1984 R100 via Hurricane Katrina

[Gravity]

I doubt those exhaust nuts will come off clean, even with the proper wrench. I suggest you saw them off, and buy new ones if it appears the engine is salvagable.

pmdave

That's what happened. I used a hacksaw and the dremel tool and avoided cutting into the threads. I was surprised to find that the threads were in very good shape. That was the only good news on the exhaust. All of it crumbled into bits when it was removed. The cans were rusted at the clamp position, the crossovers were rusted and broke easily. I saved the two stainless clamps from the system. That is all there was to save.

In looking at the nuts and bolts that have come off the bike, there are less than twenty that are fit for re use.

It is not what I expected but perhaps what I should have expected.

Either way I'm mildly entertained.

Gravity

 

[radar41]

Under Katrina Bike

I have been following your thread with interest and have an idea how discouraged you must feel at this point. Thought I would add some positive thoughts to the discussion.

First of all, you have an excellent ride - a K1300S!!! A bike to ride isn't a problem.

Second, you said you liked and wanted to learn about the older "Airheads". Many of the comments above are an example of the help you can expect from the airhead community. Many of us have tackled projects similar to yours and along with the frustration, busted knuckles, blue air, and did I mention frustration? We have learned MUCH we will gladly share about these ancient machines.

You are already into the "water" so might as well continue into the "lake" (had to do that - too good to pass up ). Continue with your cleanup and disassembly process, take LOTS of notes and digital photo's of everything, BEFORE you take it apart. Purchase some Kano Kroil and use it liberally, search this forum and others, join the Airheads Beemer Club, be patient and enjoy the process. Then one day, maybe years, in the future when you push that starter button, the machine starts, and you ride it for the first time. You will understand the magic of these timeless machines.

 

[kstoo]

Either way I'm mildly entertained.

... and, when you include the education and experience, that makes it worth the price of admission.

 

[Gravity]

No worries, this has been about what I expected. I've enjoyed getting my hands dirty on this bike.

The pistons seem to be frozen inside the cylinders. I attempted to rotate the motor to TDC position and the motor wouldn't budge. I applied a good bit of force to it but no movement.

I proceeded to take the head covers off and then the other parts so I could see the top of the pistons. One piston is shiny, the other black as coal. Odd, I think. Neither seems to be moving in the cylinder at all. I have the cylinder away from the block about an inch or so on both sides and have been spraying PB blaster into the cylinders in hopes they might penetrate the rings that have rusted it closed.

The first good nuts were beneath the cylinder cover. All other nuts/bolts I have taken off the bike are not reuseble.

And of course to add a little joy to the week I installed a new Remus exhaust to the K1300s and fired it up. The first word that came to mind when I heard it was "Explosion!"

I'm sickened by my desire to search for other airheads that might have more potential. Does it ever go away? Now that I have my hands in one, it can't be bad to have two apart in the garage, can it?

Gravity

 

[AnnapolisAirhead]

I'm sickened by my desire to search for other airheads that might have more potential. Does it ever go away?

Fear not. It is a benign affliction.

 

[radar41]

Airheads Apart

No worries, this has been about what I expected. I've enjoyed getting my hands dirty on this bike.

The pistons seem to be frozen inside the cylinders. I attempted to rotate the motor to TDC position and the motor wouldn't budge. I applied a good bit of force to it but no movement.

Now that I have my hands in one, it can't be bad to have two apart in the garage, can it?

Gravity

Spray them with Kano Kroil or a 50/50 mixture of ATF and Acetone (plenty of air circulation here) and let them set several days.

Two Airheads apart at the same time??? Isn't that normal???

 

[Gravity]

Come to think of it, I think when Ed showed me his garage there was an airhead apart on the lift, an oilhead with the cover off and a Kbike sitting dressed and ready to go. It seems that Ed has the perfect formula. Two in progress and one ready to ride at all times.

I was looking at this K75 in Baton Rouge......

I still got room,

Gravity

 

[bikerfish1100]

Come to think of it, I think when Ed showed me his garage there was an airhead apart on the lift, an oilhead with the cover off and a Kbike sitting dressed and ready to go. It seems that Ed has the perfect formula. Two in progress and one ready to ride at all times.

I was looking at this K75 in Baton Rouge......

I still got room,

Gravity

always have 2 ready to ride. occassionally, one of those 2 will take itself out of action- needs a tire, decides to break something, something else wears out, etc.
do as many as you'd like to have "in progress". i have 4 beemers- 2 up & 2 down, but sometimes its 1 up & 3 down.

 

[Gravity]

Just a quick update:

I have been soaking the pistons in PB Blaster hoping they will come free from the cylinders. I added a heat gun to the mixture to get the pistons warm/hot and then let them cool. I never heated the PB Blaster as I was thinking it has a flashpoint somewhere around the upper range of the heat gun.

Anyhow, Ed came buy last night to pick up a book and look at my progress. After we tugged on the cylinders a bit he suggested we take the long bolts used to keep the cylinders attached to the block so we might twist the cylinders on the pistons and perhaps break them free.

It worked! Well it worked on one side. The cylinder isn't scored or scratched and the piston has some spotty corrosion stuff that looks like it will come off. I'll snap a pick later this morning.

We peered further inside and there seems to be some surface rust but everything we touched came off with no pressure. I'm not saying there's hope this engine will fire again but so far these parts look decent.

The other piston is still stuck so I'll let it soak in PB until I get back from San Antonio and then give it another go.

Gravity

 

[b25bsaboy]

Come on now, not a penny hasn't been spent other than the book and the bike and together I'm happily well below $500.

Worse case scenario, I get another airhead and use this as a donor?

I'm looking forward,

Gravity

Gravity,

The long and short of it to do a ground up restoration you are looking at a minimum of $ 10,000.00 and after that the skies the limit. I have done eleven up till now and starting on a 1976 BMW R75/6.
The killer is going to be outside labor and rust removal. Without question every gear, bearing and everything else internally will have to be inspected and chances are to be replaced. Anything that has been submerged in water especially salt water the alkalis like to attack iron.
I saw someone commenting, Forest, and Run, Forest! Sometimes one is better to walk away and chock it up as a lesson.