1 A whole new set of problems... Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:15 pm
Bikesmith
Silver member
Hi everyone!
Well, I got my bike running. It's a 1985 K100rs that my wife gave me for my birthday. I spent the last three weeks getting it running. Hall sensor, fuel pump, bad wiring connections, relays, tires, switches, final drive splines. I've been all over that thing.
So I got it running a couple days ago. The first couple of rides revealed a new batch of problems and questions:
Other than those things, the bike ran INCREDIBLY. The engine sounded so, so smooth. Man, what a fun bike. I can't wait to take it out again (I don't suppose anyone in the Boulder, CO area has a rear shock I could borrow for a few weeks?).
Thanks, as always, for all your help! This community is fantastic!
Well, I got my bike running. It's a 1985 K100rs that my wife gave me for my birthday. I spent the last three weeks getting it running. Hall sensor, fuel pump, bad wiring connections, relays, tires, switches, final drive splines. I've been all over that thing.
So I got it running a couple days ago. The first couple of rides revealed a new batch of problems and questions:
- Here's the big one. It won't start when the bike is hot. The starter is turning the engine. The fuel pump is pumping. But it doesn't start. I can think of lots of things that would cause that, but most of them would also cause the bike to run badly. Before I shut it down the bike was running GREAT. Smooth solid idle, up to tons of power at high RPM, and everything in between. It seemed to run perfectly until I shut it down, and then 20 seconds later it would not start. I tried just starter, starter with a bit of throttle, a lot of throttle, some choke, full choke. Nothing. And it starts instantly when cold. The only thing I can think of is vapor lock. It is winter gas and I did get the bike pretty darn hot. Do Ks even suffer from vapor lock? What else could it be?
- The rear shock is leaking BADLY. I don't need any help with this issue. Just sympathy. The shock is already in the hands of UPS on its way to Works Performance. They say they'll need it for 3-4 weeks.
- The engine got quite hot while I was riding. I suspect this isn't a problem. I've heard the Ks get pretty hot. And it reached a hot temperature and then just stayed there. It cooled down on long descents. I feel pretty sure that it was normal. I'm just wondering how to differentiate between normal hot and problem hot. Does the temperature light on the dash light up for too hot in addition to cold? If the engine was too hot, could that have caused issue #1?
- Is my battery charging? While I was trying to start the bike as described in issue #1, I noticed that over the course of a dozen attempts to start the bike the starter sounded noticeably less emphatic. Is that normal? Should a battery be able to power minutes of starting attempts without diminishment? How can I check that the battery is charging while riding? The battery light turned off while the bike was running. Is that a solid indication that everything is okay? Or could I still be having alternator/charging issues even if the light turns off?
Other than those things, the bike ran INCREDIBLY. The engine sounded so, so smooth. Man, what a fun bike. I can't wait to take it out again (I don't suppose anyone in the Boulder, CO area has a rear shock I could borrow for a few weeks?).
Thanks, as always, for all your help! This community is fantastic!
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Jon
Mechanically competent, electrically perplexed
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1985 BMW K100RS
1959 BMW R60
1942 Chevrolet 3/4-ton Special
1940 Royal Enfield WD/CO
1975 Porsche 911S