she goes in on monday, oh yay

[gt.mn]

purchased bike in march 2014, at 400 mile told dealer I smelled burning oil poss because it was new , never heard of that bring it in at first serv. took in at 900 miles cause he wanted first serv closer to 1k then 600. found nothing wrong also first serv was just over 200$ Fricken nuts for an oil change. still smelling oil looked up and its all wet on top rear of mtr and also starting to hear the timing chain slap about half of the starts now. of course the dealer also said oh man never heard of any thing like that get out there and put some miles on it. I have a $10,000 scooter and I just know this is going to be a show when I bring it in, cant wait. I only have about 2400 miles on this thing
I gave up 3 yup 3 kymcos to buy a bmw and this is what I get for my money
all 3 kymcos were awesome buy the way, 2 were 250s and 1 was a 175 just wanted something bigger for two up riding
also the seat is fricken miserable or im a huge wuss cant drive 50 miles without pain, if all goes well at the dealer looks like a corbin seat is in the future
looking online all fricken bmws have tensioner problems cars and bikes why would a dealer tell ya to get out and ride that thing
I work in the auto service and when I hear those noises I tell people to stop driving NOW! THATS NOT A GOOD NOISE
I KNOW HELLA FIRST POST SORRY
ill keep in touch if they don't do something about the tensioner I will buy 1 and put in myself

 

[Doraemon]

Look on the bright side. definatly have more space in the garage.....

How was the seat on your other scoote? wideer or more narrow than the bmw? hope your but or the seats wears in there, once the engine is repaired adn you get more miles down the road.

 

[Xian Forbes]

A fix for the hydraulic tensioner is coming I hope. That is the gorilla in the room. Other than that overall I love mine and I can't wait to get it back from the dealer. BMW is well aware of the problem I just think with America being a small portion of world wide sales our fix will probably be one of the last to get remedy.

If we were at the pub taking about the problem I'd say just ride it. The three year warranty will more than likely get you a replacement bike if it eats itself. What I did when it sounds especially rough is to shut down the bike and let the oil pressure drop and restart and hope the the tensioner resets itself.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[Skutorr]

If we were at the pub taking about the problem I'd say just ride it. The three year warranty will more than likely get you a replacement bike if it eats itself.

The problem with THAT is that all the system components are wearing when it's noisy; the guides, chain and cam gears. So it keeps making noise, and before it catastrophically fails BMW proactively replaces the tensioner. Good! Now, all those horribly worn parts that didn't fail yet are still in there.

BMW BETTER replace ALL the involved parts, and not just the tensioner, or the failure may happen anyway down the road, after the warrantee is up. That's what they are doing in Europe, if it's been making noise.

Demand nothing less.

 

[JaimeC]

I'm getting the impression there is a LOT of paranoia about that cam chain tensioner, but it is really only affecting a (vocal) minority of riders. I know the only issue I had was a sidestand switch that wasn't properly tightened (either at the factory, or by the dealership during initial prep). Oh, and I have also replaced one lightbulb. I see that seems to be an annoying issue (but certainly no show-stopper).

 

[Skutorr]

I'm getting the impression there is a LOT of paranoia about that cam chain tensioner, but it is really only affecting a (vocal) minority of riders.

Then why has BMW issued a RECALL in Germany and Canada? For vocal paranoids? it's either reliable or not.

BMW Scooters Recalled for Timing Chain Problem - Motorcycle.com News



Holy CRAP! Look at the chain in the picture; it's not even a real roller chain. Those are super-cheap throw-aways made out of riveted-together flat pieces. You have GOT to be kidding me!

Yellasi, chime in on THIS one...

(Maybe Mallossi will make an upgraded replacement for this chain/gear set, like they did for the rear drive chain/gears on the C-series scoots, that BMW was saying must be replaced at, I think I remember, 12,000 miles? That should be a lifetime gear/chain set...)

 

[yellasei]

A fix for the hydraulic tensioner is coming I hope.
the tensioner isn't hydraulic, its a screw and thread that works by a spring tensioning it so that it winds out.

 

[Skutorr]

Here is the BMW-style chain in a cheap-ass $35 timing set for a 5.7L Chevy engine, in a BOAT:
Timing Kits | Mercruiser | Basic Power


Or, a REAL $134 5.7L Chevytiming set:
Cloyes Original True Roller Timing Sets | Northern Auto Parts

 

[JaimeC]

Recalls don't necessarily mean it's happening a lot. It just means that it is POSSIBLE it can happen and the results can be catastrophic. You should know that.

I've had recalls on MANY vehicles I've owned over the years, but only once did I actually have an issue with a part that was recalled (the underslung shock on my 2000 Buell M2 Cyclone). There was an issue with the shock breaking. Rather than replace the shock, the recall was to install a reinforcing collar to be installed on the shock. Only if THAT failed would they replace the shock. I had the collar first, and then the new shock after the collar failed.

That bike had a lot of recalls issued against it when I owned it, but that was the only issue I ever really had with it.

 

[yellasei]

Then why has BMW issued a RECALL in Germany and Canada? For vocal paranoids? it's either reliable or not.

BMW Scooters Recalled for Timing Chain Problem - Motorcycle.com News

View attachment 634

Holy CRAP! Look at the chain in the picture; it's not even a real roller chain. Those are super-cheap throw-aways made out of riveted-together flat pieces. You have GOT to be kidding me!

Yellasi, chime in on THIS one...

(Maybe Mallossi will make an upgraded replacement for this chain/gear set, like they did for the rear drive chain/gears on the C-series scoots, that BMW was saying must be replaced at, I think I remember, 12,000 miles? That should be a lifetime gear/chain set...)

the chain looks up to the job to me, as for the drive chain i would say as long as it's still in the limit of tension then use your own judgment as when to replace. i have taken a 3000 mile one apart and the painted sprocket at the rear hasn't had the paint worn through yet. the regina o ring chain looks like it will last more than 12000 miles to me.

 

[Skutorr]

A fix for the hydraulic tensioner is coming I hope.
the tensioner isn't hydraulic, its a screw and thread that works by a spring tensioning it so that it winds out.

BMC 6-cylinder Healey Engines used a similar design, with a spring inside. It had a ratcheting CAM inside, so after it was installed and it extended, it COULDN'T be pushed back in. For a while CHEAP Indian replacements were supplied, without the ratcheting mechanism inside. Lots of wear and noise...BUT, they were only $15, as opposed to $49.

There you go. Hopefully the "replacement" tensioner has incorporated a non-return mechanism of some sort...

 

[yellasei]

BMC 6-cylinder Healey Engines used a similar design, with a spring inside. It had a ratcheting CAM inside, so after it was installed and it extended, it COULDN'T be pushed back in. For a while CHEAP Indian replacements were supplied, without the ratcheting mechanism inside. Lots of wear and noise...BUT, they were only $15, as opposed to $49.

There you go. Hopefully the "replacement" tensioner has incorporated a non-return mechanism of some sort...

ours can't be pushed back in, they have to be wound back in against the thread. all i gather is the springs have been known to snap.

 

[Skutorr]

Well, you learn something every day. We ALL have cheap chains! Here is the link to the SAME STYLE 36 euro chain for a Tmax:
Timing chain Yamaha TMAX 500 KMC Engine, Timing Chain

..and in the new Kymco 400i:


...and the big Piaggios (very cool...):


I guess it's good enough!

 

[yellasei]

lol, i love the scooter shape of that chain

 

[gt.mn]

sorry that whole thing got kinda sour on me
did a little rambling on
I really do love the bike, I also understand you only here the bad stuff on line
my biggest problem is when dealers always act like they have no idea when you know they do
these bike have been out long enough to start fixing these problem
the Canada recall is for like 160 bikes. these parts cant be real hard to build and ship even worldwide, Canada should have 200 of them in 2 weeks and should finish all those bikes in 2 more weeks. its not a lot of work to get at it
now the oil leak. hope like hell its just the side cover on left rear and not bleeding through the case there is very, very little on oil leaks out there on the net , you cant see anything up under there

 

[Normsthename]

The Chain is called a Hy-Vo type chain and has been used for a good many years by a lot of car and Motorcycle manufacturers

Andy

 

[yellasei]

What we have to remember is the fault is the tensioner and not the chain.

 

[Skutorr]

The Chain is called a Hy-Vo type chain and has been used for a good many years by a lot of car and Motorcycle manufacturers

Andy

Very true, but in 20+ years of Professional Automotive Wrenching, those chain sets only came as lower-end quality OEM. Everything made to higher standards in a more stressful installation (racing or performance street use) had a real roller chain. All our scoots have roller chains where there are higher loads (rear drive chain) or a need for absolute reliability (oil pump drive chain). I guess the "Bean Counters" determined that a better chain for the high-speed/lower load timing application was just not necessary.

I'd prefer to have over-engineered parts than just good enough, and pay the extra few $$$. I'd expect them with a "Premium" Marque...

 

[elamofo]

Well, you learn something every day. We ALL have cheap chains! Here is the link to the SAME STYLE 36 euro chain for a Tmax:
Timing chain Yamaha TMAX 500 KMC Engine, Timing Chain



I guess it's good enough!

Guess it's time you got rid of that piece of crap before it goes

 

[Oldscoot]

Then why has BMW issued a RECALL in Germany and Canada? For vocal paranoids? it's either reliable or not.

BMW Scooters Recalled for Timing Chain Problem - Motorcycle.com News

View attachment 634

Holy CRAP! Look at the chain in the picture; it's not even a real roller chain. Those are super-cheap throw-aways made out of riveted-together flat pieces. You have GOT to be kidding me!

Yellasi, chime in on THIS one...

(Maybe Mallossi will make an upgraded replacement for this chain/gear set, like they did for the rear drive chain/gears on the C-series scoots, that BMW was saying must be replaced at, I think I remember, 12,000 miles? That should be a lifetime gear/chain set...)

Whether to issue a recall is a decision largely driven by what is required by the jurisdiction in which the consumers reside or a business call by the manufacturer. Let's all put ourselves into the mind of BMW. If the tensioner is universally bad it will cause damage within 36 months. Given that BMW is bound to a 36 month warranty - which is cheaper - a new engine or replacing a faulty chain tensioner? My shop has not had one yet. I love to visit Europe but I would not like to live there. There is extreme Euro regulation and I'm not sure that a vocal minority can't force a recall. I want to know hard facts. What is the incidence of failure? Without that we have anecdotal data which is no data at all.