Misfire/rough running

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1200R.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

I've had this issue 3 or 4 times since I bought the bike at the beginning of July.

It happens when starting from cold.
It fires up immediately but goes into a chugging mode as if running on 1 cylinder. The rev counter bounces between 1K and 3K. Blipping the throttle will allow you to pull away but throttle control is almost like an on/off switch. After a few miles it seems to settle down and runs very smoothly.

I've tried switching the ignition on and off without any change and I've had the main coil packs out and plugs with nothing to show anything unusual.

I'll be pleased to hear if anyone has any ideas what may be the problem.

The mileage is only 3,300.
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
User avatar
mogu83
Lifer
Posts: 1692
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Harry Costello Jersey Shore, NJ

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by mogu83 »

Mileage 3,300 ???? Is it new or has it been sitting somewhere.?
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2011 Sportster
BMWMOA 57358
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

mogu83 wrote:Mileage 3,300 ???? Is it new or has it been sitting somewhere.?
Bought it early July with 2,661 miles.
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
User avatar
mogu83
Lifer
Posts: 1692
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Harry Costello Jersey Shore, NJ

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by mogu83 »

Eagle6 wrote:Bought it early July with 2,661 miles.
Interesting but Is it new or has it been sitting somewhere??
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2011 Sportster
BMWMOA 57358
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

It's a 2012 model that had a previous owner. He rode the 2,661 miles.

It's obviously not been ridden regularly as can be seen by mileage.
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
User avatar
mogu83
Lifer
Posts: 1692
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Harry Costello Jersey Shore, NJ

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by mogu83 »

Seeing as it sat a while maybe (just maybe) this could be relevant. Posted by Don Eilenberger a while back it's about cleaning the grease in the stepper motor.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=27819&p=231101&hil ... er#p231101
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2011 Sportster
BMWMOA 57358
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by deilenberger »

When it does this - start it, let it run chugging for a minute or two, shut it down. VERY carefully check the exhaust pipe temperature (I'd suggest an IR laser-thermometer) - see if one cylinder isn't running.

If it is one that isn't running - try swapping the primary coils from side to side. See if the non-running cylinder follows the coils. If it does that indicates a coil/ignition problem. If the non-running cylinder doesn't change - next swap the air adjustment steppers. They're identical and interchangeable. Does the fault follow the stepper? If not - we can eliminate the steppers.

Let it cool down a bit - and remove the primary plugs. Take a look - do they look identical? If not - photos of the tips would be helpful.

Possibilities I see:

1. Possible the steppers are sticky. The re-greasing would take care of that. And the test above would tell us if this is the problem.
2. Possible one of the primary coils is weak. The swap test is a good way to determine that - and reading the plugs will tell us if the bike is receiving fuel in the non-firing cylinder or not.

If one of the plugs is wet - that would indicate that injector is working and the plug isn't firing. If both plugs look identical - chances are it's not a fuel related problem.

This is one of those problems where careful diagnostics might turn up a clue as to what's happening.

Good luck, and let us know what you figure out or find..
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

Thanks Don.
I'll keep all this in mind. With the issue bring random it may take some time to diagnose.
I may jump the gun and regrease the steppers to remove one possible cause.
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

Don, I've just had a look at the LH stepper and the sleeve that looks like brass in your photos is a black plastic. Were the photos taken with a previous bike?
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by deilenberger »

Eagle6 wrote:Don, I've just had a look at the LH stepper and the sleeve that looks like brass in your photos is a black plastic. Were the photos taken with a previous bike?
These were on my '07 R1200R - I haven't done the ones on my '12 R12R yet. Is the sleeve plastic or perhaps black anodized aluminum?
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by deilenberger »

BTW - I'm actually surprised - the photos on that DIY were Photobucket hosted - and they still seem to appear. How about that..
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

[quote="deilenberger"
These were on my '07 R1200R - I haven't done the ones on my '12 R12R yet. Is the sleeve plastic or perhaps black anodized aluminum?[/quote]
I would say plastic.
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
User avatar
sykospain
Member
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2014 10:42 am
Donating Member #: 1
Location: s.e. Med cost of Spain
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by sykospain »

My recent experience points me at always - before investigating throttling, fuel-supply, sychronism and any other issues -
ALWAYS
rule out the possibility of a faulty stick coil.

Use the proprietary elegantly-machined alloy pulling tool ( the supplied plastic one often breaks ) to remove a stick coil - corrosion on the long outer sleeve leads to failure, which leads to rough running.
This is the list of people I'd trust with my bike
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

Miraculously the issue hasn't raised it's ugly head since I posted the original query, so I haven't had chance to try any of the tests.
Was going to say I was looking forward to sorting out this issue but to be honest, of it's gone away I'm happy. LOL
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by deilenberger »

Eagle6 wrote:Miraculously the issue hasn't raised it's ugly head since I posted the original query, so I haven't had chance to try any of the tests.
Was going to say I was looking forward to sorting out this issue but to be honest, of it's gone away I'm happy. LOL
Since it might have sat for quite a while without fresh gas in it - it might just have been something like a sticky injector that has now cleared itself out with new gas.. wouldn't surprise me if you never experience it again.
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
User avatar
Eagle6
Basic User
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Lincolnshire, England

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by Eagle6 »

:p Took her out again on Saturday and everything ran perfectly.

Image
2017 R1200R Exclusive rusted away so back with the real thing 2012 R1200R TC
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by deilenberger »

Eagle6 wrote::p Took her out again on Saturday and everything ran perfectly.

Image
That's the best color BTW..
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
macmanaman
Basic User
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 1:45 pm

Re: Misfire/rough running

Post by macmanaman »

Do you have enough slack in the throttle?
I have had this problem and it was due not enough slack in the gas throttle cable.

Regards from Spain
Post Reply