SlowPoke
Race Dog
I have a funny situation on my F650GS. The problem I am about to describe is totally random and does not seem to follow any discernable pattern.
Normally she runs 100% fine no problems. Every now and then the bike gets it in it's head to die when idling. Ie I am happilly cruising around and stop at the robot. Put it in neutral and it dies. Start up again and drive. Sometimes when pulling in the clutch and letting the revs drop to idle speed it dies - IN MID RIDE!!
Things I have tried to fix problem:
1) switch on and off 3 (or more times) - someone mentioned it resets the onboard computer or some such. Does not work.
2) replaced the spark plug - no difference
3) Cleaned the fuel filter - no difference
4) adjust the throttle cable tension to raise idle speed. Only works once bike is started. If the bike is started with a slightly open throttle it sets that as idle position and bike still dies. For now I start the bike and then adjust the idle to about 1900 RPM and it stays there sweet!
Other things I have noticed which may or may not help (to confuse the issue)?
1) on rare occasion the rev counter stays at 0 and then a few seconds later picks up to reflect real rev count
2) slightly heavier on fuel - around 21km/l (my usual driving gives closer to 25km/l)
3) plenty of power, engin not weak or labouring
4) exhaust gas smells faintly of fuel - I think it may be running a little rich ???
5) someone else in PE had similar problem. He took it to continental and they apparently fixed it. When I asked the mechanic what it was he said it was a throttle potentiometer that was faulty. Now I may be a little dof looking byt the throttle is a simple butterfly valve with a mechanical action - my bike is definately not drive by wire. Ok, so maybe such a component exists but it sounds like BS to me. I don't want to take the bike in for an expensive service if they cannot even be honest about the problem on the other bike... I may be wrong and profusely apologise in advance if my assumption is wrong ('bout the BS bits..).
Does anyone have some words of wisdom as to the problem and the fix? It's fookin dangerous filtering in traffic and having the bike die under you - happened a few times and I really don't like it. :xxbah:
OK - FINAL UPDATE HERE
I thought I'd update the resolution here so you guys do not need to read through the whole thread again.
Fetched the bike this morning and of course it would be wet, raining quite a bit. Ag well...
Here is the invoice details to fix the problem:
1) Fault tracing 8 hrs @ R23.33 ph ("tested resistance at throttle, below thresh hold")
2) Replacing throtle-valve switch (potentiomenter) 7 hrs @ R23.33 ph
3) Torqued all casing bolts (apparently one or two were loose) 4 hrs @ R23.33 ph
4) P 13631436000 039755/Throttle Val 1@ R787.51
Total cost: R1403.16
So it seems the throttle potentiometer was at fault. The bike now idles at a rock steady and very smooth 1550rpm (dunno about the 50 but the needle seems to be a ball hair above 1500rpm). It feels a lot more smooth although not neccessarily more power. Idles PERFECTLY now. I am in general very happy. The client service from bmw was very good and I cannot complain. Only thing that I do have a slight eyebrow raise about is the hours quoted 21 hours total. Sounds a bit much to me. That would equate to almost 3 full working days spent on my bike and somehow I just do not believe this.. Aoh well at least my baby is running smooth! YEah! :thumleft:
Normally she runs 100% fine no problems. Every now and then the bike gets it in it's head to die when idling. Ie I am happilly cruising around and stop at the robot. Put it in neutral and it dies. Start up again and drive. Sometimes when pulling in the clutch and letting the revs drop to idle speed it dies - IN MID RIDE!!
Things I have tried to fix problem:
1) switch on and off 3 (or more times) - someone mentioned it resets the onboard computer or some such. Does not work.
2) replaced the spark plug - no difference
3) Cleaned the fuel filter - no difference
4) adjust the throttle cable tension to raise idle speed. Only works once bike is started. If the bike is started with a slightly open throttle it sets that as idle position and bike still dies. For now I start the bike and then adjust the idle to about 1900 RPM and it stays there sweet!
Other things I have noticed which may or may not help (to confuse the issue)?
1) on rare occasion the rev counter stays at 0 and then a few seconds later picks up to reflect real rev count
2) slightly heavier on fuel - around 21km/l (my usual driving gives closer to 25km/l)
3) plenty of power, engin not weak or labouring
4) exhaust gas smells faintly of fuel - I think it may be running a little rich ???
5) someone else in PE had similar problem. He took it to continental and they apparently fixed it. When I asked the mechanic what it was he said it was a throttle potentiometer that was faulty. Now I may be a little dof looking byt the throttle is a simple butterfly valve with a mechanical action - my bike is definately not drive by wire. Ok, so maybe such a component exists but it sounds like BS to me. I don't want to take the bike in for an expensive service if they cannot even be honest about the problem on the other bike... I may be wrong and profusely apologise in advance if my assumption is wrong ('bout the BS bits..).
Does anyone have some words of wisdom as to the problem and the fix? It's fookin dangerous filtering in traffic and having the bike die under you - happened a few times and I really don't like it. :xxbah:
OK - FINAL UPDATE HERE
I thought I'd update the resolution here so you guys do not need to read through the whole thread again.
Fetched the bike this morning and of course it would be wet, raining quite a bit. Ag well...
Here is the invoice details to fix the problem:
1) Fault tracing 8 hrs @ R23.33 ph ("tested resistance at throttle, below thresh hold")
2) Replacing throtle-valve switch (potentiomenter) 7 hrs @ R23.33 ph
3) Torqued all casing bolts (apparently one or two were loose) 4 hrs @ R23.33 ph
4) P 13631436000 039755/Throttle Val 1@ R787.51
Total cost: R1403.16
So it seems the throttle potentiometer was at fault. The bike now idles at a rock steady and very smooth 1550rpm (dunno about the 50 but the needle seems to be a ball hair above 1500rpm). It feels a lot more smooth although not neccessarily more power. Idles PERFECTLY now. I am in general very happy. The client service from bmw was very good and I cannot complain. Only thing that I do have a slight eyebrow raise about is the hours quoted 21 hours total. Sounds a bit much to me. That would equate to almost 3 full working days spent on my bike and somehow I just do not believe this.. Aoh well at least my baby is running smooth! YEah! :thumleft:
