Snowbum's BMW Motorcycle Repair and Information Site!!

All the Technical Information on this site is:  

This page is the Index of Technical Articles

For the HomePage (main index page) click this line

Animated .gif copyrighted image modified to show individual 4-cycle combustion events.
The added animation by Mo Massen; furnished to me by Alessandro Zorat. 

  The author discourages personal inquiries.  I do strongly request that technical inquiries be sent to the Airheads or other appropriate LIST, so that questions and answers benefit more than just you!  This is because of the large number of personal requests.   I'm not the only so-called 'Guru' on the Airheads LIST.  You may receive different or a BETTER answer.  The Airheads LIST is THE prime source for Airhead information, as is the Kbmw LIST for Classic K bikes; and the SCT LIST is for sidecars. There are a number of VERY qualified experts on the LISTS.    The LISTS maintain ARCHIVES, which you may find useful.

(note:  for K bike LIST and Sidecar LIST, see below for subscribing instructions or their Internet page).

You can subscribe to the AIRHEADS LIST by using the following methods:
(note:  Subscribe using your normal e-mail address as the sending address).   

Method #1:  Using the computer that you intend to use for E-mail to and from the LIST, send an e-mail message to:    airheads-request@micapeak.com
     In the Subject line area, leave it blank.
     In the Message area, simply put:       subscribe airheads Xxxxxxx  Xxxxxxx
Where Xxxxxxx  Xxxxxxx is your name

The server at Micapeak  will do all the rest, as it automatically picks up your computer-generated return address.
The server is set to accept plain text OR html; and the server will automatically strip any html content, and convert your message to plain text.  Please do not send HTML or images to the LIST; they are stripped-off by the Server.

Method #2:  Go to the following URL and follow directions:
http://www.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/airheads

AFTER you subscribe, you will get a response from the server at Micapeak.   Send an e-mail to airheads-request@micapeak.com   and put these two words, only, in the message area:    SET HELP      Note that you need not put anything in the subject area.  You will be sent an e-mail with information to print out, that explains the functions.   You will have options to receive the LIST in various formats, ETC, so see what you got from that HELP request.  You will probably NOT want to use the Digest mode, it can be a hassle, and much less helpful than you might think, and it can require you to do more editing, in order to reply to a message.  

Put  airheads@micapeak.com   into your computer address book, perhaps using a nickname;  Tech, or Airheads; so you don't have to type the full address when YOU post a message; if your E-mail program can do that little trick.    You post and receive mail at   airheads@micapeak.com. You do NOT post mail, only commands, to  airheads-request@micapeak.com. (or, to the micapeak.com mailman URL) 

Assuming that you are an AIRHEADS LIST Member:   IF you have posted to the LIST, and still have not received the technical response you need after a day or so, THEN you MAY E-mail me directly, and I may (or may not!) try to help you.   You REALLY SHOULD have a GOOD reason to contact me, if you have NOT posted to the LIST!!  Your query may well help others, SO, PLEASE post technical inquiries to the appropriate LIST.  

If the message is very "personal", click this link:   snowbum

NOTE:  There are many other sources for information.  Whilst the LIST is PRIME for immediate information, you can also e-mail Oak Okleshen directly, at AskOak@aol.com.   Oak, a recognized major authority on Airheads, will likely respond directly to you.

The LAWYERLY legal stuff:

The technical information on this website is provided at no cost and without any warranty whatsoever.  It is my personal information, which you may use at your own discretion as outlined or for personal use only.   Your usage does NOT make me liable for any problems.   Improperly maintained motorcycles can lead to serious injury or death or unavoidable accidents. The author is not responsible for any errors contained herein, and makes no claims whatsoever as to the safety, validity, or veracity of the information contained in these documents. Any work you choose to do or not to do on your motorcycle is done at your own risk. If you do not know what you're doing, take your motorcycle to a reputable shop with skilled professional mechanics.  The instructions/information contained on these various pages merely document how the author does his own maintenance. Any use of the information contained in/on this website, is done solely at your own risk. 

The not so lawyer-speak stuff:

  The information on most of this website is copyrighted.   ALL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY ME AND LISTED ON THIS PAGE, OR OTHER PAGES, ARE COPYRIGHTED (unless otherwise noted).  You are granted use, for yourself, of printed or electronic copies.   You are also granted approval for incorporation by reference or hyperlink, to my articles for use on other websites, or even multiple pages,......but:   
You must not abridge, modify, shorten, or otherwise edit my articles, unless it is made clear that you are doing so, and you then prominently note that any change in INTENT, or INFORMATION, is YOUR responsibility, NOT mine!.  You are NOT granted permission to DUPLICATE my articles, in part, or entirety, without prior permission from me, except as above noted.   Commercial duplication; or, editing and publishing in any manner the content or part-content of my articles; and/or failure to quote me as the source/author, use of plagiarism, etc.; including sale or other commercial activity, beyond what is specifically herein allowed, without specific permission (often granted however), will result in public announcement of same, and may result in prosecution under the laws of the United States.   I'm protective of MY articles...but, as mentioned, I will usually grant you usage, beyond just for yourself...so ask!  You do NOT need my permission, if you follow the preceding, to use my TECHNICAL material in many ways,  but if any question on that, feel free to e-mail me.  I am usually quite easy-going, provided you have no commercial interest in mind.    

DO keep in mind that I frequently update articles on this website!! 
This is important if you used a search engine such as Google, because they will save pages on the date they scanned them, and Google, and most others, do NOT update pages until they are next scanned; and who knows when that is!  Usually an original scan is in such a Google listing as 'cached', and the main clickable link in the Google search results takes you to the existing page.  NOT ALWAYS!  It really is best to go directly to this website.  I suggest you bookmark (Favorites) the INDEX, not the page you are looking at.  The index page is often called a HOMEPAGE, and it is:  http://bmwmotorcycletech.info
The homepage has a clickable area for the page you are presently viewing, and a DATE of revisions, so you will know if any revisions have been done to the Technical Index page, without a laborious scanning.   I always issue a revision date when the update is substantial.  Revision dates, if substantial, are also listed at the bottom of the particular article AND on the Technical Articles Index page.  

The index page (homepage) contains access to other things NOT on, and NOT accessible, from this Index of Technical Articles page.

 Errors or omissions on this site should be reported to me, and are welcomed.  That includes helpful comments!

 ©   ALL Technical ARTICLES ARE Copyrighted!! (unless specifically so denied).   Reading and use beyond this point constitutes an implicit acceptance of my terms and conditions!!!

OUR PRIZED AIRHEADS ARE GETTING OLDER.  None have been made for private purchase since 1995.  They were in production from December 1969.  IT IS MY OPINION, BASED ON CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE, THAT YOU CAN NOT NECESSARILY RELY ON JUST ANY BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WORK....NOR FOR THE PROPER PARTS AND PARTS NUMBERS. THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NOR BACKGROUND.  BE CAUTIOUS, AND CHECK MORE THAN ONE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION, PARTS, AND WORK.  BMW themselves sometimes screw-up part numbers!...and BMW has been known to publish ERRORS!   Those errors get compounded when accepted, and republished, often reworded and wrongly so!...by such as Clymers, or Haynes!
I DO recommend certain shops, and individuals, upon request; or, see my URL pages 78A and 78B, below.
Be cautious when ordering from companies, foreign or domestic, that may not be selling genuine BMW parts.   Caveat Emptor!

Caveat lector!

If you cannot easily find what you want in my website (searching manually is best), then click here:  SEARCH

PLEASE look at the list of articles below, before you use the SEARCH function!...as the search function is not perfect!

The Goal Of Every Engineer Is To Retire Without Being Blamed For A Major Catastrophe.

Airhead, K, and household things to sell OR TRADE (things I want).   Click this line

Note!!!.....My websites www.pweb.jps.net/~snowbum; and www.home.jps.net/~snowbum are popular and often reach download limits by mid-month.  I have a new website, with my own domain name, and it should NOT run out of capacity/download capability.  I HIGHLY suggest you Bookmark (Favorites) that NEW website, and DELETE AND STOP USING THE ABOVE TWO.     The NEW website is:  http://bmwmotorcycletech.info and I have put a hyperlink on it for your pleasure, in case you are not there already.   ALL the sites presently contain exactly the same information.

Note!!!.....My website www.pweb.jps.net/~snowbum; and my website www.home.jps.net/~snowbum lately have been reaching download limits by mid-month.  I have a new website, with MY OWN domain name, and it will NOT run out of capacity and download capability.  I HIGHLY suggest you Bookmark (Favorites) the new website, and DELETE AND STOP using the above two.     The new website is:  http://bmwmotorcycletech.info and I have put a hyperlink on it for your pleasure.

Selling assets of Fleischer Electronics Service

FUEL System in your Airhead motorcycle:

1.  Fuel filters, petcocks, gas caps, and tank & seat fitting;  rev.  02/01/2007      
Information on fuel tank cap venting problems is in article #75

2.  Luftmeister Auxiliary Fuel Tanks  rev. 04/01/2008

3.  Bing Carburetor, overhaul  AND GENERAL NOTES, part 1       rev. 05/03/2007
MANY HINTS, including my float testing results.

4.  Bing Carburetors, overhaul AND GENERAL NOTES, part 2       rev. 12/01/2007

5.  Bing dual-independent float kit                 rev.  01/10/2008 

6.  Early Bing CV Carburetors as on R75/5         rev. 05/14/2007

7A.  Synchronizing Carburetors; the whole story, in awful depth.  11/03/2006     

7B.  Throttle & clutch cables; confusing throttle gears/cams assembly   etc.      rev. 04/26/2007

8.  Throttle screws; friction & anti-friction devices; Snowbum gets OFF and RUNNING! rev. 09/21/2005

9.  R80 series, 1980+ Airbox Modifications, snorkels   rev. 08/07/2005

10.  Intake and Exhaust system tuning           rev. 02/06/2008

11.  Removing & plugging the Pulse Air and Evaporative emissions systems rev.  09/24/2007

12A.  MISCL. on the Fuel System.  Tank cleaning;  premium vs regular; TEL; alcohol; fitting other tanks & seats. 
Throttle and choke cables.  Fuel hose.  Fuel tank cap venting problems is in article #75                 rev/    01/07/2008

12B.   The K & N, and other aftermarket air filters                                             

13.  The Dell'Orto Carburetor                              rev.  03/10/2008
Huge amount of information for someone trying to understand how ALL types of carburetors (especially needle/slide types, but also vacuum types) operate.   Much of the information originally (?) came from an obsolete www.startwin/dellorto website, and I have shown it in this article without Copyright release, because I do not know where to get a release.   I claim NO copyright on this article, much of whose content may be public property.  There is SPECIFIC information here on settings of the Dell'Orto for the Airheads, and a link to an article on converting an airhead to use the Dell'Orto (only the R90S CAME with these).  Included here are hyperlinks to other carburetor articles, of considerable value!

Didn't find what you wanted in the above FUEL SYSTEM articles area?   Use this sites search engine:   SEARCH

Gasoline's:  This is not an article by me, but a link.   If you are truly curious, and technically minded, this link to a long article describes octane, gasoline, leaded fuel, unleaded fuel, additives, and VASTLY more than you ever probably even thought about knowing about gasoline.   There are some really interesting things here and there in this article...from which you could also get to the other parts/versions by re-arranging the URL.   So....here is that URL, and it is clickable:
http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/autos/gasoline-faq/part1.html

Errors and omissions you see on this site should be reported to me, and are welcomed.  Helpful comments appreciated!

I have a page that has some motorcycle and personal stuff for sale (or TRADE!)
 click: Sale.htm

ELECTRICAL System in your Airhead motorcycle:

14.   How to buy & use test lamps and meters (multimeters, volt-ohm-ammeters) rev.                   

14A.  Demystifying Boxer Electrics, theory and practice  rev. 08/04/2006
Lots of good basic electricity information here; plus troubleshooting.  See article 15 also.

14B.   Critique of the ChiTech Electrics School Manual       rev. 01/06/2008 

15.  Electrical hints and problems     rev.  01/06/2008

15-A.   Alternators:  TRUE Capability of the STOCK Bosch, substitutions, ETC.      rev. 10/17/2006

15-B.   Troubleshooting the Alternator/Charging Problems       11/14/2005

15-C.   Aftermarket Alternators:  installation, capability, performance       rev. 01-27-2008   

16-A.   The Bosch and Valeo Starter motors     rev. 04/28/2007                 

16-B.  Troubleshooting the Starting System....when the starter won't or?      rev. 11-16-2007          

17.  Alternator Brushes and Rotor  rev. 07/13/2005

18.  Diode Boards & Grounding Wires  rev. 09/16/2003

19.  Alternator 'GEN' lamp circuit & resistor mod.    rev. 02/06/2004

20.  Testing Voltage Regulators (and note on the Transpo & the factory high output regulator)  rev. 05-30-2004 

21.  Servicing a Bosch Mechanical Voltage Regulator  rev. 04/02/2003

22.   Making the Bosch (and Wehrle METAL CAN) ELECTRONIC Voltage Regulators Adjustable     rev.  04/02/2003

23A.   Increasing the voltage output of the Wehrle PLASTIC voltage regulator    09/16/2003

23B.  Schematic diagram of one version of the electronic voltage regulator

24A.  Lamps.  This article includes information on adding relays, lamp substitutions, larger headlights, MODULATORS, heavier wire, LED's, etc. rev. 01/08/2008

24B.  How the headlight switch and relay works, in disgusting detail.  Read this article to understand about the finer details of information in article 24A.          rev. 01/14/2008

25.  Replacing a Neutral Switch   rev. 04/24/2007

26.  Metric & American Wires, Colors, Bosch Codes     rev. 05/05/2003

27.  Installing an accessory electrical outlet       rev.  01/24/2008

28.  Ignition Theory.....How Spark Ignition Systems Work...more than you ever wanted to know  rev. 11/28/2006

29.  Ignition Timing; Automatic Advance Units.   ALL POINTS MODELS.  Single Spark Plug Airheads;
Automatic advance units applicable to single OR dual plug airheads.   ETC!      rev. 11/28/2006

30.  Ignition module; ignition canister; coils; also information on Dyna & Boyer, ETC.   
Sources for Modules & Hall elements; information on canister overhaul, canister points, canister repairs; testing
methods; the 'new coils' and electronic module changes.        rev. 11/27/2007 
Some of this Hall sensor information applies to the K and Oilhead bikes!!

31.  Dual Plugging   rev. 01/11/2008

32.   SPARK PLUGS; spark plug threaded holes; Torques;ANTISEIZE OR NOT, spark plug caps; resistor & non-resistor spark plugs             rev. 01/15/2008

33.  Ampmeters (ammeters) v. Voltmeters (and voltmeter problems)   rev. 05/14/2003

34.  Adding Running Lamp Function to Turn Signals  rev. 03/23/2006 

35.  Filling a new 'flooded' battery,  initializing properly; other battery types, sources, usage,
chargers (SMART and not!) and their peculiarities.   WestCo/Panasonic batteries; Digikey;   rev:   04/15/2007

36.  Accessing the headlight bucket on RS/RT, cleaning the headlamp/glass, aiming the headlight   rev. 02/25/2005

37.  The Slash 5 (/5) starter relay 'cricket' noise and starting problem      rev. 02/25/2005     

38A.  Electronic tachometer connections, colors, retrofitting to earlier models; HOW TO CHECK YOUR
TACHOMETER CALIBRATION     rev. 03/16/2006 

38B.   Miscl. Electrical:  electrical schematics; Hazard flasher system; fold-out fog/driving lights, VDO instruments,  ETC.           rev.  06/25/2007  

54.  Wheels, Axles, Hubs, Bearings, Seals, Tires, Dampers, ETC!!

          Section 1:  19" wheel recall      rev. 08/15/2007

          Section 2:  Overview, wheel hubs; early /5/6/7; Duane's website; /2 >> 1984 wheel innards    rev. 05/23/2004

          Section 3:  Catch-all section; tires, spacers,  wheels, hints; ETC!   rev. 01/06/2008  Read Section 5, below!

          Section 4:  Wheel bearing preload & servicing wheel bearings.     rev.  10/01/2007  

          Section 5:  TIRES (in depth); top hat spacers;nitrogen, ETC!.    rev. 09/24/2006     Read Section 3, above!

          Section 6:  Tubeless versus tubes, the whole story and then some     rev. 10/15/2007  

          Section 7:  Lester wheels                              rev.  11/23/2004                                          

          Section 8:  Steering dampers rev. 11/23/2004

          Section 9:  Re: Airhead Wheel Bearing Clinic++, BMWMOA National Rally, July 2005; critique of BMW-ON
          magazine articles of 2004  rev: 02/26/2005

          Section 10.   Front forks, Alignment, Stiction, GATORS, OILS, etc                     rev: 01-10-2007

          Section 11.  Hyperlink to wheel balancing article, which is:  http://www.largiader.com/balancer/

          Section 12.  Tire repair items; photo and description       rev. 01/06/2007    

55.  Maintenance Schedule   rev. 01/04/2005 

56.  Cold Weather Starting   rev. 02/19/2007 

57.  Rubber Noise Silencing Pads At The Cylinder Fins   rev. 05/04/2007 

58.  Importing a motorcycle; dealing with EPA and DOT and Customs       rev. 01/09/2008

59.    TRANSMISSIONS:  Output shaft snap ring (circlip) & groove problem.  Transmission serial numbers 
versus model year.   Pawl spring breakage. Neutral switches. Shift kits.   4 and 5 speed transmissions.
Kickstarter. Throwout bearing.                 rev. 12-08-2007

60. ENGINE INTERNALS:
       Section 1:  Disassembly & assembly:  heads, pistons, rings, cylinders, break-in; Helicoils;
                          Timeserts; cylinder studs, ETC.                 rev. 01/29/2008         

       Section 2:  Flywheel (Clutch Carrier) removal warning; MAIN SEAL, oil pump & its cover, ETC.    rev. 01/26/2008

       Section 3:  Cylinders (iron, Nikasil, Galnikal); boring, honing, cylinder shims, sealants; cylinder studs   rev. 01/26/2008
                         (see also Section 1 on cylinder studs, etc)

       Section 4:  Pistons (including swapping heads-cylinders-pistons), rings, pins, clips, keepers, decarboning    rev. 01/26/2008 

       Section 5:  Valves, valve seats; leaded fuels; guides, valve springs, aftermarket valves, ETC.               rev. 01/26/2008

       Section 6:  Rocker arms, rocker arm shafts, valve gear, pushrod tubes, cylinder heads.     rev. 01/26/2008

       Section 7:  Camshafts, cam sprockets, alternator & cam seals, crank nose bearing             rev.  01/26/2008

       Section 8:  Replacing pushrod tubes and/or pushrod tube seals. Pushrods. Valve cover studs.       rev. 01/26/2008 

       Section 9:  Clutch, clutch arm, flywheel, clutch carrier), bolts, upgrades, throwout bearing, cables, etc.  rev. 05/04/2008

       Section 10 :  Crankshaft; front main bearing & cover; rod bearings; MISCL.                rev.  01/26/2008
     
61.  Long Distance Touring         rev. 11/21/2007                                                   

I have a page that has some motorcycle and personal stuff for sale (or TRADE!), click: Sale.htm