Genuine Technical Question

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Whilst doing some off-roading on my R1150GSA, which included traversing several deep puddles, I found that my airbox had aquired a notable amount of muddy water which required draining. This was done by myself without question or query but whilst executing this excercise, I was was quizzed by a 1200 owner as to how to carry out this procedure on his bike if necessary.

Well, I presumed there would be a users-plug, which could be opened, to initiate the drainage procedure but today I could not find one on a twin-cams' airbox which I was looking at.

So, do they have one or is it something to do with that hose, on the LHS of the bike, at the bottom of the airbox and connects to the LHS cylinder head?

I'll try and get a picture tomorrow if we need it.

 

[Fanum]

So, do they have one or is it something to do with that hose, on the LHS of the bike, at the bottom of the airbox and connects to the LHS cylinder head?

Yes.

Water from the airbox drains straight into the crank case

I've seen more than a few 1200s with totally emulsified engine oil after a drop whilst fording.....Most memorable was probably Johnny Oonyack's Adv where we stood it up on its back wheel (8 or 9 blokes lifting it) to drain the 'zorst, then flushed new oil through 3 or 4 times before he rode it back to site.

There is a fairly simple mod that can be done to the drain pipe to stop it from doing it though...IIRC, later 1200s are modified already but I'm not sure.

 

[Wizard]

IIRC, there's never been one on the 1200. The hose appears to make absolutely sure that ANY water in the airbox goes straight into the engine

I drilled a hole and fitted a wee rubber bung (from Maplin I think) to both of my 12's

 

[Fanum]

IIRC, there's never been one on the 1200. The hose appears to make absolutely sure that ANY water in the airbox goes straight into the engine

I drilled a hole and fitted a wee rubber bung (from Maplin I think) to both of my 12's

Very wise

What prompted you to do that Mark?

 

[Wizard]

Very wise

What prompted you to do that Mark?

Well, you see, the very first time I went fording, I asked this fat ginger tosser if I should fit a snorkel, and he said "no". He was wrong. Very, very wrong!

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Oh Dear! I genuinely didn't know this question was going to highlight an oversight by the BMW design engineers and their pursuit to improve the breed of GS's by overlooking fording or puddle-traversing capabilities.

I'm going to look into this in further detail to see if something can be done to avoid the contamination of the engine oil.

I'll have a think and get back to you soon.

 

[cookie]

I'm going to look into this in further detail to see if something can be done to avoid the contamination of the engine oil.

Simple, don't ride through rivers

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Simple, don't ride through rivers

Geezer: There's no fun there. It's not compulsory but sometimes it gives a rider a buzz and modicum of satisfaction.

My water crossings were not rivers but actual puddles albeit deep, long and wide, and offered no choice but to go through or go back. BTW, It wasn't my route.

 

[rudiemoto]

if u dont have a 12 stay out
if u have 1150/1100 join bmw owners i cant ride a 1200 club

or has been .com

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Oh Dear! I genuinely didn't know this question was going to highlight an oversight by the BMW design engineers and their pursuit to improve the breed of GS's by overlooking fording or puddle-traversing capabilities.

I'm going to look into this in further detail to see if something can be done to avoid the contamination of the engine oil.

I'll have a think and get back to you soon.

HP2 Enduro has exactly the same arrangement

Water in airbox = water in crankcase

Good planning that for a dirt bike :-(

Well done BMW

 

[Mav]

Aren't you guys referring the crankcase breather, which is presumably plumbed in to the airbox to raise the point at at which it will take in water?

The mistake they made was to not put the pipe further up in to the airbox...

If you're serious about riding in water, fit a snorkel:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/2622631322/" title="IMGP2417 by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3203/2622631322_79977b7817_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMGP2417"></a>

 

[Beemerman59]

So because my 1200 doesn't "use any oil", does this mean its really self topping up with water?

 

[APE]

Oh Dear! I genuinely didn't know this question was going to highlight an oversight by the BMW design engineers and their pursuit to improve the breed of GS's by overlooking fording or puddle-traversing capabilities.

I'm going to look into this in further detail to see if something can be done to avoid the contamination of the engine oil.

I'll have a think and get back to you soon.

My mate damaged the engine on his 1200 riding through a flooded section of a road. If there's a quick fix like drilling a hole somewhere i think it would be very useful info for some

 

[MGJ]

I have a question

Why do a lot of riders of 11** change the final drive oil after fording at the Hog Raost ?

 

[Mav]

My mate damaged the engine on his 1200 riding through a flooded section of a road. If there's a quick fix like drilling a hole somewhere i think it would be very useful info for some

Just to be clear - getting a little water in to the breather is not going to instantly damage the engine. But if the engine is hydro-locked and you try to restart it without clearing the cylinders, that will cause damage. And nothing you do to the breather will prevent that.

 

[APE]

Just to be clear - getting a little water in to the breather is not going to instantly damage the engine. But if the engine is hydro-locked and you try to restart it without clearing the cylinders, that will cause damage. And nothing you do to the breather will prevent that.

Right - my mate tried to restart the engine

 

[davegs]

Air box

This sounds like an emmissions thing, this used to be done on recent (?) british bikes for emmissions probably for export to the us perhaps now to
suit eu emmission stds. Can't do much harm in romoving this from the crank case can it? bloody sight safer than a blown up engine.

 

[Fanum]

Why do a lot of riders of 11** change the final drive oil after fording at the Hog Raost ?

Because on the 1150, the final drive has a breather on top of it.
When hot then suddenly submerged, it often lets by water.

It's easily sorted by running a pipe from the breather, along the swingarm and up to the frame, but it only takes a minute to check the oil in the FD and at most, 5 minutes to change it.

Out of 5 fords runs I've organised from the hograost, I've had to change my FD oil 4 times

The 1200 had either a 'sealed for life' FD, (which wasn't ) or later models had a breather, though they don't seem to take in water like the 11xx.

 

[Toad]

Funny place to leave your ice-cream

 

[APE]

Because on the 1150, the final drive has a breather on top of it.
When hot then suddenly submerged, it often lets by water.

It's easily sorted by running a pipe from the breather, along the swingarm and up to the frame, but it only takes a minute to check the oil in the FD and at most, 5 minutes to change it.

Out of 5 fords runs I've organised from the hograost, I've had to change my FD oil 4 times

The 1200 had either a 'sealed for life' FD, (which wasn't ) or later models had a breather, though they don't seem to take in water like the 11xx.

Feck me that final drives nearly as big as the wheel - no wonder they last a long time