technical specifications

[mikeant]

I have the repair manual for the R1150GS and it shows how to mike up a crankshaft journal but then mentions see Technical Specifications. Where can I find this information? Specifically the sizes/wear limits/available over sizes for the main and big end journals.

Reason for asking is that I took out my newly acquired 2001 machine for its first blast and was enjoying thrashing it across the desert. I rolled it off below 170kph for a corner and thought that I detected a rattle. It had one anyway when I bought it which I put down to a cam chain rattle - since confirmed due to a broken tensioner. So I continued a little way until the petrol station. There I discovered a loose rocker box bolt and a spray of oil up the side of the bike and no oil in the window. Oh No! Big end rattle I thought. Waited some 2 and a half hours for a man to take the bike in a van to a workshop. Last night I saw the bike in the workshop with the rhs barrel removed and indeed the big end is well shot. So I have told them to take out the engine and strip it.

Options at this point are to examine and measure all the bits, and then price replacements. Get hold of another short engine.

Any assistance appreciated.

Mike in Dubai

 

[Steptoe]

if the crank looks ok i'd try just replacing the big ends and then see how it goes. Worth trying that first if it saves you a shed load of money.

The bmw cranks are usually pretty good if the big ends go.

 

[MattW]

You can download the factory repair manual from here:
http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp
This includes all the tech specs (section 11.10 for engine bearings).

Good luck - hope it's just the big ends like Steptoe says.

 

[mikeant]

Broken GS

Thanks for the advice. Must have had a brainstorm as the info I was looking for is indeed in the repair manual up the front of the engine section. Cannot think how I missed that. I will visit the workshop this evening and see if they have managed to disembowel the motor into its componant parts yet. A preliminary enquiry to the local BMW spare parts shop came up with a price for the crank of US$1360 and not available - that is - it has to be ordered. For some reason they cannot find connecting rods in their system. All to be revealed in due course.

 

[mikeant]

latest in the dismantling saga

Well the mechanic got a bit further today but he seems to have been distracted by several Honda dirt bike engines that were also dismantled. He is clearly struggling a bit as he does not have all the whizzy frame and engine holding tools that a BMW dealership has. Maybe what remains of the engine in the frame will be out by tomorrow. What I did notice though that the lh big end is nothing like as bad as the rh one. And although it is difficult to be sure the main bearings are still feeling pretty solid. Clutch plate is on the way though I noticed.

Just musing. Assuming I have to buy loads of new bits anyway are there any performance parts out there? It will though be a road bike at the end of the day but we spend quite a bit of time on gravel roads. So the low down torque is still required and the tractable performance but I am just wondering about the potential at the top end.

Mike in Dubai