LH cam tensioner YET AGAIN

[jwhite518]

Well, I've read all the posts back until the beginning of time and what I can figure out is this:

1. Some R motors have loud tapping noise coming from the left cylinder at startup and when the motor is idling under warm conditions.

2. BMW produced a replacement cam chain tensioner that cured the problem. It was around $200. The Adventure Touring website has a really cool photo essay describing the installation procedure.

3. BMW stopped selling the replacement part.

4. Some people have purchased a few small parts to rebuild their existing assembly. This cost around $30. The rebuild kit did/did not solve the problem.

So what is a guy who missed out on the elusive $200 part supposed to do to solve his noisy head problem?

Jerry

[kbasa]

Have you talked with Kari?

[lorazepam]

get better earplugs?

[jwhite518]

Have you talked with Kari?

Get this. I took my bike to Cal BMW and asked them to listen to the noise. Three mechanics gathered round the bike, listened, and said nothing conclusive. It was suggested that I have it looked into during a service appointment. So during my next service appointment (12mo brake flush) I asked them to look into it. What did they do? Listen to it again and said it might be rocker arm freeplay, we'll check it out at the next valve adjustment. I'm kinda PO'd at them for not saying that the first time around. I expected them to open it up during while it was in for the brake flush. Lazy bastidges.

[AntonLargiader]

...3. BMW stopped selling the replacement part.

4. Some people have purchased a few small parts to rebuild their existing assembly. This cost around $30. The rebuild kit did/did not solve the problem.

So what is a guy who missed out on the elusive $200 part supposed to do to solve his noisy head problem?

Buy the individual parts for about $30. It's just the kit, disassembled. Yes, the old price was crazy.

[GlobalRider]

Since most of the cam chain tensioner rattle occurs at or near idle, and since some bikes have it and some don't, I'm wondering if slight variances in oil pressure at idle from one bike to the other has something or everything to do with the issue.

[jwhite518]

Buy the individual parts for about $30. It's just the kit, disassembled. Yes, the old price was crazy.

And do the rebuild parts actually solve the problem? I'm looking for people who've done the rebuild and are happy with it.

[shakyone]

Take a look here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82209&page=2&pp=15

I replaced the left tensioner on my 2001 R1100R with the new tensioner for the R1200RT. It is just two pieces-piston and cylinder. The spring is enclosed in the piston and there is no spacer. The rattle problem on startup is solved and the engine vibration is reduced. Cost about $55, including the washer, from Chicago BMW. Just do it!

[jwhite518]

Take a look here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82209&page=2&pp=15

Just do it!

Aye aye, sir! It's done. :)

To save anyone else the bother of wading through 10 pages of posts on ADVrider, here are the required parts:

11 31 7 688 629 . cylinder tensioner, left. . . $19.20
11 31 7 656 922 . piston left . . . . . . . . . $28.40
07 11 9 963 308 . gasket ring left A18X22-CU. . $ 0.50

And the install instructions are here:

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/cam.pdf

[FredRydr]

To save anyone else the bother of wading through 10 pages of posts on ADVrider....

Thank you. This is great.

If your bike is under warranty and you have a good relationship with your BMW dealer, your dealer might replace the tensioner as a warranty repair. Mine did just before I hit 36,000 miles, when the new tensioner design was released.

Fred