Tech help for a R100RT (87)

[Lucky_Lou]

Any sources of free help out there for a buddy of mine? i dare say engine questions could be asked here.
Ta Lou

[Bob_Roller]

Post the question and see if anyone has a good answer !!!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Lou, the "Old School" board on the Adventure Rider forum has a lot of good information.  Mostly friendly folk.  There is also the BMWMOA.org forum, but you may have to be a member of the MOA.  Not sure about that.

What's the question/problem?

[Lucky_Lou]

Found some bits of neddle bearing in the sump.... engines running smooth though at the moment.
Lou

[Bob_Roller]

The rocker arm needle bearings are failing, most likely the thin flange of the bearing case has cracked out, allowing the needles to 'escape' through the gap in the blocks or pillars that keep the rocker arm centered on the valves .

I would suggest removing all of the rocker arms to find out which one(s) are the problem .

I had this happen to my '81 R65 in under 10,000 miles .  

[nhmaf]

+1 with Bob's suggestion  - the only needle bearings I am aware of in the engine are those used in the rocker arm/supports, and there are numerous cases where the 'shell' has cracked or broken and let some fall out, where they can sometimes find their way back down into the sump, often through the pushrod tubes.    

[Bob_Roller]

Lou, you didn't mention if your friend is the only owner of this bike .

If you inspect the rocker arms and don't find any problems, the bearings may have failed and been replaced, without having removed the oil sump to clean out the various bits of bearing that found their way in there .