means you static timed it with a test light, making sure to roll the crank back at forth around the “S” mark, to release any slack in the timing chain before setting it. And then did you confirm your timing dynamically, with a timing gun? Did you replace your points and condenser? Are your advance flyweights in good working order, and did you replace the advance springs? (And if so, I do hope you selected the “performance” option offered by BMW.) Are your valves set properly and recently, did you retorque your heads, inspect and/or replace your air filter, when did you last change your oil, spark plugs, and synch the carbs correctly with vacuum gauges? And did you tune the low speed mixture screw by ear? How close to the factory 1.5-turns-from-out setting did it end up? Were the two carbs equal? Is your choke cable set up correctly? Are you sure? Are you taking any medications I need to know about? Complete all the steps, comprising a
complete standard factory service, and then take the bike for a ride. If your idle is still high, then you can start trouble shooting from square one. I applaud that you are doing your own maintenance, but also it makes it hard to know the exact condition of your bike to move forward with any credible advice. So here’s the short answer: bring your
bike to a good airhead mechanic for a ser- vice. This may as if I’m being dismissive or insulting. I’m not. Not this time. The entire process of a true service, from
timing to valves to filtration to setting the carbs correctly, is that they’re all so interre- lated that it’s almost impossible to answer your question without checking in on all the various components of a good tune-up. Nine times out of ten, if you do a proper service correctly any and all problems will be revealed and resolved in the process. Also remember that just because you
send your carbs to Bing does not mean everything will be perfectly hunky dory. Your carbs are a product of their environ- ment around them. They can be set up and appear to be operating correctly, but in fact they could be masking a timing issue.
If your timing is too advanced, you’ll
have to drop idle down to get it to run. If it’s too retarded, you’d have a raised idle to compensate. So if your timing is off, your carbs can compensate, but the engine doesn’t like that.
Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em I’m probably the thousandth guy to tell you this, but a picture showing a mechanic put- ting fuel in a bike while smoking a stogie? Sheesh!
Lee Bracket #112243 Energy, Illinois
The smoldering tobacco in a lit cigarette
or even a cigar is not sufficiently hot enough to ignite gasoline, as shown in this simple video demonstration:
www.tiny.cc/o5hj1x. I certainly don’t condone lighting that ciga- rillo near gas vapors, as an open flame with a flint-actuated lighter—which produces molten metal in excess of 3,000 degrees!— well…that could potentially ruin your afternoon. As would not having a sense of humor to begin with.
Mr. Schultz, thanks for the warm wel-
come. One should not fear electricity. One should instead dive headlong into opportu- nities in which one could burn a motorcycle to the ground! Now to the real answer—this is cheap
and easy. Go to
waytekwire.com and order up 5 each of part number 31772 and 31773. These high-quality insulated quick-con- nectors complete with heat shrink are $.38 apiece and worth every penny. Now go down to your local auto parts store and pick up a few lengths of quality 14-gauge wire, hopefully approximately matching the color-coding from the factory. Take a pic- ture before you start so you know how to put everything back together again. Basi- cally you’re just making yourself a big extension cord. Simply reposition the key- switch, plug the original wires into your extensions, and plumb the new wires up to the relocated switch. To keep the job tidy pick up some vinyl sheathing while you’re on the Waytek site. And just to be safe, don’t forget to unplug your battery!
Regarding difficulty level, reference this handy chart:
Baby Boomer: Easy Gen X’er: Medium
Keyswitch Enhancement Surgery Enjoyed the column in the July Owners News, especially like your writing style. I have a 1978 R 100/7 that someone converted into a RT. The problem is the ignition switch is still up on the headlight bucket and is kind of awkward to engage. Would it be feasible to obtain the proper wiring to put the key switch on the dash like a proper RT, and what skill level would be required of the individual doing said work? Thank you so much for your insight in this matter, and thanks for coming aboard the Owners News.
Tom Schultz #101516 Elma, New York
Millennial: Impossible
This experimental write-in column only works with questions. If you’ve got a problem that needs an answer, email it to editor@
bmwmoa.org and I’ll do my best to help you out. To sweeten the pot we’re throwing in a free Moto Borgotaro T-shirt if your question is selected for the magazine. If we can help you out of a jam, wear it with pride. Or if we ridicule you, use it to dry your tears. And if we’ve offended you, cut it up and use it as a shop rag as voodoo retribution.
September 2015 BMW OWNERS NEWS
57
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