K100 Maintenance Profile?

[Arrowood]

1985 K100RT, bought her new, 96k+ miles, 5-10k maintenance done on schedule, engine rear main oil seal failed Fall 2008, complete dealership go-through Spring 2009 included new oil/water pump, clutch, pressure plate, drive shaft & rear drive, brake pads & rebuild kits. The original fuel pump, ignition sensor, alternator, starter, etc. are still in place. Is there a knowledge base out there that gives a way to anticipate the likelyhood of failure based on the mileage on the bike? Everything is working, and she runs great so I plan to keeping riding her...

[98lee]

The brushes in the alternator are probably getting near their limit. When the brushes wear too far the alternator stops charging. Often with no accompanying warning light. The battery will then run down and you will get stranded DAMHIK! Mine went at 110,000.YMMV

Buy brushes and voltage regulator as a unit and replace. $93 from BMW. $49 from:
http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/product_p/boalt-reg286.htm



:dance:dance:dance

[timbro]

My '85 K100RT has 142K on the clock and needed a new drive shaft and rear end at 120K. I do use a Kissan ChargeGuard to monitor the charging system. No oil usage between changes. It is my "go to" bike for all long interstate touring trips. I do love this bike.





85 K100RT
90 K75RT
91 K75RT
05 R1200GS

[scottiesharpe]

To determine the failure point of parts you will need to use the Rule of Spare Proximity. The farther spare parts are kept away from your bike, the more likely it is you will experience a failure. For example, if you keep a fuel pump in the tail cone, your installed pump will not fail in a million years. The effective force applied by the Rule of Spare Proximity is affected by a factor of the Ratio of Dongatta. So if you carry every spare part under sun but you don't carry a clutch cable, the universe will apply undue pressure on your clutch cable and it will likely break. In other words, as the concentration of spare parts increases in your tail cone, the parts more likely to fail are the ones you dongatta. :wave

[98lee]

A strong word to the wise:

IF you are going to carry a spare clutch cable for an early K-bike, ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE to carry a spare barrel for the lever end.

They are not attached to the cable and as soon as the cable breaks it falls on the highway approximately 3/4 of a mile before the next place you can safely turn off. "You guys go on ahead. I got a spare cable. I'll catch up."

The highway will be GUARANTEED to be covered in millions of pebbles EXACTLY the same size as the barrel.:banghead

Aforementioned spare clutch cable is rendered useless without said barrel.

Construction time to manufacture said barrel from material and tools borrowed from True Value in Mariposa (140 miles from where the dinner :eatand free beer :budswere being served at that nights camp out) will cause the arrival to be AFTER all the beer was gone and dinner was just being served (even at post cable replacement speeds exceeding triple digits for most of the subsequent ride).:bolt

Guess who ALWAYS now tapes a new barrel to every spare clutch cable. (That beer sure would have tasted good after that long hot summer ride):cry



:dance:dance:dance

[Arrowood]

I will definitly look into it. I use electric gear in cold weather which probably adds demand on the alternator. Thanks again...

The brushes in the alternator are probably getting near their limit. When the brushes wear too far the alternator stops charging. Often with no accompanying warning light. The battery will then run down and you will get stranded DAMHIK! Mine went at 110,000.YMMV

Buy brushes and voltage regulator as a unit and replace. $93 from BMW. $49 from:
http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/product_p/boalt-reg286.htm



:dance:dance:dance

[Arrowood]

It's good to know that 142K is possible. As it is I figure my '85 K100RT will out last me...

My '85 K100RT has 142K on the clock and needed a new drive shaft and rear end at 120K. I do use a Kissan ChargeGuard to monitor the charging system. No oil usage between changes. It is my "go to" bike for all long interstate touring trips. I do love this bike.





85 K100RT
90 K75RT
91 K75RT
05 R1200GS

[Arrowood]

The 'Rule of Spare Proximity', I will have to remember that... :bow

To determine the failure point of parts you will need to use the Rule of Spare Proximity. The farther spare parts are kept away from your bike, the more likely it is you will experience a failure. For example, if you keep a fuel pump in the tail cone, your installed pump will not fail in a million years. The effective force applied by the Rule of Spare Proximity is affected by a factor of the Ratio of Dongatta. So if you carry every spare part under sun but you don't carry a clutch cable, the universe will apply undue pressure on your clutch cable and it will likely break. In other words, as the concentration of spare parts increases in your tail cone, the parts more likely to fail are the ones you dongatta. :wave

[Ted]

That is why I always carry a spare oil fill cap - try being one day into a two-week trip, on a Sunday, and losing that sucker. The $5 alone is worth avoiding the "oops walk" - aka, slowly walking from the gas pump where the oil was topped off all the way up the onramp to the highway, twice (and still not finding it.) Since I started carrying a spare I haven't needed it but have gone through three donating to other people losing theirs :)

[Robsara]

That is why I always carry a spare oil fill cap ... The $5 alone is worth avoiding the "oops walk" ... Since I started carrying a spare I haven't needed it but have gone through three donating to other people losing theirs :)

That would be $20, then. Still worth it though??

:stick

:nyah

[Ted]

First thing I bought for my new to me K75RT last December, I think it was under $4 with the o-ring :)

Not having that cap was a real bummer. I spent an hour looking for it, another hour and a roll of duct tape jury-rigging a temporary solution, then a half-day's ride out of my way to go to a dealer to get a replacement (and a spare!)