Drain plug assistance needed...2012 R1200RT

[liv2ride]

Fellow RT'ers,

I pick up the new bike on Friday; it has been a loooong wait. In anticipation of doing the break-in maintenance I am looking to find out which of the three drain plugs are magnetic (FD, Engine, Trans). I prefer to have magnetic plugs in each hole to aid in monitoring/detecting conditions outside the norm.

From what I have been told the transmission plug is magnetic but the other two cannot be confirmed. If any of them are non-magnetic, what is a good source to get them?

Thank you.

Scot

[BMW Triumphant]

Personally, I would say you should relax. But, if there are others who say differently, ok.
My 2011 required about a quarter litre of oil in the first 4000 km. then, I rode across US without losing the checkmark, changed oil, returned, no loss of checkmark.

Don't expect there was much metal wearing away.

[liv2ride]

Personally, I would say you should relax. But, if there are others who say differently, ok.
My 2011 required about a quarter litre of oil in the first 4000 km. then, I rode across US without losing the checkmark, changed oil, returned, no loss of checkmark.

Don't expect there was much metal wearing away.

Ed,

Thanks for the input.

I am less concerned about the engine and transmission but would certainly like a magnetic plug in the FD to help monitor things back there. No, I am not being paranoid but I do prefer the benefit of a magnetic plug to help monitor during scheduled changes.

Scot

[LngRdr]

See Tom from Sidestand Up at the MOA rally if you're going. He's selling the Dimple products and has a pretty cool demo jug of junk the magnets pic up.

[marchyman]

I am less concerned about the engine and transmission but would certainly like a magnetic plug in the FD to help monitor things back there. No, I am not being paranoid but I do prefer the benefit of a magnetic plug to help monitor during scheduled changes.

Not a bad idea, but be aware that one of the failure modes is a big bearing failure and the big bearing of a hexhead does NOT sit in the oil bath. It is a sealed bearing on the dry side of an oil seal. It can be slowly going to hell and you'll never see a hint on your magnetic drain plug. Another failure mode is the splined flange loosening on the axle. That failure is rare these days, but again, if it happened you'd not get any hint of a potential problem by looking at a magnetic drain plug.

Sorry if that increased your paranoia level. Drain your FD oil on a regular basis (I use 12K) and look for a metallic sheen on the waste oil. If you see that sheen you likely have FD issues even if a magnetic drain plug is clean. Give your rear end a shake test at the same time. I also wiggle the pinion at the FD input, looking for no more wiggle than was there when the bike was new.

[ragtoplvr]

Ditto Of course the obvious suggestion of draining final drives every tire change is much less total work. No tires ever last for me anywhere near 12 K anyway.

Rod

[DBCasey]

http://www.drainplugmagnets.com/bmwmotorcycles.php

The owner of the company was at last years Rally. Good stuff. Hopefully he'll be at this yeares as well.

DC

[racer7]

FD stock plug has a weak magnet. Engine no..

The Dimple plugs have the strongest magnets by far but aren't cheap- though they could certainly be transferred to any bike with same threads. I happen to like mag plugs for monitoring becasue I keep machines a long time (still have a 21 yr old car in my set, for example). If you trade a lot probably not worth doing though.
Beemer Boneyard has them as do others

Note marchyman's comments. The key FD bearings are external on the big hole drives. But you still get an idea of gear wear and any of the three might be useful for removing broken hunks and possibly any screw you manage to drop into the sump if you're careless- but screens would keep it out of the oil pump anyway..

[liv2ride]

Excellent input from everyone, it is greatly appreciated.

I will obtain the engine oil plug and a stronger one for the FD. Thank you for the reminder on the design on the newer FD, now that it was mentioned I do recall reading a thread recently about the large bearing being outside the oil bath.

Unfortunately, since this is my first year owning a BMW, and that I live in Hawaii, I will not be attending this yearÔÇÖs rally. If timing were different for my purchase perhaps I could have flown up, rode over then returned the bike to the port to ship home.

I would like to attend one of these years, even if it happens to be on a rental bike. For those of you attending the rally I hope you all have a great but safe time.

Thanks again.

Scot