Hi, after a few years away from Ks on 'other' bikes, I've just bought a 1989 K100 which has spent most of its life standing still - under 15,000 miles on the clock.  Our damp climate has taken its toll on some of the cosmetics, which doesn't worry me a lot.  After the bike had stood for 17 years, the previous owner replaced the fuel pump and injectors and lost a number of small parts in the process.  He ran the bike for 50 miles, then left it standing for another 4 years.

So, having removed the Rickman touring fairing and the undersized battery, I'm in the process of tearing down the front end to grease steering head bearings, rebuild brakes etc.  I think the front tyre might be the original.  I've already stripped the parts out of the fuel tank (which is surprisingly clean) and attacked the exhaust header bolts.  Luckily for me, they all came undone, five of them bringing the studs with them.  

I do have a question about brake lines, which I'll post in the appropriate section.

Hi howard
Welkome to the forum. Sounds like a great find.
Enjoy the ride mate

welcome aboard howard

have fun mate !!

Welcome to the forum.

Sounds a real good find and should bring you some fun.

But look out for maintenance issues arising from lack of use.

Do spline lubes, including clutch spline, brake fluid changes, brake caliper seals might be hard and pistons a bit corroded, looks like you got the fuel tank etc in hand and what may be to your benefit is that the old petrol may lack the substitutes in newer petrol that causes problems. Other things are intake manifolds going hard and cracking [lumpy/bad running], fuel lines gone hard with age and liable to spray petrol [put new ones in and make them longer so you can access rad cap and relay box without disconnecting them, locate the screws where you can access them through the fairing rather than having to remove panels], coolant pipe to the overflow, injector seals [8 of them], sight tube on coolant bottle, battery breather pipe, crankcase breather to the air box, clutch lever cable nipple, grease up the handlebar throttle mechanism, all small things but can make life hard if they go wrong at the wrong time. A sunny weekend, a patio, a few beer cans, maybe another K owner along, this can be a real pleasure and would take care of most if not all of these.

Two awkward ones to keep an eye on, rear main seal behind the clutch [make sure never overfill the oil], other is water/oil pump. Both of these will manifest themselves with a leak/leaks if they happen.

Thanks, I'm pretty sure I need to do the oil/water pump seals.  I'll be doing the clutch spline lube later and looking in there for oil leaks.  There is some oil underneath the housing but it feels thick and sticky, so I don't know where it's from - doesn't even look as though it's come from the weep hole.  While the centre stand is off, I'll get it reinforced.

Today I've had the steering head bearings out and greased them.  I'll be doing fork seals/oil, and the bolts at the bottom of the fork legs surprised me by coming undone easily.  While the forks are out I'll do the oil/water pump and probably replace the radiator - it looks like someone has been poking at it with a screwdriver.  Perhaps someone pressure washed it.

The front brakes are stripped and all seals will be replaced, along with the brake lines.  The rear ones will be done later, also the injector seals (there are no clips on the injectors, but the best bit is the fuel lines aren't clamped!).  

I have heard it run and it sounded lovely and quiet.  It didn't rev too well but there was only a cupful of fuel in there - and some water, I think - and the fuel filter may also be partially blocked.  Plenty of work to do here, but worth it!

Welcome - always good to hear about one returning to the road!

Welcome to the forum. Looks as though you have a good handle on the situation so far.

WeKcome along.

I was up around the South Lakes area last weekend myself marshalling for the 40 mile sponsored walk from Keswick to Barrow-in-Furness. It's a lot safer getting my bike down some of the narrow lanes to check on walkers rather than a vehicle!

btw, I'm a Howard too.

I did the Keswick to Barrow three times, a long time ago now.  I'd love to do it again but the knees say NO!

It's a small world, I was camping at Nether Wasdale last weekend, with the BMW Club UK Sidecar section. Remember the wind and rain on the Friday?     Fantastic part of our Island though.

Paul, (also Howard as middle name)