Help with R1150R ABS Fluid Change

[roundy]

Just been on the blower to BMW in Alton to get that screw cap thingy to make the funnel jobby and they say the cap is no longer available Any ideas what I can do??

Cheers.... !

[Boxer]

Have a second pair of hands standing there with the bottle of fluid...on the ready to pour so the level does not go down above the top edge of the opening...Or have them stand there holding a funnel in the opening "tightly" sealing the opening as best they can while they keep the fluid level high. Don't let the fluid level go down at all, as you bleed! This is "touch-n-go" but it will work. Don't ask me how I know this.

[Remow2112]

Go to http://www.beemerboneyard.com/r1150rrockster.html
They have Servo Assist Brake Bleed/Flush Funnel tool 49.95

There description:
This funnel tool is for bleeding or flushing the servo assisted (Integral) ABS brake sytsems on late model BMW bikes. It is an affordable alternative to the OE BMW tool (# 341580 - cost $213) and will allow you to bleed and/or flush the brake fluid on your late model Integral ABS system yourself. The correct BMW ABS resevior cap is used in our funnel tool so the fit is perfect and air tight. The JVB R1200 Maintenance DVD gives step by step instructions for this procedure and we highly recommend buying the DVD for this procedure. If you do not already have the JVB R1200 maintenance DVD you can purchase one from us on the same section page you found this funnel tool. All you will need is funnel tool, simple hand tools, brake fluid and clear hose, and some common wooden shims from a home improvement or hardware store. For use on all late model BMW bikes with the servo assist ABS brakes (if with the bike on you hear a whining sound when squeezing the brake lever - you have servo assist brakes. This include All R1150R, R1150RS, R1150RT, K1200GT, R1200CL bikes. Also all R1150GS after 9/02, late model (2002 on) R1100S, K1200RS and K1200LT bikes. Also most R1200GS (before 2008), most R1200RT, most R1200ST and most K1200S/R/GT bikes.


I am planning on ordering one next payday. Failing that you can find various size rubber plugs at most ACE hardware stores.

Dan...

[jfslater98]

Just been on the blower to BMW in Alton to get that screw cap thingy to make the funnel jobby and they say the cap is no longer available Any ideas what I can do??

Cheers.... !

You may want to check with A&S Cycles

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=37530

I think this is the part you need, as detailed by the assembly instructions here

http://users.rcn.com/dehager/service/ab ... dapter.pdf

For $53 you get two of them, so you can make another for a buddy or sell it. But the BB part is already made up for you, and you can be sure it's been put together well. Once you've gotten that together, these instructions are pretty good

http://users.rcn.com/dehager/service/service_abs3.pdf

I followed them, and they worked great for me. I'm still upright and typing

Good luck!

[towerworker]

I went to a hardware store and bought a rubber cork (bought a couple of sizes to be safe) and drilled a hole thru it. Placed a funnel thru it and it worked fine. Pushed it down firmly in the filler hole in the abs pump and it worked great. No leaks and cost about $2.

[iowabeakster]

I made my own device like Towerworker. It worked fine as long as I was very careful about keeping a good seal to prevent leakage.

But I read about another method...which required nothing to buy (or make) exept a small piece of clear plastic tubing and a small clean plastic bottle. (possibly a short amount of vacuum tubing, if you cut the originals...we'll get to that in a second). I already had tubing and bottle, so it cost me nothing. This was, by far, the easiest, cleanest, cheapest way of doing it.

Follow all the other instrctions...push back pistons...draw off old fluid...refill with fresh...etc...etc.
But instead of using the funnel device...I recommend this:

Disconnect the vent hose on the cap of the ABS reservoir you are working on. (Be careful not to break those caps. They are fragile. Also never try to tighten those caps with more than enough force to get a seal...finger tight is fine...THEY ARE EASILY BROKEN. I did this my first time ) I would advise to slice the end of the vent hose lenghtwise with a utility knife and replace it with new hose, if it does not want to come off.

Then connect the small clear piece of plastic tubing to the nipple on the cap with the other end of the hose going into your small container of fresh brake fluid. Cut the tubing length just so that it reaches from the cap to the bottom of your bottle, without any extra lenth. I think my tubing was about 12 inches. My small plastic bottle was about 10oz capacity. I strapped my small bottle of fresh fluid alongside the left side of the ABS unit with a large heavy duty rubber band. You could use a velcro strap or bungee or whatever will hold the bottle in place. When you activate the servo pump it will pull the fluid through the clear hose...just like the funnel devices.


Easy as pie.

[towerworker]

Now I like that idea better than any I have ever heard!!!

There are some really sharp guys in Iowa! (or at least one!)

[iowabeakster]

I would also like to add to my instruction above: Make sure the ABS reservoir is full of fresh fluid before doing the "servo power flush". The amount of air in the tubing will get pulled into the reservoir before the fluid. This will drop the fluid level slightly. It's no big deal. It's a small amount in terms of volume compared to the drop caused by brake pad wear and the pistons migrating toward the rotor. But I just want to mention this so that nobody will extract the old fluid and then try the above described "power flush" without refilling the reservoir first. First refill, then hook up your tubing and pump away. This is not needed if using the funnel devices, as the reservoir fills up via the funnel. After the power flush, put the caliper back on, pump your brakes to set the pads against the rotor, and then add or draw off fluid to the correct level.

and Towerworker...
If there are any sharp guys in Iowa, I haven't ran into 'em yet. Even people from Missouri and Minnesota can legitimately make fun of us, and they should.

[reidmct]

Today, thanks to the excellent document produced by Hager and Gilman, http://users.rcn.com/dehager/service/service_abs3.pdf, I successfully serviced the integral ABS on my '04 Rockster. I also flushed the clutch circuit while I was at it.

The special funnel was definitely worthwhile.

The only challenge for me was that I couldn't tell the difference between the new fluid and the old. The old stuff - despite being more than 2 years overdue for a change - looked perfectly new. So, I just pumped a lot of fluid through the system, to ensure the old was flushed out. I hypothesize that two things contributed to the fluid's condition:
1. Indoor storage
2. Dry climate
3. Rural riding - I shift and brake far less frequently than a typical rider

Anyway, many thanks to Hager and Gilman, and also to those of you who have gone before. As always, it is gratifying to do the job myself, know it's done right, and save a bunch of money.