Electrical/ignition problem?

[Bob_Roller]

What model BMW bike do you have other than the R65?  I don't know if you can remove the coil from your other bike without a major expenditure of time or not, and try it on the R65. Just a suggestion.

[redzap]

I have  a '95 R1100R.  I will look around and talk to other airhead owners as that might be a good way to go...thanks!.

[larstorders]

Hi Redzap
You have a sickpatient here so eliminate the most likely causes of illness first. For instance, if your ignition coil is Bosch part number 0.221. 500.200 (its the original) then it really belongs in the trash not on a bike. If it's not failed yet it will do later, probably at the worst possible moment. I experienced R65 coil failure while holidaying in Swizerland and had to squeeze a couple of old Lucas car coils, provided by an auto electrician, up under the tank to keep running. So pretty much any coil will give a spark if everything else is ok. The ECU broke a couple of thousand miles later on that bike, so possibly a connection there  . The reliable (new) R65 coils are Bosch numbered 0.221. 500.203.
I see lots of good links on this thread to help with your diagnosis.
Good luck

[professorfate]

I would put a test light on the negative terminal of the coil and crank the engine.  If the light blinks on and off it is getting a good signal from the ignition module and bean can and the primary side of the coil is probably good. So if it blinks good I would think the secondary side of the coil is bad.  Have the plugs out and connected to the plug wires and set on the cylinders.  

[redzap]

Well...I did test the beancan per instructions from you-all and Rick Jones of MotoElektrik and no problem there.  So...I went ahead and bought one of his Dyna coils and that did not solve the problem.  I guess I will try the new ICU from Rocky Point Cycles unless anyone has any other ideas.  Thanks guys...Chris

[Ed Miller]

Ouch, the new coil didn't fix it.  $$$$$$$$$  

Did you find this page, by Snowbum?

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/Ignition.htm

He shows a test for the ICU, though they're cheap enough it can't hurt to have one for a spare.  

If I understand right, your bike won't start at all, so this is not an intermittent problem.  Is that correct?

Good luck,

[redzap]

Ouch is right...yes, Ed, the bike had cut out suddenly while I was riding it and there was nothing alarming before that.  It has not started since.  I will reread the snowbum article to see if there is something I missed.  Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that it is something really simple?!

[Justin B.]

Even though the new coil didn't fix the immediate problem you probably saved yourself a future walk (probably at night and raining) as with the stock coil it's not if but when it will fail.

[Semper Gumby]

If you are out of ideas-

One other possibility is to put a German Electronic ignition on the front of the Alternator.  This eliminates Timing chain/bean can advance problems.  The advance curve is electronically generated.  And there is one that will go with the Dyna coil you have bought.

Check out http://www.stephenbottcher.net/~omega/index1.html

Stephan will return you e-mails on which one to buy (based on the DYna Coil you have bought).

Works great on my 1980 R65.

[redzap]

Stephan,  My R65 is a 1983 which does not have points but has the electronic ignition so unless I am mistaken, the product you describe would not work for me.  If I am wrong, please let me know...thanks  

[Semper Gumby]

Stephan,  My R65 is a 1983 which does not have points but has the electronic ignition so unless I am mistaken, the product you describe would not work for me.  If I am wrong, please let me know...thanks  

I (semper gumby) am 99 44/100th sure that there is a set up that will work.  This is because you have a Bosch Alternator (The mounting point).  This is a completely independant system.  The determining factor is what kind of Dyna coil (how many ohms) you have bought.  There is an Omega ignition that will work with that coil.  After this is installed, the "beancan" will just sit there and prevent oil from leaking out of the engine.  (i hope).  This system is expensive so make sure you have exhausted all other possibilities like checking all the wiring you have that goes to the ignition you now have.  If there is a broken power wire to your existing system, buying the Omega system will do you no good at all.  It uses the same wires!

TTFN,

[Ed Miller]

Wow, I wonder how reliable those are.  They look like a better idea than our electronic ignitions, as they run off the crank shaft and not the cam shaft.  Though the timing chain controls the valve timing as well, so it's not like you can just ignore it.  I wonder what the "Upgrade from Single to Dual Output Ignition" is, if it's to do away with the wasted spark we have now.  Probably just for dual plugged machines, though.  

redzap, swapping your ICU will be lots cheaper than the Omega, but I wonder if it isn't something like Semper Gumby suggested, like maybe a hot wire to the coil that isn't getting current.  I don't know the wiring system enough to just tell you "make sure you get battery voltage to the x terminal of your coil" but that could be the simple thing you're worried you are missing.

[Justin B.]

Ed, your guess of it being for dual plugged machines is correct.  They will work on all airheads (different units depending on the OEM ignition type) except ones that have had that cool looking aftermarket alternator installed.  You have to have the stock alternator as this unit bolts up to the alternator.  The cool thing is that you leave the stocker in place and you essentially have a spare ignition trigger.  Once installed, switching back to running off the stock trigger only takes a couple of minutes.

I don't understand over a lot of folks obsessing over the wasted spark.  From a design point of view it results in a simpler system...

[Ed Miller]

snip

I don't understand over a lot of folks obsessing over the wasted spark.  From a design point of view it results in a simpler system...

I thought I was the only one.  

[Justin B.]

Maybe you have obsessed enough to make it SEEM like a lot of folks!