R100GS Coughing, Backfiring, Stalling

[Jean]

"need to make up at least one special BMW tool, to hold the flywheel. "

I screwed a couple of bolts into holes in the engine casing and the flywheel (clutch holes) ...and put a 10-13 open end wrench between them to "block" the flywheel from rotating. When you tighten the bolts, put this rig on the other side.
I took a picture, but I can't find it.

[bumblebee]

Thanks again guys.

A quick update: the mechanic adjusted the timing by a few degrees. He also noted that the spark plug leads were cracked in spots, so I splashed out on new leads as well just to make sure.

I took it on a 150km round trip today - it ran perfectly.

My plan with this thing now is to just ride it for a while, and then I'll bit-by-bit tackle a few jobs, such as that pesky flywheel. For the moment - I'll just enjoy it!

By the way, it's one of a few bikes (but my favourite at the moment). The other bikes are a Ducati 848, a Ducati 696 (my race bike), a Suzuki DRZ400E and a couple of "postie" bikes (Honda CT110s). But, here's the bumblebee in Clarence Town today:


Untitled by spotcom, on Flickr

[Jean]

That is one really fine lookin' bike, BB. It's good to hear that you got it running well enough to enjoy it now.
It's hard to get the timming right when the flywheel cannot help you.
"...a couple of degrees" makes a lot of difference!!
and yes...the flywheel can wait a bit. Study on the instructions we've referenced before you start the job. All the ones I mentioned are for bikes with 2-sided swingarms, and there are going to be serious differences, for yours.

[Airbear]

Excellent news, BB. Be warned that BMWs can be highly addictive - something to do with looking down at those jugs when you are riding, maybe. They are quirky and characterful machines. Since you can obviously spread the love with multiple bikes, don't be surprised when another one or two Boxers somehow turn up in your stable.
You live in a nice neck of the woods. Have fun.

[chasbmw]

With a bean can ignition, you can rotate it with the engine running to find the sweet spot of best timing!

[grant81rs]

Gidday Fellas,

Bumblebee great job with the problem solving and also the end result with a 150km trouble free ride on the bike,
Listen and learn from these blokes on here mate, they are all a very talented bunch of collective beemer minds that will sort your bikes troubles out in no time flat, well most will just don't ask me as I'm still learning!!

About pulling the gearbox and flywheel etc, that was my first attempt at anything mechanical with my RS as I had to replace the rear main seal and I walked thru the whole process slowly with the help from this site, shit it felt good afterwards to BTW, so put a good day aside, read up on some info from on here , lock yourself in the garage and have a good crack at it...... Quite simple really.

Once again BB I lovely the look of the bike...... but just needs a little mud on it

Hey Charlie "Airbear" thanks for the kind words also

[Airbear]

Grant! Its good to see you here again.
I'm recalling there was mention earlier this year of a 30th Birthday party for all the '81RSs in the Oz mob.
Perhaps it's time to think further about that and see who will be in a bit of a run and a celebration.

The current beautiful weather is pretty inspiring. Perhaps Bumblebee could be tempted to ride south now that his bike is feeling better and the snow is melting. Keep an eye on the Motorcycling forum for news. Cheers.

[grant81rs]

Gidday Charlie,

yep mate long time no hear or see..... No excuses my friend, I've just been up to my elbows in "Chev" basically most weekends and having a bloody good time doing it, learning heaps and apprieciating some more good old fashioned machinery, you know that stuff thats made to last
Progress is flying along with my goal now to have it all up and back out on the road in 12mths ishhhhhh or some, well heres hoping like hell anyways so fingers crossed and then I with have to have a lovely leasurely drive up over the mountains to your groovy little lakeside town for a visit.....One day!!

I hope all of your studies are going fine and that life in Bethanga is treating you well also, with the onset of summer closing in no doubt the "island" with get another working over if the levels are right in th lake??

About the 30 years ride, yes I did mention it at the start of the year but thats about as far as it got, I've had a couple of lookers at my bike and a good few phone calls and emails but mostly they turn out to be tyre kickers and time wasters really.
I might try and get away with SteveD up over Hotham again in a month or two on a loop with a few other fellas that Steve knows and if I do that then that will probably do it for me for the year, studip isn't it? as I really want the car thing to happen....... The old resto on the car has just sucked me in big time

My old RS is going to go on the "red plates" if I keep it as I have only ridden it once since Febuary, and yes you can now slap me across the face and wack some sense into me please!!

Anyway Charlie, take care, study hard and keep enjoying life well with that smile on your face

[Airbear]

Hullo Grant. I must say I'm a bit concerned about your last ride being in February, but no doubt you'll get the hang of it again. I fully understand about the Chev - I know how important it is to you. I don't mind indulging in a good obsession from time to time. I had lots of fun as a kid in a '27 Chev. The next-door neighbour had one for years and he used to take all us local kids to the beach in it - 12 of us, singing songs and listening to appalling dad's jokes - very fond memories. Sometimes he'd let a few of us ride on the running boards for a while. When he had saved enough for an FC Holden around '61 he put the old Chev in our backyard for a while. Then he spray-painted it and sold it for 30 quid. Good memories, and I look forward to seeing yours in all its glory. Take care. I've revived your thread in Motorcycling and hope something good can happen. Talk to you soon.

[bumblebee]

G'day Grant. Hey, seeing as how you're now an expert at this flywheel job, when the time comes, I may well take a week off, ride south, and park the Beemer in that workshop of yours. I'll buy the smoko this time!

All: just thinking... If you can move the "bean can" whilst it's running, what do you think about the idea of timing the bike on a dyno, given I can't use the timing marks?

Thinking I'd do a run, then shift the can a poofteenth one way, do another run, move the can a bees-dick more, etc., etc.

Would that work? And if so, would I be looking for the setting that gave greatest benefit at mid range, or top range?

Only a thought. I know a bloke with a dyno so may get it at "mates rates".