R1150GSA Hall Sensor Failure

[Womble]

Running for any length of time with a non functioning stick coil will lead to the wiring supplying the stick coil to catch fire.

Before I start to feel guilty and set up a beer and coil stick fund for DitchWater, it sounds like the original problem was a non functioning coil and that's what led to the burning smell on the ferry. Is that correct?

Is there any problem running the bike without a secondary coil at all? As far as I was aware, that part of the circuit is low voltage and shouldn't be affected by being disconnected, but if I'm wrong, I think I may be owing DitchWater a few pints

 

[Womble]

My newly replaced HES has failed according to Goya Motorrad and they are currently trying to fit another new one and repair the burnt wiring for my LHS coils stick.

This I left Zaragoza and 40miles down the road to Llueda the bike died again with the rev counter flapping and the fuelling gone to pot. I was then recovered back to Zaragoza.

They have tried to explain to me that the fact I was only running three sparks hass killed the HES because the ECU doesn't know what's happening with the performance of the engine.
I was not expecting that and had read here that a bike would run in this condition.

Does anyone know if it's okay to run a twin spark without a stick coil connected?

What a day!

Hotel Zaragoza - you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!

I'm with MattW on this, Hall sensors just send an on/off signal, they're not going to break because you have stick coil problems.

I wonder if you still had a short in the wiring on the dodgy side, in which case that could cause ECU problems?

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Running for any length of time with a non functioning stick coil will lead to the wiring supplying the stick coil to catch fire.

Correct. This did happen but I didn't know it had happened. When I left Santander I never noticed any problems and it was only by the afternoon on the following day did I begin to detect an problem and everything went downhill from there.

Edit: steppers has indeed answered your questions

He was right. The cable had been on fire.

Before I start to feel guilty and set up a beer and coil stick fund for DitchWater, it sounds like the original problem was a non functioning coil and that's what led to the burning smell on the ferry. Is that correct?

Correct.

It is LV but the cable had been on fire. When I get home and write my lengthy RR you will be able to see the pictures I took with my phone.

Hotel Zaragoza - you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!

I'm with MattW on this, Hall sensors just send an on/off signal, they're not going to break because you have stick coil problems.

I wonder if you still had a short in the wiring on the dodgy side, in which case that could cause ECU problems?

I agree but as you point out, there could still be a short but the Goya Motorrad mechanics soldered on a new connector end without checking the complete circuit.

I tried to tell them but it was difficult to explain the technical details and they were trying to get me out of there because it was late on Friday and they all want to get away for their weekends.

To be fair they did stay late and tried very hard to turn it around quickly after rejecting me on Thursday but this time the breakdown recovery driver explained that the RAC would have a couple of Tornado's do a low level flyby if they didn't start helping the stranded customer.

After a test ride I rejected the bike because the problem was still there and evently left Zaragoza in a hire car at 10:00hrs ECT and decided to get some kilometers in to head to Barcelona and make something of the trip so far: I'm now in Girona after another mega day trying to see something of Spain but I can't do all the details right now because since yesterday morning I've had over 36hrs of Tosser style "Trains, Planes and Automobiles". I'm keeping a journal so will relay my whoes later in the year.

I'm now in a posh hotel for a proper feed and a bottle of wine before bed and a decision about where to go tomorrow. The hotel I'm in was the only one I could actually find by chance because the hire car doesn't have a satnav. It's so much easier on a bike over here because you can stop anywhere to check your map or satnav, and park anywhere without any worries. Not that I've done it much but I have seen it. everywhere I've been so far.

Vive Espania.

 

[Steptoe]

He was right. The cable had been on fire.

Correct.

So common that BMW supply a repair section of cable for just such scenerios

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

So common that BMW supply a repair section of cable for just such scenerios

I've seen one of those now.

The update is that Goya Motorrad are still working on the bike and I get an day's extension of the hire car.

Now I can head back to the beach for the afternoon...

Adeu, as they in Catalunya.

 

[JackoUK]

Stick coil fire!

I've seen one of those now.

The update is that Goya Motorrad are still working on the bike and I get an day's extension of the hire car.

Now I can head back to the beach for the afternoon...

Adeu, as they in Catalunya.

Paul,
Good to hear you're getting somewhere now. FWIW, when my left side stick coil went, the only warning I got was the Transit driver on the A2 telling me the bike was on fire!! Looking down, I could see the situation and it was quite alarming. As you now know, the repair kit and the job itself is really easy, and, were it not for the "fire" I would've ridden home on the 2nd spark 'cos I felt no real drop in performance. Good luck with the rest of the trip,
JackoUK

 

[Den]

Just a thought. Neil, what do you think. A spare bit HT lead, one end into the secondary plug cap, other end onto main spark plug.

Oldish car plug leads with straight fit cap onto plug and t'other end (the end which would normally plug into distributor) would fit into secondary cap.

Having the wee plug not working wouldnt be noticed.

This would mean you could disconnect the wiring to the main plug and it wouldnt set fire to your shins.

Alternatively, one could look after ones stick coils, and carry a spare.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Paul,
Good to hear you're getting somewhere now. FWIW, when my left side stick coil went, the only warning I got was the Transit driver on the A2 telling me the bike was on fire!! Looking down, I could see the situation and it was quite alarming. As you now know, the repair kit and the job itself is really easy, and, were it not for the "fire" I would've ridden home on the 2nd spark 'cos I felt no real drop in performance. Good luck with the rest of the trip,
JackoUK

You know what Mate? The number of times I've had a whiff of something burning when on the road and looked at the bike and found nothing wrong is countless but this time it was my bike and about ten meters from customs in Santander.

Just a thought. Neil, what do you think. A spare bit HT lead, one end into the secondary plug cap, other end onto main spark plug.

Oldish car plug leads with straight fit cap onto plug and t'other end (the end which would normally plug into distributor) would fit into secondary cap.

Having the wee plug not working wouldnt be noticed.

This would mean you could disconnect the wiring to the main plug and it wouldnt set fire to your shins.

Alternatively, one could look after ones stick coils, and carry a spare.

Sounds like a plan Den but if your LV wiring to the stick coil has been on fire, and you didn't know I suspect something else will suffer: Which is probably what's happened to my bike (I don't have a wiring diagram with me to analyse the circuit and give some advise to Goya Motorrad).

Also, I have two spare stickcoils with me (one now fitted) but I couldn't detect a performance problem until the following afternoon when it began to dawn upon me what that smell was at the port. I thought it was a dying Hall Sensors because the sympotms said so and only found the stick coil burn-out once the HES was replaced with no improvement.

Retrospectively, it would have been a good idea to strip the bike down at the port (if you knew you had a problem) but I suspect this would not go down too well with the immigration authorities.
And another thing, I've been riding that bike through countless muddy puddles everyday to and from my previous abode because of the wet weather over there for the last three months and even though I thought "I should wash that bike", it would only have ended up filthy in five minutes.

What can you do but ride it?

PS. I may have a usable HES for your travellers spares kit.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Goya Motorrad have been on the phone to tell me that the bike is ready to be collected but they have explained that the ignition switch loom is intermittant and they cannot find the problem wire and I don't have a spare.

I should be back in Zaragoza tomorrow to return the car but there's a national fiesta and Goya will not be open until the day after. I wonder what will happen next?

 

[Packer]

When you went on holiday little did you realise that it would turn into an adventure.

Sadly of the wrong sort. Hope that you get it sorted, you can always take another holiday

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

you can always take another holiday[/QUOTE]

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ ?

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

When you went on holiday little did you realise that it would turn into an adventure.

Sadly of the wrong sort. Hope that you get it sorted, you can always take another holiday

Cheers Kevan. I was hoping for adventures of some description but not in this way. It will all get back on track over the next couple of days. In the mean time it's back to la playa tomorrow whilst the Spaniards have their religious fiesta (Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption of Mary)).
I'll be back to Zaragoza on Thursday to test the bike and hopefully ride it to somewhere else.

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ ?

Michael, it doesn't matter anymore. I've spent money already on getting the bike running (twice), and I have another bill to come but I just want to do what I came here to do and that is to tour Spain, Portugal, and get home through France by the first week in September. All I have to then is get my Yamaha in good trim for Spain (again) and Morocco in October with ABW Tours.

BTW, It seems there was some confusion over which wiring was the problem. I was told it was the ignition loom but I have since heard from Rac Europe that it had something to do with the fuel pump wiring shorting out. I did not notice anything on the exterior of the tank when I removed it to replace the HES assy so I'll just have to interrogate Goya Motorrad when I see them in a couple of days for the definite diagnosis.
They'd better be on their toes because they now know that I know my bike quite well after pointing at things to look at last Friday (e.g sidestand switch, stick coil wiring, secondary plug coils and tlelling them to get the GS911 connected an to ignore the position of the TBS). They did tell me to change my spark plus though and they were right: They were rusty after the months of rain and puddles I'd spashed through here and there and that doesn't include farm lanes or Peak District byways.

I'm looking forward to two wheels again on Thursday.

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

On this subject has anyone had any experience with the Greek ARCHON sensors on ebay,about half the price of anywhere else?

 

[Fanum]

On this subject has anyone had any experience with the Greek ARCHON sensors on ebay,about half the price of anywhere else?

Only spotted those the other day.
Purely a guess, but the HES is a pretty simple thing....two sensors (15 ish each) plus an OEM connector and a short loom (odd wre and sheathing though)

As long as the plate is accurately made up and the wiring is up to standard (Which the BMW stuff isn'tm they used the wrong stuff ) then I would guess they'll be fine.

I might well end up trying one if it looks like my long-running problem needs another HES to fix

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

Let me know how it goes and then I'll buy one! na think I'll get one and give it a go.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

On this subject has anyone had any experience with the Greek ARCHON sensors on ebay,about half the price of anywhere else?

Have to admit I just received one of these today - got as a spare for impending trip to Europe... first time in 30 years of biking I've ever even considered taking spare parts but reading recent posts I thought for £90 it's worth peace of mind. Looked at prices from Motorworks and thought they must be joking... who knows? But reckoned same as you Fanum - it's two fuppin sensors riveted to a plate plus a bit of wire and a plug (incidentally think plug might be wrong one it's the squarer one - for 2002 1150GS?? - but can probably surmount that problem)

BTW 8 days delivery to Ireland (inc. Bank Holiday and w/end) - pretty good I'd say

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

On this subject has anyone had any experience with the Greek ARCHON sensors on ebay,about half the price of anywhere else?

Only spotted those the other day.
Purely a guess, but the HES is a pretty simple thing....two sensors (15 ish each) plus an OEM connector and a short loom (odd wre and sheathing though)

As long as the plate is accurately made up and the wiring is up to standard (Which the BMW stuff isn'tm they used the wrong stuff ) then I would guess they'll be fine.

I might well end up trying one if it looks like my long-running problem needs another HES to fix

Let me know how it goes and then I'll buy one! na think I'll get one and give it a go.

Will you two go and do this somewhere else please. This is my broken bike thread. (BTW, I reckon you get the OEM parts and simply fasten the to you original mounting plate.)

So, it's definitely back to Zaragoza tomorrow after a nice few days hanging around the beaches on the Costa Brava around Sant Feliu de Guixols. It hasn't been easy but it has been relaxing and it gave me some time to think and accept my problems, and the bill, and get on with the trip.

RAC Europe have been very good in helping me out with this. They arranged everything to keep me on my tour but I decided it's best to stop somewhere nice and enjoy it. Frankly, I've hated the car. I don't own one and it took three days to get used to driving again and dealing with parking charges, traffic jams and generally being in a cage. And another thing: I'm a crap driver!

Hopefully it'll be back on the bike tomorrow and back to the coast for the Med' Breeze. I'll test ride the bike, even though Goya Motorrad have done so under my instructions, before I go anywhere remote or away from a national road to ease the possiblity of another recovery.

When I see BMW tomorrow and recieve the diagnosis I'll relay it back to here for your information.

Anyway, it's time for dinner because it's just turned 22:00hrs here.

Adios, Buenas Noches.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Another Night in Zaragoza.

After driving from the Costa Brava back to Zaragoza I have now collected the bike and rode it to the Hostal I used last week and it seems to be okay for the 5Kms, or less, than it took to get here. We'll se tomorrow once I get on the road and start doing some riding.

Hopefully I will not have to come back to this thread with anymore bad news.

 

[Uncle Rob]

its about time,now get on with the adventure

 

[Pauly S]

Well...?

Did you make it out of the car park?
Are the RAC on their way again?
Anything else caught fire?
Come on, were itching to know.