Parts/maintenance for a new/old 84 R100RT

[keelerb]

Hello all.

I'm the new guy with a just-purchased 84 R100RT. The bike is out of state, having it shipped to me. When it arrives, I'll want to do all the usual maintenance - apparently it has sat for a while.

Can anyone tell me what oil filter and air filter to order for this model?

Also, would appreciate any ideas on maintenance/basic upgrades that I should do before putting the bike on the road in (I hope!) a month or two (still snowing here in Boston....)

Thanks all - Brian

[kstoo]

Besides getting a good service manual, these online fiches are such a good resource for answering a lot of your questions.
Max BMW fiche (http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/fiche.asp)

RealOEM (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do)

A&S BMW fiche (http://www.ascycles.com/illustrated_parts_catalog_main.aspx)

keep your VIN handy to get real accurate data.

[20774]

Here's a website by Bob Fleischer, aka Snobum, that you could bookmark and use for guidance...he's one of the "gurus" on another Airheads list/forum. Many good ideas on that forum, but he's the only one who's put his thoughts out there for others to review...

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/techindex.htm

Snowbum also offers the following on maintenance schedules:

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/maintsched.htm

A&S cycles has a schedule as well:

http://www.ascycles.com/service_schedules.aspx

[danielroth]

if you don't know what you're doing, you can easily turn a $12 oil change into a $3000 problem in an instant.
DO seek the help of a person with knowledge about your style of oil cooling.
there are measurements i will not go into that need to be accurately made to maintain the proper compression.
once you have the proper knowledge, only then should you proceed with a parts source.

[richardak]

Hello all.

I'm the new guy with a just-purchased 84 R100RT. The bike is out of state, having it shipped to me. When it arrives, I'll want to do all the usual maintenance - apparently it has sat for a while.

Can anyone tell me what oil filter and air filter to order for this model?

Also, would appreciate any ideas on maintenance/basic upgrades that I should do before putting the bike on the road in (I hope!) a month or two (still snowing here in Boston....)

Thanks all - Brian

Just going through the same process with my new-to-me 1983 R100RT in this post (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22192) and got some great help from others in this forum. So far I've changed engine oil and filter (I didn't know that I had an oil cooler until I ordered the wrong filter and read carefully about the $2000 O-ring (http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/Oil.htm)), changed oil in the transmission, final drive and drive shaft. Replaced brake fluid and checked pads. Removed rear wheel to check and lube the splines, lube swingarm bearing, lube stand pivots, replace plugs, adjust valves, replace about half of the bulbs (and cleaned the sockets), put on a battery tender.

Still left to do: replace clutch and throttle cables, clean contacts on the starting and charging system. I'm sure there is more to check since I can't get out for a couple more months (it is -27F today) since spring feels like it is a long ways away.

Good luck

[keelerb]

Thanks all, for the tips and cautions. Yes, $2,000 is a bit much for an o-ring. I'll be careful - as careful as a guy can be, whose motto is:

"Tighten it 'til it strips, then back off a quarter...."

Thanks again - BrianK

[The_Veg]

Boxerworks (http://www.boxerworks.com) is pretty helpful. They sell parts and have a great forum.

IBMWR (http://www.ibmwr.org) is the first-stop place for BMW classifieds and has some pretty good tech-articles too.

As for useful mods, that just depends on your priorities. Tell us more about what kind of riding you want to do, and what characteristics of the bike you'd like to change.

[peterkenzler]

Looks like the year of the RT. I am in the process of purchasing an 83 R100RT. I look forward to reading all of the posts and learning as well.

Do you know if the bike has had the upgraded valve seats, it apears my bike does not.

[lkchris]

First thing to do is to forget about the Internet.

(After you read the rest of this message)

Instead hook up with your local BMW club, i.e. an MOA affiliated group ...

http://www.bmwmoa.org/about/clubs/clubs.htm

... or an Airheads group ...

http://www.airheads.org/component/option,com_contact/catid,80/Itemid,43/

or, better yet, both.

Airheads, especially, like to have "tech days" and you can go and learn a lot about your bike. Lots of folks will be willing to help you.

What's more important than working on your bike, however, is riding it, and that's what the clubs will give you.

[keelerb]

PeterK, hi. I don't think mine has updated valve seats. Dealer I bought it from (sight unseen, over internet) didn't know history of bike, but it only has 22K miles on it and compression was 125 PSI right and left, dry, and 150 PSI right and left, wet. Seats probably haven't had a chance to recess yet, but who knows?

I'll check it out thoroughly when I receive it (it's in MO, and has to wend its way to MA). BrianK

[danielroth]

did a compression check on a bike the other day and came out within spec on both sides.
did a leak down test and was loosing 20% on the right. the air was blasting past the rings and you could play a song with the breather.
you need an expert to check this machine out and teach you the ways of the airhead.
contact your local air-marshal and get some hands on tech help.
independent shops can be a big help is this respect.
-dan

[rocketman]

Once you start learning about it, you'll quickly discover how increadably simple these bikes are to work on. and once on the road don't be surprised when people walk up and admire it and ask questions, for many of us Airhead types thats simply another joy of riding these machines. I rarely go for an extended ride that I don't get some comments on my 78 /7. Old enough to be instantly recognized as a vintage machine yet modern enough to be a daily ride and touring machine.
It will put a grin on your face everytime you ride it. And they love rev's, never ride below 3k, 4.5k is where these babies really start to sing!

RM

[26667]

PeterK, hi. I don't think mine has updated valve seats, Seats probably haven't had a chance to recess yet, but who knows?

I'll check it out thoroughly when I receive it (it's in MO, and has to wend its way to MA). BrianK

Oh you're gonna have some fun! Nothin' like an airhead at 4500+. But fwiw, I bought my '78 w only 18K on the clock and the exh. valves, seats, guides, and rings all had to be replaced. The exhaust valves were closing to .004 in 1000 mi. and it was using oil at a serious rate. Ted Porter, in PA who did the top end suggested the multi-piece oil ring as a precaution.

The other biggie i found was that everything rubber had dried out. Meaning the o-rings in the carbs, seals of all sorts, and the steering head grease had turned to glue. Once cleaned, the bearings were good as new, though.

I can't wait t o get mine back on the road. The advice above about finding local Airheads chapter is right on. I've found some great and really generous help here in Chicago, and I'm sure the same will be true for you in MA.

Have fun, and ride safe.

[keelerb]

Thanks all. Really looking forward to both the wrenching and the riding.

This will be the fifth bike in the garage, joining a 73 Norton Commando, 97 Ducati 900SS, 2006 Harley Softail Deuce, and 2007 Triumph Bonneville (wife's ride). Each one of them has its quirks, and learning how to keep them in good order and modify them to my liking has been both frustrating and satisfying.

I have no doubt the airhead will provide similar tears and joys. Indeed, the "simple by design" nature of the airhead, and the ability to wrench it myself is a big part of the appeal.

Can't wait to start! - BrianK