Tools

[Easy_Rider]

I normally do all my own servicing, but sadly i'm not sure what tools are needed to check and adjust the valves on the 1250 shift cam engine.
Could members in the know, please tell me what is needed and where the best place is to get qualto get them are.

 

[Hann]

Coil puller - available anywhere..
Engine\TDC locking tool such as this one, or this one.
The expensive one is the camshaft timing/setting tool.
Engine turning tool - it`s just a peg spanner/pin wrench so buy a generic one or make yourself.
You only need the camchain tensioning tool if the camshafts have to be removed (when changing shims). It is very difficult if not impossible to get hold of apparently....

I`m going to do my own services after the three years is up - which is soon, i think it`s possible to check valve clearances easily enough the problem comes if you have to adjust/change shims. You then have to buy/source the special tools or take it to BMW to do the job.

 

[Pukmeister]

Biggest problem for me is buying the tool to preload the camchain. BMW only manufacture the tooling in batches, with none available at present. When they do become available they are horrendously expensive. The cam setting jigs are not exactly cheap either, you are looking at £400+ for these two items of tooling.

I had a chat with a guy in USA that makes the tooling himself after trial/error, but he doesn't sell to UK/Internationally and obviously wont divulge how he makes the tools himself.

The TDC setting tool can be easily bought as an aftermarket item.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Thank you both for the replys and links.

I know its around the £450 mark for the Valve check service, but what is the cost to adjust the valves.

So would it be better because of the high cost of the tools needed and how often the valve adjustment needs doing, Taking it to a BMW dealer or BMW independent is the wiser move.

 

[Hann]

The valve check service is a check only, if the clearances are out of spec and shims require changing that is chargeable at extra cost. I don`t know how much that would be.
I think what i`m going to do is check the clearances myself (which is do-able without all the special tools) and hope they are in spec. I believe the shims only occasionally require changing.
If they are not in spec i`d probably have to take it to BMW to do that work only due to the high cost and unavailability of the special tools.

We could do with a group buy of the special tools and hire them out to forum members......

 

[leadfarmer]

I used to service my 1200 LC (GS) but couldn’t get a reliable measurement on the valve clearances without the tensioner tool etc

The valve check only cost about 65 euros so I got that done by the dealer and did the rest myself

Apparently the valve clearances basically never go out of spec

 

[Hann]

Biggest problem for me is buying the tool to preload the camchain.

`New in` at Nippy`s.

Timing chain tensioner tool

Timing chain tensioner tool available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts

www.motorworks.co.uk

Not a perfect copy of the BMW tool but...............?

 

[Pukmeister]

If that brass part has no internal ‘clicker’ like the official BMW item does, it will be hit and miss how much tension is applied, plus it would be a lot of money spent for a piece of brass with a bolt through it that I could easily make myself on the lathe at work.

 

[Tony1250]

Join BMW UK owners club and take advantage of their excellent tool hire service

New item by Tony Emmett

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[TIJ650]

I do all of my fluid servicing, but don’t mess with this. It’s only every 12k and cost you as much to buy tools as it would to take to dealer. You can actually check valve clearance quite easy by taking plugs out and sticking in high gear to turn engine over. Long wooden or plastic rod in plug hole will help find TDC and you can buy exhaust and inlet feeler guage here. Painless to take to dealer and check ECU codes etc at same time. Recalls too

Nippy Normans feeler gauges R NINE T, R1200GS, R1250GS and more

www.nippynormans.com

 

[Tony1250]

Tool kit to do cam timing and valve check as I pictured above will cost you £50 to hire from the club, timing is often out come 15-18k miles but probably won’t need doing again unless you have a valve tighten up.

 

[Hann]

Join BMW UK owners club and take advantage of their excellent tool hire service

+ 35 quid to join....
Are you a member?
Do you have to have been a member for a qualifying period or are there any other conditions that have to be met (eg: forum post count) before you can hire the tools? Deposit required?

 

[Tony1250]

+ 35 quid to join....
Are you a member?
Do you have to have been a member for a qualifying period or are there any other conditions that have to be met (eg: forum post count) before you can hire the tools? Deposit required?

I joined initially just to hire the tools, guy that runs the service for the club is very friendly and efficient. You have to place a deposit, but it’s refunded on return of the kit. Since then I took advantage of one of their long weekend tours around Scotland and had a great time.
They send out a magazine and there’s some other discounts for membership, worth investigating.

 

[Easy_Rider]

So i have now brought the tools from MotorWorks to do my own timing check, valve check and valve adjustment.
I also brought a Mitutoyo 293-831-30 Digimatic Micrometer from eBay.
Total cost for everthing was £466

 

[Morety]

Thank you both for the replys and links.

I know its around the £450 mark for the Valve check service, but what is the cost to adjust the valves.

So would it be better because of the high cost of the tools needed and how often the valve adjustment needs doing, Taking it to a BMW dealer or BMW independent is the wiser move.

That's what I decided on. I just get the dealer to do the valve checks/adjustments as necessary.

 

[Hann]

So i have now brought the tools from MotorWorks to do my own timing check, valve check and valve adjustment.

Wow, that’s a serious investment!
When are you planning to do your first service with them?
Let us know how it goes…

 

[Easy_Rider]

Its will be due later this year going by mileage. But should of been done last year going by BMW.
I was going to get the dealer to do it, but i thought as i have a good workshop and tools and do all the servicing on our other bikes. So for the outlay of less than one valve check service at the dealer i could buy the tools needed to do it myself, and If i take off what the Micrometer cost me, all the engine valve tools have cost less than the GS911 Wifi i have.

 

[Mzokk]

Boxflyer's maintenance vids are very good if a bit OTT. On the 1200 LC engine checking the valves and lifting out the cams to change the shims is easy. You only need the special tools for that engine if you think the timing is off.

 

[Hann]

Its will be due later this year going by mileage. But should of been done last year going by BMW.

Sounds exactly like my situation - it `should` have been serviced last December (12 months after last service) but i am now going to go by mileage as it`s now out of warranty so will wait until it reaches 6,000 miles after the previous service.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Ok, I have been told by Boxflyer that the Cam Chain Tensioner i got from MotorWorks will not give the right tension on the cam chain to be able to get the timing right.

So can i ask if any other member has brought and use the tensioner from MotorWorks.