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Author Topic: Engine died  (Read 2471 times)

flongr65

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Engine died
« on: October 09, 2007, 08:53:46 PM »
Just moved to Salt Lake City, UT, (elevation over 5000) from Massachusetts. Bike wasn't idling particularly well but ran fine. Coming down from a mountain ride, (elevation about 9000) it simply died and would not restart. Gas OK. Any ideas?

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2007, 08:58:34 PM »
Without a crystal ball it's hard to know.  What year bike?  Do you have spark?  Is there gas in the float-bowls?  Is the kill-switch functioning normally?  Is...
« Last Edit: October 09, 2007, 09:00:32 PM by admin »
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2007, 10:03:54 PM »
1981 R65, 23,000 miles, has spark, cranks but won't start

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2007, 10:05:01 PM »
kill switch works fine also

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2007, 11:17:08 PM »
Well, it's back to the basics : air, fuel, spark, compression. My first question would be, do you have the OEM gray ignition coil ? They have the reputation for failure, my original coil quit just 2 blocks from home, gave no warning, but still produced a yellowish spark at the plug, but not enough to fire the fuel air mixture in the cylinder .  Don't know your mechanical expertise, and the maintenance history on the bike, but everything is suspect on a 26 year old bike. You could start with checking the valve clearance , then compression, I would take a good look at the ignition system ignition control unit ( ICU) under the tank for di-electric grease between the ICU and heat sink, coil as mentioned, plug wires, plugs, then it's carburetors, if nothing has been done to them, rubber diaphragms, and other rubber parts in the carbs, throttle cables for condition, especially at the cable splitter under the tank. A good general inspection to see if something is loose or missing. No real easy way to narrow down the possibilities.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline nhmaf

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2007, 09:45:27 AM »
When you crank the engine, does it even try to fire, or just continuous cranking and no signs of combustion ?

After trying to start the engine several times, take the plugs out and see if they are wet with gas.   This is an important clue.

Did the engine just die quickly, or was it a long, burbling, gasping stop ?  

If things happened quickly, you are getting gas in the cylinders, but no fire, we can quickly limit the search to
the electrical parts of the bike.  Usually failures that occur rapidly and/or while running are electrical in nature.
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2007, 10:56:49 AM »
It died quickly. removed plugs.........not wet. When I tried restwting it just cranked with no sign of combustion. Bike has always run well, so no hints of any problems. I'll check the coil, etc. I'm sure its original.

Thanks for the assistance.

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2007, 11:23:13 AM »
The resistance of the primary windings of the coil should be 1.5 ohms, and the secondary windings around 12-13,000 ohms. If you need to replace the coil, a common replacement is the Dyna 'brown' coil, it's somewhat less costly than the OEM part.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2007, 11:32:12 AM »
Thanks Bob

Frank_M

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2007, 02:03:45 PM »
Dry plugs...maybe tiny fuel filter is no longer passing gas. (No pun intended.)

Offline nhmaf

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2007, 07:41:59 PM »
Plug wetness (or lack thereof) is a critical clue here - you're not getting gas through the carbs,
so it is time to start tracing back from the intake valves to the fuel tank.   You might also have
an electrical issue, but for the moment, if after continued cranking you have dry plugs, then you're
(literally) wasting your spark (pun intended).   Do the easy things first and check the fuel flow
through the petcock and/or any inline filters and gas line to the carbs.   IF the fuel line is more
than 5 years old, get some new hose and replace it anyhow.   If you are mechanically inclined
to carefully take the fuel petcock off and examine/clean it and test it for fuel flow, that would
be my next step.   If fuel flow is good and nonobstructed down to the carbs, then we can take it
step by step down there.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2007, 07:42:19 PM by nhmaf »
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2007, 07:57:52 PM »
Thanks for the input, no doubt its one of the things you fellows suggested. I recently replaced the fuel lines and it is getting fuel to the carbs. I'm inclined to believe its electrical. Thanks everyone for the assistance.

Frank

redzap

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2007, 12:16:51 AM »
Sounds like the same problem I had a few months ago (remember, guys?).  It ended up being the ICU which I bought from Rocky Point Cycle online.  However, all the other suggestions and questions are relevant. I had to also check the Hall sensor and replace the coil before locating the problem.  Good luck and let us know what you find out.   Rick Jones at Motorrad Electrik is also a good source of info...Chris  

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2007, 11:14:28 AM »
Thanks, will do !

flongr65

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Re: Engine died
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2007, 11:47:04 AM »
Thanks everyone for your assistance. It was the coil as I originally suspected. $200 later bike is running great again!