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"New" K75, what to tackle first?

G

gbrickell

Guest
Got a new K75, or rather my wife did. 1990 K75 standard. 25k miles.

Since I know little about the last nearly 20 years of this bike's existence, figured it was probably wise to do some things as a baseline. I stopped by the dealer today and got:

Oil filter change parts
Air filter
Spark plugs
Diff/final drive oil to change out
Chilton manual
Spline lube grease

I'll also be stopping by the auto parts store to get some brake fluid to change that.

So, shortly I will have the oil changed, new air filter, plugs, and brake fluid ( will probably flush the coolant too. Spline lube I might tackle a little later...

Am I missing anything you folks would do with an old bike to make sure all the maintenance is up to spec from square one?

Thanks

Matt
 
What is your wife doing, and why isn't she posting? Get her over here, I want to have a talk with her. :D

ps. do not believe what the book says, you do not have to remove the tank to change the air filter, the whole thing is under the frame with 1 micron of clearance

Real Women Change their Own Oil
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/srab/2113123688/" title="Real Women Change their Own Oil by sheridesabeemer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2113123688_f9f5da6ebe_o.jpg" width="800" height="670" alt="Real Women Change their Own Oil " /></a>
 
mbrickell said:
Got a new K75, or rather my wife did. 1990 K75 standard. 25k miles.

Since I know little about the last nearly 20 years of this bike's existence, figured it was probably wise to do some things as a baseline. I stopped by the dealer today and got:

Oil filter change parts
Air filter
Spark plugs
Diff/final drive oil to change out
Chilton manual
Spline lube grease

I'll also be stopping by the auto parts store to get some brake fluid to change that.

So, shortly I will have the oil changed, new air filter, plugs, and brake fluid ( will probably flush the coolant too. Spline lube I might tackle a little later...

Am I missing anything you folks would do with an old bike to make sure all the maintenance is up to spec from square one?

Thanks

Matt
Click to expand...


Your K air filter may just need to be removed and dusted...

I would lastly check the quality of the fuel in the tank, dump it if necessary and start with a fresh BMW fuel filter.

Lastly...your K75 will take any after market oil filter that fits a 1996 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 2.7ltr 4 cylinder.

Apologies for the long reply but i get quite excited when we get another convert;)
 
mbrickell said:
Am I missing anything you folks would do with an old bike to make sure all the maintenance is up to spec from square one?
Click to expand...

I'm going through the same process with a '95 K75. Since I'm an electronic guy, I usually start with the electrical system and clean/deoxidize connectors, switches, bulb sockets, and things like that. I also put together a kit of spare bulbs, fuses, etc. that will live with the bike.

The fluid and filter changes are a gimmie.

Today, I started re-assembling the pieces missing from the tool kit and ordered the factory service manual to go with the Clymer and Haynes that I already have.

Oh, and I might ask Gail if she'll change the oil. ;)
 
New fork oil. Check the tires for tiny weather cracks. And all the previous, especially electrical connections. Steering bearings smooth or notchy? Does the fan work?

Ralph Sims
 
Colt03 said:
based on age and mileage probably schedule a input spline lube !
The achilles heal of K bikes
Click to expand...

I think there's a mindset here (and for Honda, Yamaha, etc.) that shaft drive doesn't need maintenance like chain drive. Better check your service requirements. :deal
 
Last edited:
Check the valve adjustment.

motoedde suggested that you can use alternate oil filters, but DO NOT use the Fram filters that have the black Suregrip on the outside. They are not designed for immersion in hot oil and the coating will dissolve in your crankcase. The dissolved plastic is not a very good lubricant for your bearings.


:dance :dance :dance
 
Brake fluid undoubtably is due to be flushed. That's an every 2 year thing. There is also a crankcase vent hose - located above the coils behind the throttle bodies on the left side of the engine. It cracks and causes a lean mixture. It's another 2 year sort of thing.

All the other things mentioned above should probably be done. Oil, filters, fork oil, splines lubed, rubber checked for cracks and leaks, steering head bearings checked - usual stuff. Plugs and tuneup can wait a bit until you find out how it's running.
 
98lee said:
Check the valve adjustment.

DO NOT use the Fram filters that have the black Suregrip on the outside. They are not designed for immersion in hot oil and the coating will dissolve in your crankcase.
Click to expand...

And, if you read a few filter tests, the other Frams don't fare very well, either. The Purolator Pure One comes out pretty well. I am not a fan of K&N air filters, but their oil filters are pretty good.
 
Wife working on the bike

SheRidesABeemer said:
What is your wife doing, and why isn't she posting? Get her over here, I want to have a talk with her. :D

ps. do not believe what the book says, you do not have to remove the tank to change the air filter, the whole thing is under the frame with 1 micron of clearance

Real Women Change their Own Oil
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/srab/2113123688/" title="Real Women Change their Own Oil by sheridesabeemer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2113123688_f9f5da6ebe_o.jpg" width="800" height="670" alt="Real Women Change their Own Oil " /></a>
Click to expand...

Excellent. I will get Gail on the forum as soon as I get a chance to sit down with her and show her where to find it and how to post. I'm a lot more of an internet message board poster than she is.

The other day when we stopped to get all the maintenance parts, she made it clear to me that she wanted to learn how to work on the bike, and that she would be the one doing the work. So, fear not, I may be involved, and may do some of the research, but it is HER bike and SHE will be involved in working on it per her guidance. She's already laid down the law on that one.:)
 
BuddingGeezer said:
New fork oil. Check the tires for tiny weather cracks. And all the previous, especially electrical connections. Steering bearings smooth or notchy? Does the fan work?

Ralph Sims
Click to expand...

Fan works, as I found out near Louisville when I got stuck on a bridge crossing a river, terrible congestion due to road construction. Cycled on and off fine. Tires are new Metzelers thanks to the previous owner. Bearings felt smooth to me. I'll probably take your advice and go through connectors.
 
Gail's new K75

SheRidesABeemer said:
What is your wife doing, and why isn't she posting? Get her over here, I want to have a talk with her. :D
Click to expand...

My wife seems to be handling the K75 well on her own. She took the bike in to get the state inspection done today, and here is detailing it from the long trip to Kansas City. Next week, maintenance tasks begin.

IMG_0258.jpg


This woman will be working on her own bike by her request, I will only be tech support when and if called...
 
tommcgee said:
I think there's a mindset here (and for Honda, Yamaha, etc.) that shaft drive doesn't need maintenance like chain drive. Better check your service requirements. :deal
Click to expand...


The bike is 18 years old, the spline lube that was mentioned by the owner was probably the rear, not the input, but hey what do i know ?
 
If you are purchasing the brake fluid from an auto parts store, and not your dealer (BMW Brand), be sure to get DOT 4.

Do not use DOT 3, nor DOT 5. Big difference in all three products, particularly DOT 5, which is silicone based and radically different than the other two.

Ride Safely,
BrickRider
 
Hi,
If the spline grease from the BMW dealer was BMW #10 grease, it's good for greasing the ends of your control cables and little else. If the spline lube was a tiny tube of expensive grease, I don't believe it contains any molebdenum disulfide. Do yourself a favor. Go to your closest Honda dealer and buy a tube of Honda Moly 60 Paste. THEN you are SURE you have a decent grease for spline lubes, both driveshaft/final drive and clutch/input shaft.
 
Be sure to find and buy a Hall sensor, at that age thay get wonky and start to do funny timming things like cause slight backfires ans idle changes..Nice bike..:german
 
mbrickell said:
My wife seems to be handling the K75 well on her own. She took the bike in to get the state inspection done today, and here is detailing it from the long trip to Kansas City. Next week, maintenance tasks begin.

IMG_0258.jpg


This woman will be working on her own bike by her request, I will only be tech support when and if called...
Click to expand...

Cool we needed more K75 riding Gail's on this site! :p
 
thanks

SheRidesABeemer said:
Cool we needed more K75 riding Gail's on this site! :p
Click to expand...

Thanks for the assorted additional bits of advice, i.e. spline grease, brake fluid, et cetera.

Gail changed her own oil on the K75 yesterday, so she's now on the road to working on her own bike. Next, I'll get her clued in as to this site and board, and she'll be squared away...

Thanks all
 
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