I am about to fit an APE manual tensioner on my K1200s despite the packet suggesting that their are instructions on APE's website there are none for my bike, i can see from other posts that some folks have fitted these just wondered if someone would be kind enough to help a newbie with a how to guide?? I really don't to screw it up!!
I've done 3 K1200s bikes and its pretty straight forward.
Once installed adjust the adjusting screw finger tight against the cam chain guide than snug the lock nut. Than follow the direction below
ADJUSTING THE TENSIONER IS DONE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STARTED LOOSEN THE LOCK NUT AND TURN THE THREADED ADJUSTER IN OR OUT BASED ON THE SOUND THE CHAIN IS MAKING DURING INITIAL START-UP. IF IT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY YOU SHOULD HAVE TO TURN THE THREADED ADJUSTER OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT UNTIL YOU START TO HEAR THE CHAIN "TICK" THEN TURN IT BACK IN A HALF A TURN.
ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NEEDED OVER TIME, REPEAT PROCESS FOR ADJUSTMENT. IF THE NOISE DOES NOT GO AWAY CHECK CAM CHAIN GUIDE RAILS FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR.
Does it matter if the engine is hot or cold when you do this procedure?? I had changed the oil just prior to installing mine so engine was warm, but not probably not full operating temp, though not cold either. Just trying to make sure my $90 upgrade doesn't grenade my engine.
Thanks for the replies, I have fitted mine tonight not too bad a job panel off and some weird torx bolts to deal with and pulled the old one out original one by the looks of things with a flat plate over the top. The new one is installed started it up and ran very quiet I am on about 4 threads above the lock nut teied backing off until rattled got it to rattle a little bit and I mean a little bit and then tightened it up as per the help earlier.
Not sure if it's too tight or not?? anyway to tell?? Just wondering how many threads on the adjuster above the locknut other people have?
Thanks
Iain
PS The irony of it is the dealer definately told me it had the upgraded on it with the oil reservoir, hmm naughty dealer for not tellling the truth
Thanks, just learning the ins & outs of BMW for the first time. Lots of...er...nuance to German engineering. Much of it good, some of it ...not so much.
Not in the least. Bike makes plenty of power without it and runs better. In my opinion, a PC is all well and good. But then you need a quality dyno tune to match or you risk doing more harm than good. I don't want those sorts of headaches.
Also ditched the K&N filters and re-fitted the intake snorkels. Runs great!
Thanks Doug, the bikes been working out great, really a shame BMW doesn't make anything like this anymore.
I decided to skip the valve adjustment given the bulk of these bikes never need adjustment and this bike is running great.
I managed to pickup a Givi rack and Givi E41 Keyless side cases that I'll use for serious road trips, but will keep the BMW luggage on for commuting. I'm also thinking about adding a Cyclops tire pressure monitoring kit and some LED lights. In insights or experience with these would be appreciated.
One question about that clutch noise. I know that's just "a thing these bikes do" but wondering if it goes away with the Barnett clutch replacement / upgrade.
As for the Cyclops tire pressure monitoring kit, that's up to you. I like to manually check the tire pressure so I can also inspect the tires, make sure everything's tight and clean the rims.
I've been looking into LED's myself. I saw this link https://freetime.mikeconnelly.com/archives/38 and I E-Mailed Mike (nice guy) he gave me some pointers. I'm figuring out a cleaner looking configuration and better heat dissipation. I'll keep you posted.
As for the clutch I'm not sure if it goes away with the Barnett clutch replacement.
LED tail light from K1300 plugs straight in and rear LED indicators off S1000 do as well. The dealer will need to change a setting in software to recognise the changes and prevent error code.
I have a K1200S (southerncaliforniamotowerks.com) Cam chain tensioner for sale. I bought it when I first got my 06 K1200s to replace the "Flat plate" hydraulic Cam chain tensioner. Extremely well built in comparison to the Ape Cam chain tensioner. I bought it because I didn't like the startup noise from the flat plate cam chain tensioner and BMW said it was going to take about two months to get the reservoir style tensioner in.
Put the Southern California Motorwerks manual adjuster on my aged K1200s and so far it has not blown up. Not only did it help settle my chain noise on startup it also is the only thing I have done that helped the search for idle problem I have always had going over Highway 204 in Oregon. I have a theory bouncing around in my head as to why the hydraulic tensioner would perform this way on this certain road but I want to ride 204 again and see if the problem is really settled. I know its weird.
I have done 2400 miles since installing the APE tensioner. At least 75 percent of this is highway. Hands down best modification I have done to my K12r. I ride the bike fairly hard ( I don't baby it) and the cam chain noise is non existent and I also noticed a smoother idle on a hot engine, assuming this was from the cams having to much slack from thin oil causing a weak tensioner.
Safe riding
Jason
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