BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Radiator oxidation Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:12 pm

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a 1987 K100RS with only 53K miles on it. The bike starts and runs fine, and it has not leaked fluids on the garage floor since I rode and parked it two weeks ago. Today, I started to do a full inspection to replaces fluids and any necessary part (e.g. bearing, seals, clutch, etc.).  However, the first thing I noticed it was the oxidation and water marks on the radiator. Is this normal on the K100s or could this be caused by a crack in the radiator or damaged hose or loose clamp.  Any advice on how to check or test it will be appreciated. TIA!

Radiator oxidation Img_0610
Radiator oxidation Img_0611

    

2Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Wed Jun 09, 2021 11:27 pm

Snod Blatter

Snod Blatter
Life time member
Life time member
Considering the radiator and engine are made of aluminium I find the brown rust quite strange. Are you sure it hasn't just been splashed through a really muddy puddle or something?

When mine leaked (twice now..) I just had a wet patch in the fins and blue antifreeze crystals underneath the radiator. Nothing like this.


__________________________________________________
1989 K100RS SE ABS 8v  VIN: 0149214
Others: 1.5 x CBX250RS-E, '94 CB250, '95 TRX850, '16 Z250SL, '01 R1100GS
http://justbikethings.blogspot.co.uk/
    

3Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Wed Jun 09, 2021 11:46 pm

moriarti

moriarti
Life time member
Life time member
No its not normal. Im thinking wrong antifreeze or caustic cleaner has been used. Remove rad. Flush and test including hoses.Sould you find a load of crap flush full system to be safe.


__________________________________________________
1984 k100 rs red/black VIN  0004449 Now sold to Olaf
    

4Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:10 am

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
I think that's possibly been splashed on from somewhere else. Check the grill on the lower front fairing - if that's rusty then it could be your discolouration source. Riding through a rusty puddle could also have done it. Also if the coolant has been in there for a long time I have also seen the inside of two radiators turn rust-coloured and the coolant came out looking lke a sluice from the Mississippi. It's obviously not a leak because otherwise as Snod says, you'd see a leak point.


__________________________________________________
1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

5Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:05 pm

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
That looks like arid-land deposits. Did you get it from around San Bernardino, from around Palm Springs or east of Escondido? Smile 

Disconnect the battery ground cable from the transmission after you've ridden it when you intend to put it away for days or weeks at a time. When the battery voltage drops, the starter relay contacts could fuse and you'll wonder why the starter won't shut off. If you habitually connect the battery to a battery tender that might be sufficient, if the battery is still in good condition. A battery isolator switch is a useful addition.


__________________________________________________
1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

6Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Tue Jun 15, 2021 4:40 am

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.  Today, I removed the radiator and used a compressor to blow out from the backside dirt and bugs. After that, I sprayed both sides with a garden hose on low pressure to flushed off the exterior.  It looks much better now (see pics below).  However, it seems that it's time to replace hoses and clamps for the engine intake L connection. Or, should I just clean them up and tie the clamps. What do you think?

Radiator oxidation Img_0711
Radiator oxidation Img_0712

Radiator oxidation Img_0713

    

7Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Tue Jun 15, 2021 11:23 am

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
Cooling system hoses usually survive years of abuse. I would, however, pull them off the thermostat housing and clean the ally spigot. It almost certainly looks worse than it really is, but as you're that far in anyway...

That radiator looks in really good condition, BTW.


__________________________________________________
1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

8Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:21 pm

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
+1 on Dai's advice. My experience is that the only way these hoses fail is through a crash.

Judging from the photos, I suspect hard water was used in the cooling system. Remove the hoses and all the cruddy cooling parts and do a vinegar soak for a couple hours followed by a good rinse.

Put everything back together and then do a complete cooling system flush with distilled water and vinegar to clean out the passages. You might have to do it a couple times to clean things out completely. Based on the mineral deposits in the photos this is critical to have good cooling.

Last, keep your fingers crossed that the water pump is still good.


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

9Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:28 pm

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
bmwk100rs wrote: should I just clean them up and tie the clamps. What do you think?
I'm involved in coffee titration right now so comprehension is still slow. What is meant by tie the clamps?


__________________________________________________
1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

10Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:00 pm

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
Laitch wrote:What is meant by tie the clamps?

Haha! I meant tighten the clamps!

Point-Seven-five + Dai wrote:Remove the hoses and do a vinegar soak for a couple hours followed by a good rinse.  Then, do a complete cooling system flush with distilled water and vinegar to clean out the passages.

Good suggestion, will do exactly that.

I'm also planning to rebuild the oil+water pump.

Thank you, both!

    

11Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:34 am

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
After I removed the hoses to to do the vinegar soak, I noticed a little tube without any hose attached to it. Is that normal? Is it some kind of breather pipe?

Radiator oxidation Img_0715
Radiator oxidation Img_0714

    

12Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Wed Jun 16, 2021 8:33 am

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
That's for you special people in Cali-for-ni-a Very Happy . It's an emissions breather which I believe is specific to that state. Cap it off and ignore it.


__________________________________________________
1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

13Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Thu Jun 17, 2021 3:24 am

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
Dai wrote:It's an emissions breather which I believe is specific to that state. Cap it off and ignore it.

Thanks Dai for confirming. Should it be connected to the hose that connects to the fuel tank?

Radiator oxidation Img_0717

    

14Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Thu Jun 17, 2021 11:10 pm

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
That depends on which fuel tank you have. Piccy of the underside?


__________________________________________________
1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

15Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Fri Jun 18, 2021 12:55 am

bmwk100rs

bmwk100rs
Silver member
Silver member
Dai wrote:Piccy of the underside?
Radiator oxidation Img_0718

    

16Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:38 am

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
The arrow points at the drain port that dumps water collected from around the cap opening. Next to it is the vapor release port that formerly was vented to the crankcase and had a pressure relief valve in the line as indicated by your diagram. You can attach a hose to that port and route it to dump behind the right foot peg plate; the water drain hose dumps there too. The alternative is to buy BMW's accumulator cup, hang it on the frame beneath the tank where the ports exit, then route one hose from the cup that dumps behind the right foot peg plate. The cup is inexpensive and makes a great stocking stuffer or party favor.


__________________________________________________
1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

17Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:59 pm

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
As Laitch says: connect to the forward spigot, otherwise just cap it off and ignore it. If you decide to connect one to the other, you really, really, really don't need that one-way valve. While I have to agree with a lot of California's green/environmental ideas, sometimes I think they go a bit too far e.g. the 'known to the State of California to cause cancer' on just about everything.


__________________________________________________
1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

18Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:27 am

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
Dai wrote:As Laitch says: connect to the forward spigot .  . . 
Did I say that? Which forward spigot—the one on the tank or the one on the crankcase? The weather has been so good here it's hard for me to care right now but I believe I must.  Sad

Regardless, bin the one-way valve then stopper up the port on the crankcase using a stub hose with a bolt in it or the hose simply folded and zip-tied. That emission system is a loser, as are many of California's nannyfied regulations. That tank port is meant as a vapor release to supplement the fuel cap's release. If you don't put a hose on it one way or the other as I described, you'll often be smelling fuel vapor if your olfactory system is processing at an optimal degree. Smile



Last edited by Laitch on Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:09 am; edited 2 times in total


__________________________________________________
1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

19Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:27 am

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
Dai wrote:sometimes I think they go a bit too far e.g. the 'known to the State of California to cause cancer' on just about everything.

FIFY


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

20Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:06 am

brickrider2

brickrider2
Life time member
Life time member
What are the benefits/disadvantages of using vinegar to flush the cooling system - as opposed to a commercial product from an auto supply store? It is obvious that using vinegar would be most economical, but beyond that, is there any difference?


__________________________________________________
1996 K1100LT
    

21Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:31 am

moriarti

moriarti
Life time member
Life time member
Vinegar being a very mild acid is less likely to cause damage than a
Caustic based rad clean product, and in case of spillage wont damage paintwork, or engine surfaces. Thats my take on it.


__________________________________________________
1984 k100 rs red/black VIN  0004449 Now sold to Olaf
    

22Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:44 am

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
Price... Plus, it will marinate the bugs caught in the fins and make them taste better and easier to flush out.


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

23Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Mon Jul 05, 2021 3:55 pm

brickrider2

brickrider2
Life time member
Life time member
My plan is to use vinegar inside the radiator.  I'll replace the coolant with vinegar, run the bike until it reaches operating temperature, then let is sit a day or two.  Cleaning the remains of insects from the exterior is best done with hydrogen peroxide.
I probably will change the oil as well.  My ride back from the BMW Owners Rally was sizzling and the bike's temp gauge sat on the edge of the red zone for a long, long time. Rolling Eyes


__________________________________________________
1996 K1100LT
    

24Back to top Go down   Radiator oxidation Empty Re: Radiator oxidation Mon Jul 05, 2021 4:21 pm

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
Flush the cooling system, then remove the radiator and do a good soak both internal and external. I had a an overheating problem on a 16valve K100RS that was caused by minerals in the radiator and enough insects to feed a family of four jammed in the fins.

See if you can find a radiator fin "comb" to straighten any collapsed fins. In hot weather you need every bit of airflow you can through the radiator. Then make a 60% water coolant mix for the engine. With all that done, you should be able to run continuously in temperatures above 100F and never go above half way on the temperature gauge.


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

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