DesertRider
02-16-2004, 09:13 PM
We have some great folks among us. Example:
A few days ago I posted a message in the Oilheads section about a curious clanking noise on my 1100R, including a WAV file of the sound. Several folks listened to the WAV file and posted helpful ideas and suggestions which helped narrow the problem. One person (Stu, forum handle "Chickenman_26") that it's hard to diagnose a problem even from a recording, mentioned that he lives near me, and suggested I come over so he could take a look at it.
So earlier today I visited Stu's home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and before I even shut off the engine Stu was at work, immediately diagnosing that the engine sounded like the throttle bodies were out of sync. Being new to Boxers and not knowing better, I'd assumed a bit of of lumpiness at idle was normal, but Stu assured me it wasn't. I hadn't been there three minutes and Stu was already hauling out the gear to do a proper throttle adjustment and throttle body balance. We found that the TBs were out of balance even at idle, and as soon as a bit more throttle was applied the imbalance was off the scale of the differential pressure sensor. I'd suspected that the surging I sometimes experience was probably related to some TB imbalance, but I had no idea that they were THAT far off.
Stu then proceeded to make all the proper adjustments, talking through the whole procedure so that I'd know how to do it next time. In the end when I took the bike for a quick test ride I was amazed how much better it ran -- much smoother all the way from idle to redline, perceptibly more roll-on power, and smooth as butter at highway cruise -- no more surging. Stu opined that it would probably improve the fuel mileage, too (it's only been getting in the high 30s -- not too good, but again I didn't know what to expect).
We were never able to diagnose the "clank" because it only does it when it's cold, but I now have some suggestions for things to check on my own. Stu also answered a number of other questions I had, such as why the charge light doesn't go out right away on start-up, and also helped pinpoint a tiny oil leak that I'd not been able to find.
All in all it was probably the most useful two hours I've ever spent working on a bike, not only learning a lot but ending up with a much better running bike. And at the end of it all, all Stu would accept in recompense was the promise of a cup of coffee sometime.
I mention all this because I think Stu exemplifies the selflessness and willingness to help that make a community like this worthwhile. He'll probably be embarrassed that I'm posting this, but I think an example like his deserves to be better known, if nothing else as a model for many others. Next time it seems just a bit too much trouble to offer to help someone else, think of an example like Stu's, and how without that spirit the community of BMW owners would not be nearly what it is. It's people like Stu who make it work.
So thanks, Stu, for a fine afternoon, some excellent teaching, and a great example for all the rest of us. I certainly appreciate it, and I think a lot of others do as well.
A few days ago I posted a message in the Oilheads section about a curious clanking noise on my 1100R, including a WAV file of the sound. Several folks listened to the WAV file and posted helpful ideas and suggestions which helped narrow the problem. One person (Stu, forum handle "Chickenman_26") that it's hard to diagnose a problem even from a recording, mentioned that he lives near me, and suggested I come over so he could take a look at it.
So earlier today I visited Stu's home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and before I even shut off the engine Stu was at work, immediately diagnosing that the engine sounded like the throttle bodies were out of sync. Being new to Boxers and not knowing better, I'd assumed a bit of of lumpiness at idle was normal, but Stu assured me it wasn't. I hadn't been there three minutes and Stu was already hauling out the gear to do a proper throttle adjustment and throttle body balance. We found that the TBs were out of balance even at idle, and as soon as a bit more throttle was applied the imbalance was off the scale of the differential pressure sensor. I'd suspected that the surging I sometimes experience was probably related to some TB imbalance, but I had no idea that they were THAT far off.
Stu then proceeded to make all the proper adjustments, talking through the whole procedure so that I'd know how to do it next time. In the end when I took the bike for a quick test ride I was amazed how much better it ran -- much smoother all the way from idle to redline, perceptibly more roll-on power, and smooth as butter at highway cruise -- no more surging. Stu opined that it would probably improve the fuel mileage, too (it's only been getting in the high 30s -- not too good, but again I didn't know what to expect).
We were never able to diagnose the "clank" because it only does it when it's cold, but I now have some suggestions for things to check on my own. Stu also answered a number of other questions I had, such as why the charge light doesn't go out right away on start-up, and also helped pinpoint a tiny oil leak that I'd not been able to find.
All in all it was probably the most useful two hours I've ever spent working on a bike, not only learning a lot but ending up with a much better running bike. And at the end of it all, all Stu would accept in recompense was the promise of a cup of coffee sometime.
I mention all this because I think Stu exemplifies the selflessness and willingness to help that make a community like this worthwhile. He'll probably be embarrassed that I'm posting this, but I think an example like his deserves to be better known, if nothing else as a model for many others. Next time it seems just a bit too much trouble to offer to help someone else, think of an example like Stu's, and how without that spirit the community of BMW owners would not be nearly what it is. It's people like Stu who make it work.
So thanks, Stu, for a fine afternoon, some excellent teaching, and a great example for all the rest of us. I certainly appreciate it, and I think a lot of others do as well.