Today, I....

[boxerscott]

Synched the throttle bodies on my R1100s and adjusted the idle. I knew it was in need of it. I had previously changed the plugs and adjusted the valve clearances. It has just had a front end rebuild after engine painting, wishbone, etc and covered no miles whatsoever in the last 18 months.

I rang BMW in Dalkieth for a specific job to be done ie throttle body synch.

That was a real difficult one for them, computer will only allow a Top end service from their Menu and the eyeballs from your sockets!!

So I enlisted another pair of hands to hold my carbtune while I went through the very simple procedure myself. Result. a different bike altogether.

Tools needed, carbtune (or similar), flat bladed screwdriver, open ended spanner 8 or 10mm can not remember, needle nose pliers a paddock stand if you do not have a centre stand and a cooling fan directed at the oil cooler on the bike plus a willing slave, wife will do to hold the carbtune vertical

[SP250]

Just enlisted Steve Parry to do mine last Saturday as he has all the techie stuff to check the TPS pot as well on the LH throttle body.
He set my idle and sychronised the throttles as well - top bloke!

[Motocod]

That's really cool - seems really worthwhile.

How long did it take?

Carbtunes are bloody expensive aren't they? I'd be tempted at half the price...

[SP250]

Motocod

Carbtunes aint that pricy - yesterday's MCN page 54, 2cyl version £45 and 4cyl £59 plus £2 P&P seems reasonable to me.

Steve balanced the TB butterfly's and re-set the idle in less than 5 minutes and then checked the TPS on the PC was about another couple of minutes.

[metropolis2k]

That's really cool - seems really worthwhile.

How long did it take?

Carbtunes are bloody expensive aren't they? I'd be tempted at half the price...

They're less than £60. I picked one up recently having been taught how to do the job properly (and it's worth saying 'properly' is not what's often talked about on forums!) and I'm glad I did. I don't do huge miles but I do trackdays so it pushes them out a bit more between services than you'd expect so it's nice to just resync things myself.

I did my first solo sync on my GS and it took less than 30 seconds of idling. Wasn't even worth bothering with fans to keep it cool (the bike was already warmed up having just been for a ride).

[Motocod]

Cheaper than I realised, seems very worthwhile.

[slparry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jULam5h ... g&index=15

except replace the BMW MotoDitech for CarbTunes

[Motocod]

Carbtune just ordered from motorworks. Seems easy enough, although I'm guessing adjusting the throttle cabless is fiddly?!

Where does the Carbtune attach to the throttle bodies? I realise this will probably become clear when I go and look at the bike!

[jeznewsome]

spurred on by this post my carbtune arrived today .....

[Motocod]

Am I right in thinking that on my 2003 bike I should only adjust the right hand throttle body cable adjuster?

[Steve W]

Yes - at least that is what I did and seemed to work fine

[Herb]

I still remember the golden olden days where I would sync the carbs and adjust the mixture with a colour tune. Anyone remember that device?

[jeznewsome]

http://www.carbtune.co.uk/colortune.html

[Boxermed69]

I still remember the golden olden days where I would sync the carbs and adjust the mixture with a colour tune. Anyone remember that device?

I remember my Grandad using one, in the early 80s I think, when fettling his Triumph Vitesse

Mike

[metropolis2k]

Carbtune just ordered from motorworks. Seems easy enough, although I'm guessing adjusting the throttle cabless is fiddly?!

Where does the Carbtune attach to the throttle bodies? I realise this will probably become clear when I go and look at the bike!

Under each throttle body you'll see a little rubber cap you need to take off and connect them to. Make sure you put the rubber caps back on properly otherwise it won't run right!

It's ideal to do it with someone who knows what they're doing first, but as you're in a hurry because of your trip just get the bike nice and warm (10 minute ride), hook it up and look at your idle speed first. Any adjustment needed here is done with the brass idle screws. Once that is set don't touch the brass idle screws again and adjust the throttle cables to get them balanced under load (check around 3k-4k rpm - doesn't have to be a precise rpm). As you retighten the throttle cable nut it will slightly put what you've done out of position so factor that in when you're adjusting. You'll notice it the first time you do it and see how much it affects things.