Time to learn the Airhead.

Captain Black

Captain Black

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Well my mates moved away:tears and with him his knowledge of how to do a full service on BMW Airheads. It's at this point I wish I had taken the time to watch and learn. Maybe that's the biggest lesson of all. I aint no mechanic, although I like to know how things work, and why they don't sometimes. Just how hard Is It to service and maintain these fine bikes. Do we have a "first timer" guide to doing a full service/general maintenance here on GSer's?
I think It's about time I joined the oily finger brigade and gained some knowledge and got my pandy's mucky.
Any help or advise appreciated...photo's even more.
:)
 
There is help out here in internet land. There's links off this site and other GS based sites. Use your "search" function.

But a good starting point would be to buy a Haynes.
 
Agree with Spout the best is to ask owners and people with the know how, the internet is also wonderfull for finding stuff

Besides for the info you will find on here there is also

Airheads.org are pretty good for technical supplements although I don't belong to their "club"

and of course Advriders Old's Cool section will bring up a variety of technical stuff when searched and asked :thumb2

I just took both cylinders of an airhead on Friday evening and after this was done stood back and actually looked at the motor thinking damn they sure made these easy and straight forward to use and work on. Bloody cam follower split in 4 pieces as Steptoe suggested after my brief description that sounded more like the valves went through the pistons and the crank seized up :blast

Couple of quid later and off she goes again - simples :D
 
Thanks Il'e have a search through. Just thought maybe someone new of a simple guide lurking somewhere. Like you say I'me sure It's all on here somewhere.:D
 
Spout said:
But a good starting point would be to buy a Haynes.
Click to expand...

That sums it up and is all you need to do if you`ve a modicum of ability,common sense and a toolkit.

The Haynes will get you through the servicing (and more complex stuff) and lists the fluid quantities with recommended types and torque settings.
Add to that the search function on here and you won`t miss your 'mate'. :D

The Airhead is just about the easiest and most accessible engine to service that you`ll find.
 
Thanks all for your help. I rememeber my first big bike as a teenager was a 1969 Triumph TR6P (Trophy) the "P" was showing It was an ex police bike. The old boy I bought It off handed me a Haynes manual with the words "everything you need to know Is In this manual lad". When I got the bike home I thought Ide flick through the manual and see what was what. Most of the pages were either stuck together with red hermitite, or that coverd In black engine oil I could'nt even make out the already crap photo's much less read the text.
That weekend I went to pick my girl up on my new Triumph, It pissed oil all over my new electric blues and totally ruined them. Not long after that my mate chopped the end of my finger off with a hammer (rubber) bashing the cylinders to free them from the studs and slicing my finger tip on the cooling fins. We managed to retrieve my finger tip and clean It at the hospital before It was sewn back on. Not long after that the bike caught fire due to an electrical problem and was a total loss. I dont know what happend to the haynes manual after that!. Haynes manuals scare me:eek:, can I buy another type where the photos aint so crap?:nenau
 
For any bike I own I try to have a Haynes and a Clymer manual -the answer to most things will be in there. Forums are great because the info comes from blokes like you and me having a go and learning from their mistakes.:eek:
Little stuff, like which end of a cable to attach first, saves much frustration:)

Best to read the manual before starting the job not just when you get stuck :blast

:thumb I promise to try hard to follow my own advice :thumb2

If you think an airhead is difficult to work on ,try a Japanese 4 cylinder -DAMHIK:eek:
 
Captain Black said:
Thanks all for your help. I rememeber my first big bike as a teenager was a 1969 Triumph TR6P (Trophy) the "P" was showing It was an ex police bike. The old boy I bought It off handed me a Haynes manual with the words "everything you need to know Is In this manual lad". When I got the bike home I thought Ide flick through the manual and see what was what. Most of the pages were either stuck together with red hermitite, or that coverd In black engine oil I could'nt even make out the already crap photo's much less read the text.
That weekend I went to pick my girl up on my new Triumph, It pissed oil all over my new electric blues and totally ruined them. Not long after that my mate chopped the end of my finger off with a hammer (rubber) bashing the cylinders to free them from the studs and slicing my finger tip on the cooling fins. We managed to retrieve my finger tip and clean It at the hospital before It was sewn back on. Not long after that the bike caught fire due to an electrical problem and was a total loss. I dont know what happend to the haynes manual after that!. Haynes manuals scare me:eek:, can I buy another type where the photos aint so crap?:nenau
Click to expand...


I'd be more scared of your hammer-wielding mate if I were you. :yikes :hammer
Or Triumphs. :eek
 
Haynes manuals do tell fibs sometimes, but when used in combination with a an official manual, will get you through most things.
 
Just waiting for me head gaskets to arrive then I'me gonna have a go at screwin me tappets up on ugly betty.:)
 
valvegear.jpg


Checking the end float

DSC00463.jpg


Valve clearances

DSC00465.jpg


It was a shame to put oil in it.

DSC00467.jpg
 
Now aint that just nice to look at!.. Thanks Rob I'le digest It moments before I give It a go. I'me not daft and once Ive done It I'le be fine. My old mate did show me how to service my 1150 GS but he does It every day, I'de do It once a year, and most of the time I cant bloody remember what happend last week, much less 9 months ago! Cheers for that though.:thumb
 
That seem to simple (valves that Is)! I like the look of doing the valves..I DO NOT like the look of doing this end float business as It Involves bit's coming off. Do I have to do end float before I tackle the valve clearances then?
 
So the object of the exercise with this end float business then Is to.
1, Have the rocker arm tap the valve flush on the sweet spot.
2, The sleeve of the rocker slides up and down the shaft to adjust It then?
3, If It's not hitting the the valve straight but at a slight angle It bends the head studs?
Please tell me If I am a mile off here with my logic. Just trying to get an understanding. I dont fancy the end float Instructions! But I will give It a go, If and when me blummin head gaskets arrive from BMW. How the dealers dont carry such basic bloody stock I'le never know.
 
Ooops! Was that a little misleading with the "bend" comment?

The end float needs to be set properly otherwise the rocker gear is very noisy. The proper way to adjust them is using shims but most people simply loosen one cylinder head nut and bend the cylinder studs inwards to reduce the end float. The only downside with this is the whole lot expands and moves when the engine gets hot - still much better than not setting the clearances at all though. It's no more difficult than setting the tappets.

You can buy one piece rocker arm supports to keep it all together for around £200. Nice but BMW never thought it necessary.

Moten Israel do one piece rocker arms but You still need to shim them initially though -- http://www.motoren-israel.com/produ...ge-Kipphebelboecke-aus-Stahl---4-Stueck-.html
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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