Bill, there is a spring that holds the flap in the closed position until the RPMs get high enough for the valve to open. Best I can tell from what you have posted, there is nothing wrong with your flap.

 

 

JDN,

Go back to my original post. The operative word is "stuck". There is a distinct difference between held closed by a spring and stuck.

Also, start reading between the lines. When a person says "Had the exhaust system off the car yesterday to perform adjustment to shifter . . . ", it is reasonable to presume that such a person might know a bit or two about cars and perhaps even a thing or two about what constitutes "stuck".

Let's see what people who have experienced the problem have to say.

 

Biff,

I am getting ready to install a RE SSK/WSR on my 550i soon. I noticed you had to make an adjustment to the shfter. What kind of issues were you experiencing that required you re-visit the installation?

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

al

 

Al,

The RE SSK/WSR is great. Had one on my e39 540 also. Adjustment that I made was to put about 5 degrees of forward bend in the shift lever just above the pivot ball. This moved the pattern closer to the dash which is a personal preference issue only and not an issue with the SSK. PM me with any other questions on the SSK/WSR.

 

Looks like the field of "experienced" will be small since no such posts into your fourth day on the subject. Goog luck.

 

I noticed that mine was also 'stiff'. Operating the actuator by hand was very difficult - it also felt like it was rubbing sometimes when manually opening. (like grit was present).

With the level of friction, I don't think that a vacumn actuator could open it - although I can't think of a way to check this.

In the end I strapped mine in the 'open' position - this increases the V8 'rumble' at tickover, which I thought was lacking somewhat (there are other posts on people fixing this actuator into the open position.)

I prefer the addtional tones, but I do think that the torgue has been reduced slightly (at low revs).

However, having the valve held open is probably better then having it stuck shut.

What about a high temp silicone grease?

 

Someone wiht a new 550 test their valve and tell us how many Newton Meters of Force it took to open it.

 

Forget the Nm's. When mine was new, it was easily operated with one finger pushing on the lever end of the butterfly pivot shaft. After lube and much exercising, it is now same as new. Question is how long that will last.