Valve adjustment

[stockman]

Going to do the valve adjustment using the Haynes manual. Is there anything the wise men can tell me not or to do?

I took the bike on a delivery for work today on the way home, the Reynolds rack is great for holding boxes with a bungee net. I took the long scenic route home along the river , nice twisty road. Really fun on such a beautiful day as we are having here today.

[Bob_Roller]

I don't know how anyone else does this job, but I remove the spark plugs, and turn the engine over with the allen head bolt that secures the alternator rotor, and if you do this, you need to remove the ground cable from the battery, as there are 'hot' terminals under the front cover, and if you touch the front cover to one of these, good chance you'll fry the diode board .

Valve clearance check/adjustment, needs to be done on a 'cold' engine .

Checking the cylinder head hold down nuts for proper torque, is a good idea, before performing the valve adjustment .

[Ed Miller]

The other method is to put the bike on the center stand, prop it so the rear wheel is in the air (I use a jack stand under the frame cross over in front of the rear tire), remove the plugs, put the bike in 4th gear, and use the rear wheel to turn the motor over.

[steve_wicks]

I also turn it over by the back wheel and with plugs removed. A torch is very useful for seeing timing marks.

Also put a sheet of newspaper under tappet covers as a surprising amount of oil is in the covers.

I always disconect the battery earth terminal whener I'm doing anything related to major type work.

ONE MORE THING .... chock the front wheel so you don't push it off the stand turning the back wheel ...... ask me

[stockman]

Steve and others thanks for responding, My center stand is really hard to push off but I'm sure it could happen. I will take your advice. I sand blasted the stand and repainted it and lubed it up real good  thinking it would work better but it doesn't. I wish I had added a lug to add a third spring, maybe that would help. I've looked for new springs but as yet have not found any.  But thanks all.

[montmil]

... I've looked for new springs but as yet have not found any.

I was missing a spring. After studying the metal straps that attach to the stand and springs, I paid a visit it Ace Hardware and BMW Supply. Found a perfectly fine substitute spring for way less than BMW charges for the unobtanium part.     Monte

[stockman]

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimreinhardt/R65?authkey=Gv1sRgCJDY6ZHex6Gz9QE#
Check out these pictures.
I also checked the local Ace hardware and found some springs that were close but too short and not as robust tension wise. I wished I had added a lug to hold another spring to augment the 2 existing ones. I will keep looking or just leave it alone before i would ever consider buying them from BMW.
Another question monte - did you ever notice the two threaded holes on the front side of the neck? I'm going to see if metric grease fittings will fit in there. Mine are just open. I suppose at on time there were bolts in there to keep moisture out.

[Bob_Roller]

If you have a Lowes home improvement store near you, they have metric grease fittings in their metric hardware section .

I made a posting around the end of April this year, about trying to grease the steering head bearings through these holes .

If you don't plug the bottom of the steering head, and the 10 mm hex at the top bolt on the steering head, the grease will just pump out of the hollow steering stem .

I used a length of threaded rod, with large area washers, rubber grommets, and some nuts, to block off these escape paths for the grease .

It worked very well, a lot faster than taking the steering head apart .

But only recommended if you know the bearings are in good shape .

[montmil]

Another question monte - did you ever notice the two threaded holes on the front side of the neck? I'm going to see if metric grease fittings will fit in there. Mine are just open. I suppose at on time there were bolts in there to keep moisture out.

Bob's done the homework on this deal, for sure.  [smiley=thumbup.gif] Monte

[stockman]

Yeah your right It would leak out. I get the idea now. the bearings are good as that was about the first thing i did was to clean and repack them.It was really stiff and now it falls to each side pretty easy, but it will stay centered without falling. Maybe I have it  too loose but there is no movement in any direction so its good.

Just a little side bar regarding weather .Just to show how quickly things change here, tomorrows high temp is only going to be 75F. Remember last week I was complaining about the heat and humidity when  bob it was 107f in AZ.
 thanks for your help always.

[Justin B.]

[movedhere] Chit-Chat [move by] Justin B..