Snowbum's Website, synopsis, BMW Motorcycle Repairs.

website address: http://bmwmotorcycletech.info

Technical articles list, HTML removed and thus is
abbreviated below, is available for hyperlinking to the
actual articles, at:
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/techindex/
FUEL System in your Airhead motorcycle:
1. Fuel filters, petcocks, gas caps, and tank & seat fitting;
ADDITIONAL information on fuel tank cap venting problems, etc. is in article #75
2. Luftmeister Auxiliary Fuel Tanks
3. Bing Carburetor, overhaul AND GENERAL NOTES, part 1
MANY HINTS, including my float testing results, leaking tops, leaking dome inserts; LOTS MORE!
4. Bing Carburetors, overhaul; GENERAL NOTES, part 2; including high altitude JETTING changes
5. Bing dual-independent float kit
6. Early Bing CV Carburetors as on R75/5
7A. Synchronizing Carburetors; the whole story, in awful depth.
7B. Throttle cables; confusing throttle gears/cams assembly etc.
8. Throttle screws; friction & anti-friction devices; Snowbum gets OFF and RUNNING!
9. R80 series, poor fuel mileage, 1980+ Airbox Modifications, snorkels
10. Intake and Exhaust system tuning
11. Removing & plugging the Pulse Air and Evaporative emissions systems
12A. MORE on the Fuel System: Tank cleaning; premium vs regular; additives; TEL; alcohol; fitting
other tanks & seats. Throttle and choke cables. Fuel hose. (Fuel tank cap venting problem are in
article #75).
12B. The K & N, UNI.....and other aftermarket air filters
13. The Dell'Orto Carburetor …Huge amount of information for someone trying to understand how ALL
types of carburetors operate (especially needle/slide types, but also vacuum types). Much of the
information originally (?) came from an obsolete www.startwin/dellorto website, and I have shown
it in this article without Copyright release because I do not know where to obtain a release. I
claim NO copyright on this article, much of whose content may be public property. There is
SPECIFIC information here on settings of the Dell'Orto for the Airheads, and a link to an article on
converting an airhead to use the Dell'Orto (only the R90S CAME with these). Included here are
hyperlinks to other carburetor articles, of considerable value!
Gasoline's: This is not an article by me, but a link. If you are truly curious, and technically minded, this
link to a long article describes octane, gasoline, leaded fuel, unleaded fuel, additives. VASTLY more than
you ever probably even thought about knowing about gasoline. There are some really interesting things
here and there in this article...from which you could also get to the other parts/versions by re-arranging
the URL.
http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/autos/gasoline-faq/part1.html
ELECTRICAL System in your Airhead motorcycle:
Regarding electrical schematic diagrams:
The R80G/S is similar to the R65 and R80ST.
The same or close year of a RS and RT may be identical to each other.
The R75/5 will use the same diagram as a R50/5 and R60/5.
The R60/6, R75/6, R90/6, R90S....all will be very similar.
The /7 is somewhat similar to the last of the /6 series.
Models with the R65, ST & G/S type of instrument pod will have those things pretty much in common.
The /6 and later with the other type of pod will generally have those pods in common; variances are noted
in my website.

My files contain schematics of all sorts of accessory items including Authorities models. If you need to
contact me for a specific diagram, I will need to know if you want it for the main frame diagram, or some
sub or accessory item. I need to know your BMW model, its year, and if it is a USA or Euro. It would be
very helpful if you knew the model code that BMW uses for your motorcycle.
K bike???....see CLASSIC K bike section 3/4 way down (towards bottom) of this page, for MORE
hyperlinks to sites with electrical diagrams, links, etc.
You may be asking about some esoteric point, or something not clear in a schematic, etc.
Ask away...but on the Airheads LIST or K bike LIST first.
14. How to buy & use test lamps and meters (multi-meters, volt-ohm-ammeters)
14A. Demystifying Boxer Electrics, theory and practice
Lots of good basic electricity information here; plus troubleshooting. See article 15 also.
14B. Critique of the ChiTech Electrics School Manual; plus some tech information
15. Electrical hints and problems rev. 03/15/2010
15-A. Alternators: TRUE Capability of the STOCK Bosch, substitutions, ETC.
15-B. Troubleshooting the Alternator/Charging Problems 11/21/2009
15-C. Aftermarket Alternators: installation, capability, performance
15-D. Really BIG alternators on Airheads
16-A. Starting Problems. Bosch & Valeo Starter motors. Valeo to Bosch; Bosch to Valeo;
starter relays; solenoids; Technical hints and tips. Overhauling
16-B. Troubleshooting the Starting System......discussion of all variations.......
17. Alternator Brushes and Rotor
18. Diode Boards & Grounding Wires
19. Alternator 'GEN' lamp circuit & resistor mod.
20. Testing Voltage Regulators (and notes on high output and/or adjustable regulators)
21. Servicing a Bosch Mechanical Voltage Regulator (INCLUDING the /2)
22. Making the Bosch ELECTRONIC Voltage Regulators Adjustable
23.
23A. Increasing the voltage output of the Wehrle PLASTIC voltage
24.
24A. Lamps. This article includes information on adding relays, lamp substitutions, larger headlights,
MODULATORS, sockets, updating /5 headlight, heavier wire, LED's, ETC.
24B. How the headlight switch and relay works, in disgusting detail. Read this article to understand
about the finer details of information in article 24A.
24C. Headlight modulators; the Federal Law authorizing them; the technical details
25. Replacing a Neutral Switch
26. Metric & American Wires, Colors, Bosch Codes
27. Installing an accessory electrical outlet
28. Ignition Theory.....How BMW Spark Ignition Systems Work...more than you ever wanted to know
29. Ignition Timing; Automatic Advance Units; points; single spark plug Airheads; automatic
advance units applicable to single OR dual plug airheads; COILS, ETC!
30. Ignition module; ignition canister; more on coils; Dyna & Boyer; sources for modules & Hall
sensors; ignition canisters; testing methods; the 'new coils'; electronic module updates
Some of the Hall sensor information in 30. applies to the K and Oilhead bikes
31. Dual Plugging
32. SPARK PLUGS; spark plug threaded holes; Torques;ANTISEIZE OR NOT, spark plug caps;
resistor & non-resistor spark plugs
33. Ampmeters (ammeters) v. Voltmeters (and voltmeter problems)
34. Adding Running Lamp Function to Turn Signals
35. Filling a new 'flooded' battery, initializing properly; other battery types, sources, usage; chargers
(SMART and not!) and their peculiarities. How to Load Test a Battery
36. Accessing the headlight bucket on RS/RT, cleaning the headlamp/glass, aiming the headlight
37. The Slash 5 (/5) starter relay 'cricket' noise, starting problem, and how to fix it
37A. Electronic tachometer connections, wire colors, retrofitting to earlier models; HOW TO CHECK
YOUR TACHOMETER CALIBRATION
37B. The story behind the broken brake light switches (front and rear)
38A. CAN-Bus, what is it, how does it work, etc.
38B. Miscl. Electrical! Electrical schematics for Hazard flasher system, fold-out fog/driving lights,
heated grips. VDO instruments. Substitute voltmeters and clocks.
38C. Schematic diagrams in .gif; .pdf; & .bmp; for R90S, R60S, R75/6, R90/6; 1975 and into 1976.
This is a LARGE file! 11/24/2009
38D. Schematic diagram for the 1978 airheads
38E.
38F. Schematic diagram, PDF format, 1981 R100, R100CS. SIMILAR to many of this era.
(For comments on 38F...click THIS line
38G. Schematic diagrams for the Slash 5 (/5), BOTH fused and unfused. High Resolution .tif
38G+. As above but .gif format
38H. Schematics and wires colors diagrams and descriptions for the 1981-1985 R65, R65LS, R45,
R80ST, ETC. INCLUDED are formats in .jpg, etc....also included is a clickable .pdf format
Links for many more electrical schematics, etc., are found in article #80, below.
SOURCES FOR ELECTRICAL PARTS FROM OTHER THAN BMW ARE LISTED IN SECTION 78A &
78B.
Mechanical AND electrical:
39. What about the marks F, OT, S, Z that are on your Flywheel (clutch carrier)? They are used for
mechanical and electrical things, so they have their own article here.

Recalls:
http://www.automotive.com/motorcycle-recalls/index.html
This hyperlink is to a website that has listings for some, not hardly all, recalls, not only just BMW, but most
brands. Be sure to scan down that page

Mechanical Systems, Miscellaneous, and 'other stuff':

See item #39 for information on the flywheel markings for such as OT, S, F, Z
40. Setting Valves......how to do it correctly. EXTENSIVE details
41. Overheating, excessive idle time, etc.
42. Cleaning & Lubricating Steering Head Bearings. Avoiding fork tube twisting. Adjusting swing arm
bearings. In-depth discussion of STICTION and ALIGNMENT. SETTING FORK SAG!
43. Transmission input (clutch) splines, throwout bearing, clutch arm cleaning, lubrication & inspection.
Adjusting Swing Arm. See also: CLUTCH article, Section 60, item 9, below...
which has a LOT more information on the throwout bearing, etc.
44. Maintaining the paintwork, aluminum, windscreen & helmet visor/shield; how to drill plastics safely;
how to repair cracked luggage, etc.
(see article 73 for information on what to use to maintain the plastic visors, shields, ETC)
45. Rear Wheel Splines . Rear Drive Oil Leaks. Replacing a Rear Drive Left Seal, Inner seal,
Nose seal. Oil Leaks and Drum Brakes.
46. Exhaust pipe finned (spider) nuts
47. Driveshaft Bolts, Washers, Torque
48. Ring & pinion gears, ratios, speedometers/odometers, rpm, road speeds, numeral colors
49. Oil Transfers; oil moving someplace (or leaks). Filling the driveshaft.
50. Oiling System, Breather, Oil consumption; Suburban Machinery remote oil filter kit, ETC.
51. Oiling System, passageways sketch; caps; oil pan, breather (also see #50 and ESPECIALLY
#52E).
52A. Oil & filter change procedures. Detailed information on filters. "The $2000 O-ring"
($3500 O-ring if you ruin your crankshaft). 'Reading" oil filter elements; GS &
thermostat covers, & LOTS more!

52B. Oil filters, canisters, ETC. Simplified explanation of 52A. Basics on changing your filter,
INFORMATION ON TYPES OF OILS FOR YOUR AIRHEAD; OIL ADDITIVES;
 GASOLINE ADDITIVES.
52C. Oil essay: lubrication tech; oil recommendations, etc. This is the article to read if you really want
to understand lubrication, and want oil recommendations.
52D. Oil Coolers. All about your Airhead oil cooler, including installation.
52E. Oil Pans; oil pan gaskets; oil capacity; dipsticks; oil pickups
52F. Oil viscosities, viscosity indexes, engine oils, gear oils, suspension fluids, shock absorber fluids,
SAE, SUS, Cst
53A. Brakes
53B.
54. Wheels, Axles, Hubs, Bearings, Seals, Tires, Dampers, ETC!!

Section 1: 19" wheel recall

Section 2: Wheel hubs /2 through 1984, Duane's website, etc.

Section 3: Catch-all section; tires, spacers, wheels, hints; ETC! Read Section 5, below!
Also contains info on swapping various years/models of wheels (except Lester's, see
Section 7)
Section 4: Wheel bearing preload & servicing wheel bearings.
Section 5: TIRES (in depth); top hat spacers;nitrogen, ETC!. Read Section 3 above & 6 below!
Section 6: Tubeless versus tubes, the whole story and then some
Section 7: Lester wheels
Section 8: Steering dampers; shock absorbers & springs.
Section 9: Airhead Wheel Bearing Clinic++, BMWMOA National Rally, July 2005; critique of
BMW-ON magazine articles of 2004
Section 10. Front forks, Alignment, Stiction, GATORS, OILS, etc
Section 11. Hyperlink to Anton's website wheel balancing article
Section 12. TIRE REPAIRS!!
55. Maintenance Schedule
56. Cold Weather Starting
57. Rubber Noise Silencing Pads At The Cylinder Fins
58. Importing a motorcycle; dealing with EPA and DOT and Customs
59. TRANSMISSIONS (4 and 5 speed): Output shaft snap ring (circlip) & groove problem; serial
numbers versus model year; pawl spring breakage; neutral switches; shift kits; input shaft
seal; kickstarter; throwout bearing. Doing it yourself AND recommended repair specialists.
60. ENGINE INTERNALS:
Section 1: Disassembly & assembly: heads, pistons, rings, cylinders, break-in; Helicoils;
Timeserts; cylinder studs, ETC.
Section 2: Flywheel (& also Clutch Carrier) removal warning; MAIN SEAL, oil pump & its cover,
Re-installation of Flywheel, seal installation photos, etc.
Section 3: Cylinders (iron, Nikasil, Galnikal); boring, honing, cylinder shims, sealants
Section 4: Pistons (including swapping heads-cylinders-pistons), rings, pins, clips, keepers,
decarboning.
Section 5: Valves, valve seats; leaded fuels; guides, valve springs, aftermarket valves, etc.
Section 6: Rocker arms, rocker arm shafts, valve gear, pushrod tubes, cylinder heads.
Section 7: Camshafts, cam sprockets, alternator & cam seals, crank nose bearing
Section 8: Replacing pushrod tubes and/or pushrod tube seals. Pushrods. Valve cover studs.
Section 9: Clutch, clutch arm, flywheel, clutch carrier, bolts, upgrades, throwout bearing, cables,
crankshaft end play spacers, clutch lever at bars.
Section 10 : Crankshaft; front main bearing & cover; rod bearings; MISCL.
61. Long Distance Touring
62. Timing Chain (replacing, etc.)
63.
64. Horsepower calculations and measurements
65. TOOLS! (tools you will want in your on-bike tool kit, and at home)
66. Making a useful hydraulic jack, cheap
67A. Engine, Frame & other ID numbers. IDENTIFYING & UNDERSTANDING year to year differences.
67B. Model differences over the years
68A. Part numbers for hardware and certain small parts.
68B. ROUNDEL's; and BMW COMPANY HISTORY
69. Parts Coding Symbols. How to read the symbols on ETK, fiche, etc.
70. BMW Paint Codes 1970-? also some information on painting LUGGAGE!
71A. Torque Specifications & problems; conversion factors, use of torque wrenches.
71B. Torque values on various models of airheads. Read AFTER reading 71A
71C. Increasing the range of a torque wrench
72. Formulas & conversion factors
73. Chemicals, Oils, Additives for oil and gasoline, Greases, Antiseizes, Loctite, Sealants, Waxes, etc.
74. Maintaining your leather items
75. Gas Caps, Luggage, Windshields, Locks & Keys, Instruments, mirrors, etc.
See #44 on how to repair cracked luggage; &see #1 on more gas cap information; fuel filters, etc.
76. Miscellaneous. Fork filling; control cables; wobbles, weaves & tank slappers (see 76A too);
oversize drain plugs & washers; forks; side & centerstands; clothing, heated clothing, ETC.
((Information on Seats interchangeability, etc., is in article #12))
76A. Instability; weaving, wobbling, tank slappers; the REAL story, in a way seldom presented. (See 76
also)
77. Modifications for Performance, and in some instances, reliability, etc.
78A. Useful Url's (& OTHER references); links to technical sources, people, websites, &
companies you WILL want to know about. How to get special characters printed or
sent from your computer.
78B. REFERENCES: ADDITIONAL information, that are not in 78A. This includes more URL's;
e-mail addresses; contacts & descriptions.
79. Farley, Brown, and Surefoot Sidestands and Reynolds RideOff Centerstand
80. MANUALS AND LITERATURE; SOURCES, DESCRIPTION, CRITIQUE'S, ETC.
NOT just BMW either. See also article 78B.
81. Fuel mileage!!......why does my motorcycle get such lousy mileage?
82. INSURANCE, for motorcycles and sidecar rigs
83. Bob's 'sleeper' R75/5. My radical supercharged R75/5

Oilhead motorcycle section:

1. Place to send ABS1 brains to get them repaired: http://bmwk10075abs1fix.web.fc2.com/
2. Salvage yards, for oilhead parts, etc: www.beemerboneyard.com (973)-775-3495
3. See article #30, above, about the ignition Hall effect sensors.
4. R1100RT: LCD Temperature and Fuel Gauge Calibration; Fuel Sender Testing & Cleaning,

CLASSIC K-bike motorcycle section:

(CLASSIC K-BIKES ARE K MODELS K1, K75, K100, and K1100)

Snowbum is active on the K-BMW LIST:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/kbmw
1. Starter sprag clutch problems in classic K bikes
2. Hints, advice, etc.______________________________
3. Hyperlink for a website with wiring diagrams for the K75 and K100, etc; AND, lots of GOOD
electrical items for sale: http://easternbeaver.com/
4. Brake squealing, any model, and very especially the K75?...see article 53-A...which DOES include
information for
K75, & all classic K bikes, for that matter.

5. Salvage yard, for parts, etc.: www.beemerboneyard.com ( 973)-775-3495. Some other

salvage yards are listed in my REFERENCES.HTM article (article 78-B).
6. See article #30, about the ignition Hall effect sensors. This line is not a hyperlink....; go up up up
and click on article 30.
7. U-joint Phasing Photos, Paralever Driveshaft models
8. K bike instrument pod: Repairing & Calibrating speedometer; clock mod. for 12 hour; ETC.
9. K bike fork oil requirements
10. Fitting handguards to a K1100LT
11. Troubleshooting the LE-Jetronic classic K bikes (2 valve K75, 2 valve K100). This is not an article
on this website, but a hyperlink you click on, leading to another website. A VERY extensive
article on how the entire fuel system and ignition system works....with a lot of troubleshooting
included. The article includes extensive sketches, schematics, diagrams, flow charts, etc. I
find little wrong, except maybe the tiny section near the very bottom, on using the 4 each 16 ohm
resistors (parallel'd), with a series connected voltmeter; which SHOULD be a current meter. In
addition, a voltmeter should be at the other side of the resistors, to ground. In the article some of
the use of current/voltage terminology could be a bit misleading to someone with electrical
knowledge.....but, these are very minor nitpicks! Download and print in color!
This is a VERY good artcle!
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/bvogel/K100/download/bike-wont-start.htm
12. This is a hyperlink to the above website that has a huge amount of K bike information, photos, how-
to's, ETC. VERY worthwhile. http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/bvogel/K100/K100.htm
13. Changing Coolant on a Classic K bike, all the fun details (and more!)
14. If you need to have an ABS1 computer brain repaired, try here:
http://bmwk10075abs1fix.web.fc2.com/

NOTE!....Some of the Airhead articles will have information pertinent to K bike owners. Just ONE
example
might be the References article (78B), which has information on driveshaft rebuilding and LOTS more.

Snowbum is not at all involved with later K or F bikes.

For owners of the K1200 and K1300 series, try these sites:
http://www.i-bmw.com/
http://www.k-bikes.com/

I have a page that has some motorcycle (yes, some K bike stuff too) and personal stuff
for sale (or TRADE!): click here

Sidecar specific section:

(image)
This was previously Al Olme's rig. I purchased it from Al and had it shipped to me in So. Lake Tahoe
from Minnesota, by HaulBikes; whose service is very good. The Police-type saddle, and Authorities radio
trunk were removed prior to our 2008 trip across the USA. I installed for that trip the stock seat and trunk.
The Police/Authorities items have been sold. I have Citycases, as well as the Tourbags. I often use the
rig with the Tourbag on left, Citycase on right, makes for easier access; unless on a very long tour where I
need every cubic inch of space. Specifications below are as I have modified the rig for my own purposes;
and are in brief, there is lots more I have done.

The SKUNK flag stands for Sidecars Up Nort Klub; Up Nort stands for anyplace Up North of
someplace.

Tug wheels: 4.5 x 14" EZS. Tug tires: Firestone F590, 165/70-R14. Sidecar wheel: 300mm x 15" EML
with 135R15 tire.
Front fork: EZS Leading Link with floating brake discs, Koni 76109P shock units & Brembo twin spot
calipers.
Entire ABS system was removed from tug. Tug rear brake is Brembo two-piston 38 mm P108 & rear
master cylinder is
16 mm Magura. Brembo F05 sidecar disc brake plumbed to the tug's rear braking system.
Sidecar wheel lead 13-1/4". Front wheel offset to right by 1-3/8". Toe-in 5/8" to 11/16" unloaded.
With driver and usual saddlebag load, toe-in is 1/4"; with passenger in sidecar, 3/8".
The need for a steering dampener, which it has, is quite minimal, if at all.
R1100S hand-guards. Rugs in chair and chair trunk. Multiple types of electrical outlets. GPS.

The top was designed and made right here...sheesh what a job! See #9 below.

Snowbum is active on the SCT sidecar LIST:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SCT/

1A. The good points, the bad points, an overview of sidecaring basics
1B. List of Sidecar groups on the Internet
1C. Hyperlink for the Evergreen Council group training schedule for Basic & Advanced training:
http://www.esc.org/step_national_schedule.php
2. Sidecar Technical stuff. Links for manuals; mechanicals, photos, licensing. Photos &
modifications details, subframes, mounts, alignment considerations; specific details/photos of
R100RT-Ural rig mounts, etc.
3. Sidecar resources: INCLUDING setting up sidecars, how to drive one, resources for handicapped
sidecar and trike drivers; URL's for technical articles, special items such as speedometer
re-calibrator, etc.
4. BMW frames; subframes; installing subframes ((be sure to see #2 above for more photos))
5. Sidecar stories, off-beat stuff
6. Flying the chair; steering reversion; countersteering; the controversy; my take on the matter.
7. Miscl. Sidecar Tech
8. EML sidecar; suspension & brakes overhaul; GT2; other EML models. EZS info.
9. EML sidecar tops; photos; description of various types of tops; my own custom top
10. The FLEXIT leaner sidecar rig.....history, photos, etc. ANY leaner website information too.
11. EZS_steering_dampener_____________
12. My R100RT-Ural sidecar rig was sold April 2006. Click here for information & photos on that
rig, including the subframes and a lot of other technical items.

My K1100LT is equipped with handguards. See K bike section article 10 or click this line
NOTE: see article 82, well above; about insurance!

I have a page that has some motorcycle and personal stuff for sale (or TRADE!), click: Sale.htm

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