Throttle problem on 1985 BMW KRT 100 and safety defect

[pinhead]

I have owned a 1985 bmwK100RT for a few years now and like it.  However, I noticed a slight sticking problem with the throttle at about 1/4 to 1/2 opening like it was meeting some resistance.  Didn't do anything about it since I was able to operate it without problem.  Yesterday when I rode it something changed when I opened throttle past resistance point and now it appears to have way too much slack in the cable and you can turn throttle 1/4 of turn without engine reacting.  Is it possible that cable has slipped in its connection somewhere?

Also I noticed on a different BMW bike blog that there was a safety recall for the 1985 bmw k100 for the throttle which required the dealer to replace original throttle cable with a different set up.  Anybody familiar with this?  I called 2 dealers up and they said based on my VIN there is no recall but when I discussed this further one said that BMW may have dropped this recall because of age.  From what I can gather safety recalls have no expiration so I am going to call bmw North america when they open to find out what is going on. 

[rbm]

Check for interference between the actuator on the TB rail and the Oetiker clamps on the lower TB bushings.  Something may have shifted over time.

[Chaos]

unscrew the top of the throttle housing and have a look see.  could be a gear slipped a tooth.  I wouldn't put too much hope in BMW rectifying it even if there was a recall.

[Inge K.]

The very early models did have adjustement screw along the cable at the height of the steering head,
check that one.

This cable was changed at the before mentioned recall together with the lower bracket with a adjust. screw.

While you allready working/checking the throttle housing area, make up a ground wire from the throttle
housing to the main ground on the frame under the tank.
This was a later recall, when it was some reports about shorted brake light switches...then the throttle cable acted as a ground wire and it did happen that the cable got stuck.

[Laitch]

From what I can gather safety recalls have no expiration so I am going to call bmw North america when they open to find out what is going on.

What you've gathered is incorrect. 15 years is the limit.

Read all about it on p.13 of this delightful brochure provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Board entitled Motor Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls—What Every Vehicle Owner Should Know.

They might make a special-circumstance exemption for you though, based on your name. :giggles  Never hurts to try.

[pinhead]

unscrew the top of the throttle housing and have a look see.  could be a gear slipped a tooth.  I wouldn't put too much hope in BMW rectifying it even if there was a recall.

You win the prize!  It was a slipped tooth due to wear.

[Chaos]

You win the prize!  It was a slipped tooth due to wear.

Oh Boy!!    Honda Moly 60?  New Splines?  Gas Card? Week in Vegas?  Can't wait to find out!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

[pinhead]

What you've gathered is incorrect. 15 years is the limit.

Read all about it on p.13 of this delightful brochure provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Board entitled Motor Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls—What Every Vehicle Owner Should Know.

They might make a special-circumstance exemption for you though, based on your name. :giggles  Never hurts to try.

while the throttle problem I was having has nothing to do with the recall, I was surprised that there was a recall and nothing was ever changed on the K100 I have.  That goes ditto on another 1985 K100 parts bike I have.  In reviewing the legal history for manufacturers recalls, the original statute specifically prescribed no statue of limitations.  Manufacturers (particularly auto) complained that stocking and supplying needed parts for aging vehicles which may later present themselves was too onerous.  Regulatory language originally developed by NHTSA prescribed no specific period of limitation but "as long as parts were being manufactured and sold".  This put the auto companies thinking cap on and for a while years ago if you can recall, manufacturers refused to produce and market parts for vehicles that were not very old.  They left it to aftermarket manufacturers.  This left them with the loss of lucrative $$$ for part sales though.  To appease this situation regulatory language by the agency first suggested 10 year limit and now its become 15 years.  But the original statutory language of no limit passed by congress still has the trump card. (that expression now has real meaning) A legal challenge to underlying regulatory interpretations could be made but by who?  Those who buy used vehicles?  .  Now the manufacturers again offer parts for vehicles going way back in time and at a nice profit. 

All this means is that under the duress of manufacturers complaints, NHTSA has decided that schmucks like you and me who are either too poor or too cheap to purchase a new car/motorcycle every few years should not be afforded the same protection as a new purchaser would.  Now there could be some mens rea here if an original owner sat on his duff even while be notified.  But the secondary owners, not aware of such, can only be considered as expendable human resources given their penury or their miserly nature. 

[pinhead]

Oh Boy!!    Honda Moly 60?  New Splines?  Gas Card? Week in Vegas?  Can't wait to find out!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

No just a big thank you for doing that!

[Laitch]

In reviewing the legal history for manufacturers recalls, the original statute specifically prescribed no statue of limitations. , , ,All this means is that under the duress of manufacturers complaints, NHTSA has decided that schmucks like you and me . . .

Wait! I had to edit this post because you already live in California. 

When it comes to law and statutes, we all need to live in the present, if we can.

Secondary owners should research what they're buying. That goes for purchasers of antique Corvairs too. As far as the poor shmucks classification goes, you can have that honor all to yourself if you want it. :giggles 

[Laitch]

Oh Boy!!    Honda Moly 60?  New Splines?  Gas Card? Week in Vegas?  Can't wait to find out!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

A lifetime subscription to Pinhead Law Review. It comes with a fully illustrated calendar a few years old. :2thumbup:

[pinhead]

Wait! I had to edit this post because you already live in California. 

When it comes to law and statutes, we all need to live in the present, if we can.

Secondary owners should research what they're buying. That goes for purchasers of antique Corvairs too. As far as the poor shmucks classification goes, you can have that honor all to yourself if you want it. :giggles

Live in the present?  thats a good one coming from someone who is the Quintessential Motobricker prick!  Duh,,, how old is your bike???

sorry but you are a poor schmuck if you spend most of your time scouring the blog boards for old bmw brick models commentary and wisecracking.    Did I mention it was ancient?  therefore you=schmuck!

[Laitch]

sorry but . . .

Why choose to lead a life of apology, or expend a morsel of gifted invective here? Direct it all at the tsunami of corporate evil that's making shmucks of everybody with 30-year old parts that wear out.

Wisecracking at scouring and wisecracking might be a Sisyphean fate and a waste of precious talent.

[Nine80seven]

One thing that was changed was the mechanical throw of the circular lever on the throttle assembly of the control gang, of the throttle body assembly.  Early Ks, quarter throw, later Ks half throw.  Not gaining leverage, but gaining single cable integrity.  Just saying, FWIW.

[pinhead]

The cable was definitely changed in 1986 but I don't know exactly how it was since I owned 2 1985 k100s that both have original throttle assemblies.  as mentioned on this thread, unintentional grounding of the throttle wire occurred and in the extreme, causing an open weld condition between wire and external cable holding throttle open.  The remedy is a little unclear since I have read that a ground wire was tried at first from the throttle hand control assembly to frame, but it only had limited success.  A complete change of the throttle assembly and cable was performed by BMW to be in full compliance with the recall.  And the recall was a serious one, occurring within a year after the bike was sold.

BMW does not show any record for a recall for my VIN/year/model. If one relied on the information supplied by BMW alone he/she would get the impression that nothing is wrong with their 1985 K100 original throttle assembly.  That is not true.  Here are the two defects that NHTSA identified and required correction on:

A GROUND FAULT MAY OCCUR IN THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP HOUSING. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE CABLE'S INNER PLASTIC TUBE WOULD OVERHEAT AND SOFTEN OR MELT, IMPAIRING THROTTLE OPERATION. AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED AFTER OBSERVING THAT MORE EFFORT IS REQUIRED IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP.

THROTTLE CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION RESULTING IN A BEND OR A KINK OR CHAFING AND FRAYING OF THE BRAIDED WIRE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THROTTLE OPERATION COULD BE IMPAIRED REQUIRING INCREASED EFFORT TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE THROTTLE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

So anyone owning one of these bikes it behooves them to verify that the throttle assembly has been corrected. 

[Inge K.]

A GROUND FAULT MAY OCCUR IN THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP HOUSING. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE CABLE'S INNER PLASTIC TUBE WOULD OVERHEAT AND SOFTEN OR MELT, IMPAIRING THROTTLE OPERATION. AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED AFTER OBSERVING THAT MORE EFFORT IS REQUIRED IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP.


So anyone owning one of these bikes it behooves them to verify that the throttle assembly has been corrected.

This was mentioned in reply #3.

[pinhead]

This was mentioned in reply #3.

you are right and you made the comment to that earlier.  You are quite familiar with this topic.  I just repeated all the specific language on the NHTSA site for those who might think this is just folklore.  I don't really know how serious this defect could be and whether it caused fatalities,  given that there must be bikes out there like the ones I own which never had a modification. 

[johnny]

greetings...

it has been confirmed that all fatalities due to this situation have been made whole... and 100% of motos have been repaired... thats right... the vin list was completely exhausted...

so be worry free and getts you some yeeehaaaaaa...

j o

[Laitch]

If one relied on the information supplied by BMW alone he/she would get the impression that nothing is wrong with their 1985 K100 original throttle assembly. 

Here's a link to a service bulletin from themselves.

[pinhead]

greetings...

it has been confirmed that all fatalities due to this situation have been made whole... and 100% of motos have been repaired... thats right... the vin list was completely exhausted...

so be worry free and getts you some yeeehaaaaaa...

j o

Not completely true. A gray market vehicle purchased in country of manufacturer, driven for a few weeks/months then brought over here does not register on on the NHTSA VIN search.  I have a 1985 K100 that gave me plenty of nightmares with the CA DMV when I purchased it from some one in Oregon with Oregon title and plates.  I brought it to CA DMV in for VIN ID and that s where it was discovered there was no EPA sticker.  Researching further the original owner was serviceman in Germany who bought it there and had shipped back to states.  These are gray market vehicles and it was very common to purchase a vehicle that way back in the 80s, not just for service men.  A VIN from a gray market vehicle will not register with NHTSA

[johnny]

greetings...

i stand by my statement...

be worry free and go getts you some yeeehaaa...

j o

[Laitch]

A VIN from a gray market vehicle will not register with NHTSA

Those bike owners of this potential-death-or-maiming-by-defective-throttle-response-and-failure-to-attend-to-it cohort who are likely to have sleepless nights because of their membership now can consult the illustration at the link in Post #18 to determine if their bikes have this defect and treat them if they do.

It would be interesting for all of us to check our bikes' seat pans for the red dot described in the bulletin indicating inspection for or correction of the defect. Certainly, seat assemblies have been swapped over the years. That might add to their value as historic artifacts if ever their sold on eBay. :2thumbup:

[Nine80seven]

A used bike should always be gone through regardless of previous service records or what PO says.  A circa 85 needs to be carefully examined, new parts obtained, not to mention New tires and until fluids are changed, etc.  The last one I bought, last checked by factory mechanic, had number two cylinder listed at 80 psi compression and other stuff.  Valve clearences were way off.  After adjusting valves all compression/leak down was great, above what an old bike should be. 

The PO asked what I was gonna do with it?  I said, "Take it apart."  Oh, and do a lot of research/reading, you tubing, manual buying.  Oh, spend a lot of money. 

Or take it to a competent mechanic.  Or buy a new one.