More SOBoxer problems

Got the bike running and dragged it out to take it to London for a
meeting, but it stalled on the drive and wouldn't re-start.

The previous afternoon, after replacing the starter, everything was
fine, managed to get it warmed up and got it settled into an idle at
around 1k rpm.

I thought I'd flooded it, so left it for a while and pulled the plugs
whilst I waited for it to 'dry'. Plugs were black, even though they're
new.

Cleaned the plugs, put them back in, and it still wouldn't start - I've
gone back to look at the idle richness setting and wound it back to the
recommended settings.

Took the car to the meeting, came back today, and tried to fire it up.
Nothing.

It's turning over fine, and I appear to have a spark.

It's definitely getting fuel.

Any ideas, as I'm running out of them now..... short of a match in the
petrol tank.

 

Dunno, but when it's fixed, stick the heap of shit on ebay & get
something more reliable like a BSA or James.

 

I'm definitely leaning towards eBay with this one.

It's the first shitter I've bought in years - even though I took the
precaution of buying from someone who appears to be a fairly well known
specialist in old BMWs.

 

And it was the coil pack.

Now replaced and working.

Gah!

 

Can't wait to hear what tomorrow's failure mode will be.

 

Heh. I'm kind of hoping this'll be the end of it.

It seems that the day I took it into The City fried all the electrics -
temperature that day was into the 30s in London and traffic was
incredibly heavy, plus I had the side cases on, so I was going very
slowly.

With hindsight, I probably should have stopped to let it cool for a
while.

Anyway, the coil pack on it now is the new 'black' coil, which is
supposedly much improved over the old ones, and the new Valeo starter
has definitely perked up the starting process.

Fingers crossed it'll be OK now - I'll give it a short run this
afternoon to fine tune the carb settings and take it for a longer run
tomorrow.

 

And to think people slag off Italian electrics. I've spent hours
crawling around Barcelona, Monte Carlo & Lake Maggiore in the high
30s/low 40s on the MV, with the fan running constantly, & nothing's
ever stopped working. Who'd have thought an MV would be a better, more
reliable touring bike than a BMW!

 

Over the years (mostly with cars), it has generally been German
electrical components which have given me the biggest issues.

 

Makes sense of a kind that bikes built in southern Europe should
withstand summer heat whilst those whose natural environment may include
the cold and wet of the Eifel mountains in winter can cope with that.
When the situation is reversed, however, weaknesses may become apparent.

TBF though, age of components also has to be a factor. Certainly seems
to be a limit on the life of CDI stator ignition windings on SO Italian
bikes which usually manifests itself when hot.

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

It's bog all to do with temp. The OE coils were faulty. It pays to replace
them at the outset.
Just like the mechanical regulator should be replaced with the high output
solid state unit.

Though I now have the nice combined regulator/rectifier upgrade.

 

I've had both. I think you need help.

 

Ditto

--
R100RT
Aprilia Pegaso 650 IE "The Flying Mythos"
Formerly: James Captain, A10, C15, B25, Dnepr M16 solo, R80/7, R100RT
(green!)
www.davidhowardjeweller.co.uk

 

<Studies fingernails>

So the BMW is up for grabs?

 

Possibly.... But there again, probably not for the money you'll want to
pay....

 

Hmmmmm.....

 

Ok.....

It's a 1983K, 59k miles, 7 month MOT.

Lots of life left in the tyres, BMW panniers and I'll include the
stainless Keihan cans.

How much is it worth to you?

 

Can I just point out that your problems were probably raised by the faulty
coils. A well known issue. You have replaced the coil and the other bits.
Also given it a new starter motor. It should run for 100's of thousands of
trouble free miles now and is a fantastic bike to own. Selling it *now* is a
bit silly. Actually very silly, if the reason is "it's unreliable".

 

It has just pissed me off with all the cocking about and the fact that
it let me down at a very bad time, making me late for a meeting, that
just makes me not particularly enthusiastic about it anymore.

If the money is right I'll seriously think about letting it go, if not
it's going up the lockup so I don't have to look at it every time I
open the garage.

 

Hm. £1500? Fancy a K11LT?

 

That he couldn't easily fix himself. Ha.

The RT would be nice in Chile.