Author Topic: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT  (Read 11337 times)

Offline airhead

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wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« on: March 19, 2018, 07:01:19 PM »
Please bear with me, first post on this forum.  I have a new to me 1990 K75RT, and have an odd vibration problem.  Above 4100 rpm there is a buzzing type vibration, that comes and goes in a  1-1.5 second cycle while maintaining constant speed. A bit more noticeable the faster I go.  Not terrible, but clearly there compared to my 1987 K75C.  And annoying.  I assume engine related, as it is there at the same rpm in 3rd, 4th and 5th gear regardless of speed.  Thus far, work I've done includes a new rear main seal, clutch reassembly with painted marks staggered, alternator rubber bits replaced, driveshaft and final drive replaced with serviceable used units, throttle bodies synch'd, (pretty close, although it seemed I had to unscrew the middle one a lot, like 3-4 turns,  to get them nearly even on the manometer.)  Motor mount bolts tight. 
   
The second problem is a small oil leak, that is coming from somewhere above the hole that the oil pressure sensor wire comes through.  A few drops on the ground right in front after parking it.   Not by the oil filter cover. I used the baby powder technique to locate it.  What's up there, and is it worth going after?  i.e. anything terrible likely to happen if I ignore it? No coolant in the oil, no oil that I can tell in the coolant.


I appreciate any help you give the new kid.
  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

Offline johnny

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2018, 07:32:50 PM »
greetings...

needs more throttle...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline Martin

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2018, 07:36:26 PM »
Welcome, it will never be as smooth as the 75. The latter 4v version did address some of the vibration problems that came with the 100's.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline K1300S

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2018, 07:46:44 PM »
Welcome, it will never be as smooth as the 75. The latter 4v version did address some of the vibration problems that came with the 100's.
Regards Martin.

But...it IS a 75......

The one TB adjusted 3-4 turns out is the clue.   You have a vacuum leak or fuel delivery issue somewhere on that cyl. 
Project Thread "K75s Midlife Refresh"
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7810.0.html

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2018, 07:51:12 PM »
Could be almost anywhere.  I can recall vibrations coming from exhaust mounts, tragkorb mounts, alternator drives, clutch arms, foot pegs and foot peg plates, stands, and in my case slop in the output shaft drive dogs.  You might want to go through and check the security of all the fasteners on the bike.

That you had to make a large adjustment on one of your throttle bodies says that you might have valve clearance issues.  Have you checked the valve clearances yet?

How many miles?  Has the bike been in storage for a few years?
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline airhead

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Re: weird vibration 1990 K75 RT, and oil leak.
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2018, 11:13:11 AM »
Thanks for all the tips.  My apologies on not providing the mileage. It has 65,000 miles, don't know if it sat for a while.  The guy I bought it from had just bought it 6 months prior.  Said he was going to ride to Alaska.  Good thing he didn't try with the final drive splines shot!  I think it had just been rode hard and not maintained.  I did check the valves, only 2 needed adjusted.
I'll run some Sea Foam through it and readjust the TBs.  Also double check all bolts.  I wonder about the clutch?  I had to use the paint marks, as the sharpie marks I'd put on at removal washed off with cleaning, so I'm not absolutely positive it went back together the same way it came out.


Any thoughts on the oil leak up front?


Steve, Cincinnati


  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

Offline Laitch

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Re: weird vibration 1990 K75 RT, and oil leak.
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2018, 11:49:54 AM »
I wonder about the clutch?  I had to use the paint marks, as the sharpie marks I'd put on at removal washed off with cleaning, so I'm not absolutely positive it went back together the same way it came out.
Any thoughts on the oil leak up front?
About the clutch, there is nothing to be done unless you want to keep disassembling the bike to reorient the parts until you get a different result, maybe.

If oil is leaking from the pump's cover mating surfaces and not from the weep hole beneath the pump, then remove the cover, clean the those surfaces and after you're certain all surfaces are dry, apply gasket sealant to cover's mating surfaces, locate the sender wire securely in its notch then install the cover with the correct torque and an alternating tightening pattern.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Laitch

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2018, 11:55:45 AM »
The one TB adjusted 3-4 turns out is the clue.   You have a vacuum leak or fuel delivery issue somewhere on that cyl.
Believe. Believe! :oldguy:
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2018, 04:40:41 PM »
Did you line up all the paint marks, or stagger them 120 degrees apart???
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline airhead

  • Curious
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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2018, 07:52:27 PM »
Staggered the paint marks as close to 120 degrees apart as they would fit.  i was thinking, I have a brother in law who does vibration analysis for GE.  If I could measure the frequency  and compare it to the engine rpm, driveshaft rpm , etc, maybe that would help pin it down. The thing that gets me is the waxing and waning of it at constant speed.  Comes and goes over about 1.5-2 seconds about.  Strange.
  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

Offline K1300S

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2018, 09:09:55 PM »
see reply #3.....


tb balance screws should be within a half turn of one another and only about one turn out from closed.  you have a problem there somewhere.
Project Thread "K75s Midlife Refresh"
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7810.0.html

Offline airhead

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2018, 09:42:36 PM »
Agreed.  Time to look at the TB and the injector and see why #2 wasn't pulling as much vacuum as #1 and #3.


I really appreciate all you folks on this forum!  Seriously, thank you.
  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

Offline alexg

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2019, 09:07:32 PM »
Hi:
Looking at some issues of vibration at high rpm (>5500) on my K75, I wonder if you have an update on this one.
  • Michigan
  • '93 K75S, 1975 BMW R75/6 & 1984 Yamaha RZ350
Alex G.

Offline Rcgreaves

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2019, 10:05:11 PM »
Cue Beach Boys..I'll restrain myself from Editing in Brick references to the lyrics.  i love the "oom bop bops!!":

While weekend rain touring yesterday about the Chee I had to chase not so much a vibration but a resonating chatter.  I'd just recently changed tires/lube and adjusted the damping on my rear strut. etc.

So Before my Sunday ride out came the tool kit and I proceeded to verify all my torques from the previous week's service.  Anywhere I've gone recently it's worth a revisit, right?

I had backed off the preload spring and with weight in the saddle I omitted to bring the top lock rings with stainless steel washer down atop the rears strut spring leaving a gap for the spring to clatter about  making me paranoid.

Volume up on the music:
Good Vibrations
The Beach Boys
I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me the excitations (oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations)
Close my eyes, she's somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving…













Source: LyricFind

  • Livingston in Southwest WI. USA-"With the good earth all around."
  • 94' K75S, 85' GL1200 Aspencade, 96' VFR750F, 01' GL1800. Restoring: 95' K1100RS, 83' R80RT NEW: Motorvation Formula II
Doing “better than I deserve"

Offline Laitch

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2019, 10:21:03 PM »
 :thisplacewhack
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Past-my-Prime

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2019, 10:15:02 PM »
Here's my "words of wisdom" if such were to exist:

I had a vibration for a while. Usually only around 85-90 MPH (130-140 km/h) I'd feel smooth -- vibrate -- smooth -- vibrate -- smooth.

Visually like ________________^^^^^^^^^_________________^^^^^^^^^________________ .

When I disassembled the final drive to (finally) apply my difficulty accessed Honda Moly 60, I saw this:





Moral of the story: LUBE YOUR SPLINES!

I'm still working on my next step but it clearly includes a replacement drive shaft and pinion of the FD.


  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline Rcgreaves

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  • "I'd rather be flying, but this will do nicely"
Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2019, 11:01:48 PM »
Here's my "words of wisdom" if such were to exist:

I had a vibration for a while. Usually only around 85-90 MPH (130-140 km/h) I'd feel smooth -- vibrate -- smooth -- vibrate -- smooth.

Visually like ________________^^^^^^^^^_________________^^^^^^^^^________________ .

When I disassembled the final drive to (finally) apply my difficulty accessed Honda Moly 60, I saw this:





Moral of the story: LUBE YOUR SPLINES!

I'm still working on my next step but it clearly includes a replacement drive shaft and pinion of the FD.

That visual tells the story Past my Prime.   Thunder Bay is on my shortlist of long-distance touring destinations.  From SW Wisconsin I figure circumnavigating Superior to be a 5-day outing minimum..someday soon.

My one addition on your drive train quest.  Like other disciplines - my analogy is welding- When you experience what a proper setup looks feels and sounds like, that failing shaft/bearing etc. will become very obvious to you.  Spine service with tire change solves so many potential Brick Ills.  I'll go hunt up some video of Thunder Bay touring. Come to prowl SW Wisconsin, every day I attempt to get lost between work school and home and arrive with a grin.  Cheers.
  • Livingston in Southwest WI. USA-"With the good earth all around."
  • 94' K75S, 85' GL1200 Aspencade, 96' VFR750F, 01' GL1800. Restoring: 95' K1100RS, 83' R80RT NEW: Motorvation Formula II
Doing “better than I deserve"

Offline airhead

  • Curious
  • Posts: 6
Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #17 on: September 28, 2019, 01:37:47 PM »
Thank you all for your help.  I was despairingly searching the internet one night and found a post in the archives from about 2011, I think, that  described an issue with a gap where the engine bolts to the frame.  Shimming a gap there helped.  So, I looked at the left rear bolt, being easy to access with the fairing in place, and indeed, with the bolt out there was a gap. just about the thickness of a washer I had handy.  Replacing it made about a 50% improvement in the vibration, but I have no idea why it would!
The bike had been down on the left side at some point, judging by the scrapes on the left mirror and crash bar, but seems to track and handle normally, at least as best I can tell.
Been real busy, but plan on checking the other bolts as well.  Now it is very smooth up to about 70 mph, like my K75C, and tolerable above.  Seriously, I was ready to sell it before this, it bugged me that much!
  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

Offline daveson

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #18 on: September 28, 2019, 05:24:11 PM »
The engine may have been removed, then replaced by someone doing it for the first time and lost the washer. You might see turn marks on the engine/frame bolts,  or signs it may have been replaced. That washer possibly belongs on the right side where the frame connects to the intermediate housing,  between the engine and gearbox.

The bolts should be installed and tightened in a specific sequence.

Although possibly outdated the sequence is in the BMW manual available on this site,  page 46-67.0


  • Victoria, Australia
  • Current; '85 K100RT~100,000km; four other bricks. Past; Vulcan 1500, V Star 650, KLX 250(dirt bike) TT250(dirt bike)

Offline daveson

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2019, 05:48:03 PM »
If no luck, there are other sequences, like Clymer's for example.
  • Victoria, Australia
  • Current; '85 K100RT~100,000km; four other bricks. Past; Vulcan 1500, V Star 650, KLX 250(dirt bike) TT250(dirt bike)

Offline Laitch

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Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #20 on: September 28, 2019, 06:09:44 PM »
Shimming a gap there helped.  So, I looked at the left rear bolt, being easy to access with the fairing in place, and indeed, with the bolt out there was a gap. just about the thickness of a washer I had handy.  Replacing it made about a 50% improvement in the vibration, but I have no idea why it would!
Have you seen this diagram from the BMW K100/K75 2V manual here?
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline airhead

  • Curious
  • Posts: 6
Re: wierd vibration 1990 K75 RT
« Reply #21 on: September 29, 2019, 07:41:12 PM »
Thank you!  No, I had not seen the instructions in the manual.  ( didn't look.) . I'll let you know what happens after following the procedure.  The driveshaft and splines are good, but I'll never buy another K bike without pulling the driveshaft and checking first. 
Also, as to the oil leak I mentioned in my original post, it was not the cover or the weep hole, but behind the oil pump where a passageway for pressure relief had been blocked by sealant.  Cleaned it out with a piece of wire, now clean and dry.  Thanks again to this list for info to find it.  I'd have never figured it out on my own.
  • Cincinnati Ohio
  • 1987 K75C

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