LC engine failure

[lecap]

I have copied the piccie below from the ADV Rider thread.

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain. You will need the chain guards or the tensioner rail have grooves to limit the side float of the chain on the sprockets.
As opposed to centering the chain with the sprocket teeth this variant is primarily less noisy.

Apparently something else is limiting the side float of the chain by touching the pins. And it does not seem to work

[TVB]

I have copied the piccie below from the ADV Rider thread.

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain. You will need the chain guards or the tensioner rail have grooves to limit the side float of the chain on the sprockets.
As opposed to centering the chain with the sprocket teeth this variant is primarily less noisy.

Apparently something else is limiting the side float of the chain by touching the pins. And it does not seem to work

It makes a lot of sense but how is it possible that (German) engineers has missed it and can even make a mistake like this...

[Lord Knormoer]

I am curious about the wear seen in this picture that is not related ot sidewards movement. Any thoughts on that?

[BikerJan]

All of you with oilheads , smile and wave, smile and wave!

Antvan, congratulations on covering 10,000 trouble free - other than the loose bolt of course km.

But consider this - before BMW motorcycle engines were built in China they were built in a country called Germany and if you should happen to pass by a little town in Texas, called Dilley, stop and have a look at Hank's 1995 1100 GS - At last count it had ridden 768,000 km - 480,000 miles ! And it's the same engine it left the factory with . Now the smoother, more powerful, liquid cooled miracle gives it up after 4000 km ?

Can there possibly be one owner of an LC who is absolutely confident in the engine in his bike ?
 

I am 100 % confident in my 2014 model

[TVB]

All of you with oilheads , smile and wave, smile and wave!

Antvan, congratulations on covering 10,000 trouble free - other than the loose bolt of course km.

But consider this - before BMW motorcycle engines were built in China they were built in a country called Germany and if you should happen to pass by a little town in Texas, called Dilley, stop and have a look at Hank's 1995 1100 GS - At last count it had ridden 768,000 km - 480,000 miles ! And it's the same engine it left the factory with . Now the smoother, more powerful, liquid cooled miracle gives it up after 4000 km ?

Can there possibly be one owner of an LC who is absolutely confident in the engine in his bike ?
 

I am 100 % confident in my 2014 model

And can I ask you a question? Will you be 100% honest and post here if you do have some issues or even a failure? .....or will you silently get it fixed and sorted?

[BikerJan]

All of you with oilheads , smile and wave, smile and wave!

Antvan, congratulations on covering 10,000 trouble free - other than the loose bolt of course km.

But consider this - before BMW motorcycle engines were built in China they were built in a country called Germany and if you should happen to pass by a little town in Texas, called Dilley, stop and have a look at Hank's 1995 1100 GS - At last count it had ridden 768,000 km - 480,000 miles ! And it's the same engine it left the factory with . Now the smoother, more powerful, liquid cooled miracle gives it up after 4000 km ?

Can there possibly be one owner of an LC who is absolutely confident in the engine in his bike ?
 

I am 100 % confident in my 2014 model

And can I ask you a question? Will you be 100% honest and post here if you do have some issues or even a failure? .....or will you silently get it fixed and sorted?

TVB, do yourself a favor and do some research. I have previously noted any issues I had with a bike on the forum, with the outcome. So, to answer you short and sweet, yes, I am 100 % honest, and problems which I experience is not fixed silently in some dark hole. I insist to receive the kind of service for which I am paying.

[TVB]

All of you with oilheads , smile and wave, smile and wave!

Antvan, congratulations on covering 10,000 trouble free - other than the loose bolt of course km.

But consider this - before BMW motorcycle engines were built in China they were built in a country called Germany and if you should happen to pass by a little town in Texas, called Dilley, stop and have a look at Hank's 1995 1100 GS - At last count it had ridden 768,000 km - 480,000 miles ! And it's the same engine it left the factory with . Now the smoother, more powerful, liquid cooled miracle gives it up after 4000 km ?

Can there possibly be one owner of an LC who is absolutely confident in the engine in his bike ?
 

I am 100 % confident in my 2014 model

And can I ask you a question? Will you be 100% honest and post here if you do have some issues or even a failure? .....or will you silently get it fixed and sorted?

TVB, do yourself a favor and do some research. I have previously noted any issues I had with a bike on the forum, with the outcome. So, to answer you short and sweet, yes, I am 100 % honest, and problems which I experience is not fixed silently in some dark hole. I insist to receive the kind of service for which I am paying.

Well great then Jan, and I really hope the bike will not fail you. I like the looks of them, stunning especially the LCA in blue! Safe and happy riding !!

[BikerJan]

All of you with oilheads , smile and wave, smile and wave!

Antvan, congratulations on covering 10,000 trouble free - other than the loose bolt of course km.

But consider this - before BMW motorcycle engines were built in China they were built in a country called Germany and if you should happen to pass by a little town in Texas, called Dilley, stop and have a look at Hank's 1995 1100 GS - At last count it had ridden 768,000 km - 480,000 miles ! And it's the same engine it left the factory with . Now the smoother, more powerful, liquid cooled miracle gives it up after 4000 km ?

Can there possibly be one owner of an LC who is absolutely confident in the engine in his bike ?
 

I am 100 % confident in my 2014 model

And can I ask you a question? Will you be 100% honest and post here if you do have some issues or even a failure? .....or will you silently get it fixed and sorted?

TVB, do yourself a favor and do some research. I have previously noted any issues I had with a bike on the forum, with the outcome. So, to answer you short and sweet, yes, I am 100 % honest, and problems which I experience is not fixed silently in some dark hole. I insist to receive the kind of service for which I am paying.

Well great then Jan, and I really hope the bike will not fail you. I like the looks of them, stunning especially the LCA in blue! Safe and happy riding !!

I certainly hope so as well TVB!

[Sprocketbek]

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain.

I noticed that too.
It does not look right at all!

 

[BennNevis]

I have copied the piccie below from the ADV Rider thread.

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain. You will need the chain guards or the tensioner rail have grooves to limit the side float of the chain on the sprockets.
As opposed to centering the chain with the sprocket teeth this variant is primarily less noisy.

Apparently something else is limiting the side float of the chain by touching the pins. And it does not seem to work

Apparently 4th gear? Tis is what I have heard....

[buzzlightyear]

So is the gearbox now integrated into the LC motor and not a separate addon like the previous 1200s?

[Lord Knormoer]

I have copied the piccie below from the ADV Rider thread.

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain. You will need the chain guards or the tensioner rail have grooves to limit the side float of the chain on the sprockets.
As opposed to centering the chain with the sprocket teeth this variant is primarily less noisy.

Apparently something else is limiting the side float of the chain by touching the pins. And it does not seem to work

Apparently 4th gear? Tis is what I have heard....

That would explain the right hand cam chain but not left like in my case.

[Lord Knormoer]

So is the gearbox now integrated into the LC motor and not a separate addon like the previous 1200s?

Yes, the left cam chain lives in front with the clutch and the right cam chain in the rear with the gearbox.

[Lord Knormoer]

Thought this was appropriate and funny...

http://youtu.be/aVd3bdQ8enE

[Mzee]

Moral of the story never buy a first year production anything in its first year  

If this were true, no one would by anthing

[Lord Knormoer]

Moral of the story never buy a first year production anything in its first year 

If this were true, no one would by anthing

Agree, I always go for the new tech. At least for a short period there is some exclusivity given that the majority will wait and see.

[lecap]

So is the gearbox now integrated into the LC motor and not a separate addon like the previous 1200s?

Good morning!

Where have you been for the last year Deep frozen and snoozing I assume

[lecap]

I have copied the piccie below from the ADV Rider thread.

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain. You will need the chain guards or the tensioner rail have grooves to limit the side float of the chain on the sprockets.
As opposed to centering the chain with the sprocket teeth this variant is primarily less noisy.

Apparently something else is limiting the side float of the chain by touching the pins. And it does not seem to work

It makes a lot of sense but how is it possible that (German) engineers has missed it and can even make a mistake like this...

Believe me I have seen plenty of shite German engineers came up with. Resulting in "small niggles" such as a P&W 4000 RB211 with bent compressor blades

[lecap]

Although I don't own one of the bikes and never rode one either it looks to me as if the chain gauge does not match the sprocket. The sprocket is a lot narrower than the chain.

I noticed that too.
It does not look right at all!

 

As I said the large amount of side float in combination with a chain rail and / or a chain tensioner which guides the chain sideways prevents the chains side plates from touching the sprockets and thereby reduces mechanical chain noise.

The problem with some of the BMW engine seems to be that the chain guides did not work reliably.

I don't think it's an issue with manufacturing tolerances unless all bikes grind the chain pins and the difference is only if they grind it just enough for the chain to fail if some manufacturing tolerances are on the wrong side.

The more likely scenario is that the guide rail which is supposed to keep the chain channelled where it belongs does not work reliably. This would explain why both right and left timing chains seem to be failure prone.
Does some one know if any components around the timing chains such as tensioners or static chain guides were superseded? It might be a good idea to look into the possibility of a preventive replacement or at least compare the old with the new part to establish the failure mechanism.



And since some of you are probably waiting for a nasty anti - BMW comment let me relieve the tension:

A Japanese engineer would have used a silent chain.

[buzzlightyear]

So is the gearbox now integrated into the LC motor and not a separate addon like the previous 1200s?

Yes, the left cam chain lives in front with the clutch and the right cam chain in the rear with the gearbox.