Valve clearances.

[Alan R]

I didn't need to buy a BMW GS in the first place as I've got a car which is far more useful and less expensive, as have probably 90% or more of the people on this forum.

you'll never get anywhere on this forum calling a car a car. You need to call them cages and those that drive them cagers. Remember to sneer while you do it.
Your top end and cams look exactly like mine do - perfect for the miles done. Worry not.
Alan R

 

[fuddy]

Yeah but that's the 'edgy', 'devil may care' kind of guy you are.

As opposed to me, I'm a waster and worry too much.

Steve, I can tell you take great care of your bike and that's great. I was not having a go ( just thinking of others down the line ) enjoy your bike.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

You do whatever makes you happy, Steve.



.......if anyone down Cornwall way had any sense they could have a free supply of nearly new oil and filters.

 

[Bendy toy]

There is a disease called "mechanical hypochondria". Causes you to worry about odd noises you hear, about odd wear patterns, odd marks etc. Cure is to go out and thrash the nuts off the bike.

Most MZ 250 strokers will be shot in 30K though some manage 50K. But serviced properly and ridden flat out everywhere and they'll just go on and on. The same seems to apply to BMWs.

 

[BlueBird]

not a twin cam owner but curious

so how do you alter the gap if its not right

 

[cookie]

change the shims.

 

[Steptoe]

It has covered nearly 13K miles and I change the engine oil every 2K. Currently using Motul 5100 10w-50 semi synthetic.

The following series of pictures show the wear pattern on the cam lobes, does this look normal to everyone? I have no idea.

[/URL]

That cam lobe looks to be wearing and starting to pit..... your rigid oil change regime seems to have served no purpose whatsoever..

 

[SteveM]

Unless of course I've prevented it from being much worse. We'll never know.

You're a man that'll have seen more of these things than most. Thanks for the observation, I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

I use Castrol Edge Titanium 10w60, change every 10K kms, cams are perfect after 58K kms.
Yours do look slightly scuffed....
Lot of short runs or idling?

 

[SteveM]

No not really, I live in the country and it's about 5 miles just for fuel.
Maybe I need a better oil, but I'm sure the oil I've been using meets the required criteria.
I can't feel any roughness on the cam, but visually it isn't looking perfect which is disappointing.
I'll look at it from time to time as it's not a big job to check. If it gets obviously pitted and rough I'll get a new one.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Not discounting Steptoe's comments, if you can't get the feeler gage to smoothly go all the way through you are using too thick a gage. These should slide in with slight resistance. If you are all forcing it in you have too thick of a gage.

I won't mention the wasteful oil practices.

Jim

 

[SteveM]

I won't mention the wasteful oil practices.

Jim

Appreciated.