Poorly R12S

[Boxermed69]

Well, it was running well the last time I had it out a few weeks ago.

Since then I've given the brake calipers a going over and replaced the front pads. Then I fitted a Fiamm Miniblaster horn and the wiring/transformer assembly for my Garmin. Neither required messing with the loom as I used the correct plug and wire assemblies from Nippy Normans. Put the bodywork back on last night ready for my trip to Crescent Motorcycles in Verwood this morning. I was booked in for dyno time to have a custom map made for the PC V. Went to start it and...starter motor whizzing away turning fresh air. Arse . So, starter motor out and disassembled. Sure enough the starter pinion was seized solid on its shaft. A good soaking with Plusgas while I had dinner freed it off. Everything cleaned and re-assembled, lubed as appropriate. Interestingly the pinion shaft looked in perfect condition. Motor refitted and yee ha - worked a treat...but the bike coughed, spluttered and farted before starting; then was vibrating like hell, lumpy, misfiring and refusing to tick over. Arse again

So, appointment cancelled this morning and off with the panels again. Disconnected the new electrical components one at a time - no change. Cut off the cable ties I'd used and wiggled the various wires - perhaps one had broken down inside? - no change. While I was on the phone to Crescent I asked if it was possible that the PC map had corrupted (I had inadvertently disconnected the negative battery terminal while the ignition was on when preparing to remove the starter motor) - all but impossible - confirmed that I still had a green power light and no flashing status codes. Then checked that I hadn't somehow snagged one of the throttle cables, which I understand is easy to do - nope. My next gambit is to check that the coil packs are pumping out healthy sparks and to change the plugs. After that I'm stumped and will probably end up getting my local independent specialist to pick the bike up in his van and interrogate via the OBD for a clue.

BTW, the tank is half full with fuel about a month old - and I've never had a problem with stale fuel, even stuff much older.

Any pearls of wisdom would be gratefully received.

Mike

[Herb]

Coil sticks are my guess too.

They are known to fail from time to time and would give similar symptoms. Not sure how it might be related to your starter issues, but maybe you have been unlucky and had 2 failures?

[Boxermed69]

Thanks Jim. Hmmm, I've racked my brain trying to figure how the 2 problems may be connected and can't come up with owt.

Mike

[ted]

in my experience its about starting with the basics - start with the plugs and work up from there!

[Boxermed69]

That's the plan Ted.

Mike

[nab 301]

I dug out this old thread.... there's some links , one on pelican , read and weep
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13696&hilit=idle+actuator

[fontana]

in my experience its about starting with the basics - start with the plugs and work up from there!

That's good advice that I learned a long time ago, when a bike I owned started behaving in a similar way.
After having had allsorts checked over and work carried out, at considerable cost to no avail, a friend who's not even a mechanic found the problem.
It was a plug cap that had split.

[milleplod]

A couple of years ago, my ST had ridden perfectly all day, then I rode it into the garage and parked it up for the winter. 4 months later, I started it up, and it was popping and banging and generally sounding like a bag of spanners. It was a stick coil that had failed, presumably just as I switched the engine off - there'd been no symptoms at all prior to garaging it for the winter.

I've got a pair of spare lowers and a main - if you want a loan of them to help with diagnosis, let me know and I'll send them to you, perhaps better/cheaper than buying them till you know for sure! I don't think there's any way of testing them other than by replacement - there are no codes thrown up by a failing one apparently.

Pete

[Boxermed69]

I dug out this old thread.... there's some links , one on pelican , read and weep
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13696&hilit=idle+actuator

Gee, thanks Nigel. I feel so much better A long but interesting read - poor old Peter F. His symptoms were different so hopefully my bike is not possessed by similar bad ju ju.

Mike

[Boxermed69]

A couple of years ago, my ST had ridden perfectly all day, then I rode it into the garage and parked it up for the winter. 4 months later, I started it up, and it was popping and banging and generally sounding like a bag of spanners. It was a stick coil that had failed, presumably just as I switched the engine off - there'd been no symptoms at all prior to garaging it for the winter.

I've got a pair of spare lowers and a main - if you want a loan of them to help with diagnosis, let me know and I'll send them to you, perhaps better/cheaper than buying them till you know for sure! I don't think there's any way of testing them other than by replacement - there are no codes thrown up by a failing one apparently.

Pete

Sounds more like it. That's a very decent offer Pete. I'll certainly bear it in mind, thanks Waiting for my alloy stick coil removal tool to arrive. I've tried 2 large screwdrivers with rags to protect the CF head covers, and then a big cable tie to pull on - no.1 will not shift It occurs now that I could just pull the entire head cover off with the coil still sat in it

Mike

[Boxermed69]

Update:

My independent specialist has spent 2 or 3 hrs re-checking coils, replaced the plugs anyway and inspecting/probing out the loom and connectors. This was after a plug-in diagnostic which flagged a TPS fault. New fitted = no change. A TPS re-set of the old unit didn't work either. Then PC disconnected and lamdas refitted - nope. He's run out of ideas now so it's off to the main dealer next, but they can't fit it in until 6th April. I just hope that their posh computer thingy finds something like corrupted Motronic software which may be re-loaded. Ha! That's not my luck - be fortunate to make (or be able to afford) North Wales at this rate Bloody machine...

Mike

[slparry]

Update:

My independent specialist has spent 2 or 3 hrs re-checking coils, replaced the plugs anyway and inspecting/probing out the loom and connectors. This was after a plug-in diagnostic which flagged a TPS fault. New fitted = no change. A TPS re-set of the old unit didn't work either. Then PC disconnected and lamdas refitted - nope. He's run out of ideas now so it's off to the main dealer next, but they can't fit it in until 6th April. I just hope that their posh computer thingy finds something like corrupted Motronic software which may be re-loaded. Ha! That's not my luck - be fortunate to make (or be able to afford) North Wales at this rate Bloody machine...

Mike

now don't think we're letting you off that easily

Did you do the throttle reset? I think it's, reconnect the battery cable, turn on the ignition, but don't start the bike, then you twist the throttle wide open three times and then switch off the bike, it resets you throttle position sensor adaptations in the computer.

Some say to disconnect the battery positive lead and ground it for a few seconds to "discharge" the system before reconnecting and following the above

[ted]

have you tried swapping the plugs - sometimes we cant see the wood for the trees!

[Boxermed69]

Throttle reset (for the TPS) tried multiple times, as well as via a laptop. I'll ask about grounding of the +ve battery lead.

Not sure about the swapping of plugs. I'll ask.

Thanks chaps.

Mike

[Topcat]

Mike,

Sent you a pm but not sure where its gone or if you received it?

Dave