K11 Owners Group

buckles · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject: K1100 brake caliper bleed valve

Hi, I am a newbie from Australia and I just bought a 1/99 K1100LT which has only travelled 2000 kms in the last 10 years. Such little use has brought about a few problems like rotten fuel etc but the question for now is about the bleed nipples on the front calipers.
The left side has a normal nipple and I have bled the brakes on this side after bleeding the ABS unit first.
The right caliper has a cylindrical device where the nipple should be and there is a hex fitting on the top of this cylinder which would accommodate an Allen key.
Can someone advise the best way to bleed the right side caliper please.

Thanks very much for the information I have already gained from your forum.

drikko · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 1:21 am Post subject:

Hi Buckles,
Welcome to the forum! There's a few of us here in OZ. I'd say someone has broken the bleed nipple off and replaced it with a bolt. Hopefully they haven't damaged the seat of the bleeder. Rather than get a BMW replacement do yourself a favour and get a set of speed bleeders, makes bleeding real easy!

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

They take about a week to get to OZ, really good service. Just order them on their website. I have used them on all my bikes and cars now, just awesome.

Cheers

D
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

buckles · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 3:25 am Post subject:

Thanks Drikko,
I didn't think of speed bleeders. I will give that some thought because I do like to change the fluid regularly.
The mysterious fitting on the right side does look like it should be there and I still wonder what it does/did.
cheers

robleyd · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 3:58 am Post subject:

Perhaps you could post a pic? Depending on where you are, we might be able to get together and investigate diverse matters. I'm in the north east, Ridgehaven.
_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

Inge K. · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:56 am Post subject:

That allen plug is OEM and used on other models from the same period also.
It can be exchanged with an ordinary bleed nipple (or speed bleeder).

I`ll guess it`s a way to cut down production costs?

Inge K.

buckles · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:12 am Post subject:

Thanks for the responses. I just arrived home and saw your responses so I took a couple of photos which I will try to attach. I now see that I cannot do that; pity.

Robleyd I am at North Plympton 0414992564 just off Marion Road it would be great to have another contact in Adelaide.

m1ks · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:21 am Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:34 am Post subject:

buckles · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the method this is all new to me. Here goes.

Stoked Steve · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject:

That's an interesting plug, I second replacing all the nipples with speed bleeders, they make fluid changes easier and more convenient.
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

robleyd · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject:

If you want to replace it in the short term with a normal bleed nipple, I understand it is a 10mm metric thread with 1 mm pitch.

Edwardstown Clutch and Brake might be a good place to start, 415 Cross Road, not far from you.
_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

buckles · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:44 am Post subject:

Hi and thanks again. I tried to loosen it today and it would not budge with an allen key. However it did loosen when I put a OE spanner carefully on the flats near the caliper. I did ring the BMW dealers workshop in the city this morning and he knew about this 'cylinder' and said 'you need a nipple to bleed it'. There did not seem to be any more information forthcoming.
I have ordered a nipple from Munich Motorcycles in Perth but I may get the easybleeders later.

Mike d · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:49 am Post subject:

Hi,

It's an OEM fitment. They are also to be found as standard on the R1150RT Clutch bleed point (which is remote from the slave cylinder).

The following link shows a guy who added a speed bleeder to it:

http://rtboxer.com/2009/03/07/clutch-bleed/

Mike

buckles · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:57 am Post subject:

That's very interesting and very worthwhile. If you manage to remove the grub screw (hex headed) would you be able to fit a standard bleeder nipple or a speed bleeder in it's thread?
So far no one seems to know the purpose of this adapter.
_________________
Ian, owner of:-
1999 K1100 LT

Mike d · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject:

Looking on MAXBMW under the brake section, there is a Service Bulletin PDF which shows the device in question, and the reason for the change (new factory filling system), So Inge K was correct in that it probably speeds up the manufacturing process.

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/NotesParts/34212330310_1.pdf

Mike

buckles · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mike, that answers the question about the reason for the device.
The BMW service bulletin is well worth reading for anyone who has the 'filling point with check valve' fitted.
I just managed to remove my 'allen set screw' successfully. Initially it would not budge, but I put an allen key piece into the screw and gave it a couple of serious hits with a medium hammer and presto, I am smiling.
Afterwards I checked to see if the nipple would obstruct refitting the mudguard if I choose to not refit the allen set screw. There is not a clearance problem and I can decide what to do about that after I finish bleeding the brakes.
_________________
Ian, owner of:-
1999 K1100 LT

buckles · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:22 am Post subject:

This afternoon has been interesting. After a closer look, I now know that you cannot leave the bleed nipple in place on top of the filling point with check valve, because there is not enough thread in there to tighten the nipple to the required 14nm. The Workshop Bulletin refers (with good reason) to tightening the nipple hand tight. Therefore the allen set screw must be replaced if you choose to leave the filling device in place.
I have chosed to remove the filling device and install the nipple into the caliper directly.
_________________
Ian, owner of:-
1999 K1100 LT