Poor running down to 1

[Jiffy176]

Suggestions please.
Riding to work this morning bike had intermittent cut out on left cylinder which then stopped altogether.

When I got to work pulled left plug ticking heard but no change in poor running.
Pulled right plug bike died, so problem is on the left.

Put right plug in, left out, bike runs on the one however as I open throttle it is like throttle cable is stuck. It revs straight to 3k and is slow to drop to tick over

The rev counter is working normally.
Any suggestions.
I thought it could me coil.
Any help welcome.

 

[Fanum]

Swap the Right hand coil plug for the left hand one and see if the problem changes sides

 

[Jiffy176]

Do they just pull off. Not done these before?
Thanks
Jiff

 

[Fanum]

Do they just pull off. Not done these before?
Thanks
Jiff

Yes.....Remove the plastic covers (unclip from one end, don't just yank)
Lever the coil pack out of the tunnel with the official BMW tool that you lost the day after you got the bike, or two tyre levers or basically a pair of anything with a bluntish flat end.

disconnect the wire from the cap (carefully, there's a fairly small clip to push in to release the plug)

Swap them around, replace.

You may well find when you pull the left one out that it's swollen and has rust around the seam......that'll make it very obvious that it's dead

 

[Jiffy176]

Ok rode home. It transpires the butterfly on the RH throttle body is sticking.
Was ok when cold . As soon as the bike got warm sit started sticking.
Any ideas. They were reconditioned by Vern a couple of years ago due to worn butterfly's and were fine until today.
Don't think it is the cable as when I open the throttle and release the slack appears on the cable?
Cheers. Jiff.

 

[Fanum]

Ok rode home. It transpires the butterfly on the RH throttle body is sticking.
Was ok when cold . As soon as the bike got warm sit started sticking.
Any ideas. They were reconditioned by Vern a couple of years ago due to worn butterfly's and were fine until today.
Don't think it is the cable as when I open the throttle and release the slack appears on the cable?
Cheers. Jiff.

Vern operates a lifetime warranty on everything he does........just turn up at his gaff nice and early (he starts at 6, so if you can catch him at around that sort of time, he should be able to squeeze you in before his other stuff) ...if he's not visible, bang loudly on his door, the poor love's getting on a bit now, ya know, he's a bit mutton.......bang loudly enough though and he's bound to show his perky little face and help you out








Alternatively, take a toothbrush and some paraffin/petrol mix or brake cleaner etc, get stuck right in there and give it a good clean out then spray it all with WD40



The first recourse (going back to that chummy idler Vern) will be far more fun though......he's full of banter and jolly witticisms, so please make sure you have your camera vid phone on so we can all appreciate the gems of wisdom that he comes out with

 

[Jiffy176]

Unfortunately I live the wrong end of the country from Vern so would be a take off and post.
Might try the petrol option first. Failing that will take them off and stick them in the post. Shame. The visit sounded like fun. Mind you wouldn't fancy the ride up as it. It's like riding the the throttle cable dislodged all the time. Right pig.
Still could have been worse.
Thanks for you help Fanum.
Jiff.

 

[Fanum]

Just to clarify........do you really mean that the butterfly valve in the LH throttle body is sticking (it's the oval disc inside the throttle body) or is it the cam mechanism outside the TB which is pulled open by the throttle cable (and is directly linked to the butterfly valve)

All of the moving parts on the outside can be attacked with a toothbrush, petrol/brake cleaner and a bit of scrubbing......the actual butterfly valve is unlikely to get 'stuck'

 

[Jiffy176]

You are right. Bit on the outside.
I've given it a go with petrol & wd40 but hard to get at with it on.
Will leave over night, see what it is like in am and if not take off.
First third is better just sticks on full and ¾.
Cheers.

 

[MikeO]

You are right. Bit on the outside.
I've given it a go with petrol & wd40 but hard to get at with it on.
Will leave over night, see what it is like in am and if not take off.
First third is better just sticks on full and ¾.
Cheers.

So it's sticking open, rather than closed?

 

[Fanum]

You are right. Bit on the outside.
I've given it a go with petrol & wd40 but hard to get at with it on.
Will leave over night, see what it is like in am and if not take off.
First third is better just sticks on full and ¾.
Cheers.

Sounds like cable fraying it the sleeve then, to me.
Unhook the throttle cable then manually operate the TB cam......I bet it opens smoothly and snaps shut well........if not, you know where to look, but if it does work well without the cable attached, then it's cable change time

 

[Jiffy176]

I think it's a bit of both cam not snapping as quick as it could but worse with cable attached, like it gets stuck half way.
Looks like a set of cables then?
That'll be a fun job! Not.
Is there anywhere else better than motorworks to buy them from?

 

[MattW]

Always worth trying a dealer - their prices can sometimes beat the usual suspects.

 

[Steptoe]

Am i missing something ? What model of bike 1100 or 1150. And what year...........................................

 

[Jiffy176]

2001 1150gs.
This morning when cold all works fine.
I think I will run the bike up to temp later and see if it starts sticking again.
Both cables and butterfly mechanism cracking back as they should. Cables feel smooth

Confused?

 

[Steptoe]

Now we know what model you have we can discount some confusing advice - like that below. You don't have coil caps/plugs on your model.

Swap the Right hand coil plug for the left hand one and see if the problem changes sides

Do they just pull off. Not done these before?
Thanks
Jiff

Swap the Right hand coil plug for the left hand one and see if the problem changes sides

Do they just pull off. Not done these before?
Thanks
Jiff

Yes.....Remove the plastic covers (unclip from one end, don't just yank)
Lever the coil pack out of the tunnel with the official BMW tool that you lost the day after you got the bike, or two tyre levers or basically a pair of anything with a bluntish flat end.

disconnect the wire from the cap (carefully, there's a fairly small clip to push in to release the plug)

Swap them around, replace.

You may well find when you pull the left one out that it's swollen and has rust around the seam......that'll make it very obvious that it's dead

I'll state the the obvious - If the throttle is sticking only on one side then it must be the throttle body or the cable for that side.
If the throttle body is sticking only when it's hot then it must be the throttle body. Frayed cables hang-up no matter what the engine temperature.
When it's sticking ping off the small silver cap that covers the throttle spindle and see if that's clean underneth, or frees it up .

 

[Jiffy176]

Ok run up to temp and TB started to stick again.
Took the silver cap off. The whole TB is still really clean from when they were refurbed. Tried to gently tap the brass spindle and this helped and sprung back as it should. However I put it back on bike and it started to stick again, the cable is running fine and pings back when the TB doesn't.
Replaced the silver cap and this made it stick even worse.
All really clean inside.

Really odd as they have never done it before all looks clean around the spring too.