I traded for this 1996 R110 GS. Shortly after buying it, the clutch gave out. What's this? A thread on using VW friction plate in A GS? Cool! So, we order a VW plate, grind the hub down to fit (or so I think) Make up a set of shim plates to space out for the thicker VW disc. Install. Hhmmm, what this? The clutch drags when fully disengaged. So in looking I discover that the hub is hitting the end of the splines on the input shaft and not free floating and it is pushing the plate to the front, dragging on the pressure plate. When I had looked at how much to take off the hub, I thought the spline length on the trans input shaft was good, I guess my measurements were off. Grind the hub to the correct length, re-install, and discover that I'm still shy of fully disengaged. I have no more shims. This plate has the anti-shudder/wave spring in it which makes it much thicker than another VW plate I looked at. Crap, this has gone on long enough I need to ride this thing this year! Call the BMW dealer; "Hey, send me a new BMW friction plate will ya?" Fed-Ex deleivered it late the next morning. 1 hour later, that job is done. And it works like it should. OK, let's tackle the leaking Left cylinder head gasket. Get to the "remove cam sprocket bolt" part. Hhhmmm, won't come loose? Talk to friendly BMW tech at the dealer 3 hours away. Nope not Left hand threaded, Says tighten to 50NM. It will take at least that to get it to move, at least in theory. Put my torque wrench on it, read the NM scale as I try to loosen the bolt. Way over 50NM, I don't know how much 'cause the darn thing still won't come off. Put a 1/2" impact on it just to see if I can rattle it off? Nope! God I hope the last guy in here didn't use Red Locktite. Buttoned her up for now, like I said, I need to ride this thing this year. The leak was really light, more of a weep, it would put a drop of oil on my boot after 30 miles or so. This winter I'll put some heat to it to take it off, and maybe make a special tool to go over the cam sprocket to hold it in place. Working on things used to be fun, but 40 years of a construction and industrial maintenance career, I've about had enough of wrenching, I'd rather ride!
It's almost fall. Best get out there before the snow flies. I hope this year is like last, I was able to ride every single month, had to take the truck some weeks, but it was a good year.