K11 Owners Group

Ernie-NH · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: Timing chain question...??

Hello all..

Does K11OG have any collective and documented experience as to "what will go wrong and when it will go" ?? For example, I had to replace the timing chains in both of my V-Twin Kawasakis at just over 50k.. they were stretched beyond the tensioner's capability to take up the slack... and on my Airhead R-bike, I can count on diving into the clutch at the 60k mark. Since al of you have a wealth of experience with this particular engine design, I was wondering if there are things I should know now that I've hit the 60k mark on my K1100LT ??

I notice that the chain tensioner on the K bikes is not adjustable from the outside nor does it appear to be from the inside either ( ie: fixed spring loaded travel ) Will I start to get the "sewing machine" sound soon from this lack of tension ?? Because I'm a deaf person, I have to ask my wife on occasion to listen for any unusual engine or tranni noises. She made the "sewing machine" comment !

In short then: is there any collective listing other than the std maintenance schedule ?? It would be great to know just WHAT to prepare for.

best regards all..............// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Mystic Red · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

Timing chain is self adjusting and pretty bullet proof. Read this thread, especially Phil's story. Then do search for "timing chain" in the tech forums and see how many hits you can find that are actually about timing chains.

http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6168&highlight=timing+chain
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Stoked Steve · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: Spline lube

Has your bike had the spline lube done? (rec at 40k)

Other than that, they all sound like sewing machines! (which is better than sounding like a Harley!)
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Ernie-NH · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

Hi Steve,,,,

Re: Spline Lube.... I dont know ! This is one item us Airheads do religiously every 10 to 15000 miles. I plan to lube the splines on the K bike within the next few weeks just as soon as I get it put up for the winter.

Thanks to everyone else also for the info on the chain tensioner. Its a relief to know that it is NOT an Achilles Heel as it can be on V-Twins !! Despite that, I'm going to go in a look to see it the 'oil hole' may be plugged !

Thanks all for the detailed info !!

Very best regards.......// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

duckbubbles · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

The chain is not nearly the problem that the tensioner and runners (guides) can be. The tensioner can wear a hole in the guide above it (oil pressure escapes causing noisy operation), the guides themselves wear out in time- we're talking 100,000 miles plus here!

Frank
_________________
85 K100/1100RS, 321,000 miles, 25 years
96 Ducati 900SS/SP, sold it
05 R1200ST, 35,000 miles, 5 years
400,000 BMW miles

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

Ernie-NH · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:

Good morning John...

Re your Airhead spline question : The early Airheads ( 30s, late 40s, 50s thru perhaps 78 or 79 ) were not as hardened as after the introduction of Nikasil treatment by BMW. I've noticed in the Airhead community that pre 79 cylinders for example are way softer and can be rebored. After the introduction of Nikasil, cylinders can no longer be rebored, and in that same time frame other critical surfaces ( drive shaft spline in particular ) were also treated in that way or similar fashion. Whereas the transmission output shafts to not seem to have been so hardened. My '76 R100/7 seems to have the hardened drive shaft spline ( ie: simply no wear after 166k miles, and unresponsive to scratching with a file ) BUT the tranni output shaft does show the after-effect of light galling. Because of the success of the Nikasil process, and perhaps newer versions of it, I suspect that our K bikes go much longer ( excess of 60k ) without any attention to spline lubing despite the recommendation in the Maintenance manual. This is just my 'take' on the situation, BUT I still lube my R100/7 splines every 10k just to be safe. Lubing the R100/7 splines is no way as complicated as it is on the K bike, and once you have done it, and have made the proper alignment tools, it can be done in less than two hours. Though I have yet to do it, I suspect the K bike spline lube will take considerably longer !!

Hope you have been able to get out one or more of these past few sunny days !

Very best regards..............// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:18 am Post subject:

Not wishing to insult intelligence here.
There are spline sets to be lubed, shaft & clutch.
Shaft 2 hours first time.
Clutch up to a day, dependant upon ABS bike or not & your experience.
Read the stickies & search past posts for guidance.
There is IMHO no fault or farkle that hasn't been covered here at some time.

Check also for leaks from the hole between oil & water pumps, under RHS front of engine.
HTH
_________________
Regards Tim,

Grey haired riders don't get that way by pure luck
1996 Guzzi Cali3 LAPD
1972 750 Commando
G6HRN
#485

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

Good morning "Midlands Tim"....,

No Insult taken ... as a new "K" bike owner, I have been reading as much of the "Fact and Farkle" history as possible in preparation to perform as much of the bikes maintenance myself as possible. As you know, it is not as simple on a "K" as on an older R-series Airhead ( mine is an '76 R100/7 where both clutch and drive access is easy). Plus, the "K" bike has a whole new world of sounds and vibes that are completely different from the Airhead and I have been trying to research each as either normal ( ie: part of the beast ) or abnormal ( ie: requires immediate attention )... So if you'll pardon a bit of "new guy" ignorance I'll eventually get this sorted out. In the meantime, thanks for the tip re the potential leak between the water/oil pump, I've now got that on my list as well...

Input appreciated....

best regards...............// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Wrigsby1 · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:28 am Post subject:

Some K engines have a slight cam chain rattle at tickover due to the pressure tensioner wearing slightly. This doesn't seem to develop any and is only for note for you. Camchains are usually long term on K's. Try IBMWR for their thread on it if anyone has a "rattle". I have had 3 k's and only one with a tickover rattly chain (ex-police K11LT).