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Problem with F650GS Dakar Problem with F650GS Dakar
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  #1  
Old 23 Mar 2008
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Unhappy Problem with F650GS Dakar
Finally received our bikes after 2 months in Thailand and the headache of customs. Put bikes back together and noticed petrol spillage, anyway, saw footprints on the side of the crate so now suspect it has been on its side for all or part of the journey from the UK. Started the bike after charging the battery overnight, to have plumes of smoke billow out of the exhaust and for the bike to idle at 3000RPM before dying. Spoke to mechanic friend who suggested taking it for a decent run and see what happens. Went for about 15km and the billowing smoke has gone away, but the bike stalls if off the throttle for a few seconds. It will start OK but i have to keep the revs up, if I leave it idle, it will go to 3000RPM then return to the normal 1500RPM for split second before cutting out. I have changed the air filter which was soaked in oil, presumably from lying on its side, and also soaked up a fair bit of oil from behind the air filter but it has not solved the problem. The bike does seem to surge slightly when riding as well. Any ideas would be good!!

many thanks

Andrew
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  #2  
Old 23 Mar 2008
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Heard of similiar problems which are usually related to low charge or poor connections to the battery. Could be the Motronic needs reprogramming, simple to do yourself. I doubt lying on its side would effect the tickover, perhaps a sensor got damaged ??

have a look here. GS / Dakar Hard Starting / Poor Running FAQ
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  #3  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Red face Still problem
Have topped up and charged the battery and checked connections but still no good. Will try disconnecting the battery and reconnecting to see if that helps. How do I reset the MoTronic? Which sensors could be damaged as my girlfriend has the F650GS so could I try the sensors off her bike?

Thanks for the help!!

Andrew
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  #4  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Disconnect the battery & leave it disconnected for a while - long enough to have cup of tea & a smoke. Reconnect & try to start the bike *without* touching the throttle, it has to learn the 'throttle closed' position - that resets the brain.

Symptoms you're describing are typical of a knackered battery. Did the acid drain out while it was on its side? If so just topping it up might not work.

If you've got jumper cables try starting/running the engine with another battery connected - if it runs smoothly like that then your battery is damaged.
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  #5  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by llanelli View Post
How do I reset the MoTronic?
If Smellys restart procedure does not fix it, I found this on f650.co.uk.......
Throttle body potentiometer reset needed.... Best way is to first off never touch the throttle while sparking. Then disconnect the battery for 10 mins. After that reconnect the terminals. Turn the ignition on, Turn the throttle from 0 to full slowly (should take you 2-3seconds) twice. Switch off and then back on.

I would give every contact a good spray with WD-40 too.

Maybe check the Filter/Regulator and Idle control device. Take care with the regulator its under pressure.
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  #6  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Hi sounds like a possible oil prblem to me if it has been on it's side for some time oil can seep into the bores and out of an open exhaust valve into the exhaust. This would have the effect of restricting the flow hence bad running and the billowing smoke speaks for it self. You don't need a lot of oil to do this so dont rely on the level being OK Hope it helps Rob
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  #7  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Oh soaked air filter it could be running on oil rather than petrol give it all good clean out if I were you.
Cheers Rob
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  #8  
Old 28 Mar 2008
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Still problems
Have changed the battery, disconnected the battery but all is still not well. The bike runs a little better but not at its best. It must have been being on its side as the bike was fine before I shipped. I think the acid from the battery ran out. What could it have damaged? It lay on the right side. Could oil be in the spark plug? Would this affect it? I know very little mechanically, all suggestions appreciated.
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Old 28 Mar 2008
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I would give the bike a full service, New Oil, Plugs and Air Filter (clean air box of excess oil).
Visually check all around the battery area for signs of corrosion damage especially on the wiring loom.

Once serviced see how it runs.
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  #10  
Old 28 Mar 2008
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Hi Andrew,
sorry to hear about your problems.
Your description of the problem does sound like a electrical / sensor issue, but I am not familiar with the BM system, there may be a sensor in the air box which is faulty or needs a clean. The fact it momentarily ticks over before stopping sort of confirms the engine management system is not receiving a signal as it should.

Triumph did have a problem with one model which allowed oil to enter the air box when it was dropped. If after this the bike was righted and started, the oil could enter the combustion chamber and bend a conrod. You had a lot of smoke after you started the engine just wondering if it could be a mechanical problem. I don't know of an easy way to check this, but keep it mind after you have checked everything else.

If you are having difficulty tracking the problem down, try and locate a good mechanic. When I was last in Thailand they had some good auto electricians and bike mechanics

Steve
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  #11  
Old 28 Mar 2008
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Theres a bypass air-channel in the throttle stub that opens up when the engine is at idle - this allows just enough airflow to keep the motor at idle when the throttle is fully closed.

If you peer down the throttle stub you'll see a hole in the side of the casting above & below the butterfly valve. They are on the right hand side of the throttle stub so would be the lowest point with the bike laid down as you describe - probably clogged up with oil.

Remove the throttle stub & give it a really good clean - might need a mechanic for that and a can of carb cleaner.
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  #12  
Old 28 Mar 2008
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Quote:
I have changed the air filter which was soaked in oil, presumably from lying on its side, and also soaked up a fair bit of oil from behind the air filter but it has not solved the problem.
Perhaps you also need to empty the drain hose from the intake silencer and or remove and clean the air temperature sensor located in the air intake pipe.

Emptying drain hose from intake air
silencer
(Inspections II and III)
• Have a funnel and drip tray ready.
• Remove the plug and drain off all the oil.

(I tried to include a photo but could not. Basically it is a small tube, on the right hand side of the bike, running down from the air box. It has a "tee" with a plug in it for draining.)

13 62 010 Removing and installing air
temperature sensor

• Disconnect the plug for the temperature sensor.

• Press in the lug and remove the temperature
sensor from the intake air pipe.

(Again no picture. It is a sensor with a wiring plug to it that is mounted on the bottom of the intake air box.)
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  #13  
Old 1 Apr 2008
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If you have not done this, check the rubber intake manifold. It might be loose or torn:

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  #14  
Old 5 Apr 2008
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Andrew,

Have you been able to solve the problem? If so, what did you find.
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  #15  
Old 13 Apr 2008
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Talking problem solved
Well thanks to the help of Beddhist the problem now seems to have been solved. We took the top off, airbox I think and gave the intake place a good wipe down. Cleaned all the holes leading to this which had a little oil but not a lot. Put it all back together, disconnected the battery and the motronic and left it for half an hour. Reconnected and the bike has been running Ok ever since. Dont really know what solved the problem, maybe the clean, just reconnecting wires and connections or resetting the motronic, or a combination of all.
Thanks to all for your input and special thanks to MaeSot resident mechanic, beddhist!!
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