BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting for so long and now this long doozy of a post.

I have an 2004 Rockster w/ about 12000 miles on it. It's completely stock except for a Garmin and a small windscreen. I'm in the reserves and last year I was recalled to active duty. Before I left, I put stabil in the tank and put the bike on a tender. I was expecting / hoping to get some friends to ride my bike a few times when I was away, but it never materialized. After my stateside military training was completed in May 2010, during a quick leave before I went overseas I rode my bike and everything seemed fine. I went overseas, came back this January and in February started riding the bike to work (my reg. civilian job). Riding it to work, it started fine, and everything seemed fine. I took the bike in to a local indie place that works on BMWs since the dealer is more than 1 hr. away. The shop changed the oil and the plugs. Here's where the drama started.

When I got the bike back, it would take a lot more cranking to start. When it did start in seemed fine, running as I always experienced. However, it took more and more cranking to start the bike to where it just wouldn't start at all. This happened pretty quickly; a few rides. Pulling the bike apart, I discovered the shop neglected to change the two secondary plugs; it's a dual spark bike. My dumbass also managed to burn out the starter with my agressive cranking.

New starter on the bike, new plugs in all plug holes. I also drained the tank and added fresh gas, BUT as I was siphoning it out through the top, I know I didn't get all of the old gas. Now it starts just fine, but will die right away. After a few starts, it will run with that "choke" lever in the up position, but not take any throttle, dieing if I twist the throtttle. After a solid warmup, the bike will accept some throttle, but overall it runs very rough.

I'm not sure where to go here. Is it the plugs? Bad seat, maybe no spark? Leftover bad gas?

Help, please.

Possible partially plugged fuel filter. It's located inside the tank and a pain to change but that's a good possibility.

Pulling the bike apart, I discovered the shop neglected to change the two secondary plugs; it's a dual spark bike.

If the independent shop failed to recognize a BMW Dual-Spark bike, then I wonder if they might have done damage to the primary plug stick coils or connectors when changing primary plugs.

If the fuel filter is partially clogged, you can try to put some Seafoam in the tank. It will also clean your injectors

The spark plug connector at the plug may be an issue. I came across the following in another thread about not disconnecting the wire before pulling the plug. maybe the mech you took yours to didnt do this??? ...

"At Anton's, in taking the spark plugs out for the valve adjustment, I did what I usually do, and Anton asked, "Do you disconnect the wires before pulling the coils?" "Uhhh. No. Should I?" Apparently, YES. I should.

A question: Do all of you DIY folks disconnect the spark plug WIRE before pulling the coil? If you don't, and your bike is running rough... The problem may not be the stick coil, but the connector. We discovered that the CONNECTOR on the right side was broken at the coil. It would probably have been a looong time before I figured out what was going on, since I "never" disconnect the wire for valve adjustments."

Is it possible that you have one of your throttle cables not seated properly? Perhaps while changing the starter or draining the tank, one of them got pulled out of the adjuster a little bit. Check that.

Damaged stick coil/connector.
unseated throttle cable
very badly balanced TBs

That's what I'd check.

WorkinMan wrote:Is it possible that you have one of your throttle cables not seated properly? Perhaps while changing the starter or draining the tank, one of them got pulled out of the adjuster a little bit. Check that.

This was it; thank you very much. And it was just the rubber sheath not stuck properly into the nipple by the TB. Just a pop, it was in, and everything ran fine.

Good deal. Glad we could help.

MoraleHazard wrote:

WorkinMan wrote:Is it possible that you have one of your throttle cables not seated properly? Perhaps while changing the starter or draining the tank, one of them got pulled out of the adjuster a little bit. Check that.

This was it; thank you very much. And it was just the rubber sheath not stuck properly into the nipple by the TB. Just a pop, it was in, and everything ran fine.

WorkinMan you are the Man!!

Aww Shucks... Twern't nothin.

Amazing forum. One of the best I've had the pleasure of being associated with.

-john