Getting Started On Doing Your Own Maintenance
gettingstarted.htm
There are many reasons to do your own, or some, 'wrenching'. Just a few of these are:
1. Makes you
feel good...ego, etc.
2. A quiet, peaceful time for yourself (when not practicing
your swearing and other epithets).
3. You may save LOTS of $$.
4. You will know the
motorcycle better, and hence feel better
when out and about in case of 'trouble', whether perceived, or
real.
5. You will avoid poorly done
dealer work by knowing what is good
work, proper work, right type of work, proper price for such
work, and you will know about the
consequences of poor or bad work.
6. SAFETY you can count on,
in-so-far as mechanicals are concerned.
7. Learn new skills, that may
well be useful in other areas of
your life.
8. You will begin to covet
tools, and your workshop area MIGHT take on a more professional
look.
9. Knowing when to take something to
an expert, or perhaps to a favorite BMW shop, is part of being a
mature person. You will know when to farm out
jobs...and to whom....for those things you decide you are not
qualified to do. This website contains names of recommended
airhead servicing folks. There are some people in
that business whom I do NOT recommend. Fearing
lawyers and liability, I have not, so far, listed them in this
public forum, but I will be happy to give you my analysis and
recommendations, via e-mail; contents of which are to remain
private, between you, and me.
10. Your fear of the unknown will diminish; you will become
less shy, you will want to ask questions on the AIRHEADS LIST,
and the answers will sometimes educate you on technical details;
and, sometimes, re-affirm that you ARE gaining knowledge.
11. Add YOUR reason, here.
I can guarantee you all that I hardly know
everything about airheads, and I have been at this for a long
time. I am not being modest in saying that, it is the
plain truth.
Sometimes...rarely though....contrary opinions on something are expressed by so-called 'guru's' on the Airheads internet mailing LIST, or elsewhere's. If you are trying to decide who is right, politely ask for someone's reasoning behind their statements, explaining your confusion with the differing opinions. You should not question their competence, nor try to make them 'prove' their opinions; but, if they are secure in their reasons, that should be made clear to you. Once in awhile, such questioning MIGHT result in a terse or testy reply. We don't always have perfect days, ourselves, you know!
Probably if all of us agree exactly on
something, one might take that as gospel....of some sort or
other! Sometimes we so-called Guru's (I humbly put myself
in the class of some sort of expert here) disagree, and sometimes
we have off-LIST discussions between ourselves. Sometimes
we disagree and we never discuss it.
.....Professional courtesy!
(I am presently laughing over THAT!...). I've had some Hellish
good arguments about things posted....or otherwise!.....now and
then. Most of the time this is carried OFF the LIST.
SOME people get a LOT of pleasure by tinkering with things
mechanical. Some get a lot of pleasure making sure that no speck
of dust will be anyplace on that pristine showpiece....and might
even ride it now and then. I know of a few folks who hardly mind
paying a trusted mechanic to do all the maintenance on their
airheads. I actually know one person who does not
even do his own cleaning and waxing. Takes all
types. For those who want to learn, even if they are
totally ham-fisted and tend to break things (especially if they
have convinced themselves that they ARE inherently, genetically,
that way, and hence have not previously TRIED (with instruction,
perhaps to be otherwise) .....we can teach them if they
want to learn. Sometimes the transformation is very
interesting to behold.....and they become do-it-yourself
addicts.....sort of like getting, suddenly, '''religion'''.
For ME, the best mostly now comes from seeing the light turn on
in someone's head at a TechDay; or, maybe on the TechLIST;.....and,
watching that person do a competent job, and understand what
he/she is doing.....why....how....etc.
Snowbum says: Die knowing something, you are not here
long. He also says Docimus Discimus (We learn by teaching).
Come to think of it, Snowbum (that's MEEE)....has also said, "We are here to help others'...so...what are THEY here for?"....and, of course...."Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool".
Whether you are a total beginner with few
wrenching skills; or, a seasoned airhead do-it-yourselfer, but
probably not a master wrench, here are some ideas from me on jobs
you CAN do. I have to
make certain assumptions here, so you should know what those are:
You should at least
have a reasonable feel for how much force you can turn a screw
into metal or fiberglass, before something breaks. If not,
approach things with extra caution. You should
have at least the tool kit that came with the motorcycle....and
you have reviewed on this website: tools.htm
I will also assume you have the basic idea of
eventually, sooner than later, obtaining some literature, such as
the owner's
manual, and possibly Clymers or Haynes or
both (keeping in mind they have errors), have some space
to work on things, maybe even a workbench indoors, and are
willing to learn WITHOUT BEING TOO SHY ABOUT IT. You
are willing to admit you don't know it all. Note that
the factory service manuals are NOT all that helpful for
beginners to even modestly seasoned BMW airhead wrencher's.
On the other hand, the old airhead owner's booklets, as opposed
to the new bike's, is full of useful information.
1.
For absolute beginners to slightly advanced beginners:
a. Washing, cleaning, waxing, re-oiling
and/or re-greasing levers, cleaning electrical connections, basic
soldering and mechanical attachments of electrical
wires. Checking battery levels, oil levels, tire
pressures, looking about for obvious developing
problems. Do not take this lightly, quite a few
folks have zero idea about how to properly maintain paintwork,
rubberwork, plastics. Some overfill.....or do not
even look...at batteries. Some overtighten drain and
fill plugs. You want to avoid stripping things by
overtightening them. LOTS of things to learn in this
basic area.
b. Changing oils (and filter on /5/6
era, with the internal single bolt cap). You own a
torque wrench, and know how to use it. If your bike has an
oil cooler (or, you have the type of oil filter canister outer
cover of the late type (no internal metal cap cover with the
single bolt), you will be smart enough to read the article on
this website detailing the potential problem areas,
ETC. Oil.htm
c. Change tires, tubes, wheel seals,
clean and lubricate wheel bearings (you are not quite competent
to do shimming on pre-1985).
d. Learn more about the technical side
of your bike by reading literature and websites and LIST
traffic....and participating in that traffic.
e. Obtain a cheap test light and learn
what it can do. Consider purchasing of an inexpensive
digital volt-ohm-ammeter, and then learning about it. Read
the basic electricity article on this website: boxerelectrics.htm
f. Change lamps (including in the
instruments...without damaging the printed flexible material).
g. Change alternator brushes and service
electrical contacts and connections. You are hesitant...but
you do it, use the correct tools, and have a happy 'done it
right' smile.
h. Remove and replace points, adjust
points gaps, adjust timing, adjust valves, torque head nuts with
torque wrench, synchronize carburetors by the shorting or gauges
method. You are a bit hesitant, but listen, read, and then
do it competently...and the bike runs fine afterwards, and you
did not ruin anything (like screw or bolt threads).
i. Willing to spent time reading
technical articles on http://www.airheads.org
and THIS site, whether you fully understand them or not, with the
idea of getting over-all flavor, feel, and some information.
j. You feel you can, with instructions,
properly take apart the throttle grip drive and clean and
lubricate it and get it back together.
k. You understand the 4 stroke cycle
engine operation, at least in basics. You could find top
dead center (OT mark) on the compression stroke for either
cylinder and know you did this correctly, after all, you did it
when adjusting the valves.
l. You are beginning to participate in
technical discussions, as you are understanding things more
clearly now, you now have some ideas on WHAT to ask, and may even
be able to assist novices.
m. You are planning to attend your first
major BMW Rally. You have also planned to attend a nearby
TechDay...and do so, but are probably a bit quiet and unassuming
there. You MAY, however, be planning or even now
holding a TechDay at YOUR home.
2.
Out of the beginners group, into the low-middle-group:
a. Basic trouble shooting for slightly
more complex electrical problems. Willing to at least read
some additional information on electricity and the workings of
such in your Airhead. You are only partly freaked-out
by electricals.
b. Changing the oil filter on bikes
after the /5/6 era (no internal single bolt cap) (and including
cooler equipped bikes) hardly is anything to you
anymore. You have read and understanding the
$2000 O-ring articles. You've read, and understood
some, if not most, of Oil.htm,
and you have also been reading more articles on this website, and
your understanding is going up up up.
c. You feel up to following
instructions on changing a RT or RS windshield
d. You think you can follow
instructions and clean and lube the steering head bearings, swing
arm bearings, MAYBE the Paralever bearings. You may be feeling
relatively OK, less nervous perhaps, about removing the Paralever
driveshaft.
e. You can follow instructions and
advice, often without major questions. You are beginning to
figure things out yourself.
f. You can competently
repair a bad thread of the simple type; and, of course, use a
drill guide and tapping guide...but are hesitant about a pulled
cylinder stud thread.
g. You can clean and lubricate the
transmission input splines (often called clutch splines).
h. You can discuss
quite a few technical items on your bike, with more knowledgeable
folks, and feel confident in your remarks.
i. You attend Rallies,
TechDays, and feel comfortable. You have or are about to
host a TechDay yourself.
j. You are getting VERY good,
indeed, about synchronizing carburetors.
3.
Well into the middle group:
a. Change a twin shock model left rear
drive large seal.
b. Repair a pulled cylinder stud, and
would certainly be using a custom made tool guide for this job.
c. The idea of removing a cylinder and
replacing it, changing a pushrod tube rubber and even piston
removal is not freaking you out more than a little bit.
d. Capable and willing to do wheel
bearing service including shimming. In fact you WANT to do
this job YOURSELF, and you have had the proper tools made up to
do it in a professional manner. You think you do it
better than most shops do after doing it once.
e. Capable of more serious electrical
troubleshooting. Understand how diodes, relays,
resistors, etc., operate. Capable of properly using a
volt-ohm-current meter. You think you MIGHT know a wee bit
more than the average moto-mechanic in this area.
f. Steering head maintenance, whether
cleaning and lubrication, or changing a bearing, is not
frightening, not of any real concern at all, actually. You
saw this done at a TechDay, you've already probably done some
cleaning and greasing and even have replaced a set of steering
bearings, and was astonished at how much simpler it was than you
had imagined. You are beginning to get the
gut-feeling that you MIGHT JUST turn into a truly competent
mechanic.
g. Not much intimidated about anything,
such as changing a rear drive input seal or fixing a drain plug
thread at the rear drive...or most any damaged thread....after
all, you've done it, or can read and understand, so why be
intimidated.
h. Some of your airhead friends are
asking your advice rather regularly.
i. A yearly TechDay at your place
is established.
j. You analyze symptoms presented
by other riders about their airheads, quite competently a fair
amount of the time.
k. You are competent to overhaul a
Bing CV carb, top to bottom, and to analyzing tuning of same.
4.
Moderately advanced:
a. Capable of analyzing ANY electrical
faults on your own; the electrical system is not at all
intimidating.
b. Change a crankshaft main seal and oil
pump seal after removing transmission and clutch (this might be
in the prior group). Replacing clutch parts is not
daunting. You are, more and more thinking: "I
CAN do this!".
c. Change a timing chain, crank
sprocket, seals, etc... by following instructions and asking
questions.
d. Feel competent to make suspension
modifications, such as to front fork innards, rear
shocks...because you UNDERSTAND what the effects REALLY are of
such things.
e. You have a pretty fair feeling for
materials and can be faced with something totally new, nothing
you have seen before, heard about before, or dealt with in any
fashion before, and not be overwhelmed.
f. You are competent to instantly know
if a BMW shop is doing good work or not, understands airheads, or
not.
g. You could figure out on your own how
to mark a crankshaft flywheel that you mistakenly installed in
the wrong position, as the present markings on it from the
factory mean nothing of importance. But, you are also the
type that will not remark the flywheel, instead, you grit your
teeth, chalk it up to a learning experience, and remove the
transmission and clutch and redo the flywheel assembly. You
remembered to install the crankshaft blocking tool first, and you
remembered to not forget the clutch marks you installed
previously. You find this all a bit amusing, 5 years later,
when you relate the previously hidden story around a
campfire. You are still being asked technical
questions rather regularly. You remember obscure details, and
usually know you can give good answers most of the time, and are
hesitant to say anything if you do not know the answer to a
question, and may well refer to someone with more
knowledge. You are pretty sure, if you have not done
it already, that you could get Ed Korn's video, and overhaul your
transmission, but you are a bit hesitant, knowing that folks like
OAK and Ted Porter and Tom Cutter have years of experience at
transmissions and doing rear drives, and think that these folks
will know all the tricks and finer details; but you won't likely
do your transmission yourself. You have the same feeling
about valves/head work.
h. You attend major BMW rallies, and are
thinking about volunteering for technical seminars, as a helper
for the main speaker, on a specific topic that you happen to be
very interested in teaching.
i. You not only have your own
TechDays, but you help out at others'.
j. You can sometimes, with no
effort, analyze other folks bikes that have problems that stumped
some people.
5.
Advanced:
You feel you can do any job on an
airhead if you REALLY want to. You are a bit hesitant; feel
you could do ANY job....but you still MIGHT shy away from the
following: Transmission overhaul; rear drive shimming;
crankshaft and camshaft removal and re-shimming and crankshaft
bearing clearances, differences at the main bearing
shell. You are curious enough to want to watch a
master wrench do those jobs, because you want to learn all the
tricks and you want to do it yourself someday. You
have a short list of the better shops, all in your head, and have
even considered working for one, perhaps part-time.
You understand how to degree out a camshaft, and understand the
process for any make or type of engine. You feel
competent to analyze worn parts on your own and determine if they
need repair or replacement. Some of your Airhead friends
feel a bit intimidated about asking 'stupid' questions of you;
since you ARE almost a REAL expert, and are
looked-up-to. You are not overly hesitant in
answering, if asked, as you know MOST of what there is to know
about the common maintenance items. You receive your 100K
badge. You feel competent to do some technical seminars on
your own. You are constantly asked about technical things
at TechDays, and otherwise. You have read every article, in
depth on this website, the .org website, Duane's website, Anton's
website, and every other airhead concerned website. You are
even interested in how other models and makes of engines are
designed and serviced. You are even absorbing,
without seeming to notice, tidbits on servicing such as Oilheads
and K bikes.
6.
Well advanced:
You can do every job on an airhead.....well,
if you had a machine shop you could. You still might shy
away from some things, letting a specialist do them. You
are passing on your hard-learned knowledge to others.
You have developed a fine feel for engineering, and understand
quite a bit about what the factory was up to in its
designs. You do more than just think about doing
Technical Seminars. You have a bike lift, tire changing
equipment, can use a lathe and other equipment adequately, if not
professionally. You don't always have as much fun wrenching, as
you did quite some time ago, you would rather ride than wrench,
yet seem not to find as much riding time. You
meticulously prepare an older classic model for some event,
perhaps a National Rally. Folks are always coming up
to you, as you have made yourself approachable. Some tend
to gather at your feet, awaiting pearls of wisdom....and this
might embarrass you at times. You are more interested
in Teaching. You wonder about how you would run a BMW
dealership. You own a number of airheads, representing the
pre-/5 to the end of production. You may have an oilhead,
and/or a K or F. You might have a small barn full of old
parts, old bikes, and strange bikes. You can talk
about off-the-wall bikes you have owned and wrenched
on. You can talk about almost anything motorcycle
related. You have burn and skid and other marks and
remnants of fun and games at various body places. You
have learned to ride adequately in soft dirt (if you were
previously only a street rider). In fact, you LIKE dirt
riding. You no longer have semi-permanent blackened
fingers. You worry about your own kids who are
drooling at the idea of riding those dangerous motorcycles like
you did. You FINALLY figured out that sidecars are fun too,
but you prefer a solo bike, carving a canyon by yourself, lost in
your own thoughts and memories. You probably will get a
sidecar soon, so you can ride on snow next Winter, and carry the
spouse and kid or two or family dog. You are looking
forward to your 400K mileage badge. You know you are
looked up to, yet don't take advantage. You sometimes
get very grouchy and have a short temper with incompetent
wrenchers....and then you remember how things were years
ago.....and you shut up.
DocendoDiscimus
(that means We Learn By
Teaching)