The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: thessler on April 07, 2013, 08:17:37 PM

Title: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 07, 2013, 08:17:37 PM
Hi
I have been fooling with this bike trying to work out some bugs.
Carbs cleaned, valve adjustment, just installed new coil, removed the air system and the popping went with it.
Test rode today and it seems the idle takes a while to come down from 2k to 1,000 rpm, very sluggish returning. Otherwise it's running ok. I do not believe it is cable related.
Any thoughts ?
Thanks  , Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 07, 2013, 08:32:10 PM
I would perform, or at least check the carb synchronization, if it hasn't been done in a while .

It needs to be accomplished on an engine that is at operating temperature, not a 'cold' engine .
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: montmil on April 07, 2013, 10:40:08 PM
A proper engine warm up on a chilly Long Island may require a 20+ mile ride. You may find the idle mixture screws require a bit of tweaking to get the idle down to where it belongs, ie: 1000-1100 rpm.

Confirm the ignition timing, too.

Tom, please include the model year of your R65 when inquiring. Even better, add the info to a sig line. Different carbs and ignition changes, etc. affect correct/incorrect answers. Help us help you, OK?
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Barry on April 08, 2013, 03:33:52 AM
Tom

Idle hang up is almost always caused by the throttle plates being too far open.This positions the bottom edge of the throttle plate close to the transfer ports which causes them to flow some mixture. As has been said do an idle tune up on a fully warmed up engine. Basically turning out the throttle stop screws slightly will move the  throttle plates away from the transfer ports and the problem will go away.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 08, 2013, 08:23:34 AM
ok thanks guys
This is a 1984 R65
It will idle when warm, where i was going with this is even when warm when you let off the throttle it takes longer than usual to return to idle.

This brings me to another question if you don't mind. I am having a very hard time keeping it running while cold. The chokes do work, but my question is do these have a high idle mechanism while on choke ?
I am continually revving this thing until it warms up, other wise it will stall. Pretty sure that is not good for the motor.

this bike sat for a few years so I do expect a few bumps in the road before it's straightened out.

  Thanks for the help, Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: nhmaf on April 08, 2013, 08:35:31 AM
The 'choke' as we call it on these Bing carbs is actually another small carburetor circuit within, and 'enricher' if you will.  IF all is properly setup, you should only need to pull the choke lever to fully "on" position with a cold engine and temps below ~75F to start, and it should rev at around 3K - 4K RPM or so if left that way, I generally slowly move the lever down to its halfway point (it has a detent and will generally stay there) once the engine is running for it to warm up.   After about 30 -60 seconds I can ride the bike away and turn off the choke lever fully.

If you have to continually give it gas to keep it from stalling, I suspect one or both of the enricher circuits is clogged, or partly clogged.   Drop the float bowls from the carbs and look in the frontmost inner corner of the bowl for a small reservoir with a tiny hole machined into it - that is the fuel intake reservoir for the "choke" and is common for it to become clogged.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 08, 2013, 12:13:16 PM
I did remove both carbs and clean real well when I got into this. I guess i'll re vist them. I think the enrichers are working, just not raising the idle at all.
 Thanks, Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 08, 2013, 12:30:49 PM
Did you take the carbs apart, like remove the enricher parts ??

They are side specific, even though they appear to be the same .
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Barry on April 08, 2013, 02:48:45 PM
Operating experience with the choke seems to vary and some will enrich the mixture but not provide a hands off idle. Certainly mine will not  which I put down to it being an early model with less progressive action due to only one fuel orifice in the choker disc where later models have 4 of increasing size.  I would have thought an 84 model has the full complement but it might be worth a check.

For anyone out there that has an early disc with only one orifice I recently came across a service bulletin that recommended enlarging each of the 4 recesses to 2.5mm and drilling through the 4th recess 0.6mm.  This is a European service bulletin so it may not be applicable to other export markets.

Next time anyone has the choke disks out I'd be interested to know how many fuel orifices are drilled through the disc.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Semper Gumby on April 08, 2013, 09:58:10 PM
Hi Tom,

The stock Idle Advance setting is 6 degrees.  If it is any more advanced than that at idle then the motor will have a tendency to idle  higher than you want.  This is epecially noticable when coming off a freeway from an extended high speed run.

On the timing inspection hole there should be a gouge mark on the LH side of the hole.  Mine is near the bottom at the 7 o'clock position.  This means my idle advance (set with a timing light) has to be set at the very bottom of the inspection hole.

Other reasons for hi idle are:

1) Exhaust Valves too tight (less than .008")
2) Air leaks between the carbs and the cylinder heads (are there cracks in the rubber hoses??? Replace 'em now)
3) Dried old o-rings on the throttle butterfly shaft in each carb (a royal pain to replace).
4) No freeplay in the throttle cables.

Good luck.   [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

PS - What year is this bike and what type of carbs (flat tops or dome)?

Barry - on my March of 1980 Flat top carb bike all the holes on the enrichener disks were drilled though.  I screwed the shoulder on one of the brass shafts and had to get a new one and not all the holes were drilled though.  So I took my old disk and put it on to the new shaft being gentil this time screwing the nut on.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Barry on April 09, 2013, 03:01:15 AM
Quote
Barry - on my March of 1980 Flat top carb bike all the holes on the enrichener disks were drilled though.I screwed the shoulder on one of the brass shafts and had to get a new one and not all the holes were drilled though.So I took my old disk and put it on to the new shaft being gentle this time screwing the nut on.  


Bill,

Thanks for confirming the differences in enricher discs. I intend to modify mine when I can get hold of a 0.6mm drill.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: georgesgiralt on April 09, 2013, 04:09:13 AM
0.- mm drill are easy to find in electronic shops and/or small scale model shops (the shops where air plane or boat model builder bought their supplies)
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 09, 2013, 06:37:03 AM
Thanks guys
I took those enrichers out agian last night they are spotless, four progressive holes. I did'n mix them up because I only did one at a time.
1) valves adjusted
2) feel good about rubber hoses
3) butterfly shaft- no idea, when I get this thing running stable I will shoot a little WD around them to check for leaks.
4)throttle cables good
Lastly havn't checked timing yet, I havn't seen my light in years not sure if I still have it  :-?.
 Thanks, Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: montmil on April 09, 2013, 08:06:13 AM
Just to add another brick to your load, Tom...

You mentioned you "cleaned" the carburetors. Does that mean you took them down and cleared all the small fuel and air passages? Replaced all the rubber bits and float needle? If you see a hole, it means there's an outlet somewhere. Blowing air or using the straw on a can of carb cleaner can clear or confirm a clogged passage.

Check the floats. If they are vintage, get new ones. Confirm the floats are set at the correct level and that the small brass 'jet' at the bottom of the enrichener reservoir is clear.

Debris from the fuel tank can easily screw up the carbs. It only takes a tiny bit o' grit to disrupt smooth ops. Install an in-line fuel filter if you have not yet done so.

You're probably going to want one of the famous $4.00 Carb Balancer vacuum sticks.

Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Semper Gumby on April 09, 2013, 08:48:33 AM
Quote
<snip> Check the floats. If they are vintage, get new ones. Confirm the floats are set at the correct level and that the small brass 'jet' at the bottom of the enrichener reservoir is clear.

This jet is actually in the bottom corner of the Float Bowl and is often forgotten when cleaning the carbs.  There is a hole which is the same size as the red plastic pipe from favorite can of Carb Cleaner.  Make sure you point the open end of the float bowl away from your face (or any painted surface)   :o  before you press the button on the can.  If it's plugged use some thin copper strands from 10 or 12 gage copper multi strand wire to poke it open.  The jet is pressed in and if it's buggered you have to buy a new float bowl!

Good luck!   [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

BTW Monte - My floats are Vintage.  I have no idea why they still float.  Perhaps its all those years of Marvel Mystery Oil and Marine Green Stabil in the Gas.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 09, 2013, 09:16:41 AM
yes and no
I cleand carbs but did not replace parts. The little jets in the float bowl are open I double checked them.
The floats float and turn off the fuel, thats as far as I got with them.
Next is pic up some tubing and make a float stick.
 Thanks, Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: apaiva on April 10, 2013, 09:14:18 AM
would be interested to know when you find a solution.  My bike seems to do the same thing, especially when coming off being on the highway.  Mine is an 81, oh and I'm closeby in Brooklyn.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Mike V on April 10, 2013, 09:22:26 AM
Has anyone considered the possibility of the advance hanging up?  Maybe a bean can inspection?

Just a guess ...

Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Clutch on April 10, 2013, 10:42:17 AM
I have an '81, and it can behave like this as well sometimes. I keep suspecting a catch either in the throttle cable or the lever on the carbs that the cable connects to, but never did confirm this.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Luca on April 11, 2013, 07:56:41 AM
Clutch, I doubt it would be a catch on the carb levers because unless they both caught by the same amount, the engine would idle roughly (cylinders out of sync).  Perhaps the barrel splitter could get caught on something over the engine/under the tank, but any internal hang ups would probably make the throttle lever stiff and quickly lead to a broken throttle cable

My bike has experienced the same high idle issue since I replaced the Bosch Crack-o-matic with a Dyna brown coil.

And Mike, I think Monte suspected a sticky bean can when he asked if the timing was correct.  I remember a post on this issue a while back where he said something to the effect of "more often than not you will find that turning down the mixture screws fixes your sticky bean can issue."  I've heard that carb problems are usually electrical... sometimes it's fun getting the inverse
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: Luca on April 11, 2013, 07:58:15 AM
Also, Clutch, the cable hangup seems unlikely as the idle reduces slowly from 2-1K
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: montmil on April 11, 2013, 09:15:59 AM
Luca, the entire old Airhead saying goes:

[size=12]If you suspect you have carburetor problems, it's probably electrical.
If you suspect you have electrical problems, it's probably carburetion.[/size]

Of course, that's not always true but it's danged often the case.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: thessler on April 11, 2013, 07:37:04 PM
Just wondering, if its electrical what can I check ?
I just replaced the coil , plugs are new.

Yesterday when I got home it wouldn't come down below 3k, I had to just shut off the key and walk away.
Today it's running around 1k rpm.
When it's reving like that the gears in the tranny aren't happy to shift to often.  :o
 Thanks, Tom
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: georgesgiralt on April 11, 2013, 07:47:11 PM
Hello !
When she does that, could you please try something ? (it has proved successful to me) : Try to reduce the idle mixture screw to get the idle RPM down. It may prove useful to increase the throttle screw a bit to prevent stalling when cold. I had to set for a compromise, for too low a cold idle and not too high a warm idle.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: raypond on April 11, 2013, 09:18:13 PM
New return springs on the chokes may help. Made a big improvement on mine.
Title: Re: Takes a while to idle down
Post by: flybot on April 12, 2013, 08:47:29 PM
Have you tried just backing off the idle set screws when its good and warmed up? What have you done since starting this thread? There has been every just about every possible suggestion given and now Im sort of lost on where we are at.