New Chain & Sprkt, Versys 650 Pt.2 'You Know The Drill'.

[@chrisw6154]

You sir are remarkably calm and collected. I would have blown my gasket and started to throw things from the moment it started going wrong......I am not practical when it comes to engineering and that may be why I always opt to take my bike to a garage. I salute you!

[@AndyManCam]

+ChrisW W Thank you Chris. I must admit that I have had my moments! But years of not enough cash for the garage and a seemingly unending list of mechanical disasters has taught me to accept defeat at the beginning and then any successes after that are HUGE bonuses! I think this attitude will help if kids ever come into the equation!! Cheers!

[@NickMasseyRideon]

I am thinking we need to start a fund raiser for " get Andy some fucking proper tools" lol

[@AndyManCam]

+Nick Massey #GoFundMySnapOnWorkshop A truly worthy cause if ever there was one.

[@ninjanelly3506]

YAY! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻One thing I would do is Copperslip everything,the spindle,blocks and especially those adjusters mate.Another way out would make a piece of flat rectangular steel and weld a nut to it and drill out the old thread in the arm, put a bolt through into the hole and use the head to push the spindle backwards.Oh the joys of aluminium bits on motorcycles.......😁

[@AndyManCam]

+ninjanelly350 I'll be all over the copperslip when I change the back tyre for spring, don't you worry! NO wat I'm going through this again! Though I'm also fitting a Scottoiler this week, and that'll keep EVERYTHING nice and moist with sticky oil!!

[@Anthony_aus]

Oh my, I HATED tapping holes back when I did my engineering cert; especially when you had to re drill hardened steel first. It's such a pain in the mushroom tip.

[@AndyManCam]

It's a hateful and stress filled task! I broke 2 drill bits while doing this too. That torx bit really put a spanner in the works! Like you, i hope to never have to do it again!

[@RudeboyMoto]

I feel your pain dude, had to change many a wheel on my own, bloody nightmare, although it has reminded me that as soon as I get home the adjusters on my new versys are getting removed and some serious lubrication added, stay safe my friend, great video as always, I'm sure many would have not shown the hard bits!!!

[@AndyManCam]

Thanks mate! Yes do! Get those bolts greased up as soon as possible! I think its the hard bits that are always the interesting bits. We're all sadists at heart! ;)

[@Loiczzr]

I know it's an old vid, but I always use waterproof grease on axle and spacers. The grease will also help to keep them in place when trying to put everything back together.

[@gavinskipp3969]

"The real cycle your working on is a cycle called yourself" and "the test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. If the machine produces tranquillity it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed" Robert Pirsing autherZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.........Damm that bolt!

[@AndyManCam]

+Gavin Skipp Hell yes damn that bolt! But I really must read this book. Though it sounds like I've got some of it. It's not the bike that causes the suffering. If I'd maintained it properly, it would work flawlessly. By knowing that it was all my own sodding fault in the first place prevented me from getting brain boilingly angry at that broken bolt! I feel so centred right now...

[@ericppagel]

This makes me feel so much better in my angst of repairing "things like this". Thank Dog lol

[@AndyManCam]

Yeah it'S important to rememebr that almost anything can be fixed. The only variables are how long it will take and how much it will cost!!

[@sullybiker6520]

I don't know if it's the same for you, but every time I get confident about _a simple job_ on my bike - or anything technical - that's usually a precursor to a fucked-up day. The rear wheel lift on my Ninja was helped along by an aerosol can wedged under the tyre, which happened to be just about the exact height I could get the axle bolt through.

[@AndyManCam]

+Sullybiker Pretty much exactly that mate! "This'll only take 10minutes..." And then 8-18 hrs later......

[@smokeybarr]

Skills AMC. It took me 30 mins to replace my mirrors the other day! Love the Hi-Tecs too.

[@AndyManCam]

+smokeybarr Cheers Smokes. I think task vs Time taken, we're probably on about the same ratio! This was about 5 hrs end to end. If I'd taken it to the garage I'd have ended up giving it to them to settle the bill! Gotta keep that garage footwear British mate ;)

[@RevvedUpBiker]

Andy!! I think I would have stopped filming just to swear my head off with all that went wrong. At least you were able to re-thread a new hole, and you've got the space to work in!

[@AndyManCam]

+RevvedUpBiker But then what kind of journalist would I be dear fellow ;) The garage really was the saviour in the whole thing. Not least because I had to bicycle 2 miles down the road to get parts! Couldn't have left it like that in the street!

[@sullybiker6520]

+RevvedUpBiker I have to roll the bike round to the patio on the back of my ground floor apartment. It's not ideal, but still better than the street.

[@bornfightin5245]

Good training video on what not to do...... but congratulations for finishing the job. 👍

[@AndyManCam]

Haha! Happy to help mate! Cheers!

[@theloudbloke]

Now you know why the Germans love their BMW shaft drive machines SOOOO MUCH!! Full marks for persevering with it though, excellent job.

[@AndyManCam]

+theloudbloke And I would love the shit out of one too! I hate this chain nonsense! Thanks for sticking with the calamity!

[@EDcase1]

Good job in the end. I hate simple jobs that turn out like that For me it was just wanting to change front pads and the caliper bolt sheared off.

[@AndyManCam]

Seems all too common for us bikers! The simplest components can ruin our day in a second!

[@sullybiker6520]

+-ED case- I changed my clutch lever, fully confident I could do it in ten minutes. I stripped the pivot bolt faffing with the fucking thing (I wanted exactly the right floppy feel) and the bike was out of action for two days :(

[@RidingTusCanY]

well done! This is the time to say: You screwed it up!! bolts and nuts were trying to ruin your day, but your nuts were bigger and you solved it!

[@AndyManCam]

Thanks! It's all about the nuts! That and needing the bike to get to work!!! 😂

[@brokenlegz]

Bloody hell I would have yelled and swore at that thing. Off centre would have annoyed me too but it doesn't really matter it works in the end!

[@AndyManCam]

+brokenlegz I try not to think about the Offcentredness of it all. I've only woken up in a cold sweat twice so far. But fixing bikes has certainly improved my patience no end!!

[@SkeggyCruiser]

Well done buddy, strange how me shouting commands at you through the computer had no effect what so ever, lol, RSM8.

[@AndyManCam]

I don't understand why that wouldn't work! More infuriating than shouting through the tv at the referee i imagine! Still, got there in the end though!

[@madwilly100]

i love it when a plan comes together .wait until you do the front sprocket ow my days

[@AndyManCam]

+Mad Willy I was SO very relieved to see that my sprocket was still good after reading on the forum about the nightmares some have had! When I did the Fazer, I had to use a 6ft Scaff pole on a breaker bar. When it cracked off, I thought I'd been shot. Of course both the breaker bar AND the scaff pole are in UK so I'd have had NO chance with a 10" Ratchet!

[@W3TFART]

You should put some never seize on the adjusting bolts especially going into ally .

[@AndyManCam]

+W3TFART The Profi Dry Lube chain stuff that i put on seems to have done a good job as everything was still nice and shiny when i took the wheel out for a tyre change last week. 👍

[@daveh5625]

Thank you... just how strong r ur arms... you knocked off the sprocket bolts with some good amount force and now the torx bit...

[@AndyManCam]

I‘d had my weetabix and some spinach on that day 😂

[@chrisalioto8552]

I've built a jig that my rear tire test on to change chain, rear brake, tire...etc.

[@AndyManCam]

Very nice. Good work. 👍🏻

[@CountMiffed]

Wow what a nightmare. Got some skills though mate, I know bugger all about bikes so wouldn't know where to start.

[@AndyManCam]

+Count Miffed Thanks CM. Skills is a strong word! I know roughly which bit to break next in order to head sort of towards the end goal! To be honest it's all learning by doing. And now you've got a bike, you'll be doing a lot more!

[@CountMiffed]

+Andy Man Cam or I will be paying Bmw to do a lot more 😀

[@AndyManCam]

+Count Miffed Haha! That works too!

[@Alexmoo7]

empathy overdrive from me, while laughing my spacers of at the same time... everything is a paradox. at least your indoors now :) cheers

[@AndyManCam]

+Alexmoo7 Too right! Outside at this time of year and I'd have gone and bought a blowtorch, then torched the bike for warmth! Glad to have given you a laugh! The second good thing to come out of the whole sorry mess!! :D

[@ryoder]

I'm thankful I wasn't drinking anything while watching this, else the "opposable thumbs" comment would have meant a ruined keyboard. LMAO!

[@AndyManCam]

You're very welcome! I can't even begin to explain where it comes from. Would be bloody handy though wouldn't it!?!

[@TheTurbotez]

Ah progress at last!!! It is a nightmare getting those wheels back in on your own!!! Finn did comment that your swearing horn is broken ha ha ha ha

[@AndyManCam]

+Turbotez ! HAHAH! I normally honk the horn for anything over a SH**! Sadly a couple have slipped through! I'm still impressed with myself that there wasn't just a constant HOOOOOOONK on this one!

[@TheTurbotez]

Ha ha ha oh it would be well after the water shed for me too

[@mickeypopa]

Fun fact: if you do have a shaft and it breaks, you're fucked with the price of parts and labor. With chain and sprockets at least the financial hurt is minimal. :D Besides, even if shafts are a lot more durable than chains/sprockets they still require inspection at least once if you're buying a used bike, because you don't know what the other bloke's been doing with the bike and it's gonna cost ya if it needs overdue maintenance or replacement. Chain and sprockets are out in the open and you won't have any headaches with inspection. :) It's all about pros and cons my man. By the way, I love your humor and editing, it's hilarious! :D

[@AndyManCam]

All very good points! Bit of a balancing act really. If you can guarantee that the shaft is good (oo-er) you've potentially got decades of maintenance free riding. But if not, nothing but hidden doom! The Scottoiler has really changed my take on it all. My chain needs far less adjustment (once a year) and far less cleaning (also once a year!) . I'd still like to have a go on a BMW K1300R though. The dark (shaft) side beckons!

[@Thunderous71]

As I said Andy... I think Ill drop mine off at the shop ;)

[@AndyManCam]

+Thunderous71 Ahaaa! Fair enough mate! I think i might next time too! 😂

[@CalmBiker]

I know what you mean about shaft drive. They just don't make bikes I like with one.

[@AndyManCam]

+CalmBiker Same for me. I don't want a 1200cc plus bike. But they just don't make anything shafty in the 800-1000 area any more. Tight fisted sods!

[@SilvieFox]

thats the cutest crescent wrench ever :) sorry you went thrue the "joys" of apposing metals (aluminum vs. steel) 2 things i can give you #1heating expands the metal so you wanted to heat the aluminum not the bolt (tho putting the bolt thrue a heat cycle will help brake rust free) and #2 the big one, PUT ANTI SEAZE OR COPPER GREASE OR MEDAMUSAL ON YOUR BOLTS BEFOR PUTTING THEM IN THE SWING ARM!!!!! it will prevent rust... oh and when putting your axle on and off use your foot (or in my case a phone book) under the tire to hold it up in place to reduce the risk of maring up the threads

[@AndyManCam]

+Silvie Fox She's a little cutey! My second smallest tool... I know now that heating the alu would have made more sense though with a lighter, a bit like trying to stop the tide with a shovel. My initial thinking was exactly as you say. Heat just to break the bond more than anything. And for a few seconds I thought it had actually worked!! I stuck loads of the chain stuff on the bolts as an interim measure. The wheel will be coming off again before summer for a new boot. I think I'd have needed a different approach angle to get my foot under there, but the drill box seemed to work pretty well!

[@SilvieFox]

Andy Man Cam lol, ya it kinda is, maybe you should invest in a cheap torch (propane is cheaper then butane ) but it probly did help for the but it was on at that point, then you backed it out to another spot of rust/gunk. but ya, grease or anti seaze the hell out of it so your never there again, aluminum tho soft has some magical grip of death on steel..... i have a snapped off that bolt on vanvan that i still need to replace but im lucky with that one being a puller not a pusher so its not inside the swingarm.

[@AndyManCam]

+Silvie Fox It's a bit of a fail for Kawasaki isn't it. If I'd fudged it completely, that would have meant a whole new swingarm. My old fazer it would have meant buying a £15 adjuster from eBay! Regardless, it'll be getting doused in greasy stuff before it sees any real weather, that's for sure!!

[@SilvieFox]

+Andy Man Cam yes and no. there are not the first to put it that way (most bikes now days are) I see it as another one of those built to fail so you have to take it to a shop things BC most ppl don't think to grease it

[@wombatonabike6717]

I don't know any bike owner who doesn't posses a tap and dye set lol. Great entertainment as usual!

[@AndyManCam]

Thanks Grumpy Sod! Sadly I've had to start my tool kit afresh. In the UK i was always close to dads gaff and considering he's a retired vehicle mechanic, he always had everything i needed! But of a trek just to borrow an M8 tap though! ! :))

[@wombatonabike6717]

+Andy Man Cam Certainly is a bit of a trek... But at least now you know you can break bolts with impunity, knowing that rescue lurks in the bottom of the toolbox. :D Stay safe!...and warm if possible.

[@AndyManCam]

Certainly can! As long as they're M8 bolts! (I thought it was a 3 bit set, but it's a 3 stage M8 set!). Sadly snapping bolts is something i have a little 'experience' in! It was a happy day the first time Dad couldn't undo an M12. So i stepped up and snapped it off in a heartbeat! Hulk smash!

[@AndyManCam]

Oh and 'Warm' comes next. Hopefully fitting my Oxford heated grips tomorrow! Mmmmm.

[@wombatonabike6717]

I hope that goes according to plan then. lol Besides what's the worse that could happen?...

[@northernninjarunner5506]

Get a can of Crack It, it’s a freeze spray that is great for freeing up 2 metals which are rusted/ seized together. Just spray we’ll have a coffee and then ah it’s released. Watch when spraying you don’t get fingers

[@AndyManCam]

Never heard of that. I think it might have to be a future addition to the tool kit.

[@northernninjarunner5506]

Andy Man Cam Just careful where you spray it as you will get a frost burn

[@AndyManCam]

Noted. Cheers!

[@chadkline4268]

I've never had these kinds of troubles with BMWs. I am interested in a Versys, but I really dislike crappy maintenance engineering.

[@AndyManCam]

I think a lot of it depends on the history of the bike. Had the adjuster bolts been greased early and kept clean, in sure these problems could have been avoided. Sadly that’s the gamble you take with used bikes. TBH i should have checked all these things shortly after buying the bike, rather than leaving it until it was urgent. You live and you learn!

[@chadkline4268]

@@AndyManCam thanks! I really appreciate that added explanation! It is the most important type of information for me after I decide upon functionality. I do my own mechanics, since I am a mechanic (A&P, BMW), but I have never owned a Japanese bike in 50 years 😁 And to be honest, I have been worried exactly of what was demonstrated here 🙂 I can easily agree with your assessment because I do not think people ensure proper maintenance at recommended service intervals generally. I wondered if Japanese may use inferior alloys that are weak, or subject to dissimilar metal corrosion. Anyway, thank you very much.

[@AndyManCam]

No problem! I think your worries about poor alloys are sadly not unfounded. But with good care, they seem to do fine. Especially if you know what you’re doing, which you clearly do.

[@SupermotoZach]

Man that so bad :(, unlucky dude.

[@AndyManCam]

+Supermoto Zach Yep. It was a bit of a nightmare! Still, it comes to all of us at some point! Hopefully with the bike in the garage now it'll not happen again for a while!

[@grosbeakmc]

Way to overcome!

[@AndyManCam]

I had no choice! Needed to get about on the thing! Necessity is the mother of all invention!

[@CenturionNL]

Well this is unfortunate. Just had the exact same thing happen to me on my versys. Tried to cut a slot in the broken off part with my dremel, cant get it out. Great. Is the swingarm end that you drilled in to quite thick?

[@AndyManCam]

+CenturionNL That IS annoying. I really don't envy you mate. The end of the swingarm did appear to be quite thick. Have you tried heating up the swingarm? (Not the bolt, like i did. Apparently heating the alu makes more sense). It was a massive pain to try and drill hard steel next to soft aluminium. My hole went a little wayward, so be very aware of that. Too far outboard and your adjuster won't push against the adjuster block squarely.

[@CenturionNL]

+Andy Man Cam I decided to bring it to a professional tomorrow. Messing around down there is too risky for my taste. I hope it doesn't break the bank.

[@AndyManCam]

+CenturionNL It's incredible what a difference the right tools can make. I bet they'll have it out of there in a jiffy. I forgot to mention that many folks recommended left handed drill bits. Supposedly they are like magic in these situations. Again, if they have one you'll be sorted super quick. Fingers crossed for you dear boy!

[@CenturionNL]

Haha thanks. Hope to be out riding again soon.

[@butchbrown7405]

Aluminum Expands when you apply heat.

[@AndyManCam]

So does steel. But they expand different amounts for the same amount of heat put in to them. This causes them to separate from each other and break the seized joint. Looks like you brought a smarty-pants to a science fight. 😝

[@butchbrown7405]

You should have booger'd up the other side, so the swing arm is cobbled up on both sides. Just say'n.

[@AndyManCam]

Not sure I follow the logic. So if you scratched one side of your car, you’d scratch the other side to match?

[@butchbrown7405]

Have you replaced the torx bit you destroyed?

[@AndyManCam]

No. Losing the first one was too emotional.

[@TheSwissMotard]

Ah, schadenfreude in full effect here :D

[@AndyManCam]

I'm a one stop shop for the Schadenfreude connoisseur! ; )

[@TheSwissMotard]

Andy Man Cam Fact!

[@helmihamzah8988]

Nice plate number....

[@AndyManCam]

Thanks. Amazing that they let me register that!

[@Kwakboy]

Although I honestly always enjoy your videos, even this series (sorry!), you must have had a bloody fit when things got F-upped. ;) How much bad luck can one bare, but still you concurred. Chapeau, my friend! You must have a patent on bad luck when wrenching on your bikes... Not that you're the only one suffering from that patent, LOL. BTDT too, I'm affraid to say... ;)

[@AndyManCam]

Thanks! It's ok to enjoy it. It's all part of the drama! I always like to think that i wouldn't have these troubles if i got a bike from new, before any other ham fisted lummox messes it up. Sadly I'm starting to think I'm the original ham fisted lummox! I had a rather extended moment of despair here. Imagining engineering shop costs or swingarm replacements. Both of which would mean no bike till next winter! And that was all the motivation i needed!! But as you say. BTDT. Will probably be there and do it again too i imagine! :D

[@Kwakboy]

+Andy Man Cam It was such a recognisable scenario... ;) I couldn't help myself, predicting what would happen next and laugh about it. Or better, laugh at myself, seeing myself doing the exact same thing in a similar situation before... That combined with that typical British humour of yours really made my day! :) Thanks for that Andy!

[@johnnygross4415]

what was the tooth count on the front?

[@AndyManCam]

Sorry Jonny, still can't remember!

[@AndreiBran]

Next time just enlarged the existed hole and make a new bigger thread

[@AndyManCam]

That’s pretty much exactly what i did, isn’t it?

[@NickMasseyRideon]

6:29 Shaft drive FTW ;)

[@AndyManCam]

+Nick Massey 100% Just saddens me that there are no real shaft options under 1200cc. Don't need that much grunt just yet!

[@NickMasseyRideon]

+Andy Man Cam BMW R850 :) Shaft drive I rode one for a weekend bike swap with a mate, its a lovely bike, the only thing I dont like is the dash, looked like that ugly monstrosity out of the matrix

[@AndyManCam]

Ah yes. Good shout. Although horribly expensive unless you get one that's seen the dark side of Mars. I don't know if that's just a germany thing, but BMW's seem to really hold their value here.

[@NickMasseyRideon]

+Andy Man Cam must be Germany, I could pick a good one up for less than 6ish grand NZD www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?&cid=1255&searchType=&searchString=BMW+R850&x=0&y=0&searchregion=100&type=Search&sort_order=&redirectFromAll=False&rptpath=1-&generalSearch_keypresses=10&generalSearch_suggested=0&generalSearch_suggestedCategory=

[@bloodyhell451]

The pain! This, I'm afraid is why I have stopped working on other peoples machines. You always find that some (insert expletive) has wanked-up some vital part of the machine. In your case it was the previous owner & the alignment bolt. Or maybe just torque from the bike and an axle which wasn't tight enough. Now I'm going to come across like a bit of a smart arse but here are a few handy tips wot I 'ave learned: You might have got the bolt out if you'd used a blowtorch on the swingarm for five minutes. Aluminium expands quite a lot (more than steel). This is how you fit the bearings in, say, a scooter engine. They will not go in otherwise. The best method for removing snapped steel bolts yet devised is left-handed drill bits. You can find them on the internet. You start drilling (slowly with a 1mm so you get the hole centred)) and then you go slowly with a 3 or 4 (anything smaller than the bolt you're trying to remove but as big as you can) and the thing just comes out. It helps a lot if someone is blowtorching the swingarm - crank-case - (insert expensive aluminium part) at the same time. Lastly - when all else fails - there are steel coils you can buy which replace the thread. You drill out the bolt to the required diameter - tap it, screw and glue the coil in. Let it dry - tap it again (to remove excess glue) and you've got a steel thread in an alu part. The biggest problem you had was the fact that the bloody bolt was so far in making access with tools difficult or impossible - and the fact that you're an ex-pat and so you've got the bare minimum of kit. It's easier when you've been living somewhere for over a decade and virtually all your spare income has been spent on tools......... This in mind, I'd say you did well !

[@bloodyhell451]

+vitaly deuterium Hey AMC - I didn't mean to piss you off with my comments. It was just a run down of the techniques I have been taught to deal with shit like this (and a possible bucket list of tools). Please excuse what was intended as help (and tardy too) but, through incompetence, may have looked like arrogance. And I was probably teaching egg sucking anyway - Very best regards - VD

[@AndyManCam]

Dearest Mr Deuterium, fret ye not dear fellow! No pissed-offedness involved! All very valid points and I'm always more than happy to find out how others do the same stuff. I'm a long way from being ANY kind of expert! But listening to his others have fixed (effed up) stuff is exactly how I've got as far as i have. You're far too much of an interesting and intelligent chap to warrant any disgruntlement!

[@bloodyhell451]

+Andy Man Cam Oh thank god for that. I thought I'd been a prat again...... BTW - the intro was pure gold !

[@AndyManCam]

Not at all mate. I know more than many not to read too much inflection into someone else's text. Plus everything you said was useful stuff. I've never even heard of left handed drill bits! Coupled with the fact that we've shared enough banter that i'd know better. Leave the safety off! ;D

[@AndyManCam]

Ps, thanks! It was hard to keep a straight face recording that 2 second clip! Now i know why the actors get the big bucks!

[@ridethestorm6690]

Dude....... you are the shizzznitttt

[@AndyManCam]

Cheers RTS! This was a real adventure! Hope that doesn’t ever happen again!!

[@mikebusby1471]

Lets hope you dont get any galvanic corrosion on the sprockets bolts as well !! Why bother with a thread the bolt wouldn't have gone anywhere - you have a nut on it? Just saying ..

[@AndyManCam]

Here's hoping!! That was actually going to be my fallback plan if the tapping didn't work. I guess i wanted the thread to stay as close to standard operation as possible. The snug fit of a threaded interface also minimises the possible sideways movement of that bolt. It would be bad news if it slipped outwards and let the adjuster jump forwards. Small chance, but one less worry too keep me awake at night!! (Of course i could have drilled a hole in the adjuster block and used a piece of studding. But again, 'standard'. Plus I'd already bought the bolts!)

[@NickMasseyRideon]

2:26 good god this is painful to watch

[@AndyManCam]

+Nick Massey I know! And that's the edited version! I dropped that stupid little spanner a thousand times. Couldn't get the tap wrench in there so the toy adjustable was the only choice! Got there in the end....

[@iamme2522]

Holey crap.... talk about Murphys law lol

[@AndyManCam]

I know right!

[@stoneblue1795]

Gads, so painful to watch. From bad to worse in less than a minute. Keep your day job.