Rookie mistake. Stripped Final Drive drain plug.

[Genen8kua]

One more thing to worry about (hopefully) before you put it all together: phasing the drive shaft this driveshaft phasing thread in the MOA forum describes it and Don Eilenberger posts a nice link to a 4x4 article with a good picture. Misaligning your driveshaft U-joints (by more than a tooth or two) can be a problem; don't do it. You should be able to sight up the swing arm and see the alignment and go from there, taking care not to throw it all off again as you try to get the splines on the disassembled bits to mesh with each other as you get it back together.

[Adventurer]

Then it was on to re-installed the Final Drive. I can't say it was a piece of cake being the first time ever, though it went well.

Installed, a large feat successfully completed.

Moving onto the tire.......

Did mention I improved my torquing technique since the Final Drive disaster?

Brakes (pads removed and inspected, still good) and sensor replaced......

Felt really good getting back to this stage.

Getting the bike back looking like this was a good thing, felt as though I had turned the corner. Then ...drum roll please......onto the..............



VALVES.............. wooohoooooooo.......

[Adventurer]

Getting real close ladies and gentlemen. Actually I'm stalling a little as I already know how it turns out So please hang in there, you waited this long what's a little longer?

This would be the new stick coil which would replace the broken one seen earlier.

I mean how could I NOT do the plugs! What records I had on getting the bike, being fairly thorough, had no mention of plugs being replace.

New plugs both sides.

NOW THE VALVES!



HERE YOU GO....

I so admired this moment it brought me to tears.

THIS was to be the big moment for me, before the Final Drive fiasco went to the front of the line. Still, I felt all kinds of warm and fuzzy after doing the valves.
Even Sheldon Cooper would have been proud! One of the things I would always hear after getting the bike was "don't forget getting the valves done" in one form or another. Well as it turns out, by the time I got here it was "bring it on!" It didn't seem that Mt. Everest I thought it would be.

There will be one or two more posting on this over the next few day's with additional photos.

"Did it run?" "Any leaks?" "What else did you do besides what we've seen so far?"

I'll be back................

[Janitor]

We expect nothing short of success!

Have fun with it, although I believe you already have.

G.

[sati8d]

"...the Bernoulli aerodynamics of a flying manhole cover..."

This made me laugh.

+1

[Adventurer]

TOOLS


I'm thinking, is it really necessary for a male (me) who's closer to 70 than 60 required to have this many tools? No exaggeration, I've never owned so many tools! Which reminds me of conversation I had shortly after buying the bike. The person I was speaking with, knowing I was a newbie to BMW's, says "you know what the LEAST expensive thing on your bike will be?" What did I know, I took the bait, I said "no, what would that be?" He say's......"YOU!"

You know, if someone didn't read this entire post, he might think I knew what the hell I was doing with all these tools!

Now I must come clean on this. In the above picture not all the tools are new and the result of my mission to learn basic maintenance......the flashlight I've had for years.

The same from this angle, the WD-40 I got with the purchase of the flashlight. Note the toolbox on the ground, though there was not much in it I needed.

Though I had perfect weather, I didn't rush on any of the items I tackled...well let's say items I addressed. None of Jim's suggested times to complete these task were ever reached...I did try Jim! Next time should be a tad quicker

My work area also was a bit unusual in a sense. Though I was under cover, it was necessary for me to line up large stepping stones over crushed shell gravel to which I drove the bike onto. Wasn't always the most comfortable, though it could have been worse I suppose.

My warm weather work station, though a bit uncomfortable at times.

Maybe one more post should do it.......................

[Adventurer]

So what exactly did Adventurer accomplish in all of this?

Though at times it may have seemed I was totally over my head on all of this, in actuality, it never got close to the point of loading everything onto the trailer and off to the dealer. For lack of a better word, the stress that should have accompanied this endeavor was greatly tamed by this forum. The posting and responses (thank you all very much by the way) really were therapeutic, continually giving me the confidence to see this through. I can only get better right?

SO WHAT WAS DONE?

As far as what's was done to the bike, with the exception of just a few things (throttle body sync for one), I feel pretty confident that a 12k service was completed and then some (that final drive thing was one for the ages, a newbie should never have to go through that.) Yes, I also did all those "checks" recommended, just didn't run everything by the forum.

Since finishing I put on a couple of hundred miles on the bike. All seems good. No leaks (noticeable anyway at this time), fluids were re-checked, runs great.

Don't know really what else to say, except thank you for all your prayers and all those nightly candle vigils to see me through this.

First ride after maintenance.

Needless to say I felt pretty good here, it was fun.

The sun sets in paradise...life's good...especially if you ride a BMW!

[Janitor]

Congrats!

Good to see all is well. It's a good feeling when your bike is humming along nicely, and you know it is due to your actions. Enjoy!

Hope to meet you some day.

Ride well,
Greg

[JimVonBaden]

Great write-up.

If you are available, come by the tech day on the 28th at my place and see others flounder! I promise it will lift your spirits! (Not that the seem to need it!)

Jim

[Adventurer]

It ain't over to the Fat Lady sings!!

Again I enter uncharted waters for yet another "first attempt".

This past Saturday I preformed a Throttle Body Sync using the following successfully.................

Mercury Carb Stick.

All went well, yet another fun experience. The GS is just humming along these day's.

[adooley]

Nice job, Richard! Way to presevere. Now that it is all done and working, I was wondering if you like to write this whole experience up and submit it to our editor for publishing in the BTS? I hope to see you at the next Tech day!

[Trip]

Hi Adventurer

You might not have caused your stripped final drive drain plug. I have a 2007 1200rt with just 5800 miles I bought new. I just changed the final drive oil and discovered when I loosened the plug it wouldn't come out by hand. I had to use the ratchet the whole way out and when I reinstalled the plug it would turn freely only about 1 or 2 turns then the ratchet had to be used.

I guess I'm lucky its not stuck or broke off like yours but there must be something wrong with the threads. I'm checking with the dealer and see what they recommend.

I hope I have a easier time with my valve adjustment and synchronizing the throttle bodies.

Trip

[T.Wesley]

I have a 2007 1200rt with just 5800 miles I bought new. I just changed the final drive oil and discovered when I loosened the plug it wouldn't come out by hand. I had to use the ratchet the whole way out and when I reinstalled the plug it would turn freely only about 1 or 2 turns then the ratchet had to be used.

You should be able to clean up the threads easily enough, but you might want to look at getting a new drain plug - next time it might not come out so easy!