Lift Handle R&R

[D.Bachtel]

Does anyone have any tips for removing and replacing the lift handle on a 1986 K75?
I can't seem to figure out how to approach it, just a spring and two keepers but I'm baffled.
Got a new one with rubber, thought I'd do a quick swap while it's raining.

Thanks!
Don Bachtel
Nipomo, CA

[Martin]

I've never done one but I would glue the rubber handle onto the shaft. I've had it come off while lifting it onto the centre stand, end result one dropped bike, and one bewildered me standing next to it with rubber handle in hand.  :yow  :falldown:  Use contact adhesive or Liquid Nails which is what I used.
Regards Martin.

[D.Bachtel]

 I thought about just changing out just the rubber but the replacement handle has it's rubber well secured.

Seems like it could be simple, perhaps a combination of visegrips, a small wedge and needle nose pliers
will allow me to stretch the spring enough to slip the keeper out of place.

 Now I'm wondering where my exhaust header spring stretcher is...

Don in Nipomo

[Martin]

I've found that a two inch loop of tie wire formed by twisting the two ends together works just as well as my spring hook. Attach one end to the spring and put a bar through the other end and pull. Loop size can be adjusted to suit the job, and cut off when finished.
Regards Martin.

[rbm]

The entire lift handle remove / replace procedure is documented in the BMW K75 Maintenance Manual, on page 46-77.0.  The manual is available here.  Basically pull the keeper and the handle comes off.  Replacement is the reverse of removal.

[D.Bachtel]

Thanks for the help gentlemen. Especially the link to the FSM which I didn't check first. My bad.
I've done the double loop of  baling wire on a piece of wooden dowel a few times Martin, works great.

I checked out the Manual per RBMs reference and sure enough it shows a screwdriver just prying it off. Not that simple, lots of tension on that sucker.
Seems a little crude for German engineering in my experiences. I takes two screwdrivers at least combined with the small visegrips and the spring still goes kaboing if you don't keep it captive.
New handle on, tubing scraped where the drivers did their work. Oh well. Hope the rubber is as secure as I think!

If anyone ever has to do this to their bike let me know how it goes.

Thanks again,
Don in Nipomo