BMW Classic Airhead: Fitting the $2000 O'Ring!

[@Gonzo-qh7uc]

You forgot to mention that the tube holding the filter may move inside the crankcase to the left by the pressure exerted on it by the O-ring(s) and the cover. It has no stop, it is simply driven into it‘s hub to a certain point which may gradually change. Thank you for your great vids by a R100RT owner 👍🙋‍♂️

[@GaryT1952]

Leave it to BMW to make the most innocuous service ...an oil and filter change..a technical nightmare. Great job as usual and well explained WM

[@jeffarnie]

I wonder if a BMW dealership would be so accurate with this. This is going to be an amazing bike. Fingers and toes crossed for start up day.

[@WildlifeMoto]

I doubt a dealership would want to work on these old bikes. If they did, I don't imagine as much care would be taken. The service manual that I have doesn't go into this level of detail. I think the importance of these checks has developed over the years due to the number of engine failures as a result of damaged or badly fitted rings.

[@AnalogDude_]

Yeah, the "job" mechanic has degraded a lot, even when i started driving a few decades ago in the end i fixed it myself. Now they put a plug some where and read the ECU. The dealer where i go, has a R100GS with paralever that has been recently restored, only the cable to the rear brake drum reveals it aint new. They are asking 14.000 for it. @@WildlifeMoto

[@alanbarnes2920]

No surprise at your attention to detail….this will be a fabulous bike when finished I’m sure..looking forward to seeing it start and your first journey on it!

[@AnalogDude_]

Seams a square or flat o ring would be best. Cool, seeing your bike with all new bolts, that's what I'm doing as wel.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Yep, pretty much every bolt is new on this bike.

[@chrisindubai]

I really like your videos even though I don't have an R100 or any other old bike. When you put the shim between the canister and the O-ring, how is that preventing oil from escaping into the sump?- there's no seal is there? Just asking because I'm curious and like fiddling with stuff myself.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Chris. It’s a combination of the shim and the o’ring. The shim is extremely thin so I guess it deforms in place and seals alongside the ring. There is a diagram of how it works in one of the links below.

[@thinc2272]

Great explanation - thank you!

[@spadaspares]

Hi, Good description, can you sort out why the spreadsheet has a code 404?

[@renzoblecich8590]

I like the part not using the paper gasket & why. 👍

[@mred7030]

the stuff of nightmares .

[@thebingleywheeler]

That’s just the sort of thing I’d forget to do 😂

[@WildlifeMoto]

Me too. I have to force myself to be very procedural with these things. I don't trust my own brain to get anything right.

[@TheStevemcqueen68]

I have just done a oil change and filter, on my 1979 r100rs , I have done this 5 times, never without a problem, This time around, I go 1/2 mile down the road ,and the oil light comes on, so turn it off straight away , any ideas on this one ? Thanks

[@WildlifeMoto]

Oh no! I hope you caught it in time. Did you use a brand new O’ring when you did the oil change? Did you confirm oil pressure with the plugs out before riding?

[@stevesane800]

Wow WM, that’s on another level. Is the steel canister press fit into the crankcase? Once it’s fitted, the distance will never change. However, you’d pray to every angel & devil the service centre would re-install a new filter with the exact diameter o-ring & not add a gasket. Wow, I thought Ducati valve shims were a calculation exercise… this is bizarre. Do you need to measure the diameter of each new o-ring at every service?

[@WildlifeMoto]

It's probably worth checking the measurements on every oil change. I believe the depth could shift very slightly. It's always worth double-checking the ring too. They should be 4mm, but you never know if you get a dud or the wrong size in your hands. It's frightening to think that a single rubber ring is responsible for the entire engine.

[@lespaullegend]

The file you uploaded for the spreadsheet is going to a broken page- can you update this please? Thx!

[@antaresautomatyka9288]

Won't the oil leak between the shim and the sleeve and cause the oil pressure drop you are talking about? I would put the shim on the cover so you keep your tolerance chain in check and let the o-ring seal the area it is supposed to seal. Might be mistaken though as I don't own an airheard :D (want to buy one)

[@WildlifeMoto]

I agree with your line of thinking. But it was designed to work with the shim in first. Have a look at the image in the link for an overview of the design. I believe the thickness of the o’ring along side the shim provides the seal. largiader.com/tech/filters/canister.html

[@antaresautomatyka9288]

@@WildlifeMoto Thx. Will check the website. Better to do some research before I get the bike and ruin the engine :)

[@Hodado]

So what year is the metal shim unnecessary?Mine is a 1980RT with a 1992 year engine

[@WildlifeMoto]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think on your model it's no longer needed. Please double-check that thought as I'm not sure of the years. Give motorworks a shout.

[@bluefox3634]

@@WildlifeMoto Hodado needs to read the largierder article you posted a link to. The shim is needed for depth measurement as well as protecting the o-ring. Some later models didn't need the shim to protect the o-ring as the canister edge is rounded - but you need to check the depth to see if the shim is needed for that.

[@patrickmathews1646]

Ugh! I would stress out too much doing an oil change. I'm afraid to know how a change in tyre pressure would affect the bike.

[@WildlifeMoto]

I makes you appreciate modern design a bit more. They’d never get away with that now.

[@godislove8740]

finickity or pernickity?

[@Gambo916]

Oh dear.....nobody wants a leaking ring!!!! What a crap design. Listening and watching your description of how it all seals together, makes me think the o-ring is sealing between the outer cover and the shim........but there is nothing sealing between the shim and the inner cylinder.......it's just metal to metal contact, with the potential for oil/pressure loss at that point?

[@WildlifeMoto]

Yes it is combination of the o’ring and a metal on metal seal between the shim and the case. I didn’t believe it either. If you click on the links in the description you’ll find a diagram of how it all works. I guess I have to put my trust in the boys from Berlin. But, yer, it’s weird.

[@battleshipnewjerseysailor4738]

The previous design was more than adequate, no need for this fuckery, the German engineers must not have heard, IF IT AINT BROKE DON'T FIX IT

[@WildlifeMoto]

For the most part these bikes are very well designed, but every now and then you come across something that’s is borderline ridiculous. This is one of them.