R100R 1993

[hzbloke]

Just had a quick look in the 1981 R45/65 factory manual. The only mention of spline lube other than what barryh found in the '78 manual is in the "Troubleshooting - clutch" section. The remedy for "Clutch is difficult to operate, clutch judder" is "Clean and grease the splines". The manual does not contain a maintenance schedule.

[khittner1]

Souljer: If you venture beyond Haynes' suggestions, here's a link to the first of a four-part YouTube video series that's a pretty good demonstration of what's involved in a transmission spline lube: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=BMW ... 29BEC736DE

Alas, the video's producer, Chris Harris, the proprietor of Affordable Beemer Services, only walks through the procedures, but not any of the indicators for when the service is prudently called for, so this could be dismissed as just an elaborate internet hoax. But it's not.

[Souljer]

Hi,

Thanks for the video link. Very instructive.
Not sure if I should laugh or cry...

They are helpful though.
And yes, I get and understand the idea of preventive maintenance. It's something that I'll have to do sooner or later - Just like everything. No doubt it's always better doing this sort of stuff in the garage rather than replacing a broken part after walking home.

Looking through the old Maintenance Log there was a bit of drive-train work done right at the end of the records which would be about 34,000 miles ago, including the few miles I've put on. No mention of input splines that I can see. This is basically the mileage between when the regular maintenance stopped back in 1996 and when I bought the bike the end of last year. So it seems the bike has got less than 1900 miles each year for the last 18 years.

The picture got clipped here, but the Feb-Aug dates are from 1996.

Still, I'm sure that means that even if it was done, it's simply due by now anyway and it has to happen soon.

The videos weren't that bad really. Just a lot of removing stuff and then putting everything back on. They make it look easy with two experienced guys working together. I'll be alone; the blind leading the clueless.

Haven't decided how to go about it yet. Of course I can have it done and simply pay. Watching them in the video, I like that I could then examine other things while there and learn more about what's going on and how things look.
If I decide to do it myself I'll need to find that grease for starters; Stauburgh's? something.

Jury's still out on what to do.
Might have to go for another ride-about and have a think on it...

[khittner1]

Lubrication was certainly done when the rear main seal and input shaft seals were replaced in August of '96 (the last entry in the logs you've posted). If it hasn't been done since, it's ready any old time now. The part that's at-risk if the fairly fine splines go unlubed and, hence, prematurely wear or eventually strip, would be the input shaft itself--and to fix that you will be doing a pricey transmission overhaul.

[Souljer]

Hi,

Yes, that's what I meant.
Regardless it's probably time to do it anyway. Actually it's probably time to do everything.

[daz]

Hold my feet to the fire, torture me, I will never mention the short cut to lubing input splines where you don't have to remove the transmission from the bike. My lips are sealed. Mums the word.

NOT the suggested method.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Hold my feet to the fire, torture me, I will never mention the short cut to lubing input splines where you don't have to remove the transmission from the bike. My lips are sealed. Mums the word.

NOT the suggested method.

But it is more than nothing. And nothing is usually what is happens because of the significant pain in the ass of doing it "right". And that opportune moment never seems to happen. (For very good reasons of course.)

So which really is the better good? To do at least something or to wait until that time when the planets line up properly?

By the way: I recommend caution when approaching members of the opposite sex with a variation of this wisdom--whether pro or con.


Ken

[khittner1]

Of course, Souljer's situation begs several questions that he's probably asking himself, and that most of the initiated have asked themselves, but that I've forgotten the answers to, if I ever heard them:

1. Why do dry clutch airhead transmission input shafts periodically require this tedious/expensive lubrication service when other vehicles with manual transmissions and dry clutches (like my middle-aged Dodge Dakota pick-up with 200K on it, or Souljer's TR-6) do not?

2. I think that I know that brick-type K-bikes require the same service (I've never owned one, but some of the sales listings mention "recent spline lube" as an apparent sales point), but do all dry-clutch BMW bikes require this? Should Souljer be kicking himself harder for not buying an oilhead or hexhead?

3. Why are the transmission input splines apparently so small/feeble/needy of rust-preventing lubrication? Why not make 'em big enough that a bit of surface corrosion wouldn't risk a ride-stopping and tranny-rebuilding buzz/whirr?

Given my ancestry, I may have a privilege of questioning these points of German engineering, where others might hesitate, and, if so, I'm happy to be of public service.

Konrad

[Duane Ausherman]

Of course, Souljer's situation begs several questions that he's probably asking himself, and that most of the initiated have asked themselves, but that I've forgotten the answers to, if I ever heard them:

1. Why do dry clutch airhead transmission input shafts periodically require this tedious/expensive lubrication service when other vehicles with manual transmissions and dry clutches (like my middle-aged Dodge Dakota pick-up with 200K on it, or Souljer's TR-6) do not?

Because it is a very poor design. All BMWs before the /5 series didn't require a spline lube. We never heard of such a thing and never saw a negative result suggesting that it be done.

2. I think that I know that brick-type K-bikes require the same service (I've never owned one, but some of the sales listings mention "recent spline lube" as an apparent sales point), but do all dry-clutch BMW bikes require this? Should Souljer be kicking himself harder for not buying an oilhead or hexhead?

I can't answer what anyone should buy. I also know nothing about these later bikes in that I have never even ridden one of them. I have no interest of any kind.

3. Why are the transmission input splines apparently so small/feeble/needy of rust-preventing lubrication? Why not make 'em big enough that a bit of surface corrosion wouldn't risk a ride-stopping and tranny-rebuilding buzz/whirr?

Good question and the older bikes have far larger teeth.

Given my ancestry, I may have a privilege of questioning these points of German engineering, where others might hesitate, and, if so, I'm happy to be of public service.

Just look at my name, same source. I do not bow down the BMW god as so many do. We Germans are just people and people make mistakes.

Konrad

[khittner1]

Thanks for your historical assessment. Duane. Apparently, "legendary motorcycles", like most legends, are based on both fact and fiction.