Hi gang, it's a privilege to be here, thanks for the helpful posts.     

My black thumb began in high school when my friend gifted me a 1987 Saab spg. If I could patch her up she was mine. So that's what I did for 7 years until the pinion bearings atomized. I've dreamed of owning and maintaining another machine of "my" decade when I stumbled on the '86 k100lt for sale by my neighbor. He's okay with me tinkering before purchasing so that's what I'm up to. The bike has been in storage for several years so as you can imagine the guest forums have been uber helpful 

Here is a list of my inspection so far:

-- windscreen and mirror are broken.
 -- patched tank (external), complete.
-- inspected/lubed final drive splines (I'm already getting invested lol). The splines looked okay to me but, I'd like to request to upload pics still.
-- revived battery
-- started bike!!

Other stuff:
-- rear brake leaking around master cylinder by pedal and is verryyy mushy... will investigate forums again, but contemplating whether to check cylinder for pitting, or if not present, installing aftermarket rebuild.

-- investigate mystery leak from underneath engine. The first ride had trouble finding neutral after shifting down 2nd, 1st,... and the LCD display is malfunctioning which made it difficult to tell the gear. Could be just me or... 

Anyhow, hope all is going well in your world, I'd love to get the bike on the road in the Fall if not sooner and if I didn't already mention THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY RESPONSES!! I hope I can contribute something or other in return.

Welcome to the Knuthouse. 

You are certainly in the right place for good advice on your almost purchase. 

Bill

Welcome too.....

You can get a lot of issues with a bike that has been sitting for a long time.

When I got my LT the rear brake was the same. Common issue. A rebuild cured it. But check all the brakes, replace fluid......the pins in the calipers hold in the pads, they get stuck.

The oil leak is kind of important and you need to see exactly where its coming from.

Toward the front is the oil/water pump, circular cover facing the front wheel covers the impeller on the shaft which goes back into the engine. A leak under there means pump is an issue but once sorted is good. Doing this job needs care.

Between engine and gearbox you will see a small hole under the clutch housing. A drip there is a seal gone, either gearbox seal or the rear seal on the end of the crankshaft. Getting in there will allow you check the gear position indicator switch while you are at it.

Might be good to start a thread for your project since once you get Kpox it will soon have company of another K. Everyone is very helpful and friendly and don't be afraid to ask any questions.

Welcome!  You might want to pull the transmission and do the clutch splines to help the 1st to 2nd shifting.  Also, there is an o-ring in there that should probably be replaced.  While you're in there you can get into the gear indicator switch to see what's up with it.

Point-Seven-five wrote:Welcome!  You might want to pull the transmission and do the clutch splines to help the 1st to 2nd shifting.  Also, there is an o-ring in there that should probably be replaced.  While you're in there you can get into the gear indicator switch to see what's up with it.

That will leave you with a well sorted K and a few known issues addressed:
The clutch splines
The O ring
Spline lube
Gear Position Indicator switch.
You will have the rear brake stuff out of the way too.
Exhaust header studs.

There are really good posts and threads about these things in the forum, if you start a thread you can ask any questions and can have the answers or the links in it.

The suggestions will help me with a pre-purchase sort the bikes known issues. I'll begin new threads as I get to them. Thanks again guys.

nice intro kstar ..

good luck with the process of making it yours

as above there are many friendly folks willing to add experiences of similar repairs and maintenance

cheers and welcome aboard

psst after about 5 posts and a little time ...you will be able to post pics

its just a spam reduction policy that seems to work well

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:

Point-Seven-five wrote:Welcome!  You might want to pull the transmission and do the clutch splines to help the 1st to 2nd shifting.  Also, there is an o-ring in there that should probably be replaced.  While you're in there you can get into the gear indicator switch to see what's up with it.

That will leave you with a well sorted K and a few known issues addressed:
The clutch splines
The O ring
Spline lube
Gear Position Indicator switch.
You will have the rear brake stuff out of the way too.
Exhaust header studs.

There are really good posts and threads about these things in the forum, if you start a thread you can ask any questions and can have the answers or the links in it.

Hello all, so I bought the bike... he made an offer I couldn't refuse . Now for the fun stuff. While it's being towed to my garage I'd like to get my ducks in order to perform the above service myself.

I will dive into forums this week for the technical stuff, however some guidance as to what order of operation i should go about this work would be appreciated. For example, do the rear brake stuff last or else kind of thing. Of course I'll post questions as they come.

Can't wait to get 'er on the road

Well, Point Seven Five gave you the heads up and to be honest when those are done you have a good bike. No doubt you will meet a few other things on the way in but lots of posts about them. If time is on your side then you have a chance of getting parts at a reasonable cost.

Getting it apart will need a few things and tools.

You have to take off the rear brake on the footrest hanger to get off the swing arm, so that gets you your brake bits. You don't need it back until you are reassembling.

The exhaust header studs and nuts can be problematic....open to road crud and corrosion.....lot of WD40 for weeks can help a bit.

When you have the swing arm off the gear position indicator switch can be taken out and tested.

When you have the clutch off you can replace the O ring at the end of the crankshaft.

Seems the best thing to do is go in slowly and check everything as you take it off, look at and list what parts you need and see about sourcing them so that you have what you need for reassembling. Rubber pipes and hoses ideally should be replaced unless known to be good. That especially applies to fuel pipes but also check the other hoses, ie vacuum hose, crankcase breather to air filter pipe and the radiator to coolant hose.

If you are getting a lot of parts it may be worth making a decent order to save on shipping. If you start a new thread some will give you pointers as to what you should get. Prices vary.

Welcome to the klub! 

I get the parts I can't get on eBay from Max BMW.  They have a great website with factory parts fiches you can order off of.  I believe they have a shop in Hartford where you can pick up your order.  They take PayPal when you order online, so if you have an account it's super easy. 

Here's the link to their K100LT parts:

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/DiagramsMain.aspx?vid=51750&rnd=07012015

Their parts lists are also good for checking whether parts from a different model or year will work on your bike.  Handy when looking for a used part on eBay.

Welcome aboard matey.
Tell your neighbour it's stuffed and give him $200 to take it off his hands.
Then you will have a beaut cheap bike. If you fix it first then he'll want the cash.
Good luck and have fun.