K11 Owners Group

grant93 · Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject: Clutch Cable - Snapped!!

Well that was fun ride on the Beemer, but not as long as I had hoped though!!

Sunday I left around 8.30am for a 530km day trip to meet up with a couple of BMW riding mates at a lovely little Victorian country town called Mansfield, grab some lunch at a pub then sit around and talk some gentlemen's bullshit while we wait for another mate of ours to descend down from the high-plains and mountains after his weekend ride up in amongst the white tops, then I would ride back down to Melbourne with him then head home out east of the city...

ANYWAY!!

Mansfield for lunch as planed it was not, but just over the famous "Black Spur" road just north of the busy touristy town of Healesville and I snap a clutch cable pulling up and out of a sweeping right hander... Oh shit!!

With little traffic in front or behind me, I had time to slow down and gather my thoughts about what to do, do I ride on? do I stop? and if I stop can I start off again? I have never practised a clutchless roll start on this bike? oh and btw I stupidly did not have a spare cable on board and tbh this has never happened to me before on a bike, I did carry a spare clutch cable and throttle cable on my old R100rs but I never got around to doing that with this "K" but I had practised on my other beemer changing gears without a clutch, easy changing up, harder changing down..
I thought for a little longer as the traffic was still clear in both directions so I took off my glove and sent a text to my mate who was riding down to meet me for lunch "Clutch cable snapped, going home".
Next I checked my fuel which was just in my favour to get me home as the was 140kms out so 300kms is refill time and I could not stop for fuel because I would not get it going again without doing some damage to the gearbox, not an option..

I decided to turn around and head back to Healesville and take my chances on the busy main street on a Sunday morning and three sets of traffic lights, then three other stop intersections at Launching Place and Yarra Glen then once through these home via Powelltown, Neerim South etc, an easy run to home it would be

All went well and I made it home except for one red traffic light as the bike stalled because I was in 4th and with pressure on the rear brake pedal to slow and hold me back from the stopped cars in front and also without changing down but luckily it was on a hill so I just pushed it forward, the hill then took over and I clicked it into 1st and she fired up quickly, first time for everything!!

Yes that was an interesting lesson today in finding the sweetbox in a gearbox and I think a gearbox oil change will be happening asap..

MONDAY: Two clutch cables, one throttle cable, nipple end, bolt and rubber cap all ordered and now waiting then will be installed and spares carried on board for next time.
I also dropped the gearbox oil out and found nice clean oil with no greyish crud or metal filings on the magnetic drain plug..
_________________
Cheers Grant

1994 K1100RS
1981 R100RS
1978 R100RS
1928 Chevrolet tourer

www.montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.au

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:45 pm Post subject:

Yea, I hear you about having it break while rolling. BTDT on my way home from work.
The last time I only snapped about 1/2 of the strands so it felt like I only had 1/2 travel of the lever.

I keep the barrel in the handle lubed up but it still ends up breaking, so I'm thinking I may need a new handle if the barrel is still binding.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Number 6 · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:13 am Post subject:

The throttle cable is seldom an issue, the clutch cable much more often, and the culprit is often the plastic washer 32721230871 (part #10 in http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=0536&mospid=51711&btnr=32_0787&hg=32&fg=72&hl=11). It's a cheap part, if you can feel vertical play at the lever, change it. If you cannot get the axis back inside the washer, just play a bit with the non cutting side of a drillbit.
Having an extra clutch cable is a must, some people even have it in place parallel to the other one for a quick switch.
Now changing speed on the fly is not so hard, one should practice, close the throttle quickly to upshift and open quickly right after, just a short throttle to downshift, be careful if upshifting from 1st speed, don't downshift to 1st. With a little bit of speed one can shift in 1st or second from neutral, or start within gear (1st or second) and use the starter, just pull the clutch lever to take care of the clutch switch that would prevent starting in gear, it's shaky though, be careful!
_________________
I am not a number, I am a free man.

94 K1100LT

drikko · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:16 am Post subject:

So you now have a second clutch cable tied next to the working one ready to connect in each end????
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

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jr'sbmw · Big Brick Rider Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Fl

I've always carried an extra throttle and clutch cable. The last clutch cable that broke on a trip, it only took me about 10-15 mins. to get going again. I disconnected the broken cable on both ends and just installed the good cable along side the gas tank best I could till I got to a better location to install it correctly.

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:16 pm Post subject:

Good idea to also carry a long section of wire with your spare cables. Pull the wire through with the old cable and then use the wire to pull the replacement cable through.
_________________
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)
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Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject:

Like others I pack a spare set of cables(both throttle and clutch) in my supplies bag, though I don't lace it along side the old one.
Easier to share with "one in need" on the road if needed.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

grant93 · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:21 pm Post subject:

Gidday Fellas,

Great advice and comments as always from you, many thanks and you can be certain that it has been taken on board for future rides.
_________________
Cheers Grant

1994 K1100RS
1981 R100RS
1978 R100RS
1928 Chevrolet tourer

www.montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.au

orforester · Joined: 30 Dec 2013 Posts: 2

Better yet at the end of riding season or Spline Lube time, I run another clutch cable into position along side the working one, I zip tie it to existing line, then if one breaks I have a spare, already in place.

Also if you are not using the "clutch felt" within the lever, get one, they keep the cable straight and reduce dust.

grant93 · Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:25 pm Post subject:

Gidday Folks,

1 x new throttle and 2 x new clutch cables, 1 x felt, 1 x rubber cap, 1 x end nipple were ordered and are now installed on the bike with the spare clutch and throttle cables taped to the inside of the hard pannier lid.

Bike is again running smooth with a trip to Melbourne the other day cruising @ 115kph, I travelled 270kms and used 14.5 litres which returned 5.37 L/100kms or 43.80mpg.

It has now cover 153,500 kms

Thanks for your info and postings, and I wish you all a happy new years
_________________
Cheers Grant

1994 K1100RS
1981 R100RS
1978 R100RS
1928 Chevrolet tourer

www.montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.au

Karlos11 · Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:09 am Post subject: