Electric gremlin?

[johns]

After riding around for about 2000 miles to see in what shape my R65 is, I got a short list of flaws and a somewhat random (and changing) list of things I want to modify. Besides a heavy throttle, some slack in the drivetrain and a leaking seal near the shift linkage, I discoverd every now and then the engine dies. The speedo drops to zero also. After a short time (sometimes immidiately) the engine starts (by releasing the clutch or by using the electric starter).

Most of the times it happens while slowing down. Never had in on the highway or higher speeds. If anyone has tips on where to look first, it will be very appreciated.

Stil enjoy riding this little thing by the way. For fun rides I more often take this airhead for a spin and not the K, although I like that one a lot also

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

If the bike is new to you, you need to retorque the heads, adjust the valves, and do a leakdown test.

If that shows good, then you need to check/adjust the timing, and then get it warmed up with a brisk 20 minute ride, and then adjust the carburetors.


Unless you have already done all this.

[MrRiden]

I'll chime in on the heavy throttle. I found, while replacing my hand grips, that the right hand switch gear / throttle tube had moved inward on the handlebars. This caused a wee bit of the bars to be exposed beyond the end of the tube causing drag on the end of the grip. I moved it out and installed the grips, problem solved. It snaps shut smartly now. This after replacing the cables and checking the throttle gear / chain thingie and splitter to no avail.
rich
Oh, and this on the seal http://suraklyn.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1212283256/6#6

[johns]

Good tips. On the stalling... It didn't start earlier, so I pulled the plug cap and tested with another plug. No spark. Started again and after a few tries the test plug started sparking while the other cillinder came to life. So... fautly (corroded?) wireing? Or the ignition module?

[montmil]

Good tips. On the stalling... It didn't start earlier, so I pulled the plug cap and tested with another plug. No spark. Started again and after a few tries the test plug started sparking while the other cillinder came to life. So... fautly (corroded?) wireing? Or the ignition module?

Good tips. On the stalling... It didn't start earlier, so I pulled the plug cap and tested with another plug. No spark. Started again and after a few tries the test plug started sparking while the other cillinder came to life. So... fautly (corroded?) wireing? Or the ignition module?

If you are still motoring with the original BMW "Crack-O-Matic" ignition coil, dollars to doughnuts it's bad. Pull the tank off and if the coil is gray&black, it's a BMW. Wipe it off well and look for tiny cracks. Found mine on the forward end in a circular pattern. One crack and they're toast.

Rick Jones http://www.motoelekt.com/index.html is your go-to guy. $90 for the Dyna coil. A direct bolt-on replacement. We all love 'em.

Can't get on Photobucket right now -way busy site- or I'd post up a pic.

Monte

[nhmaf]

If you need to replace the coil, you may as well clean and re-paste the ignition control module while you are there.
Here is a thread that will give you some pertinent info, with pics:

http://suraklyn.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1195434246/3#3

[johns]

Is it one coil in there? It would make sense I guess. It stalled a few times when I first got it, been riding it mostly in good weather since and last week a lot of rain, although I haven't been riding in rain, but roads have been really wet

I've heared about the stock Buell/Sportster coils that go for a few bucks on eBay and should work also.

[montmil]

Is it one coil in there? It would make sense I guess. It stalled a few times when I first got it, been riding it mostly in good weather since and last week a lot of rain, although I haven't been riding in rain, but roads have been really wet

I've heared about the stock Buell/Sportster coils that go for a few bucks on eBay and should work also.

Don't recall you mentioning the vintage of your R65. Mine's a 1981. The bike had issues with the ignition when I bought it but those problems helped me negotiate on the price.

My '81 had the original BMW single coil with two plug leads. Some Beemers have/had twin coils. Suggest you research the "lost spark" operation of the BMW ignition before you venture too far afield. The eBay items might work. Maybe. I replaced my Crack-O-Matic with the "drop in, dead simple" Dyna unit from Rick Jones. It's the hook up these days on BMWs.

The plug wires and caps were OEM and ratty so those were replaced with the kit from Mike's XS  http://www.mikesxs.net/ for something like twelve bucks. NGK caps, goods wires and terminals. I also had him toss in the correct sparklers for just a few extra bucks.

"Buell" and "should work" don't always feed the bulldog, if you get my drift. Not a great rep for reliability. Could be why they only cost "a few bucks". Just my opinion, boys. No offense meant to the mid-life crisis Hardley-Dressed folk.

[johns]

It's a '82. I'll check all the connections first.

Thanks for all the tips

[montmil]

Finally... I really don't like it when these so-called free sites, like PhotoBucket, start changing stuff and compuKer non-friendly me has to sort it all out. Oh well. I did mention it's free, didn't I?   Monte


Here's what the Crack-O-Matic looks like when it goes Tango Uniform. Tiny, circular pattern...

[not-so-fast-ed]

Don't overlook the ignition switch.  Mine worked 99 % of the time but would cut out, idiot lights would die, and I'd be left momentarily with a 400 pound foot scooter.  Died for a second and then came back to life in the middle of a "fun" curve one day.   Saw the light and replaced the electrics side of the switch in hopes that it would cure it.  Never had another problem with it.
Ed 8-)

[msbuck]

If it's had problems when it's wet, I vote for the coil.  Mine was fine until I hit some rain/road mist.  My crack/burn was much different that Monte's....

This was a barely noticable crack...


And I also had burn holes...


The first time I examined it I missed the problem, so look closely.  

[montmil]

If it's had problems when it's wet, I vote for the coil.  Mine was fine until I hit some rain/road mist.  My crack/burn was much different that Monte's....  a barely noticable crack... And I also had burn holes...

Fiendish little rascals, eh?  

[shelhead210]

I had the same problem.  Intermittant electrical failure while riding.  Turned out to be the run/stop switch.  Take it apart...carefully.  Clean the rust out of it and put it back together...carefully.  It has a little spring in it so make sure and catch all of the parts when you take it apart.  This fixed my electrical gremlin.  Hope it works for you.

[johns]

While I will probably replace the coil anyway (planning a trip to Italy next summer, not on the K but on the R65), I think I had another problem.

I removed the gastank and started cleaning and spraying the connections underneath. What I noticed was that a connector to the voltage regulator (I think, didn't check what it was) was only halfway into it's socket. After cleaning I plugged it in and I haven't had a problem since.

Fingers crossed. Anyway, before I start improving this thing with some mods, I'll continue to perform some maintenance it did't receive. Heavy throtle, valves and syncing again is first