator.

The cars now done 135k and its still on the same battery, I love that battery it hung in there when I needed it to get me home