23 BMW GS1250 Cam timing photographs

[Bryan L]

Friends GS Trophy with 11k on it since July last year . New tires / valve check / Adjust cam timing / oil n Filter / air filter / lube splines / gear oil change . Spark plugs .

Bike was out of time on both cylinders
1st two photos are right head in and out of time . If you use cylinder head as true vertical marker the cams should match .

 

[Boulder Ed]

I have not worked on a 1250 yet, so this is interesting. Not sure I'm following the cam timing two photos but they look pretty similar. Was it out by much? That one spark plug does not look good.

 

[Tom]

Lot going on there…

 

[Bryan L]

The timing jigs do not give a degree like old school dial / indicator . It's either fit = in time or no fit . I would guess several degrees but not enough for most to tell until on rides . Owner did state the entire bike is better than it was new .
Along with the quick shifting is better. I can see the timing adjustment could affect the quick shifter as the kill time milliseconds are moved to a better time in the firing order.

Plugs are not bad but normal wear . That is a macro zoom photo and shows what we would not see normally. Reading a plug you look deep at the base porcelain. As the gaps grows the coils work a little harder and as the sharp edges disappear the ground path is more sporadic.

The images of timing use the cylinder head as true flat . Then look @ cam ends and you will see the cams are not perfect parallel to the head .
In 2nd image they match parallel.

 

[Boulder Ed]

Ah yes not I see the parallel you are speaking to. thx.

 

[Tourmeister]

What is the special tool seen in photos 5 and 6 sticking out of the side of the engine?

 

[Bryan L]

What is the special tool seen in photos 5 and 6 sticking out of the side of the engine?

TDC 8 mm and 6 mm locking pins . Turn engine with BMW turning tool till pin drops into flywheel


FYI sorry for some photos being sideways . intent was to be horizontal

 

[Bryan L]

 

[Tourmeister]

I hesitate to ask, but how much were these tools!? Are they BMW tools or an aftermarket solution?

 

[Bryan L]

I'm still waiting on the OEM BMW Cam timing tensioner tool . Had to buy Boxflyer version . Rest are BMW . While the tools are not cheap they combined are less than what you would pay a dealer to do the work 1 time . I do get a discount after 25 years of 10% at my dealer .
Turning tool was close to 50
Jigs 150 ish
Timing pin / 1200 cam jig 50ish
Spark plug thin wall 14mm magnet hold 20 bucks
16mm offset wrench for 90 degree torque wrench use 16 bucks
Boxflyer tool $200 ( OEM is 159 )
Alum space sleeve for use with OEM tensioner 20 bucks

$506 dollars / 665 when OEM tool finally comes in .

Dealer charges 500 for break in service that this work is not part of . Took me 6 hours to do all the work listed in 1st post . I imagine @ 185 an hour that $1110

 

[Boulder Ed]

Sounds like a bargain still to me.

 

[Bryan L]

I failed to mention I measured his valve clearance @ 600 miles and all were in spec middle of the range . @ 11k two changed slightly but not enough to require a change in shim size . one exhaust from .37 to .35 and one intake from .15 to .14 the other 6 were the same .

 

[Rsquared]

I failed to mention I measured his valve clearance @ 600 miles and all were in spec middle of the range . @ 11k two changed slightly but not enough to require a change in shim size . one exhaust from .37 to .35 and one intake from .15 to .14 the other 6 were the same .

Did you also verify the cam timing at 600 when you checked the clearance? I’m curious if the valve timing may have been off from the manufacturer or did it change in the 11k miles?

 

[Bryan L]

Did you also verify the cam timing at 600 when you checked the clearance? I’m curious if the valve timing may have been off from the manufacturer or did it change in the 11k miles?

No as all the tools were not acquired yet . However on Boxflyer videos everyone is off he says . Ill have a low mile RS to check soon with a 1250