Anybody else have this happen?

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Wass
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Anybody else have this happen?

Post by Wass »

I take my '04 RCK out for a ride last night for about a 30 minute spin. This ride was mostly back roads (4th and 5th gear mostly, ~4000 revs) and also a 10 mile shot down the expressway (6th gear, up to 5500 revs).
As I'm coming up my main road I pull into a parking lot. I downshift a few times, then finally pull in the clutch to coast and 1 cylinder cuts out. The motor stalled after about 5 seconds of 1 cylinder. Once I'm stopped, I restart and both cylinders are working. I stop the engine, go into the store, come back out and restarted to go home with no more problems.
I'm wondering if this just just a fluke like a Motronic glitch that may have happened to somebody else. Obviously if it happens again I'll have to do something about it.
Bike has 14,000 miles, BMW serviced at 12,000 miles and otherwise runs fine. All connections appear tight.
Anybody?
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riceburner
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Post by riceburner »

possibly a fluke, I take it the bike is running smoothly otherwise?
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Post by MikeCam »

"I downshift a few times, then finally pull in the clutch to coast and 1 cylinder cuts out."

This could use a better description and explanation of your riding, shifting, stopping sequence....

If the Motronic detects a no throttle position, it cuts fuel delivery. It should continue with enough fuel to idle, but early on, some users reported a situation similar to yours.
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Wass
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Post by Wass »

Thanks guys -
Here's exactly the sequence:
Doing about 50 mph in 5th gear,
destination approaching so I begin to slowdown, move to 4th gear,
turn getting very near so I move to 3rd gear.
Minimal throttle in 4th and 3rd to use engine braking.
Pull in the clutch just before the actual turn, notice the cylinder cut-out.
Bike runs on 1 cyl through the turn, then stalls as I straighten back up, clutch still pulled in.
Restarts no problem, twice, engine still at running temp.
Rode normally the last 2 miles home.
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Post by MikeCam »

Okay, that's so close to the situation reported here 2-3 years ago...

But I do not remember the full answer...

It starts with Cyclerob or Dean explaining just how the electro/mechanical/signal interface works and why it takes those conditions (as you describe) and cuts out rather than maintaining power...

The result is, however, to a) reset TPS; b) valve adjust and TBS always spot on; c) re-flash Motronic (at next service) and/or insure the fuse, switch, relay, wiring is intact at the Motronic unit; d) always keep a bit of power on (no cut throttle, always slightly giving); and e) no clutch engagement in corners...power through.

So some rider technique changes and some quirks of the German ECU recognized and the situation goes away (I think).
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Post by DJ Downunder »

Maybe it was the new BMW fuel saving system kicking in.... :D

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Post by OU812 »

Is it have anything like Gypsy's problem? I myself do not use engine braking, unless my race face is on, as brakes are cheaper then engines. :smt096
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MikeCam
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Post by MikeCam »

In Gypsy's case it seemed pretty clear that the cut-out was related to one of the engine kill circuits (Rob's diagnostics were really good at pinning that one)...

This one follows the other symptoms from before... When Cycle Rob chimes in, we will see clearer.

But it could be a spurious sidestand switch/weak spring causing the cut-out to engage on decel.
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Post by Robert_winter_1000 »

Hello all,
Wass,
Two years ago, I was driving my R1150R/2002 in the city, then tanked in a Shell station. Drove maybe 5 km (for the miles guys about 3 miles) then stopped by a traffic light. During the time I was waiting there I got 1 cylinder stopped working and the motor start shaking, then stopped completely after few seconds. I pushed the motor to the side of the road and tried to restart. First 5 seconds was shaky and then after opening full throttle for few seconds started working normal. This incident never happened again. I asked the BMW dealer about it and he think the cause is impurity or water condense in the fuel.
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Post by OU812 »

Are these bikes haunted? :smt088
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Post by Robert_winter_1000 »

Ou812,
Don't tell like this on our bikes, you never know maybe once your bike will be haunted as well :lol:
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Wass
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Post by Wass »

Well I'm pretty sure that my little glitch and Gypsy's are not the same as my engine only died after it went to one cylinder, while Gypsy and others describe a complete, immediate shutdown. I do see a bit of a pattern in that many of us use Shell gas....hmmmm.

As to engine braking - I was under the impression that this was not harmful at all. There are times where I almost never use the real brakes, I just keep climbing down, not over-revving, and slow the bike that way, which also keeps me a little closer to the proper rev range for whatever gear I'm in.
I don't think of using some engine braking as a racing type thing.

I do sometimes make sharp turns with the clutch pulled in, not under power, and I'm working on that :shock:
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Post by Arbee »

It has to be the spark plugs

it takes quite a while to burn all the oil off the LHS plug as that is the one that smokes after parking for an extended period.
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