© 2013 Drake Smith - Please do not use or reproduce this elsewhere.  Feel free to link to it though.

Clutch Work w/o BMW Special Tools

According to BMW and other shop manuals, you need a couple of special tools to perform maintenance on K bike clutches. In reality, you don't.

BMW Holder - Part 112800

The purpose of this special tool is to hold the clutch housing in place so the you can remove/install the clutch nut without having it turn the engine.

By inserting a block of wood into the upper left corner between the bellhousing and one of the clutch housing flanges, you can accomplish the same thing.

BMW Clutch Centering (Alignment) Tool - Part 212670

The purpose of this tool is to center the clutch plate before retightening the six clutch bolts so that the splines of the clutch plate are aligned with transmission input shaft when the transmission is re-installed.

You can buy aftermarket machined aluminum clutch centering tools on eBay for about $25 shipped.

However, I developed my own approach without the need for a special tool of any kind.  Namely, using the transmission itself as your centering tool. 

When you install the clutch plate, tighten the six clutch bolts only enough to hold the clutch plate in place by light friction so that it can still move. Then feel around the edges and use your fingers to get it as well centered as you can.

Put the transmission in fifth gear (makes turning the input splines via the output shaft easier) and, without the pushrod in, temporarily install the transmission, wiggling it around a little and turning the input shaft until it mates with the clutch plate.

Then push the transmission all of the way on.  The clutch plate is now centered.  Carefully pull the transmission STRAIGHT back and then, once it is off, tighten the six clutch bolts. (19 Nm)

Before lubing the splines and inserting the clutch pushrod, install the transmission once more to ensure that the clutch plate is properly centered with the six clutch bolts tightened.  Then remove the transmission, insert the clutch pushrod, lube the transmission input splines and execute the final transmission installation. (16 Nm transmission to bellhousing)

© 2013 Drake Smith - Please do not use or reproduce this elsewhere.  Feel free to link to it though.