I've done a bit of digging and can't seem to find a good tool list for dismantling the engine. Found plenty on what people carry in their kit when riding, but not in the garage. I'll give a little bit of background first:
I bought the bike (87 k100rs) about a year and a half ago, and shortly after it overheated. I then parked it in the garage where it has sat since. I've finally started to dive back into it, starting with compression test. While waiting for the compression tester to arrive, I decided to attempt to diagnose the cooling problem. When I went to remove the drain plug, it stripped. I was using what seemed like the correct allen type bit, but it stripped anyways. I'll have to devise some way to get it out and pick up a new plug, but I would really like to begin dismantling the top end. I am just afraid of stripping things out because I'm not competent enough to select the right tool. If there is some sort of comprehensive list of tools needed for working on certain aspects of the bike, that would be perfect!

TLDR: Tired of stripping bolts, need comprehensive tool list.

Thanks guys, these forums have already helped me a great deal in diagnosing and solving a few other problems!

-Arron

A good set* of Allen keys from 3mm to 8mm
A good set of half-inch drive side-drive (six point) sockets from 8mm to 30mm, both deep and standard
A good set of both Philips and Posidrive screwdrivers
A torque wrench capable of meeting the manual's specifications (my manual is the garage and I'm not... )
One no.30 Torx bit for getting the bell housing off (why oh why did BMW do that!!!!)
An impact driver (yup - you're gonna need it)
One Triumph Tool No.1 a.k.a. a BFH to use with the impact driver
A set of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRWIN-5-Pce-EXPANSION-Damaged-Rounded-Bolt-Grip-Nut-Remover-Set-8-19mm-10504635-/390351171705?epid=0&hash=item5ae2be3079:g:2C8AAOSwoQ1TnwzO

for when you inevitably bugger the head on one or more rusty bolts (I'm looking at the exhaust system).

*'A good set' = Teng, Hilka, Bluepoint, SnapOn, Irwin. Buy once and never again.

Have I spent enough of your money yet?

Drain a K, don't use the drain plug, pull off the lower hose enough to drain it.........


WD40 those exhaust studs and nuts and any other fixing you need open, start doing it now and repeat quite a few times before you are going in there. Same with swing arm, foot plate hangers, exhaust bolts, pannier rails, the lot.

For rusty seized nuts and bolts don't use WD40 the WD stands for water dispersant. Instead use a 50-50 mix of acetone and ATF fluid heating up the offending nut and bolt with a hot air gun helps.
Regards Martin.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Drain a K, don't use the drain plug, pull off the lower hose enough to drain it.........

I USED to do this.

Then a few days after I did it on a bike with only 50K the hose blew and it caused me much grief as I was out touring on a Monday of all days. So all the dealers within range were closed. (SF area, there's a few of them.)  I did a ghetto fix in a parking lot enough to get to a friends house who lived a couple of hours away and spent the night there.  He loaned me one of his bikes the next morning to ride to A&S BMW who fortunately had one in stock.

I'm now of the opinion that the hoses will last longer if left alone and always use the drain plug. (or temp sensor on bikes so equipped)