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err - how easy are they to replace....

(ahem).

I think I've busted one or two over the weekend.

Tazzing down the A303 to meet up with some other nutters for a 'big bikes off-roading day' the engine suddenly started making odd noises and then cut out forcing me to the side of the road and entailing an RAC trip.

The engine WILL run, both pistons are firing ok (as far as I can make out), but there's a horrible 'clatter' noise coming from the main body of the engine.

I initially hoped it was just a timing issue (jumped cam-chain for example), but I've looked at the time, rotated the engine slowly, and I've stuck an endoscope down each plug hole (all 4) to see if there's any damage - can't see any and it appears the timing is ok. The valves appear to be fine, there's no debris in the combustion chambers and the piston heads appear to be unmarked. (photos here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/rockburne ... 8578465113 ). (I would have video'd the endoscope view, but for some reason the App has forgotten how to do video...)

Now, however - I think it may be a busted main crank bearing - but not sure how exactly to diagnose that without a full strip down.

If you listen to this video carefully, there's a 'clack' noise that occurs at (I think) roughly the same place on each rotation : https://vimeo.com/210057413 If someone else could confirm I'm hearing 'something' then at least I'll know I'm not going mad.

Next steps are to investigate repair or replacement options for the engine itself, (eg a 2nd hand engine from Motorworks). I'm in the somewhat enviable position of having a good 4 weeks of 'holiday' coming up in April (I just left my current job), but that kinda precludes anything majorly expensive.

Any thoughts/experiences on stripping an R1150 engine to bits?

Uh oh!

Can't hear your recording because of my location..long story.

No other signs like smoking from the exhaust?

Have you inspected the oil? If you have a toasted bearings then might have metal flakes in the oil. Also if you can check oil pressure with a gauge and see if it low especially at idle. Bad rod bearings or mains should lower oil pressure significantly.
You said the knock comes from main body but these kind of noises can be deceiving as to location.
Significant rocker arm float can cause such a knocking noise but the engine should run ok.

If a main/rod bearing is toast then the crank might be damaged and a full tear down would be required bugger.

If it is in need of rebuild I'd seriously!! consider a used engine ,there are some good deals out there from dismantle due to insurance company wright offs!

Keep us up on this!

If only it was a simple mechanical failure like transmission input splined shaft.

Well-wishing is most I can offer, no experience with engine deep dives.

The only case splitting I can recall here was the R-bike chopper project: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2032... an old topic thread, photos are gone, as is the author.

I haven't looked (yet) at UKGSer or ADV oilheads for info.

Hope it all works out!

So sorry for all this! Hearing stories of deep internal issues kinda hurts on the inside. No pun intended!

I've heard of such problems when one neglects to change the antifreeze...........

riceburner,
I was prepared to listen to the engine running. The crank bearings that are the first to fail are almost always the connecting rod big end bearings. Fixing that motor would require a full deep dive, as the crank is a few of the last shaft type parts to be removed. Can you guess what caused the failure . . . overheating? . . . very low oil? . . . a Bonneville salt flats type run?

Cheers all, It was a fast run that was prolonged unnecessarily (my fault).

Next job is to drop the oil and see what comes out, when I get a chance!

Quick update:

heads and barrels are off - RHS big end bearing is toast, and the RHS upper cam-chain guide has destroyed itself.
https://vimeo.com/211174752

I'm about 3/4 of the way through a total dismantlement of the bike, but have just been on the blower with motorworks and they've made me a very interesting offer.....

Toast? Looks like it's none existent!

After watching the movie where the piston and rod are moved in-and-out by hand . . . . WOW!
The connecting rod bearing inserts are completely worn and pounded away. With that much bearing clearance the engine must have made a wicked loud hammering/clattering sound, the combination of the crank connecting rod journal smacking the connecting rod big end ID 3 times per revolution while the piston was slammed into the cylinder head squish area on every TDC. I am really surprised the connecting rod did not "fracture." That's an expensive repair, forcing that engine to be "parted out".

Well - I spoke with Motorworks (the UK bmw specialist breakers) and although they were perfectly happy to offer a 2nd motor (although they didn't have much in), they also told me that they would make me an offer to buy it for the parts value. Duly a quote arrived and I've taken them up on it.

I'll be sorry to see the old Rockster go, but it was getting tired, and I was finding it heavy and a touch sluggish recently - I was definitely beginning to consider a replacement anyway.

I'll miss the superb control and handling that the wide bars and Telelever gave the bike (I got away with stuff a conventional setup would have simply refused to take), and I'll always remember it fondly.

I hope that the parts will go to other bikes and keep them going into the future.

So - Motorworks aren't going to be interested in some of my accessories - so I'll be sticking them on Ebay (most likely), unless anyone here might be interested? If so I'll post up a list (with photos) before I hit Ebay.

Well sometimes you gotta just say WTF and move on. There are a lot of choices out there for sure.
I have way over 200K miles on mine and its still gets me where I want to go. I figure I will top it when its time and keep going.

If you buy another beemer we will probably see you here again.

Good luck!

Wow, just watched the vid. thats a goner lol

Curious, how many miles did you get, and what type of riding was it exposed to?

peels wrote:Wow, just watched the vid. thats a goner lol

Curious, how many miles did you get, and what type of riding was it exposed to?

mileage was 110,465 (IIRC), and it was generally ridden quite hard. I was giving it a very good workout at the time, and I suspect I may have had slightly less oil in the cases that I should have done - although I did keep on top of the oil pretty well, it was always drinking it.

riceburner wrote:

peels wrote:Wow, just watched the vid. thats a goner lol

Curious, how many miles did you get, and what type of riding was it exposed to?

mileage was 110,465 (IIRC), and it was generally ridden quite hard. I was giving it a very good workout at the time, and I suspect I may have had slightly less oil in the cases that I should have done - although I did keep on top of the oil pretty well, it was always drinking it.

OK. that seems feasible then. 110k beaten miles can do that... sorry for your luck. but, GOOD luck on your next adventure.

Sorry to hear of your loss Riceburner. It amazes me sometimes how Motorworks are loath to accept accessories from dead bikes. I tried to give them a Euro-dipping headlight for a K75 a few years ago and they weren't interested, even though they said they had no such item in stock.
Do you have a rear hugger or engine bars for sale off the dead Rockster ?

sykospain wrote:Sorry to hear of your loss Riceburner. It amazes me sometimes how Motorworks are loath to accept accessories from dead bikes. I tried to give them a Euro-dipping headlight for a K75 a few years ago and they weren't interested, even though they said they had no such item in stock.
Do you have a rear hugger or engine bars for sale off the dead Rockster ?

They probably know what people want to buy and tend to only stock the parts that they know they can sell - storage space costs money at that sort of scale.

The head guards are going to a friend's GS-A, and I'm afraid I don't have a hugger. I did have one once, but all it did was make the bike look even filthier!

James - Plans for the next bike?

This popped up in Facebook's Rockster group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/r1150r. ... 9643081117

If you buy a green Rockster, then I can send you matching Bagster tank cover to continue your legacy.

sweatmark wrote:James - Plans for the next bike?

This popped up in Facebook's Rockster group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/r1150r. ... 9643081117

If you buy a green Rockster, then I can send you matching Bagster tank cover to continue your legacy.

green rocksters are unicorns. Ive never seen one on the road.

riceburner,
So . . . .
Do you have a replacement bike in mind?
Staying with another OilHead?
Staying with BMW?

Riceburner
Commiserations on the bike. It was always good to get advice from a fellow Brit- albeit we may be from opposite sides of Hadrian's Wall.
Hope that you get back on 2 BMW wheels soon.