Choose Your Tech Tip Category from this list: Select a Tech topic to view 00 Maintenance and General Notes 11 Engine 12 Engine-Electrical 13 Carbs/Injection 16 Fuel Tank and Lines 17 Cooling System 18 Exhaust 21 Clutch 23 Transmission 26 Driveshaft 31 Front Fork 32 Handlebar and Cables 33 Final Drive 34 Brakes 35 Pedal Assembly 36 Wheels 46 Frame/Bags/Bodywork 51 Paint, Locks and Mirrors 52 Seat 61 Chassis Electrics 62 Instruments 63 Lighting 65 Radio/Intercom 71 Tools

12 — Engine-Electrical

• Airhead Plug Wires
• Oilhead Alternator Belt Adjustment Tool

Airhead Plug Wires

A dealership had installed these resistor core wires with crimped-on ends on this customer's /7 model. They didn't seat the plug wire correctly and the resultant arcing destroyed the plug wire and the coil. Always avoid any suppression core plug wires such as the Taylor "Spiro Pro" or any other high resistance plug wire. Only metallic core plug wire should be used on Airhead models with correct 5k ohm plug caps (1k Ohm or 5k ohm is OK for points equipped models).

Sometimes the aftermarket crimp-on wire ends do not fit the coils well. At the BeemerShop we only use the factory BMW solder-on wire ends which mate perfectly in the factory coils. They also fit the aftermarket coils with female towers correctly such as the Dyna coil pictured here.

Make sure that you push the plug wire all the way into the tower until it snaps into place. Try pulling the plug wire back out, if it doesn't resist, it is not seated fully. In some cases you may need to push the plug wire end with a small screwdriver to get it seated correctly.

Correct metallic core plug wires with solder-on factory ends are available at the BeemerShop for stock, custom, and dual plug applications.

Oilhead Alternator Belt Adjustment Tool

There's a new special tool for alternator belt adjustment on Oilheads through June, 2003, production.

All BMW Oilhead alternator belts need to be replaced every 36K miles, (then adjusted again after 6K miles on all R1150 models through June, 2003, with non-Elastomar belt). BMW introduced a new tool a few years ago that makes adjusting the alternator belt a snap. In the early years, the tension adjustment was made at the adjuster on the back of the plate that holds the alternator. Access was a pain. Now with this new tool, adjustments are made at the front of the plate. Simply loosen the locknuts, remove the locknut on the adjuster and install the special tool. Tighten and hold the special tool to 8 NM, then tighten the locknuts to 20 NM and your done. Because it takes less time with this new tool, we charge less money to replace or adjust your alternator belt. Check our on-line store in the tools section to purchase this nifty tool.

Note: this tool does not apply to the new style Elastomer belt used on models beginning around July, 2003, production.
  

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