Author Topic: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment  (Read 9353 times)

Offline gladstone

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K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« on: January 21, 2015, 03:17:19 AM »
Hi,

I have a K1100 with 2 tight exhaust valves - both allow a 0.2mm feeler through but won't pass a 0.25mm feeler. All the inlets are spot on at 0.15mm.

I've seen the post where a screwdriver is used to hold down the tensioner (tied to the steering yoke) - is it just a case of using a large flat-bladed driver forcing on the top of the cam chain through the hole?

I'm reasonably mechanically ok (managed the steering head bearings last year without permanent harm to me or bike!) but have never done shim valve adjustment.

I've seen the cam chain tie-wrapped to the sprockets on various posts and plan to do the same. Are there any other gotchas?

Thanks everyone.

Offline Scott_

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2015, 07:09:18 AM »
Be careful when removing the cam cover. There is a "grounding spring" that slips over top of one of the cover mounting bosses, it's intend to ground the cam cover, as all other contact faces of the cover touch rubber.
It can and most often does fall out when the cover is removed.
Also be careful with the cover gasket. Sometimes they can be re-used, sometimes not.
Don't be chincey with liquid gasket at the corners where the gasket and cover meet the timing chain cover when putting it together. You don't have to bathe it, but too little and the potential is there for a leak.
DO NOT, I say again, DO NOT over tighten the bolts when installing the cover(8Nm torque no more). They are a shoulder bolt and they stop when the shoulder hits the mounting boss, they can and do strip if over tightened too much. The elasticity of the bushing on the screw is what  maintains the tension of the cover. If you don't know how old these bolt rubbers are, they aren't that expensive to get new ones. Also less likely for leaks with fresh rubber............  :hehehe
There is a molded "hex" on the cam shaft for a backing wrench when you remove the timing chain gear, use it.....

When you pull the exhaust cam, also be careful as I have had the cam buckets want to "fall out" from gravity without something keep them in place. IIRC I just used a rubber bungee cord in place of the cam when I removed it. It kept the buckets in and allowed me to remove the ones I wanted to .

Other than those little tid-bits, you shouldn't have too much trouble.
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Offline gladstone

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2015, 11:46:36 AM »
Thanks Scott - that's really helpful. Did you use the special BMW cam tensioner retaining tool, use the screw-driver technique (or something else) or remove the whole cam chain cover etc? I plan to use a screw-driver to hold the chain in tension but would love to hear from someone who's done it before.

Cheers

Offline Inge K.

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2015, 04:42:45 PM »
You can make your own tool from a allen screw, a drain plug and some nuts.

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Offline gladstone

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2015, 05:19:27 PM »
That's very impressive but slightly beyond my capabilities I'm afraid.

Offline johnny

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2015, 08:38:18 PM »
the way i adjust my valves is by filling the tank with no corn ethyl and a bottle of techron... then i keep the tach on the red line while trailbraking to the apex and whacking the throttle on exit...

when my low fuel light comes on i repeat the whole deal...

my valves are 100%...

j o

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Offline Scott_

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 09:00:05 PM »
Thanks Scott - that's really helpful. Did you use the special BMW cam tensioner retaining tool, use the screw-driver technique (or something else) or remove the whole cam chain cover etc? I plan to use a screw-driver to hold the chain in tension but would love to hear from someone who's done it before.

Cheers

At that time with that one, I just used a screwdriver to hold the cam chain tension, I didn't pull the cover.
I'm thinking this year I should pull the cover and check the rail guide, and the rail tensioning assy for wear, etc... as I don't know when it was last done.
I also have a cam chain with 25K miles I'm going to compare with the one on the bike(@106K), or I may just bit the bullet and put it all on new and be done with it....... :2thumbup:
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1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
1997 K1100LT 0302488 (R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb

Offline gladstone

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2015, 06:08:01 PM »
Managed to adjust the valves today. Took about 2 hrs (excluding the 2.5 hrs to get to dealer for new shim). One tight and one loose we're simply swapped so I only needed 1 new shim.

It was much easier than I thought so not sure why I put it off fir so long.

All valves now spot on.

Cheers

Offline TimTyler

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2015, 05:45:57 PM »
the way i adjust my valves is by filling the tank with no corn ethyl and a bottle of techron...

After my valve adjustment and tune-up a couple of weeks ago I ran a half bottle of Techron Concentrate in the following two tanks of no-corn midgrade and had a weird box-o-rocks knocking between 3200-3800rpm (and maybe a little higher). I was getting worried but today after a high-test fill-up at the Chevron station the knock is gone.

I suspect that Techron is extra detergent but not extra octane. I would not recommend using more than 1/4 bottle in a K tank.

Offline johnny

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2015, 05:59:26 PM »
i sometimes run 2 bottles per tank in back to back to back to back to back tanks of no corn ethyl...

for the record... i aints never had a engine issue...

j o
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Offline TimTyler

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2015, 06:07:23 PM »
Those new-fangled 4-cylinder 1100 engines are betterer.

I'll need a new engine in 25k anyway.

Offline TimTyler

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Re: K1100 Exhaust Valves Adjustment
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2015, 10:49:02 PM »
After my valve adjustment and tune-up a couple of weeks ago I ran a half bottle of Techron Concentrate in the following two tanks of no-corn midgrade and had a weird box-o-rocks knocking between 3200-3800rpm (and maybe a little higher). I was getting worried but today after a high-test fill-up at the Chevron station the knock is gone.

I withdraw this statement.  :dunno

The knock is still there. Not related to fuel to Techron.

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