screwed something up!- poor idle

[paddlermikem]

This afternoon I hooked up the wire harness for a new heated jacket liner for my wife. This eve was cool enough to test it and when we got all geared up the bike wouldn't run! I must have messed something up but don't know what.

It's an '02 R1150GS. First start attempt wouldn't run and sounded like it might backfire. I am able to get it to start with the switch in the "choke" position and it seems to rev up fine. It barely idles at about 900 RPMs and when I switch off the "choke" it quickly sputters out.

Don't know what's wrong but here's what I had messed with... I unbolted the tank to raise the back end for battery access. Disconnected and reconnected the battery while hooking up the jacket harness. Also while I was under the seat I checked the air filter and had a bit of a time getting the cover back on for some reason.

Could I have loosened a wire somewhere or messed up the sensor in the air filter housing? (It looks fine) I'm rather green on the bike maintenance. I looked over the stuff I messed with but don't see any obvious problem. :scratch

Any suggestions?

[manicmechanic]

I would check that both throttle cables are inserted properly into the adjusters at the throttle bodies. I've experienced primarily the right side cable being oulled out and sitting on top of the adjuster, making the throttle bodies very out of sync. Just pop the cable end back into the adjuster and it should start fine.

[paddlermikem]

Just pop the cable end back into the adjuster and it should start fine.

Shucks, you had me juiced but that would have been too easy... both cables look fine. Any other thoughts?

[rhyeks]

When you reconnect the battery, you need to switch the ignition on -do not start -and fully open and close the throttle a couple of times to allow the Motronic control unit to register the throttle butterfly positions.

[paddlermikem]

When you reconnect the battery, you need to switch the ignition on -do not start -and fully open and close the throttle a couple of times to allow the Motronic control unit to register the throttle butterfly positions.

Do I need to disconnect the battery again to follow that process?

[manicmechanic]

Open the fusebox cover, remove fuse #5. Turn key to On, wait 10 seconds. Twist throttle fully twice and release. Turn key OFF. Replace fuse. Start bike and check for proper operation.

[John Brase]

Do I need to disconnect the battery again to follow that process?

Also, check your cable routing around the pulleys. Sometimes the cables can get fouled there, or something like a little stone can get wedged in a pulley under the cable.

John

[paddlermikem]

Open the fusebox cover, remove fuse #5. Turn key to On, wait 10 seconds. Twist throttle fully twice and release. Turn key OFF. Replace fuse. Start bike and check for proper operation.

Gave it a shot.... no change. Does that do the dame thing as disconnecting the battery?

Also checked throttle cable routing again. It looks fine.

Any other ideas?

[paddlermikem]

I'm mechanically retarded... I think the current P.C. term is mechanically challenged. :(

I tried several things. I disconnected the battery and reconnected with the correct procedure. I looked over wires , fuel lines, vacuum lines that may have been messed up by the tank. No change.

I tried riding it, thinking perhaps it could reset the Motronic control stuff. No luck. It idles now without shutting off but still runs erratically. It needs extra gas to get going and then out of the blue surges forward. It runs up to speed but continues to be erratic with throttle changes.

Any more help? :ear

[John Brase]

I am not sure who gets credited with enunciating the rule (Eilenberger, probably) but it is "check where you last worked."

You've done much of it but I haven't seen that you've looked in a couple places that might be productive. I think I'd take the tank loose again and check that you haven't pinched one of the hoses. I'd also take the airbox cover off again and check in that area since you said you had a tough time getting the cover back on. Make sure you've got everything seated right and you didn't knock a wire off somewhere. Though it sounds more like a fuel delivery problem than an electrical one to me.

For what it's worth, I usually have trouble getting the airbox cover to snap back in place too. It just takes "futzing" to get it seated correctly.

Just a stab in the dark here, but check under the throttle bodies and make sure the two little black hoses are still connected. It would be nice if you had a manometer, CarbStix, TwinMax or some way to check the TB sync.

It is something simple. We just need to find it.

John

[JimMoore]

Shucks, you had me juiced but that would have been too easy... both cables look fine. Any other thoughts?
I hate to badger you, but the other 10,000 people who have had this problem have found a throttle cable dislodged from its adjuster. It's VERY common after you lift the tank. There is one on each throttlle body. It is behind the fuel injector, about an inch directly above the pulley.

[paddlermikem]

I hate to badger you, but the other 10,000 people who have had this problem have found a throttle cable dislodged from its adjuster. It's VERY common after you lift the tank. There is one on each throttlle body. It is behind the fuel injector, about an inch directly above the pulley.

:twirl Brilliant! Sometimes I need a bit of badgering. I rechecked how the cable runs around the pulley and fastens on... Ah ha, this time I noticed one of the cable housings was popped out of the piece it seats on. The bike started fine and sounds good. I'll ride it to work this morning and make sure.

What a great body of knowledge to draw from. Thanks to all for the help.
-Mike

[Brettendress]

probably the throttle cable hung up on the grommet. Happens to me everytime I move the tank up for anything

Brett Endress
Altoona pa

[DrPaul]

I hate to badger you, but the other 10,000 people who have had this problem have found a throttle cable dislodged from its adjuster. It's VERY common after you lift the tank. There is one on each throttlle body. It is behind the fuel injector, about an inch directly above the pulley.Common things occur commonly. In medicine we say "when you hear hoofbeats, suspect horses, not zebras". Jim, you can badger me anytime!

[JimMoore]

:twirl Brilliant! Sometimes I need a bit of badgering. I rechecked how the cable runs around the pulley and fastens on... Ah ha, this time I noticed one of the cable housings was popped out of the piece it seats on. The bike started fine and sounds good. I'll ride it to work this morning and make sure.

What a great body of knowledge to draw from. Thanks to all for the help.
-Mike

Sweet! Happy to help. Rest assured, you'll get the opportunity to pass that little gem along.

[jcridge]

10,001 and counting.....:whistle