Lennie's Rocket Sprockets

[phoenixtexoma]

Buy a set and install them right now. Will be some of the best money you've spent on your S, especially if you've done intake and exhaust mods.

[Dan Alexander]

tell us more

[phoenixtexoma]

130 plus shipping from Australia, about 4 bucks shipping. Very high quality hardware. Advances cam timing 9 degrees. Easy to install. Changes the acceleration characteristics of the S dramatically, and I do mean dramatically. Lennie says the sprockets drop the top end horsepower by about 2-4%, but I ran my S up to 140 by the speedo today, and it had a lot left. Couldn't tell any top end difference, but the midrange felt like a Honda CBR. Will now cold start without the enrichener and idles smoothly at 1k rpm. The rpm needle moves as fast in 4th gear as it does in 2nd or 3rd gear. My 2 cents worth.

[cyotee01]

Anyone else care to share their experiences?

Anyone have contact details?

[signit98]

I'm curious too... emailed him. I'll keep you guys posted on the results.

[Dan Alexander]

I was going to buy them a few years ago and then someone misinstalled them or something and had a problem and never got around to it again. Not the sprockets fault but I wondered about my ability to do the install.

[shreddr]

phoenix, you need to pull the heads to install these, right? if thats the case it will give me an opportunity to clean up the exhaust and match the intake

[Geoff Anstey]

The heads will not need to be removed, access to the Cam sprocket can be achieved with the cyclinder covers removed and the Cam Shaft Sprocket cover.

[roger albert]

True,

Lots of old threads on Lennie's sprockets. Good info and good product.

[phoenixtexoma]

If you're careful, they're not a hard install. One of the main things is to follow the BMW shop manual to the letter. Start with the right cylinder, on TDC, paint the link on the side of the sprocket pointing to the space between teeth. Just remember that when you spin the engine after install, the paint marks won't line back up. While teaching myself how to position the sprocket, I tied a length of strong nylon thread to a hole in the sprocket in case I dropped it. Also, I thinly coated the tips of some needle nose pliers with silicone rubber for grip to work with the sprocket through the cam cover hole. Once installed, I tapped the locating pin to bottom it in the cam slot, then used hi-temp silicone to fill the 1mm hole before tightening the bolt and thick washer to 44 f/p or 60 Nm. Tapping the pin in gives you 3mm in the sprocket and 3mm in the cam slot. You don't have to, I just felt more comfortable doing it. On the left side, absolutely make sure you remove the cam chain tensioner first. I made my own tool (space is tight) out of a 11/16 box end wrench cut down to a 1-inch nub to use after getting the tensioner bolt loose initially.

Another thing, Lennie is an absolute sweetheart to work with, doesn't mind you shooting him questions.

[Butch Barf]

Now I am confused. Do these work on the 1200 or 1100?

[phoenixtexoma]

This is for the 1100S. I'm going to post a detailed chart for the install.

[signit98]

...mine are on the way to me! Between teh exhaust I am building, the PCIII and the sprockets, the S should be well on her way to become my "main" bike... the can do it all bike... so to speak... even though I am eyeing a HM Duc... but I want to ride it first... which I probably shouldn't do...

[bradzdotcom]

whatever happened to go in deeper and come out harder?

[lennie]

Butch Barf,

This post relates to the R1100S.

The part number for the cam sprockets for the R1100S and the R1200S is the same.

I have yet to try them in a R1200S and when I get my next batch would like a volunteer to try them.

[JonyRR]

Lennie, PM'd ya, buddy!

[Butch Barf]

Lennie,

When you are ready let me know. I kinda like the idea of being a guinea pig.

If you wish, you may reach me at intra@optonline.net

BB

[signit98]

Pnoenix... a few day ago I ran into a thread where you nicely described your install process with pictures and text... now I can't find it anymore if my life would depend on it!?!?

...any guidance would be greatly apreciated.

[phoenixtexoma]

Signit: The original was posted by member pdonnell on 1/7/03.
Google: Lennie's Cam Sprocket Replacement 101. There are a couple of mistakes, however, that might throw you. One involves the paint marking, another putting the cam lobe into the right position. I created a thing called "Lennie's Cam Sprocket Replacement For Newbies" as a jpeg. Send me a regular e-mail and I'll send it to you.

[phoenixtexoma]

Progress report: Went out riding with jarhead Saturday near Lake Texoma, with now more than 400 miles on Lennie's sprockets. No idle change, almost zero vibration up to 5k rpm, smooth as silk on the road. Cold starts with a bump at 70 degrees, although cooler weather might change that. They do everything Lennie said they would. Jardhead has his S really spiffed up and looking great. Great ride, so green down here it almost hurts your eyes.