Good evening fellow enthusiasts. Oh dear, frustration abounds.
Having very recently returned to GS ownership, with a, new to me, yellow final edition, I embarked on some poking around, and checking up on the bike.
It has good BMW service history until about 9 years ago, then independant and owner serviced it would seem.
Not having had a battery since 2013 I took the battery off and to a local bike parts supplier. He used his Yuasa battery checker that ran a simulated start up procedure,
that eventually flagged up 'Replace battery'. Not surprising after 11 years. OK, new battery in hand, off we jolly well toddle.
Decided at this point to fit a Gerber heated clothing lead to allow my heated bodywarmer and gloves to be used on the bike. Optimate charging lead already on the bike. Fitted a USB lead too,
to allow Iphone charging when using the phone as a satnav. Came with HID spotlights too, already fitted to the crash bars.
So, pretty crowded around the battery terminal area, and pretty fiddly too for a 57 year old whose eyes see things a whole lot better 1/2 a mile away than 3 feet away.
Won't be getting away with Home Bargains 1.50 reading glasses for much longer I can tell you.
So, thinking I could just attach the Gerber lead to the wiring of the accessory socket I managed to ground the sockets positive feed to the frame, not knowing it was live at the time. ( thought it was dead with ignition off ).
Just a quick flash though, enough to make me jump. Anyhow, though better of it, and instead attached it to the battery, with all the other terminals required for the aforesaid.
Everything back together, HID lights work, all ok it seems until I try and start the bike, and no fuel pump noise.
How strange. Check sidestand isn't down and its not. Check sidestand switch operation and seems ok. Sidestand down and zero for the gearchange disappears from the RID, sidestand up and it reappears.
Hold on though, why isn't the 3 bars of petrol showing on the RID, like it did earlier either ??
Bugger bugger. Checked all the fuses and all bleep out ok on my multimeter. Swapped the horn relay for the fuel pump and also motronic relays but not a peep from the fuel pump.
Also, after operating the sidestand for the umpteenth time the clock reverts to 0000 ? What !!!!!
So here it is, Merry Xmas, everybody's having fun, (except me it would seem).
Fellow GS'ers, where do I go from here please ?
Is it something I have done that has caused this malady, or is it an unfortunate coincidence. I can use a multimeter, but am not a bike technician.
What can I check and how do I check it please ?
Any advice, no matter how spurious would be very much welcomed.
Sorry for such a long post, but reading about my tribulations is better than suffering them yourself, I know.
If you can shed any light showing where to head, I will be very grateful.
Here's hoping we can bottom it.
Monday beckons, and with it the promise of servitude, alleviated only by riding our bikes, ( if the fuel pump is working ).
Thank you for reading this missive.
Take care.
Duncan.
Having very recently returned to GS ownership, with a, new to me, yellow final edition, I embarked on some poking around, and checking up on the bike.
It has good BMW service history until about 9 years ago, then independant and owner serviced it would seem.
Not having had a battery since 2013 I took the battery off and to a local bike parts supplier. He used his Yuasa battery checker that ran a simulated start up procedure,
that eventually flagged up 'Replace battery'. Not surprising after 11 years. OK, new battery in hand, off we jolly well toddle.
Decided at this point to fit a Gerber heated clothing lead to allow my heated bodywarmer and gloves to be used on the bike. Optimate charging lead already on the bike. Fitted a USB lead too,
to allow Iphone charging when using the phone as a satnav. Came with HID spotlights too, already fitted to the crash bars.
So, pretty crowded around the battery terminal area, and pretty fiddly too for a 57 year old whose eyes see things a whole lot better 1/2 a mile away than 3 feet away.
Won't be getting away with Home Bargains 1.50 reading glasses for much longer I can tell you.
So, thinking I could just attach the Gerber lead to the wiring of the accessory socket I managed to ground the sockets positive feed to the frame, not knowing it was live at the time. ( thought it was dead with ignition off ).
Just a quick flash though, enough to make me jump. Anyhow, though better of it, and instead attached it to the battery, with all the other terminals required for the aforesaid.
Everything back together, HID lights work, all ok it seems until I try and start the bike, and no fuel pump noise.
How strange. Check sidestand isn't down and its not. Check sidestand switch operation and seems ok. Sidestand down and zero for the gearchange disappears from the RID, sidestand up and it reappears.
Hold on though, why isn't the 3 bars of petrol showing on the RID, like it did earlier either ??
Bugger bugger. Checked all the fuses and all bleep out ok on my multimeter. Swapped the horn relay for the fuel pump and also motronic relays but not a peep from the fuel pump.
Also, after operating the sidestand for the umpteenth time the clock reverts to 0000 ? What !!!!!
So here it is, Merry Xmas, everybody's having fun, (except me it would seem).
Fellow GS'ers, where do I go from here please ?
Is it something I have done that has caused this malady, or is it an unfortunate coincidence. I can use a multimeter, but am not a bike technician.
What can I check and how do I check it please ?
Any advice, no matter how spurious would be very much welcomed.
Sorry for such a long post, but reading about my tribulations is better than suffering them yourself, I know.
If you can shed any light showing where to head, I will be very grateful.
Here's hoping we can bottom it.
Monday beckons, and with it the promise of servitude, alleviated only by riding our bikes, ( if the fuel pump is working ).
Thank you for reading this missive.
Take care.
Duncan.
