I have read most of the threads about this but still don't have an answer to my issue. I have an '09 LT with 28K miles. Recently I have had issues with my EHCS beyond the ocassional misfire. At times I have had the stand fall while going up but this has usually been because I was on dirt or uneven gound. A few days ago I kept getting the hour glass symbol but the stand would finally work. Someitmes I get a "!" symbol, which I don't know what it means. Yesterday when I pulled into my garage the stand would not work at all. I took the bike out out to my shop and put it on the lift. I couldn't find any loose wires or anything that looked obviously wrong. I took the pivot bolt out and one of the bolts on the left side of the stand starter mount. I moved the whole pump/starter assy back but could not get it to drop out of the stand. Since it was getting late and I was tired I sprayed the whole assy down with WD-40 and left it over night. This morning I decided to put it all back together with the intentions of riding to BMW of Atlanta to talk with the techs. After I pulled out of the shop and back on the driveway I decided to see if it worked. Amazingly it worked just like it is supposed to. I tried it at least 6 more time in the next few minutes and it worked flawlessly. I cancelled my 100 mile ride to Atlanta thinking no need to take it to the doctor if it isn't sick. I went for a short ride later in the day and when I pulled in my garage...nothing again. All I get is the yellow light flashing and no sound at all. After several attempts I did get the "!" symbol. Has anyone had his problem? It sounds like something simple since it works intermittently. Is there a particular switch that could be bad or going bad? TIA for your advice.
The hour glass is a built in cool down timer and is set by repeated attempts to operate the stand. Since there is no feed back to the controller from the motor it uses # of operations in a set time to set a cool down timer for the motor. There are also interlocks that prevent the stand from operating. Brakes off, in neutral, not moving, and side stand up. Common failure mode is leaking fluid and failure to fully lift the bike. The unit is filled with 130 -150 ml of oil and if it looses just 20 ml it will no longer go full travel. Fairly easy to fix as we have sourced replacement seals and have procedures to drain, flush and re-fill the oil.
Thanks for the reply John. The bike is in neutral, side stand up, and foot & hand off brakes. No nothing. No fluid leaks noted anywhere. I guess one of these interlock switches could be hanging up or something causing the stand to not operate but why would this give an overheat signal? Also, do you have any idea what the "! " exclamation symbol indicates?
Thanks,
Steve
Frustration...... excatly what I have with mine showing the same symbol at the moment... out of the blue.
From another thread I think it might be linked to a brake switch sticking... but I thought that also cut out the cruise control, and that's still working OK...
check for 12 volts at the motor plug while someone presses the switch while sitting on the bike, may be bad motor brushes. is your 2009 under the 3 yr warranty?
I had to replace the battery last year. No lightening bolts. I have been riding BMW K bikes since 1995 with over 200K combined miles on 4 bikes with out ever taking one of my bikes to a dealer or any mechanic for service or repairs...The streak ended today. With a week long trip to Key West coming up the end of next week and the fact that my '09 has an extended warranty I broke down and took it to BMW of Atlanta. They had the bike on a lift before I left there this afternoon. They will diagnose the problem, contact the warranty company (Interstate) for a repair authorization, and order parts if needed. I can't wait to hear what they come up with. I will post their findings as soon as I know them.
Thanks for all the replies.
I had a similar problem and BMW wanted to replace the unit. I took it apart, cleaned all the contacts and nudging, and it has worked perfectly for 100,000 more miles.
All BMW will do is replace the entire unit. We do have a good source for just the motor for those of you without the extended warranty. Most of the units can be repaired.
I recently had the same problems with my center stand. After a couple of false starts, it no longer worked. Took it to my BMW dealer and they indicated that it needed to be replaced. Luckily I did have an extended coverage on the bike so the replacement was covered (Bike is a 07 LT with 30,000 miles). Got it back last weekend and the new unit is working as normal. Dealer told me that he had another LT in the shop at the same time with the same problem. In this case the owner did not have coverage so he got hit with an expensive repair.
Good thing I have an extended warranty too! I talked to the service writer at BMW of Atlanta this morning and he said they had orderd a complete unit and the warranty company had already approved. Now all I have to do is hope it comes in and gets installed in time for my Key West trip on Oct 5th. Update...as I am posting this BMW Atlanta just called me. The center stand is coming from Germany and won't be in for at least 14 days. Going to get the bike tomorrow and will have to be without a centerstand on my big trip. What a bummer!
All BMW will do is replace the entire unit. We do have a good source for just the motor for those of you without the extended warranty. Most of the units can be repaired.
I recently had the same problems with my center stand. After a couple of false starts, it no longer worked. Took it to my BMW dealer and they indicated that it needed to be replaced. Luckily I did have an extended coverage on the bike so the replacement was covered (Bike is a 07 LT with 30,000 miles). Got it back last weekend and the new unit is working as normal. Dealer told me that he had another LT in the shop at the same time with the same problem. In this case the owner did not have coverage so he got hit with an expensive repair.
I just had the power center stand fail...took it to the dealer today to check it out. They tell me that the electric motor that drives the hydraulic pump has failed. Unfortunately, BMW only sells the motor & pump in an assemble...for $1,100!!! Any ideas on where I can get a new motor or possible a repair on the existing one. It just can't be that hard???
I just had the power center stand fail...took it to the dealer today to check it out. They tell me that the electric motor that drives the hydraulic pump has failed. Unfortunately, BMW only sells the motor & pump in an assemble...for $1,100!!! Any ideas on where I can get a new motor or possible a repair on the existing one. It just can't be that hard???
Have you replaced the factory center stand motor with this one? If you have, is there anything about the installation that is different? I really appreciate the help.
I've just ordered another 2 of them, this time through DBElectrical on Ebay. A couple of bucks cheaper, goes toward the postage. EMS have really upped their int'l shipping charge.
That replacement in the link works just fine, at least until it clogged up again. :-(
The motor is cheap enough, just take note of the 2 screws that hold it in. Shorter one goes into the body above the cog... Don't put the longer one in that hole or you'll damage it.
Vince,
I have not had to replace my motor but have read a few threads from folks here that have, just used the search function to find you the link to the part. :wave
Chris - I have replaced many starter motors on cars so i am guessing that this is similar. Is there an oil seal between the motor and hydraulic pump or does the spline on the motor just mesh with another spline on the hydraulic pump? Do I need to disassemble anything to get to this motor of just get under the bike and remove the bolts that hold it to the pump
Best to pull the actuator to do the replacement but it is very straight forward. There is an o-ring but it is more of a dust seal. You have to cut the heat shrink and undo a screw/nut combination on the + lead. Then re-insulate it. Note the length of the mounting screws as one is longer than the other.
To remove the actuator you just need to remove the two M-10 bolts at the rear of the cradle and loosen (no need to remove) the center bolt on the exhaust banjo. Then the two 5mm allens and the m-10 that holds the actuator to the cradle. Remove the 13mm nut (hold the shaft with a 9mm) and it will slide out forward.
Are you sure it is the motor? Does it make a sound when you actuate it? Does pull the bkie up part way and drop? These will eventually leak fluid and no longer lift but they are repairable - just not at the dealer.
Thanks for the guidance. i am pretty sure that it is the motor. When i try to put the stand up the indicator on the instrument cluster flashes like normal but nothing happens...no sound from the motor. The BMW folks check the power to the unit and said that it was OK. I just orgered a new motor and plan to install it next week. I'll let you know how it goes.
Dirty armature is all it is I think, mine did the same thing, I cleaned the armature and brushes and put it back together, that was a few years ago and it still works as it should.
A lot of silt/gunk was in their when I pulled it apart, about 1 hour to do the whole job.
Here's a short video of how to get the entire EHCS unit off, without removing any tupperware.
An easy way to get the bike on the centrestand when it isn't working hydraulically...
ride onto 2 x pieces of timber about 50mm (2") thick, ideally about 8" wide by 18" long, spaced for the wheel centres. Have someone help steady the bike on the other side when you get off, then push the stand down with your foot, and because the bike is already at it's lifted height, its very easy to just rock it backwards onto the stand.
Great video Chris. I need to do that for my 05 reardrive pre-emptive rebuild I just filmed last weekend. I like the way you sped up the time for the bolt removal - that was a hoot!
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