R80 Won't start Help me budha

[miltown]

O.K. here is the deal. My stupid a## didn't turn the key fully to the off postion. After work I come out and the bike is dead. Jumpstart the bike with a car and it starts up. 2 minutes later while it is warming up ( I'm in Wisconsin) it dies out of knowhere. Now it turns over but won't start. The bike is an '83 R80RT. Is that a diode board or what. I'm starting to think I bought a lemon. Nothing but wrenching since I bought this thing. Do I ever get to ride it?

paul

[donbmw]

Charge your battery with it dead it didnot charge when you jumpped it.

Don

[20774]

Diode board is part of the charging circuit, not the starting circuit. Battery, cables, starter relay, starter, coils, plugs, timing, fuel...things to check. To run it needs fuel, spark, compression.

Since it was running before, more than likely compression's not the problem. Fuel in the float bowls? Does fuel flow into the float bowls...no restrictions in the tank/lines? How about spark? Take the spark plugs out...they look OK or are they fouled? Put plugs back into the spark plug leads and ground the threads to the engine fins. Turn the starter over...nice fat spark or weak yellow spark? Try new spark plugs...someone on this list is going to tell you to get NGKs...whatever... What's the resistance from one high tension spark plug cap all the way over to the other plug cap? Recheck your static timing... Being a '83, you might have blown the ignition module, or the heat sink paste needs to be renewed.

[twintoaster2]

You might want to check your battery again. If you jumped it and it wan't charged enough you might have blown a diode or two trying to recharge the battery with the bike running.
Now you could have a enough to turn it over but not start it. What is the voltage sitting there?

[26667]

my own experience is that you have to CHAAAARGE that battery. It needs 24 hrs on the trickle charger, or a decent length ride i.e. 30 minutes or more at high rpms, i.e. over 4k.
I've also had a similar experience; failing to fully turn the key, and having run the battery down, it was simply kaput.
Also be sure to check the fluid level. If it's low it won't charge fully, and that could also ruin the battery.

hope that's not the case for you.

[miltown]

Well first off the charge didn't have a chance to take because the bike ran for a whole two minutes after jump start. A little held . Enough for dash lights. When I jump it now it turns over strong but just not starting. I haven't had a chance to check spark which iI think it is because there is fuel. Is it ok to pull the plug lay it on the cyclinder and check for spark?I know you want to keep it grounded.Any idea what that resistance is suppose to be between wires? I replaced the wires and caps (with NGK's) this week. New spark plug ,timing was O.K. set valves and synced carbs with a manometer. I'm thinking something shorted or did something tring to charge battery in that breif time it ran .Any ideas where to start if like I guess jump starting it messed it up. I just can't see it just stopping for no reason. What's up with this diode board? Any ideas where to start on troubleshooting that? Every time I here diode I shutter because of the greif that they caused on Triumphs (zener) and in electronics in general. What am I checking for opens or resistance or some voltage across it..Also if I'm not getting spark can I count on it being the coils or what else is in line with the coils that would prevent them from giving spark. Sorry for all the questions but I'm just getting very frustrated with this bike and the amount of time I'm putting into this thing. Ex: I'm up at 4:30 in the morning setting valve clarences. That is not right. I just don't have the time to be wrenching all the time. I just pray it will stop some day or at least for a moment to enjoy the ride.:violin:banghead

[20774]

Is it ok to pull the plug lay it on the cyclinder and check for spark?I know you want to keep it grounded.

Yes, be sure to keep the threads grounded otherwise you could hurt the coils.

Any idea what that resistance is suppose to be between wires?

On the order of 20-22K ohms.

What's up with this diode board? Any ideas where to start on troubleshooting that?

Try some past threads:

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20274
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20116

[QUOTE=miltown;248058]Also if I'm not getting spark can I count on it being the coils or what else is in line with the coils that would prevent them from giving spark.[QUOTE]

Not necessarily...you have the electronic ignition system with a special trigger module on the front of the engine and a module or "brain" for the system. I believe your bike has twin coils as opposed to the single coil with twin outputs. Coils and spark plug wiring are easier to check out and eliminate from the problem...the other parts are harder; you almost have to swap in known good components for that. If you have the twin coils, be sure that the small black jumper wire is properly and securely connected between the two coils. Sometimes this can fall off or not make good contact. The coils won't work if this wire is missing.

By all means, rule the battery out. If it strongly turns the starter, then that's probably not the problem. Otherwise, perform voltage measurements on it while the starter is turning, hydrometer tests; possibly take it to some of the auto parts stores for a load test. If you suspect the battery, might be time to get a new one. Check all cables and especially the ground.

[miltown]

Well Kurt while you were posting I'm glad to say I was riding. I got to work at 5:45 this morning ( the first time I was ever early) started going at it. No spark. Just as I thought. As I'm taking the tank I reached under to check all termnal connects on coils and one was not quite disconnected but definitley about to come off. I pushed it on nice, hit the starter, it was beatuiful sounds all over again. Must have knocked it while I was changing plug wires on Tuesday. Then maybe with the rumbly start after the jump it just finished off. I went for a nice two hour ride on this beatiful 40 degree morning and I loved every minute. Now I'm back to tell you all about it. Let the love /hate relationship continue. Kurt and everyone else thanks for your help and support during my drama. Also if you have time look at ride reports under Boxxergrrlie and you will see my funny picture . I'm the one waving. Now you can put a face to my name.Even though I dislike these little yellow monsters I'm gonna use it one more time.:wave

paul

[cjack]

Well Kurt while you were posting I'm glad to say I was riding. I got to work at 5:45 this morning ( the first time I was ever early) started going at it. No spark. Just as I thought. As I'm taking the tank I reached under to check all termnal connects on coils and one was not quite disconnected but definitley about to come off. I pushed it on nice, hit the starter, it was beatuiful sounds all over again. Must have knocked it while I was changing plug wires on Tuesday. Then maybe with the rumbly start after the jump it just finished off. I went for a nice two hour ride on this beatiful 40 degree morning and I loved every minute. Now I'm back to tell you all about it. Let the love /hate relationship continue. Kurt and everyone else thanks for your help and support during my drama. Also if you have time look at ride reports under Boxxergrrlie and you will see my funny picture . I'm the one waving. Now you can put a face to my name.Even though I dislike these little yellow monsters I'm gonna use it one more time.:wave

paul

Oh. You're that guy in the picture. Nice picture. Glad that you got the bike going again. They run pretty well if you don't do any thing to them to keep them from running. Don't warm it up too long. Maybe a half minute.
BTW. You will get all sorts of things to worry about if you read this forum. Most of them are not going to happen. And, usually it is the last thing that you did or messed with. Always look there first.
Nice bike, the R80.

[miltown]

Oh. You're that guy in the picture. Nice picture. Glad that you got the bike going again. They run pretty well if you don't do any thing to them to keep them from running. Don't warm it up too long. Maybe a half minute.
BTW. You will get all sorts of things to worry about if you read this forum. Most of them are not going to happen. And, usually it is the last thing that you did or messed with. Always look there first.
Nice bike, the R80.

Thanks for the advice Chuck. I'm learning that there is this weird perfectionist thing with these bikes that goes on. I never doubted my abilities when I worked on bikes and autos but I get this bike and read some stuff and I get all panicy. I remember that ideology when I was working with Euro cars. This mechanic, from Ferrari Racing in the sixties I used to work with , laid it out for me then about just fix 'em and ride 'em stop tring to make it perfect. ie: Trust yourself your fine.There was really no need to change those wires. Just busy work. The bike was running fine.

paul

[skiteach]

"This mechanic, from Ferrari Racing in the sixties I used to work with , laid it out for me then about just fix 'em and ride 'em stop tring to make it perfect. ie:"

He was right! Those are just really expensive Fiats! (sure wish I could afford one!)