Leave It Alone?

[dbuffington]

Hi Folks!

For about a month now, I've been enjoying my new-for-me 2000 R1100R, and I've also been enjoying all the talk about fixing the oilhead's surging problems and tuning it for better performance.

Which brings me to my happy dilemma...

I don't have anything to compare it to, but my R seems to run just fine. I did have a nasty stumble problem on cold idle, but going to Autolite plugs reduced, but did not eliminate, the problem. Also, the bike came equipped with a Techlusion R259, which may/may not have something to do with its current performance.

So, what's left to improve? Well, the cold stumble is still there and can be a real pain in traffic. I'm only getting about 37 mpg, and I'd like to improve that. There's a noticeable amount of tapping noise, presumably from the valve train. And while it has plenty of low-end grunt, I wouldn't mind having more

Any suggestions? Or should I just leave it alone?

Thanks!
Dave

[omg1010]

Hi Dave,

if you have surging problems this may have many reasons. The best thing to do is get your bike properly synchonized by some competent mechanic with the proper equipment. When it comes to tapping noise again some adjustment of the valves might be necessary. This is a tricky job and requires time. Not every mechanic takes his time to properly do this ...

So my reply is: No I would not leave this alone because what you experience should not be ignored. My R1100R runs smooth like silk, makes very little noise and has no surging - just because I have a dedicated mechanic (one man show) who does nothing but oilheads.

Last but not least - tuning. If you feel you are happy with the power of your R then I wouldn't touch it. Also depends on your riding style. If you just enjoy cruising, don't touch it. But if you want to go hunting some HoYaSukis then I would recommend touching your bike. My engine has forged pistons, different camshafts, a tuningchip resulting in 97.4 HP (instead of the original 80). And she runs smooth but sprints like a hunting cheetah.

Take care and have a nice day
Oliver

[dbuffington]

Thanks for the thoughts!

I don't really think I have the dreaded "surging" problem, and the startup stumble seems to have been cured by the combination of the Autolites ... and following the factory recommended startup procedure. (If cold, set the "choke." Start it. Drive away.)

And you're suspicions are right about crotch rockets: I'm not interested in chasing them.

But it is noisy, and after reading the various posts, I think I'm going to start with the chain tensioner upgrade. Then I'll do a valve adjustment. Then we'll see where we stand.

Thanks again!
Dave

[omg1010]

A good article about surging fixes can be found here: http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/R1 ... ixes.shtml

Kind regards
Oliver

[philbytx]

Oilheads are noisy motors to start with !!
However, the chain tensioner rattle normally occurs upon startup but it can reoccur if the motor gets really hot (oil thins out) and/or you are using 5w40 instead of 20w50 in high temps. The new tensioner kit isn't expensive and rids you of the start-up noise.

11 31 7 688 629 . cylinder tensioner, left. . . $19.20
11 31 7 656 922 . piston left . . . . . . . . . $28.40
07 11 9 963 308 . gasket ring left A18X22-CU. . $ 0.50

And the install instructions are here:

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/cam.pdf


You can also get a rhythmic tapping from the butterfly's in the valve bodies (which can lead you to think that the tappets need adjustment!). This happens when they "float" slightly above, and rattle upon, the idle stops. You can check this by feeling the tapping on the TB itself and then pushing the cam back against the stop and the rattle stopping. The cams should click FIRMLY back against the stops. A good TBS adjustment usually gets this sorted unless the bushings are worn.
The TBS is the last thing you do after new plugs (don't bother regapping old plugs, use new ones), a valve clearance adjustment and, if necessary, a new filter!

IMHO - All of this can be done by anyone with the right tools, basic mechanical knowledge and, more importantly, confidence and the time to do this properly. The instructions are out there.....

[dbuffington]

BTW... I did the cam chain tensioner upgrade this weekend, and WOW, what a difference! The engine is now much, much quieter, and I swear it actually runs better, especially at low RPMs.

Is it possible that the slack in the cam chain was causing some small variation on valve timing?

Thanks to all!
Dave

[philbytx]

Yes, you are not imagining things, your engine DOES run better with the upgraded chain tensioner!!!

BTW... I did the cam chain tensioner upgrade this weekend, and WOW, what a difference! The engine is now much, much quieter, and I swear it actually runs better, especially at low RPMs.

Is it possible that the slack in the cam chain was causing some small variation on valve timing?

Thanks to all!
Dave

[dbuffington]

Yes, you are not imagining things, your engine DOES run better with the upgraded chain tensioner!!!

So, is it possible that all the fussing with chips and throttle cables and balancing is unnecessary?

[philbytx]

???

A timing chain that is slapping around WILL affect component wear AND performance (i.e. valve timing) and so the modified chain tensioner does improve performance. Even more so in conjunction with a properly done TBS and a precise valve clearance adjustment. This is from experience as I have both an R1150RT and an R1100R and do ALL my own maintenance. Both bikes run very well and with minimal vibration and without any "surge" issues. I know some folks that have the dreaded "surge" and just can't get rid of it. I experienced it not long after I first took delivery of the bike, usually around 2500/3000rpm but I managed to "dial it out" with a good TBS and valve adjust.

I don't have anything against "Chips", as I have one in my cage, a BMW E34 525i 5spd. It is a Jim Conforti chip which I installed 9 years ago. It adds 20+ HP and raises the red-line but does require the use of min. 92 octane gas. I don't feel the need to mess with the bike programming as they have enough h.p for me and run just fine .

Yes, you are not imagining things, your engine DOES run better with the upgraded chain tensioner!!!

So, is it possible that all the fussing with chips and throttle cables and balancing is unnecessary?