The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: trolle on April 12, 2007, 11:36:56 AM

Title: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 12, 2007, 11:36:56 AM
This is a severe problem: The right cylinder has just started to develop a bad habit of revving up to 2000 rpm when it should be idling at 900. I cannot find the cause; at first I suspected that the exhaust valve was too tight, but it was not that. Then I cleansed the carburettor and that did not help neither. Now I am at my wits end (and I am in no mood for stupid jokes about that  >:( ), Please help me out here  :-?

greetings from a warm and sunny north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Clutch on April 12, 2007, 11:57:20 AM
make sure the cables (throttle and choke) aren't binding up somehow.  Also check to see if you aren't getting an air leak around the carbs (cracked rubber hoses connecting the carb to the head/loose hose clamp on those rubber hoses)
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 12, 2007, 01:44:21 PM
Cables are ok, clamps ok but the airleak sounds like a probable cause, I will check that.

greetings from a warm and sunny north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 12, 2007, 02:44:55 PM
Is this happening all of the time or just after a long high speed ride? It's not uncommon to develop a high idle if the bike wasn't warmed up to operating temperature when the carbs were adjusted for idle mixture, idle speed and synchronization. It's happened to me a few times in the past. Tight valves will usually cause the engine not to idle, or to idle poorly. If you have not done a full carb adjustment in a while, this may be the time to do it.
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 12, 2007, 03:22:26 PM
It is happening all the time: When cold it revs to about 1100 with no choke and after a 20 minutes ride, ie being warm it revs to about 2000. Normally it won't run without choke when cold and runs with a 1000 rpm when warm. The condition evolved rather suddenly.

greetings from a warm and sunny north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 12, 2007, 03:47:16 PM
I don't remember what year bike you have, but it sounds like the 'choke' or enrichment may not be closing all the way. Have you tried loosening the 'choke' cable adjusters at the carbs to make sure they are returning fully to the 'off' or normal position. If you have the 'choke' lever on the handle bar, you may want to check the cable 'splitter' under the tank to make sure something hasn't come out of place here as well. I know my bike won't start without the use of the 'choke' if the air temp is under 75 F., and won't stay running without it being on for a mile or two of riding.  
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Clutch on April 12, 2007, 07:05:56 PM
Did you happen to leave your bike out in the rain just before this high reving occurred?...I'm just curious because my bike revs high after it gets rained on, and after the engine head dries out the idle goes back down to normal.  I haven't figured out what my problem is, and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem.
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: nhmaf on April 12, 2007, 08:42:17 PM
It does sound like it might be an air leak, or perhaps, the vacuum hose is pinched or cracked /leaking somewhere ?
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 14, 2007, 01:08:49 PM
Now I have checked everything, and I mean every thing. It still revs up to 2000 rpm when warm. The plug looks slightly warmer but nothing alarming, I have changed the membrame, checked the rubber hose connectecting the carb with the head for leaks, checked choke and throttle which are ok and finely adjusted, checked and adjusted airscrew (idle) but nothing helps!§!!! >:( >:( :-?

greetings from a warm and sunny north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Semper Gumby on April 14, 2007, 06:02:14 PM
If the Carb hoses are not perfect replace them.  Cheap insurance.
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Ed Miller on April 14, 2007, 10:09:26 PM
Which carb hoses do we replace?  The hard plastic elbow, the softer hoses on either end, or all of them?  I should be thinking about that, I guess.

Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Justin B. on April 14, 2007, 10:53:08 PM
As those that connect carb-to-head get old they get hard and cracked and sometimes won't seal properly.  If this happens you get a sown-stream airleak which leans everything out and makes it impossible to get a good adjustment.  The test is to spray like WD-40 around the connections and if the idle speed changes you've found your airleak.  A vacuum leak will cause idle to raise as it is just like cracking the throttle a bit.
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 16, 2007, 03:16:15 PM
Thank you for all your inputs, sorry but they have not helped. I switched the left and right vacuum hoses, but the right cylinder continued to rev: Now it has settled into a pattern. When cold it runs at about 1400-1500 rpm and when warm about 2000 rpm but sometimes it goes as high as 3500 rpm. If I then give the throttle a blip up to 6000 rpm it settles at 1300-1500 rpm.

I do not think it has anything to do with the carburettor but suspect some valvetrouble. Has anybody experienced anything like this?

greetings from a warm but soon cooler north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Chris_in_BC on April 16, 2007, 07:26:49 PM
trolle,
 How do you know it is just the right cylinder reving too high?

I would try what Bob suggested. Go for a ride and get it really hot (not just a 15 minute cruise around the block)

Then adjust the idle on the carbs back down to the level you want.

You also don't mention if you changed anything prior to this sudden change. ie you didn't rebuild the carbs or something similar? With the carb intakes to the airbox off, and the throttle closed, do the butterfly valves look tightly closed?
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 17, 2007, 02:45:49 AM
done that, been there - believe me, I have tried everything suggested. That is why I find it so annoying.

Status so far: Probably no leak because after doing 30 miles at high speed between 90 and 100 mph, the plug on the right side shows no signs of overheating. All cables have a tiny amount of slack, idling screw does not touch the throttle lever, ie idling is as low as possible, airscrew is set to optimum, membrane is OK, butterfly closes - (when I wrote the word butterfly, I thought that it would not harm to check them just one more time. Now I am back after having had both carbs off, checking the position of the butterfly - and lo and behold, the right one was just a tiny bit askew - pressing the throttle lever arm down to its full extent and letting it pop back a few times set the butterfly right). Tried starting the engine which ran straight and after a couple of minutes managed to idle at 800 rpm without choke. Now I only have to go for a ride to warm her up and to see if my correction of the position of the butterfly lasts.

Strangely enough the butterfly was the first item on my suspicion list, but I dropped the thougt because the butterfly is in a rather fixed setting - or is it? Evidently this one was able to fly away, must be the spring. :)

Thank you for your advice and to Chris in BC: I mount a threaded pin on the tap of the plugs at each side. This way I can short either one of the plugs with a screwdriver and find out which of the cylinders is revving. I always carry the pins with me.

My wife says that I tangle too much with the motorcycle - I do not agree, it is one of the charms having an old bike like the r65, she's like a lady demanding your attention and being the gentleman I am, I give it gladly.  :)

greetings from a sunny, cooler and windy north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Justin B. on April 17, 2007, 06:33:16 AM
Have you rebuilt your carbe and maybe the screws are loosening that secure the throttle butterfly?  If not, maybe still check them as it appears something had bound up the throttle on that one.
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 17, 2007, 09:10:40 AM
You may have a point there, I rebuilt the carbs in 2005, so I might try fastening the screws on the right. It still has a tendency to "hang" but a fast blip on the throttle takes care of that. Anyway I am satisfied to have found the cause, it did bug me!

greetings from a windy and cool north

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 21, 2007, 09:59:07 AM
Checked the two screws on the butterfly in the right side carb. They were just a tiny bit loose but enough to enable the butterfly to wobble - ever seen a butterfly wobble, that must be something for you, Melena  :) - I gave the screws a drop of locktite and fastened them and now all my troubles are gone.

The carbs are in sync, the engine idles at a leisurely 1000 rpm and the power is back, it is just great. And with no wind, sun and a temp of 60 F the driving conditions are at a optimum.

The smiling gent in the background has an '82 LS for sale for $5000. The Motoguzzi in the foreground is one of my dreambikes.

greetings from a sunny  and slightly cold north, perfect for driving though

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: SCJJR65 on April 21, 2007, 01:58:06 PM
Ah, another closet Guzzisti!  I knew you had some extra class in you, Trolle!   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I intend to buy either a new Breva 750 or a "slightly used" California model, hopefully before year's end.  I've had an itch to own a Guzzi for a couple of years now, and the itch is getting too difficult to ignore!  ;D
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: Ed Miller on April 21, 2007, 07:19:58 PM
...and now I think I should be checking MY carb butterfly, right side though.  That or hunt for an air leak.  I have a project for tomorrow, in the shop, out of the rain.  
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: nhmaf on April 21, 2007, 08:32:33 PM
Hmmm, Moto Guzzi...

The Breva is nice, but for some reason this new California model really gets
my attention - I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat over any H-D, I think:

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/californiavint/specifiche.asp?modello=californiavint&%20pagina=spec

 [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif]
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: trolle on April 23, 2007, 07:36:54 AM
Agreed! My brother in law has an ´91 California and my wife thinks that that bike is one stylish motorcycle.

It is quite another driving experience than the r65 but it behaves very civilized way seen from the point of view of an r65 buff.

greetings from a warm and slightly sunny north, nice driving conditions

trolle
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: MrRiden on April 23, 2007, 10:49:45 AM
Now ya' all got me thinking. A nice Monza or Le mans model might be a nice addition to my LS. To me there is a resemblance. What do you think?
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ozebook.com%2Fguzzi_files%2Fmonza005.jpg&hash=b8696d6cce9631ee5108fee0ba804bda032627c1)
http://www.ozebook.com/eaglesnest.htm
Rich
Title: Re: High revs on the right cylinder when idling
Post by: SCJJR65 on April 23, 2007, 12:13:15 PM
Yeah, I think the Italians at M-G had taken a good long look at the R65 when it was introduced and said to themselves, "Hey, we need to build a bike like THAT!"  And, "TA-DA!"  There you have the Monza!!  ;)  (And the Lario as well!)