K11 Owners Group

Hobieone · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Keweenaw, Michigan

well folks, took delivery of a 93 k11LT with 38k miles and have a question for those with more experience. The prior owner (the only one) walked me thru the bat install and getting it up and running for the first of a spring ride. (yes, in upper Michigan, spring ain't till May).
Once we had her up and running, he tells me to "ignore that knock at idle speeds -- it's just the header". True, once you throttle up just a few 100 revs, it's gone. But at idle, I'd almost swear I can feel it in the right peg; and the headers on the left. He said it was the way the exhaust is piped thru the header. I know the man to be no fool; good mechanic and a jet qualified pilot. I would expect him to know his stuff and every converstion led me down that path.
Being new to Beemers and K's in particular; my audio acuity not being what it was in my youth, and wearing a full face helmet that muffles some sounds and accentuates some wind noises, I find myself wondering what I'm hearing sometimes.

I've checked the connects between pipes and block -- all tight and sound.

When I give her a walk around at idle speeds, it almost seems to be coming from the clutch area, but am not sure. Again, it's gone when taken up to 1,000+ revs in neutral. But if I'm not going crazy, then sometimes I'd swear I can hear something at 3-4k revs.

Wifey says I lost my mind when I bought it. But I've clocked 500+ miles in just the first 2 weeks (and I even WALK to work) and am trying to learn more than I do now ............. all help is greatly appreciated.

Any body have similar experiences ?

TIA

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject:

It's most likely noisy timing gear. "They all do that" and sound like a box of rocks at idle. Just ignore it and don't idle. Very Happy

Synching the throttlebodies will smooth it out a bit too.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:15 am Post subject:

Drake,

Can the alternator cause that sound if (am I using the correct name?) the "monkey nuts" are badly worn. Could they be worn at about 40k?
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

duckbubbles · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject:

Is it the stock exhaust? If so, check for a crack in #4 header (the rearmost one) where the four pipes all join into the collector. It will be visible from the left side of the bike. My stock pipe cracked four times and I had it welded three times until enough was enough.

Frank
_________________
85 K100/1100RS, 321,000 miles, 25 years
96 Ducati 900SS/SP, sold it
05 R1200ST, 35,000 miles, 5 years
400,000 BMW miles

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject:

Hobieone · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Keweenaw, Michigan

What, pray tell, are "monkey nuts"?

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject:

Rubber cushions on the alternator driving dog. When they get worn the bike gets very noisy.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject:

Sorry about that - for the newer folks.

# 8 in the parts diagram. There are 3 pair of rubber cushions, each pair tied together by a thin rubber. Who first called them monkey nuts, I haven't the slightest idea. But I am about to check on my own soon- the bike's, not mine.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Hobieone · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Keweenaw, Michigan

well folks, I've now clocked 1100 mi on my 93k11 and she's proving to be all that expected in a beemer, with the excetptioin of this frap thing.

I've not dived into the "monkey nuts" suggestions you had; focused rather on how to get her up to autobahn speed while keeping the wide eye on narrow roads for deer and bear at the same time. But I have to say, the more I listen to my "frap" the more I'm concerned.

On trany shifts, I keep hearing how smooth a K bike is. Heading up thru the gears, it's silk. Coming back down, particulary 3-2-1 there is some heavy clunking. I've also noticed that I can land inbetween a gear, in some noman's land where the digital on the dash reads nothing, and the trany is in a neutral/inbetween gear. Rolling at say 10 mph and shifting from neutral to first, MAJOR clunks.

I changed out the trany fluid to a syn oil at the suggestion of K11OG (thanks folks) and even found the right lenght for a dipstick (thanks again K11OG) (mine's missing). My aged mind swears she shifts smoother, heading up, but still the clunks coming down.

Could this still be related to my "header frap" that still haunts me?

I have visions of getting the feel for this beauty this summer, and next year taking her from Michigan to Idaho.

Is it legal to strap a 1yr old grandchild to a tankbag? LOL
\
Thanks in advance for any and all insight.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:44 am Post subject:

If that is what you are experiencing- don't even bother with the alt drive cushions.

These bikes are somewhat "clunky" and vague when downshifting in lower gears. But you might be experiencing transmission input shaft splines that need some lubrication.

Others on this site with lots more experience will have more information on your particular situation.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

+1 on sticky downshifting probably being caused by dry transmission input splines. This is an issue you want to deal with ASAC. (As soon as is convenient.) Otherwise the dry metal on metal will strip your transmission input splines and then $$$$$$$......

Also, I reread your initial post and saw this: