Stalling, cold weather

[Edumakated]

I haven't ridden in about 3 weeks now as the temps are solidly below freezing and we just got a few inches of snow today.

Anyway, while in the garage I decide to start up my c600 so I could at least hear the engine. The first thing I noticed is that the battery seemed almost dead. It wouldn't quite turn over the engine. I gave it a little gas and she fired up as usual. I let it idle but I noticed that when I gave it just a little gas it would stall. Did it like three times. Scoot was on center stand.

I haven't had any issues with scoot and it ran flawlessly. I have 650 miles on it and it is due for first service. Never stalled before. Temps have been down In the 20s and teens all week. Scoot kept in garage and temps in garage are just above freezing.

I saw some threads on weblike world about a low speed stalling issue. it's never done this before when idling.

Thoughts?

 

[bill steele]

My other bike a gilera fuco mp3 500 when it is on the center stand and you try to rev it up the rev limiter kicks in and the bike will stumble and some times stall, the computer thinks there is something wrong that it senses from the rear wheel sensor I wonder if BMW has the same type of sensor on the wheel or in the tranny causing your problem.

 

[Edumakated]

I started her up again and this time it seemed to idle fine. The battery didn't seem like the voltage was low like before and it ran smoothly and didn't stall, even at the low rpm. Rev'd up and down the rpm range like it normally does.

 

[Xian Forbes]

Conventional batteries do not do well to be out of service (sitting idle) for more than a week or so, a battery tender will keep everything tip top. I cannot begin to know about the stalling issue. Sitting of course is not good for batts or fuel systems. there could be some funky old fuel in the lines that once cleared out remedied the situation. just a guess.

 

[SteveADV]

I haven't ridden in about 3 weeks now as the temps are solidly below freezing and we just got a few inches of snow.....

Well, here in Ohio where all the girls are pretty and the motorcycles above average, many of us ride regardless of temp so long as the roads are dry and we can get out of our drives. Yeah, a few inches of snow can be a problem but today, on dry roads with ambient at <25f and wind gusts >25 I was out with my motorcycle gang (of which I am the only member) testing the limits of my winter wear. Have done this a bunch of times with never a problem with the bike starting and have not had any stalling issues. I think Xian may be on to something gas-wise. Maybe when your locals changed over to the winter blend the octane went south or the tanks muddied up a bit.

 

[Edumakated]

Yeah, wondering of it might be the gas. It started her up again today and it did the same thing. Idles fine, but if I give it a lot of gas it cuts out right at 3k rpm. It doesnt seem to do it if i just gradually give it gas. It is a noticeable stall but if you let up it keeps idling, however if you try to keep it rev'd it will stall.

It is weird because I had no issues on last ride, but after sitting for 3 weeks this pops up.

It seems like as the engine starts warming up, to do it less but initially it is very noticeable. I've been using premium instead of mid grade.

 

[SteveADV]

Does it do it while riding on just when on the stand?

 

[Edumakated]

Does it do it while riding on just when on the stand?

Don't know yet. Too much snow in our alley so I can't get it out to street to ride around. I've had it idle before on center stand and never noticed it stall before. I couldnt find if there was maybe a safety restriction that prevents reving on center stand. However, it doesn't cut out all the time so I don't think there is a restriction.

It just caught my attention because I read a thread about some people experiencing low speed stalling.

 

[SteveADV]

I always warm up the bike on the center stand. On those days when I am not riding, I also rev the engine after a proper warm-up with no problems. So, I doubt it has to do with anything related to your center stand warm-up.

It will be interesting to see what they tell you when you take it in for the first service.

 

[Xian Forbes]

That sounds like a fuel delivery issue. If you have something either clogging the fuel lines or a stopped up injector or something that might explain why at low revs (low fuel demands) everything is ok but when you ask more from the engine (and more fuel) it acts up. I suppose it also could be an ignition/timing issue but I would start with fuel.

 

[Edumakated]

That sounds like a fuel delivery issue. If you have something either clogging the fuel lines or a stopped up injector or something that might explain why at low revs (low fuel demands) everything is ok but when you ask more from the engine (and more fuel) it acts up. I suppose it also could be an ignition/timing issue but I would start with fuel.

Yeah, that is what I'm thinking. It is just odd that it developed after prolonged sitting. I would think it would have shown up on my last ride. Not sure how sitting for three weeks would cause a FI issue but who know? I'll bring it up with dealer when I get her in for first service. Hoping to do that after first of the year.

 

[SteveADV]

Don't wait too long for first service after the recommended mileage. They clean the engine of any loose "new engine" particles that may be floating around that you would not want gumming up the works.

 

[Edumakated]

So I took my c600 for the first time since about late october! We finally had a warm day (45 degrees!) and most of the snow has melted and I could get her out of the garage finally. I didn't ride long, just wanted to put a few miles on around the neighborhood to remember what riding felt like. I can't believe how much I missed it. It felt so good to be back on the bike.

Anyway, I could not duplicate the stalling issue while riding. She rode flawlessly. Accelerated like I remembered. No issues creeping or slow speed riding and just light throttle input. However, I can duplicate the stalling issue while the bike is on the center stand. Weird.

 

[JaimeC]

Ice plug in the fuel line somewhere?

 

[Edumakated]

Ice plug in the fuel line somewhere?

I don't think that would be it. It isn't that cold. I am able to duplicate the stalling/stuttering on the center stand. There was no sign of this issue while riding at all. Bike rode perfectly. No issues with low throttle inputs. However, when the bike is on the center stand, if I give it just ever so slight of throttle, the engine will sputter a little bit and then if I give it more throttle the sputtering goes on and off like it is starving for fuel or something. In fact, I can give it full throttle and the it barely gets the RPMs above like 3000 or so while sputtering. Occasionally, it will stall.

I was thinking it might be a safety feature? A way to prevent someone from gunning the throttle on center stand? Why would it ride normally, but only have this issue on center stand? If it were a fuel line issue, you'd think it wouldn't matter if I'm actively riding or bike is on center stand.

 

[bill steele]

I don't think that would be it. It isn't that cold. I am able to duplicate the stalling/stuttering on the center stand. There was no sign of this issue while riding at all. Bike rode perfectly. No issues with low throttle inputs. However, when the bike is on the center stand, if I give it just ever so slight of throttle, the engine will sputter a little bit and then if I give it more throttle the sputtering goes on and off like it is starving for fuel or something. In fact, I can give it full throttle and the it barely gets the RPMs above like 3000 or so while sputtering. Occasionally, it will stall.

I was thinking it might be a safety feature? A way to prevent someone from gunning the throttle on center stand? Why would it ride normally, but only have this issue on center stand? If it were a fuel line issue, you'd think it wouldn't matter if I'm actively riding or bike is on center stand.

I have a bike Geleria Fuco MP3 500 an if you put it on the center stand and try to throttle up it will cough and buck as though it is misfiring and wants to stall and what causes this is if the computer doesn't sense the wheels are going approx the same speed (front and rear) it thinks there is some thing wrong and doesn't know what to do I'm not sure if BMW has a same setup but it sounds very similar. also the bike MP3 has a seat sensor and knows if you are sitting on the seat.

 

[Edumakated]

I have a bike Geleria Fuco MP3 500 an if you put it on the center stand and try to throttle up it will cough and buck as though it is misfiring and wants to stall and what causes this is if the computer doesn't sense the wheels are going approx the same speed (front and rear) it thinks there is some thing wrong and doesn't know what to do I'm not sure if BMW has a same setup but it sounds very similar. also the bike MP3 has a seat sensor and knows if you are sitting on the seat.

I'm beginning to think it is something similar. I couldn't find anything in the manual though. The only reason it had me concerned was that I know there have been some reports of low speed stalling and I didn't know if this might be related.