bmw noob completes 18k service

[ddlewis]

2007 R12RT, 18,187 mi. I've only had the bike for a couple months and this is first wrenching of any kind. Changed oil, adjusted valves, checked tb synch.. piece o' cake. A couple hours of not hurrying. I struggled getting the plastics off. Could shave a half hour off next time by knowing where all the fasteners are and the order to go in.

 

Wanted to throw my "me too" in for anybody thinking about saving the money and DIY. It literally could not be more straight forward. Handful of standard tools, nothing fancy, no standing on your head or crazy contortions. 100% quicker/easier than a vstrom on the valves.

 

observations..

The first socket I tried (Craftsman 5/8) fit in the hole to the spark plug, after reading about it was a little concerned but it's not that tight.

I would buy a bmw oil filter next time, the bosch one I picked up is a longer and sticks out just a little.

Only 2 of 8 valve clearance needed any adjustment, and really just one was significantly off/tight, left upper exhaust.

TB synch done with old $20 mercury carb sticks.. vacuum balance was right on the money.

 

(and thanks Jim vonBaden for that web page. All I had is a virtually worthless owners manual so its helpful to see some pictures, torque values, wrench sizes, etc. all in one place like that)

[hopz]

Welcome to the DIY Club. Next thing you know, you will be dubbed a GURU and invited to Tech Daze...

 

 

[LPOL]

In Japan, they refer to people with extraordinary talent as "National Treasures". We here refer to JVB as "Jim".

 

PS...he really is a BMW Treasure.

[russell_bynum]

That's excellent.

[mig]

Cool Beans

this bike is real easy to work on. Try the final drive. Not to bad. I just crossed the 24k boundry and am likeing this bike alot.

less then 2 hours and its all done. Just follow jims advice on the tranny and make sure you can get the fill plug off first. Also be light on your torque on the tranny and final drive. Soft plugs and metal. dont want to strip anything.

[Artee]

(and thanks Jim vonBaden for that web page. All I had is a virtually worthless owners manual so its helpful to see some pictures, torque values, wrench sizes, etc. all in one place like that)

 

I might just give this a try too. Where is this web page? Thanks. lb

[ddlewis]

I might just give this a try too. Where is this web page? Thanks. lb

 

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/JVB_Productions.html

 

There's a menu, look under pictorials 24k service that has pics/details for the valve adjustment. The pics are of a GS, but the RT is same except for fairing removal.

 

The oil change is not there but simple, drain plug and oil filter underneath, fill hole on left jug. 4-ish qts

 

 

 

 

[Artee]

Great. Thank you very much.

[blueoval]

I'm of the school that most fasteners have a determined torque spec and that spec should be followed if possible. Maybe a little anal, but I properly torque the oil filter, drain plug, spark plug, and any and all fasteners that I can get the proper torque spec. I feel this has saved me a lot of headache over the years. I've more than once had to drill and tap the oil drain threads in the case on used bikes that I have purchased in the past! It was also fairly expensive to purchase 3 snap-on torque wrenches, but I get a warm feeling inside every time I use them. Just my opinion, but I think it's probably shared by a lot of folks.

[Fubar]

That's encouraging!

I've done most of the work on the cages for decades and on the old bike ('82 Yamaha). Want to do the PM stuff at least on this one, too. I've got a 12K mile service in under 2K with 6 weeks until a 3K+ ride. (I'm at 10,489 miles).

My concerns are: All my tools are from the car care side, the old bike used the same. What new stuff do I need to pick up?

I've never adjusted valves or dealt with throttle bodies. Just plugs, fluids, filters, shocks, cables, some electrical stuff. Don't even have any info on what gets done when let alone how to do it. (Damned riders manual/paperweight.)

PM me if you prefer.

 

Sorry for the hijack.