DOK Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Hi, I've done a search and read through several other posts but I still can't quite work out what is wrong with my '04 R1150RT. Probably very straightforward but I'm not really very mechanically minded so I thought I'd try here for help Anyway, today it suddenly started running really rough at idle. I noticed it first when I got to work and suddenly the bike felt like it was going to cut out at idle. Then, coming home tonight, after the bike had warmed up and I had closed the choke lever, the bike stalled a couple of times pulling away from junctions. I'm pretty certain this was not just me letting go of the clutch lever too quickly . Anyway, I ended up having to pull the choke lever on again to keep the idle revs up. Warm Idle speed appears to be just below 1k; my recollection is that normally this would be just above 1k. Two question: 1) is it just a case of adjusting the idle speed (which, reding the Haynes manual, doesn't look that straightforward ); and 2) why has this suddenly happened - yesterday it was fine, today, it's crap? By the way, I had the bike serviced (18k) about 1k miles ago and it's been running fine up until today. Thanks Link to comment
T__ Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Hi, I've done a search and read through several other posts but I still can't quite work out what is wrong with my '04 R1150RT. Probably very straightforward but I'm not really very mechanically minded so I thought I'd try here for help Anyway, today it suddenly started running really rough at idle. I noticed it first when I got to work and suddenly the bike felt like it was going to cut out at idle. Then, coming home tonight, after the bike had warmed up and I had closed the choke lever, the bike stalled a couple of times pulling away from junctions. I'm pretty certain this was not just me letting go of the clutch lever too quickly . Anyway, I ended up having to pull the choke lever on again to keep the idle revs up. Warm Idle speed appears to be just below 1k; my recollection is that normally this would be just above 1k. Two question: 1) is it just a case of adjusting the idle speed (which, reding the Haynes manual, doesn't look that straightforward ); and 2) why has this suddenly happened - yesterday it was fine, today, it's crap? By the way, I had the bike serviced (18k) about 1k miles ago and it's been running fine up until today. Thanks DOK, it’s possible you bought a tank of poor gasoline (how long ago did you add gasoline?).. If you just recently fueled up the possibly bad gasoline.. Another leading cause or poor running is one or more of your spark plugs not firing.. Those twin spark engines need of them all working to idle decently.. Try making a jumper to short out one plug at a time to see if the cylinder will run on the other plug.. The stick coils would be at the top of my list if the plugs on those coil(s) are not working.. Or pull the spark plugs & look for signs of one or more not firing (fouled).. Twisty Link to comment
DOK Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 Twisty, Thanks. Dodgy fuel did occur to me but I filled up about 140 miles ago and it's only just happened. I will check out the plugs - thanks for the advice. Link to comment
breyfogle Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 sounds like a classic vacuum leak ..... possible but unlikely. Some people report similar symptoms when a TB cable to one jug or the other gets hungup in some way. Link to comment
Fugu Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Sounds a lot like what I had: http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/873502/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1 Link to comment
brennaman Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Another thought is one of the cables to the throttle bodies came off its cam. Good luck Link to comment
SHOman Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Sounds like what I just went through. In my case it was a "weak" upper plug coil. Only way to tell was for me to unplug the coil. Idle will noticeably change if the coil is ok. If you dont see a change, bad coil. This same coil was bad for 12k miles and the dealer never detected it. "that's how it's supposed to sound". Link to comment
Fugu Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Another thought is one of the cables to the throttle bodies came off its cam. Good luck Or the end isn't seated in the adjuster, or there's a little rock between the cam and the cable. Link to comment
Ken H. Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 1) is it just a case of adjusting the idle speed Probably not. A sudden onset of a problem is usually not characteristic of something going out of adjustment. I would echo the others that fuel or spark plugs are good first guesses. Link to comment
Mike T Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 I'd quickly check to make sure you throttle cables are correctly seated in the cable barrels on each TB like was suggested in some other responses. Also, check to see if your vaccumm hoses (or caps) are attached correctly on the bottom of each throttle body. Tighten up the band clamps that hold the TBs to the black manifold hose going into the cylinder heads. As also mentioned before, spark pulg replacement is a good idea. Could also be a partially plugged fuel injector or bad gas. Try a half bottle of Techtron fuel infector cleaner in the next tank full. Link to comment
DOK Posted July 30, 2007 Author Share Posted July 30, 2007 Thanks for all the suggestions - sorry, I've been offline for a few days. In the end, a new set of ignition coils and she runs sweet as anything. Strange, as the old ones look OK - I'm told they are prone to bursting but that hasn't happened. Anyway, just glad to have my bike back to normal Mind you, I did take the opportunity to test ride the R1200RT - nice bike Link to comment
brennaman Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Mind you, I did take the opportunity to test ride the R1200RT - nice bike If you are like me, that could have been a mistake. After test riding the 1200RT, I can't get it off my mind. Luckily after riding mine for an hour or two, I still love the way it feals. But that 1200 is nice..... Link to comment
SHOman Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Just curious, upper plug or lower plug coil? BTW Link to comment
AndyS Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Just curious, upper plug or lower plug coil? BTW I think you would be hard pressed to notice a secondary plug failure, but primary would show up problems similar to this. Personally I would check for a little bit of grit in the throttle body bellcranks first. Andy Link to comment
DOK Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 If you are like me, that could have been a mistake. After test riding the 1200RT, I can't get it off my mind. Know what you mean . It was nice to handle - I think being a bit lighter helped - and the engine was much nicer. However, there were a few little niggles I had with it - the gear selector was too close to the peg; the mirrors were too small; and, the panniers are a whopping 75mm (3 inches) wider than the mirrors - why do BMW do that?? Link to comment
DOK Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 Just curious, upper plug or lower plug coil? Upper. Link to comment
Fugu Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 In the end, a new set of ignition coils and she runs sweet as anything. AHa! I knew if I kept telling everybody it is their coils I'd luck out sooner or later and be right. Glad things are back to normal. You don't want a 1200RT, they are expensive and the 1100/1150RT is prettier. Link to comment
Tipover_Bob Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 AHa! I knew if I kept telling everybody it is their coils I'd luck out sooner or later and be right. Rofl: Even a blind sow finds an acorn once in a while. Tipover Bob Link to comment
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