Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

PM Cheesy about this, or try contacting ....I think is is called: The GS Workshop...Altus, try Google

It was http://www.gsworkshop.co.za but the site appears to be unavailable. Apparently he is also in the middle of moving premises. You can call Altus on 072 644 3300.

That being said, I have an airhead too, and I have found that with older vehicles you need to work out the magic formula ie. I have worked out that my bike need needs half-choke and three full twists of the throttle before hitting the starter in order to start first time in the mornings. When the engine is hot I can just hit the starter. When it's been standing for an hour or two or three...something between the two above mentioned "techniques" is required.

How much choke are you using?

My 1980 two-stoke lawnmower is similar, although working out that it required 10 presses of the priming pump took me several sweaty (need I mention frustrating!) hours of trial and error to establish :-).

What will the opening and closing of the throttle do if the carb does not have a spraypump?? Try changing the ignitioncoil!!

Hi Bruce

thanks for the reply.

You asked how much choke i use: i normally have to use full choke to get it started from cold. But i have tried various combinations of full choke, half choke, no choke. (It's no joke, haha)

I've even removed the plugs and checked the spark - it all seems fine.

cj, The "air heads" draw a lot of current when starting and remember that when the ambient temperatures drop so does the performance of the battery. The cure is simple enough, use the Optimate or buy another battery. When buying a battery (wet cell) ensure that the cells are not open to atmosphere (to prevent oxidation) There is normally aluminium tape over the DRY cells. Pop into the Pharmacy and buy battery acid, cheap enough, fill to the recomended level, leave the caps off and place on TRICKLE charge for 24 hours, install into the bike after fitting the caps. Don't forget to fit the overflow pipe to the battery and ensure that the pipe is long enough to protrude below frame. Dring the 24 hour charge period the battery might need a slight top up.

As the battery ages the short trips will not charge the battery. Whilst riding does the ignition light glow, if so maybe the armature needs a check out.

I found that Vondé in Maitland always gave me a good deal, and the batteries lasted well. If you can get them buy a Yuasa, more expensive but excellent quality. one of mine lasted more than 5 years.

That petrol smell sounds like flooding, too much choke, maybe?

If the ignition light glows slightly while riding, it's a good indication that the rectifier unit has blown one of its 6 diodes (normally no. 2). If you're not electically inclined, get a dealer to check it out for you.

Thanks, Cheesy for the advice. The current battery is about 3 yrs old - is too old? And where do I buy an Optimate?

The charging light doesn't glow during the day.

ABout the choke: thing is, under normal conditions, it won't start in the morning with anything LESS than a full choke. As i said, just sometimes, you get to it in the morning, you full choke as usual, and it just doesn't want to start. Other days it starts with the first turn. And if it started this evening, there's no guarantee that it'll start tomorrow morning. Also, as I have said earlier, after letting it stand an hour or so, it will usually then start easily.

cj, depending on the quality of the battery I would say that 3 years is about it, In all probility you will have to change it for winter. Optimate are in Pinelands Park unit A 3 I think it is. The cost of an Optimate is about R350 to R400-00, it will prolong the life of the battery. Have a look on this forum, a lot has been written on the Optimate and batteries.

Comming back to that glow part check it out in a darker part of the day, parking garage or such like.

Please feel free to pm or phone me on 083 463 4421.

Thanks, Cheesy, for the advice. Will be in contact if needs be.