K11 Owners Group

manybikes · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:10 am Post subject: Spline lube

Okay..I know..this has been hashed 1000 times but...consensus seems illusive.
My 94 K1100lt has 84k miles.
Spline lube and clutch check etc was completed at about 60k miles (done at Anderwerks in Calgary)
The bike shifts very smooth and clutch doesn't slip.
So after 24k miles should I have the splines lubed again or should I wait till the shifting starts to feel a little notchy or have it done at about 100k miles?

I know the official BMW stance is every year...that would be ridiculous in my estimation.

Thanks all
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You only live once
K1100lt
Ducati Multistrada
72 Yamaha RD350

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:30 am Post subject:

I'd wait, just remembering that when it shows signs of needing done, not to procrastinate and do it. Mine made it to 33k before it needed it.
The other deciding factor is, are doing it yourself or paying someone to do it.
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Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Jim · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Spline lube

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

Hi,
The splines on my '96 K1100LT were done once, at around 32k miles. I sold the bike at 122k miles with no signs of it needing another spline lube. As far as I know, the bike is still going strong with over 135k with no spline lube. YMMV.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

manybikes · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: spline lube

I am thinking about doing it myself but it would definately be a winter project. It looks like a daunting task but it probabley isn't as bad as it looks once you get into it.
If I find I do not have the time I will take it to a shop.
I think I will just leave it for now as I am having no problems in the shifting department.
I would do it mainly to keep prospective buyers happy if I ever decided to sell it.
_________________
You only live once
K1100lt
Ducati Multistrada
72 Yamaha RD350

Jim

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

Hi, Jim,
First, a disclaimer. I am not a mechanic nor am I a mechanical engineer. That said, I believe that the periodic spline lube just is not (as) necessary on the newer bikes. Someone who KNOWS, like Tom Cutter, Ted Porter, Anton Largiader, etc., can probably give a better answer. On my K-bikes, I don't do a spline lube until it becomes difficult to downshift. Then I do it soon. I have only had to do it on one K-bike, my (ex-Harriet) '94 K75A/3. I had to do it at about 30k miles. It now has 36k+ and is going strong. It's the one I rode to NC from El Paso last month.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

planthead · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject:

As far as I know I may have been the first person to do a spline lube on my '93. I got it with under 70K and had to blip from day one to shift (I did not even know dry clutch bikes existed). Previous owner acquired it at 36,000 and the service records he gave me never indicated a spline lube and I had dealer stamps in the owners manual going back to the original owner and he had recorded what he had done to the bike personaly.

It went over 20K with no lube at any rate if one was done before he aquired it. I owned the bike for less than 2 wks and learned how to do the spline lube based on input from this group and the K bike tech page on the other site.
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'93 K1100LT 61k