Author Topic: She moans softly (Read 14627 times)

mack75 · « **on:** February 24, 2014, 07:09:29 PM »

Hi I have bought a 25,500 mile K75s with full dealer service history. ( now showing 26,600 miles) When I bought the bike at the end of last summer I asked the non BMW dealer if I could remove the back end to check the splines. He was taken aback but said okay, so I took the drive shaft out in his nice clean show room. :eek:
Although the bike had a full BMW dealer stamped history book and file the splines were indeed dry. On close inspection the splines were okay so I greased them with moly grease re assembled the bike and bought it.

My last K bike was a K1100LT 16valve, the K75 is not as powerful but is a lot smoother and lighter and is more suited to the narrow twisty roads I ride. I must admit to being more relaxed with the little engine as it is very smooth and rattle free but it has an easy life living at around 68 to 70mph most of the time with an occasional 90 mph to blow away the cobwebs. The gearbox is like silk and the clutch is light even the side stand retraction works. All in all I am happy.....here it comes... But !! I live at the top of a hill and 9 times out of ten I have to wait for traffic to pass before I can turn up the hill.

So its a standing start, as it is a residential area I set off in 1st and change to 2nd gear without revving out as that would be too fast for the area. Once in second I can hear a moaning sound and feel a vibration which quickly goes as the engine revs rise. Am I just being paranoid about splines, is it because I am being too gentle or is it something the K75 does that the K1100 didn't.? The bike is a 1990 so has not got the paralever back end just the normal shaft drive arrangement and ABS. Thanks guys.

johnny · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2014, 07:39:01 PM »

greetings mack75...

you are paranoid... just wear earplugs and keep it near the redline...

narrow twisty roads... you gotts my attention...

j o

mack75 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2014, 08:04:09 PM »

Hi Jo, with all the storms and high sea conditions we have been having here in Cornwall (UK) I am thinking of fitting floatation pontoons and using it as a pedalow :riding: I will give it a bit more wrist and buy some ear plugs.
(check out you tube Storm in Porthleven 2014)
Cheers Mac.

wmax351 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2014, 10:42:46 PM »

I think that might just be shudder from the different pulses from the 3 cylinders, rather than the more constant power of the four cylinder.

Motorhobo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2014, 07:04:14 AM »

If it's the sound I think it is, I've been hearing it for 14 years so I guess normal, just a K75 thing.

Van

mack75 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2014, 04:53:41 PM »

Cheers guys I admit to riding with one ear cocked for the dreaded spline syndrome, I have never had first hand experience of a failure but it is one of those folk lore things plastered all over the internet.

I met a guy with a real used and abused 1989 K100 RS with a large orange plastic fishing tray cable tied to the rear rack which served as general purpose luggage /shopping carrier, he never washed the bike and only changed the oil when it was on price offer in the supermarket and was a cheap no brand car oil, the oil filter was only changed out every third oil change.

The bike looked like a farmers dog in winter but he had owned it ten years and covered 150,000 trouble free miles, with not even a blown fuse. I was amazed and asked if he greased the splines, he looked at me and said "what for?". He had never been told of any spline problems so I guess he never had any. Is it that common a problem or just a problem commonly reported ?

Brad-Man · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2014, 08:36:55 PM »

Not that it has anything to do w/the noise you are asking about, but have how checked/lubed the input splines?

Motorhobo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2014, 09:24:09 PM »

Quote from: mack75 on February 25, 2014, 04:53:41 PM

The bike looked like a farmers dog in winter but he had owned it ten years and covered 150,000 trouble free miles, with not even a blown fuse.

Was his name by any chance God or maybe Forrest Gump? I have 14 years and nearly 100k but it ain't been trouble-free. Manageable, yes -- trouble-free no. And nothing yet (knock wood) that required a tow except a badly gashed tire.

+1 on Brad-Man's question about the input splines. Might as well open 'er up and get it done -- anything you need to know to do the job you can get here or on Chris Harris' Youtube channel. With only 29k miles you'll have that bike for the next couple of decades and if the final drive and driveshaft splines were dry, then so probably are the clutch splines and those are the ones that'll cost you if they fail.

For the input splines, get yourself some Guard Dog Moly if you can find it over there. I think Honda Moly 60 isn't the best stuff for input splines.

My $0.02.

V

mack75 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2014, 04:57:31 PM »

Hi I only greased the shaft splines and not the clutch splines as I was in the motorcycle dealers showroom looking to buy the bike. So it would be prudent to pull it apart to do the clutch while the weather is poor. 6% Moly Grease is difficult to obtain over here as I was informed it is banned on health and safety reasons so we use what we can.
The guy with the trouble free bike is a fisherman and they are not known for spending the hard won. Due to the salty air the whole bike was covered in grease used on fishing boats which in turn was covered in road grime it should have had a bio hazard sticker on it.

wmax351 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2014, 06:25:47 PM »

Quote from: mack75 on February 26, 2014, 04:57:31 PM

Hi I only greased the shaft splines and not the clutch splines as I was in the motorcycle dealers showroom looking to buy the bike. So it would be prudent to pull it apart to do the clutch while the weather is poor. 6% Moly Grease is difficult to obtain over here as I was informed it is banned on health and safety reasons so we use what we can.
The guy with the trouble free bike is a fisherman and they are not known for spending the hard won. Due to the salty air the whole bike was covered in grease used on fishing boats which in turn was covered in road grime it should have had a bio hazard sticker on it.

Where are you located? MoS2 is very safe, not sure why it would be banned. I'm almost certain it isn't. It's used in all sorts of industries precisely for that reason. It's spec'd in lots of applications where there is no substitution, like aircraft.

Your best bet is to order some Guard Dog Moly or similar grease. (http://www.guarddogmoly.com/gd525.shtml) Alternatively, a combination of Honda Moly60 and some form of very tacky grease could be used.

TimTyler · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2014, 09:08:49 PM »

Quote from: mack75 on February 24, 2014, 07:09:29 PM

So its a standing start, as it is a residential area I set off in 1st and change to 2nd gear without revving out ...

I bet you're shifting into 2nd too soon.

Motorhobo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2014, 06:52:35 AM »

I often wind it out some in first and skip second alltogether once I reach residential cruising speed. Otherwise I get that groaning at low rpms I think mack75 is referring to.

K75RT Keith · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2014, 09:58:11 AM »

I too think you're shifting too soon. The 3 cylinder 2 valve needs a few more revs than the 4 cylinder 4 valve to generate the torque and horsepower needed to pull its load along.

From how you explained that the transmission shifts smoothly and based on the mileage, I'd guess that worn input shaft splines are not the issue.

mack75 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2014, 01:42:34 PM »

Cheers guys, I guess I am use to larger engines that will pull the load from lower down the rev band. In the main four cylinders 1000cc plus bikes although I have had a fair few big vee twins, thankfully none of them "Hardly worth it sons."
I will adjust my lazy riding habit and give the little 3 cylinder lump a bit more to do. If the moan continues after that I will do the clutch splines.
Thanks Mac.

mjydrafter · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2014, 06:43:26 PM »

IIRC a fairly good indication that the input splines need lubed is the quality of downshifts. Before I redid my input splines (note: the Honda moly 60 I used the first time was gone). I redid it with the guard dog moly and it's been shifting smoothly since. It really is worth sourcing the stuff if you can swing it.

However, if I didn't know it was done, I wouldn't sleep right until it was done... :yes

Motorhobo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2014, 07:26:09 AM »

Crank that baby up! It's not like it's a Harley with aftermarket pipes...at 5500 rpm your neighbors will never know you're there.

mack75 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2014, 04:57:54 PM »

I took the advice you guys gave and have stopped short shifting, revving the motor out more :2thumbup:
Best way to describe it is a four stroke with a soft two stroke power band. Not the fastest off the line, not the quickest top end, but it is fun to ride. Very slight lag on the throttle from low revs which could be down to ignition / fuel adjustment or mass air sensor, but it is so small it is not worth bothering with for now .( No more moaning )
Cheers all.

TimTyler · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2014, 08:32:20 PM »

Get yourself a Carbtune and balance those throttle bodies! http://www.carbtune.com/

Check your valves too.

mack75 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 09, 2014, 05:04:08 PM »

I checked the valves all was fine, so for the hell of it I stuck some injector cleaner in with the fuel ( the local fuel used around here is supermarket cheap stuff - not the best quality) It worked for my old Chevrolet Diesel RV so what the hell lets give it a go. After two tank fill up's and two shots of ( petrol ) injection cleaner it feels so much smoother and more responsive to the twist of the wrist, it maybe just me but it feels a bit faster as well.
As a treat I filled her up on top quality fuel

its a 20 mile ride to the proper fuel but noticed a difference on the way home. She popped slightly on the over run down hill but my K1100 used to do that its just a K thing. Cheap petrol is by its very name cheap I guess.

Motorhobo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 09, 2014, 05:17:33 PM »

Glad it's working out -- if you'll allow me an off-topic comment Cornwall is on my bucket list of places to spend time. I'm sure you're all sick of Doc Martin tourists but let's face it -- it's a pretty amazing place as far as coastal scenery goes. Does everything over there look like Port Isaac?

K75RT Keith · « **Reply #20 on:** May 09, 2014, 05:49:40 PM »

When riding season winds down, you might consider pulling the injectors and having them cleaned or replace them with the next generation. Sent my injectors out and it runs smoother now with no hesitation.

mack75 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:27:58 PM »

Hi thanks for the messages I don't know how to answer a private PM on here just yet but the answer is more or less a yes , keep off the main A30 bypass very boring but a fast road and try going from St Ives along the coast road keeping the sea on your right all the way to Lands End, best time of day is just after six when all the tourists have gone back to the hotel. Try to keep the grin off your face as it will mist the visor up :riding:

With regard to changing out the injectors ,I have read that a Ford fitment is an improvement over the standard fitment giving smoother running and better mpg. Has anyone tried it on here or has any more info.
Cheers Mac.

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Author Topic: She moans softly (Read 14627 times)