K11 Owners Group

Manhattan Rider · Big Brick Rider Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 69

I purchased my K1100LT new in 1996 and it now has 165,000 miles on it. While riding it on Thursday, it stop running while going down the highway. On the side of the road, I can here the fuel pump pressurizing when I turn on the key, but it still won't start. After a few minutes, it will start. A few miles down the road, it staled again. After a few minutes, it would restart. I also noticed more engine heat than normal on the left side. I replaced the Halls Sensor last year on this bike and other BMWs, but the it's symptoms are more like bad gas and cutting out. With this problem, its like the hitting the kill switch.

My initial thought is to check the coils. They are original. Any other suggestions.
_________________
Ken Krumm
Manhattan, Kansas
2014 BMW R1200GSA
1996 BMW K1100LT
1996 BMW R1100RT
2004 BMW R1150GS
BMW 500,000 Mile Award
2004 Ducati ST3
1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster
1969 BSA 441 Victor Special

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 10:50 pm Post subject:

A few things come to my mind.

Dirty kill switch contacts,
Dirty ignition switch conacts,
Broken power wire(Red, I believe) to the ignition switch near the headstock,
Side stand switch.
Multipin connector on the top of the motronic module.
4pin tank connector known to drop out the fuel pump.

Any and all would kill the motor, and they have all been documented here by someone at some time or another.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Manhattan Rider · Big Brick Rider Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 69

I don't believe in coincidence. The bike only quits running when its hot. It then starts again after allowing it to cool down. A bad kill switch or kick stand switch wouldn't allow the starter to turn over when it doesn't restart. A dirty switch contact, connector or broken power wire would not be heat dependent.

A bad coil will cut out when bad. What I'm looking for is whether there's another electrical component that will cut out when hot.
_________________
Ken Krumm
Manhattan, Kansas
2014 BMW R1200GSA
1996 BMW K1100LT
1996 BMW R1100RT
2004 BMW R1150GS
BMW 500,000 Mile Award
2004 Ducati ST3
1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster
1969 BSA 441 Victor Special

dave n · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:42 am Post subject:

Do a search on here - the water temp sensor has caused similar problems.
_________________
Dave Norris KOG 248
1999 Cagiva Gran Canyon
1993 K1100LT w/Hannigan sidecar
2008 Suzuki DR650

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:52 am Post subject:

Another thought that comes to mind, when it dies/died, did you by chance happen to open the top of the gas tank?

Where I'm going with my train of thought here..... the air inlet vent to the tank. Could it be getting plugged up and not allowing air into the tank as your gas level gets lower. Creating too much vacuum and starving the fuel system.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Manhattan Rider · Big Brick Rider Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 69

I've had the vapor lock issue before with this bike, and opening the cap gets it to start. However, in those cases, the bike starts to run poorly before cutting out.A plugged air vent would act the same way. It was running great before it just shut down. But not every problem occurs the same way.
This past weekend during the 250 Supercross race, the lead rider Cooper Webb had vapor lock shutting down his bike. He opened the cap and rode on. This is definitely a possibility considering how tight the gas tank fits to the heat shield.

I don't see any posts for the water temp sensor. Was the sensor giving a false reading causing the bike to shut down? The temperature gauge is normal when the bike quits. It was 60 degrees outside and I was riding out in the country. So it wasn't stop and go. The motor seemed to be a bit hotter on my left leg than I remember in the past.
_________________
Ken Krumm
Manhattan, Kansas
2014 BMW R1200GSA
1996 BMW K1100LT
1996 BMW R1100RT
2004 BMW R1150GS
BMW 500,000 Mile Award
2004 Ducati ST3
1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster
1969 BSA 441 Victor Special

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 3:16 pm Post subject:

The symptoms sure sound like a bad HES but if you replaced it recently with a new one that should not be the case.

The bike has two temp sensors - one that feeds the Motronic and the other that feeds the temp gauge so your temp gauge will not tell you if the one feeding the Motronic is going bad. However, if the one feeding the Motronic is going bad or shorting it should light up the overheat light in the cluster.

Haven't heard of K1100 coils going bad but the early K100s coils will. When they do they tend to cause rough running at lower RPMs and not a total instant shutdown.

In addition to what underscore pointed out, I would also check all ground connections.
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94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
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Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:35 pm Post subject:

It wouldn't hurt to test the HES again. Just because they are new, doesn't mean that they can't fail again.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)