BMW R850 Maintenance Manual page 33

represents a failure due to a lack of maintenance or improper maintenance may be an
issue. Do not take shortcuts! Do not neglect recommended maintenance! Document
the maintenance you do!
I do not recommend that any owner perform the initial (600 mile) service on a
motorcycle. More than maintenance is involved at this step. This is the dealer's
opportunity to fully inspect the motorcycle after its initial use to detect anything which
appears abnormal or defective in assembly or adjustment. Even experienced
owner/mechanics usually lack the specific knowledge about their new bike to reliably
perform this inspection. I do practice what I preach. Engle Motors in Kansas City has
always done the initial service on our new bikes.
Lets look at the R1100 service requirements. This information is drawn primarily from
the R1100RS/GS Repair Manual. There may be additional minor items specified for the
R/RT models. Consult your dealer.
MINOR SERVICE:
Oil and Oil Filter: Drain the oil warm. Allow the engine plenty of time to drain. The oil
is slow to drain down (and out). Find the oil filter - recessed at the left front bottom of the
engine case. Remove the oil filter with the special oil filter wrench. Be careful not to
allow spilled oil to burn your hand or arm. Fill the new filter with oil. Keep track of the
amount of oil poured into the filter. Lightly oil the filter gasket. Tighten the filter finger
tight and then 1/4 turn additional rotation. Add new oil to the engine. I add 3.5 quarts
including the oil poured into the new filter. After a few minutes it may require one or two
additional ounces of oil. Fill to the dot on the sight glass. Filling above the dot on the
site glass appears to increase oil consumption and is not recommended.
Adjust Valves: The specifications for the valve adjustment are .006 inch (.15mm)
intakes and .012 inch (.30mm) exhausts. Each cylinder has two of each type valve.
Remove the front cover. Remove the spark plug connector. Use compressed air to
blow the bugs and rocks out of the spark plug recess. Remove the valve covers. Set
the engine to top dead center by centering the "OT" timing mark visible in the timing port
on the right side of the engine. You will, of course, need to remove the rubber plug from
the timing port in the side of the block. Find the cylinder with free-play in both valves at
TDC. The rocker arms are forked to actuate both valves with a single pushrod. For
precise adjustment, you should use two feeler gauges at the same time to eliminate any
error from slight rocker arm tilt along the shaft. Loosen the locknuts and adjust the gap
using a small allen wrench in the screw adjuster. Adjust so that there is light drag on the
feeler gauge at the specified gap, and so that the next larger sized feeler gauge will not
insert into the gap. For example, adjust each intake valve so there is light drag on the
.006" feeler gauge and so that the .007" feeler will not insert into the gap. Rotate the
engine exactly 360 degrees to TDC again. Adjust the valves for the other cylinder.
Before refitting the valve covers, remove and thoroughly clean all the oil off the gaskets
and their mating surfaces. Installing oily gaskets will cause oil to continue to weep past
the gaskets.
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