Smoke, oil and a dead bike

[anton]

I need some advice please. Changing oil and sparkplugs is the extent of my mechanical experience to date...

I ride a 1996 R1100RT now with 63000 miles on the clock.

I was merrily travelling on the motorway when smoke started following me then my engine died almost at the same time Spent about 15min on the side of the road trying to down gear the bike into neutral (had to turn the back wheel between each gear change), got the bike started and made it home. Removed the fairing and found oil all over the inside of the fairing and oil dripping on the exhaust, found the cause of the smoke but not the oil leak. Oil level in the oil window was still just above the centre though.

Reading Clymer and a few desperate calls resulted in the conclusion that I have blowen a gasket. I was going to take the bike to the shop this morning but the bike did not start even though the starter motor turned. More desperate calls and then connected jumper leads to the starter to give it a boost, no luck still no spark. The shop I was going to take the bike to does not collect, so now I have decided to give it a whirl myself with the hopefully trusty Clymer.

As I am going to open up the engine to replace the gasket, has anybody any advice on what else I have to replace or look at while I have the engine open?

So far on my order list:
1. Cylinder Head gaskets (kit)
2. L shaped BMW tool page 105 TDC locking pin
3. 4 litres oil
4. Spark Plug Tester

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

compression test first to see if its the head gasket.

could be the base gasket or a seal ?

why no spark - a gasket wouldn't stop that .

try to get a spark before stripping anything from the cylinders - cos you should run it up and clean it to determine where the leak is first - don't just dive in.

have fun

 

[Gas'd Off]

You need to be working out WHERE that oil came from As Moto says, diagnose before diving in with the spanners, especially if you are a newbee mechanic! Post some pics if you want more advice & piss taking. enjoy

 

[Steptoe]

You need to be working out WHERE that oil came from As Moto says, diagnose before diving in with the spanners, especially if you are a newbee mechanic! Post some pics if you want more advice & piss taking. enjoy

believe me, it's the headgaskets - it was me the bike should have been coming to -

Thanks Anton, for letting me know the jobs been cancelled, i'll get on and do something else instead of waiting.

 

[Den]

I need some advice please. Changing oil and sparkplugs is the extent of my mechanical experience to date...
As I am going to open up the engine to replace the gasket, has anybody any advice on what else I have to replace or look at while I have the engine open?

So far on my order list:
1. Cylinder Head gaskets (kit)
2. L shaped BMW tool page 105 TDC locking pin
3. 4 litres oil
4. Spark Plug Tester

I need some advice please. Plasters and bandages is the extent of my mediical experience to date...
I woke up with a pain in my side this morning. I think its a gall stone. I have read a book on anatomy. Has anybody any advice on what else I have to replace or look at while I have myself open.

I have the following tools.
1. a bottle of ether
2. a scalpel
3. a pair of pliers
4. a pint of blood
5. a needle and thread

 

[Bigtwin]

I need some advice please. Plasters and bandages is the extent of my mediical experience to date...
I woke up with a pain in my side this morning. I think its a gall stone. I have read a book on anatomy. Has anybody any advice on what else I have to replace or look at while I have myself open.

I have the following tools.
1. a bottle of ether
2. a scalpel
3. a pair of pliers
4. a pint of blood
5. a needle and thread

Steptoe's got some capacity - he'll do it for you.

 

[anton]

Sorry for leaving you hanging Steptoe, my communication sucked

My prefrence by far is still taking the bike to Steptoe's; fixing it myself is my desperate plan B; but I have no way of getting the bike to Steptoe at the moment. The battery is new (2 motnhs old). It refuses to start. I have tried all the tests suggested in Clymer (page 33 points 1 to 7), did not see a wet sparkplug but it smelled stongly of fuel. The spark test failed, any ideas where to look?

The bike has been without its fairing for a few weeks and it has been raining. Maybe some conection is damp/wet?