Oil filler cap....arrgh!

[vtrandall]

I picked up my 04 R1100S a couple of months back, so far it's been a fun bike. Haven't had much chance to ride it (or my Aprilia) as it's been raining here in NorCal. I haven't really done any "work" on the bike myself outside of finding out the battery is in the worst possible location of an bike I have ever owned

OK, so I want to check the oil level and maybe add a little if needed....I have never really given much thought to it...open the oil filler cap and put the oil in...well, when I got the bike it had one of these filler caps installed.

Fits all Oil Heads - Clear Anodized Billet replacement for theft, blow-out & leak-prone stock plastic oil filler assembly. Valve cover insert is nickel plated brass & threaded plug is anodized aluminum. Insert is secured by "trapped" set screws. Insert & plug are sealed by O-rings. Installation is simple but requires removal of valve cover. Kit is complete with insert, plug, Viton O-rings, set screws, allen wrench, stainless steel key chain mini-wrench for plug removal, dust cap and instructions.

looks simple enough....8mm hex if I remember correctly...I go to open the cap and it turns about 20degrees ccw then stops... I did a search on the site and read that there has been a case of the insert turning independant of the cap itself....I don't want to put too much stress on the cap for fear of stripping the threads.
Anyone have an idea as to how to get this thing open that DOESN'T involve me taking the valve cover off ??

I have had the 6K tuneup done in late Sept...(A&S BMW) the oil was changed....perhaps the cap was over thightened??

Sorry for the ramble.....

[Rapid Dog]

...That sucks...not every aftermarket product is a good idea.
I always wondered about those things, bummer if you don't have the key on the road...
If you have to take the valve cover off, it's no biggie.
The four valve cover screws and it's off, clean the gasket and re-assemble.
Otherwise, the male portion (cap) should back out either way...
g'luck

[repoe3]

had that problem with one of those once. it really is not a big deal to pull the cylinder cover. four bolts and the coil wires to the spark plug...and a little oil on the floor. i have not found a completely acceptable replacement, not that the oem is worthwhile either.

repoe3

[vtrandall]

Originally posted by repoe3
had that problem with one of those once. it really is not a big deal to pull the cylinder cover. four bolts and the coil wires to the spark plug...and a little oil on the floor. i have not found a completely acceptable replacement, not that the oem is worthwhile either.

repoe3

thanks guys...yeah, I know the cover is easy to remove...just looking for the easy way out

The mention that the oem isn't worthwhile...
Any particular reason?

[repoe3]

Originally posted by vtrandall
thanks guys...yeah, I know the cover is easy to remove...just looking for the easy way out

The mention that the oem isn't worthwhile...
Any particular reason?

well, the o-ring gets sqaushed at some point, then even a new o-ring won't help. even went with a new oem filler cap. it still weeps arounf the fitting itself. so i guess that is my next attempt. not sure why we cant have a snap in place, gasketed, and threaded component that actually seals off the hole rather than fill most of the void and let hot oil weep out.

dont get me wrong, i have not a long list of gripes over the bike. this isjust one of those little things, you know, like dry-rusted splines at 15k miles. simple stuff :|

repoe3

[repoe3]

oh, but to let you know how to make one of those oil cap thingies work better, the aftermarket one...drill a slight detent for the grub screw to grab the cylinder cover. that would do it. from a functiona standpoint, that replacement cap is the better one. the ones that are machined aluminum that fit in the oem plastic fitting in the cover are not very good at all. tried em both, i have.

repoe3

[jgrm1]

At six years and 39K miles, my OEM is going strong. No leaks or nothin'. It even coordinates with my black paint.

-Jeff

[JonyRR]

'attempt. not sure why we cant have a snap in place, gasketed, and threaded component that actually seals off the hole rather than fill most of the void and let hot oil weep out.'

remove the OEM filler plug. remove the insert. Cleand the valve cover and the insert. Use yamabond #4 on the inseert. Reassemble. No leaks after 25K miles. I drilled a little hole in the OEM plug and a corrosponding hole in a valve cover fin. Some safety wire thru this and it's not coming off accidentally (it's a track day mod anyway so WTF)

[vtrandall]

so I popped the valve cover off....and got the cap off only after gripping the inside with some visegrips
it looks like the 2 screws that "hold" the insert were creating there own little 'groove' on the inside of the valve cover
(I took some pics but I don't have time to download/post them right now)

I can't quite figure out how to get the insert out though now as I can't quite figure out how the screws were/are tightened down....allen wrench??

hmmm....I think I will be going back to the stock if I can get this thing out...

[vtrandall]

Originally posted by JonyRR
[ I drilled a little hole in the OEM plug and a corrosponding hole in a valve cover fin. Some safety wire thru this and it's not coming off accidentally (it's a track day mod anyway so WTF) [/B]

bingo!

[pdonnell]

Those inserts are notorious for slipping. I'd take it out. Theres a rubber donut washer holding it onto the valve cover. You've got to just muscle it with some pliers or vice grips pushing it out from underneath. (within the valve cover). The oem one should work fine with some washer replacements along the way. Those cool/heat cycles due tend to where down the washer.

[mullerjd]

I had one on my BCR and the thing popped out while I was on the highway. Got a nice oil bath on my leg. I'm back to the OE plastic and safety wire

[steve abella]

I have one If you finger tighten it it will not leak (over 50,000 mile on an old GS) and I never use the key

if you use the key and tighten it will leak

[roger albert]

I'm with Mr. Abella.

I only had a problem once. Overtightened by dealer during warranty service. Takes very little to overtighten them. I do finger tight and then a very small tweak with an allen.
When new, the caps come with a keyring with a stubby little 6mm allen.

[vtrandall]

thanks for all the ideas/info guys
I went with the stock filler cover after I got the other one out.
I do find it odd that the female portion of the oil filler cover just presses into the cover? But then again it's a BMW
I guess this is better than stripping out the magnesium
I am going to try and include a few pics of the chewed up portion- FYI

[villinski]

I'd like to try the plug/fitting you took out, if you care to get rid of it...thanks,
Paul

[vtrandall]

Originally posted by villinski
I'd like to try the plug/fitting you took out, if you care to get rid of it...thanks,
Paul

Sorry, but I am going to hang onto it just in case the stock one doesn't work out....

[repoe3]

my oem must have heard me bath-mouthing it yesterday. i got home, started up the bike to go fill it up as it looks mild enough to ride to work the rest of the week. as i am taking off, i hear this burble sound. i look down and the filler cap is vibrating to the engine pulses. some serious air leakage coming out aroudn the thing and the slightly more than average weepage. sheesh.

repoe3

[acidburn]

Originally posted by vtrandall
Sorry, but I am going to hang onto it just in case the stock one doesn't work out....

Maybe you can make something artful with it, snick snick.
Or at the very least bring it to the range and we will shoot it.

[vtrandall]

Originally posted by acidburn
Maybe you can make something artful with it, snick snick.
Or at the very least bring it to the range and we will shoot it.

LOL
well, I could try and hit it....I may need the "red light"