The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Patrick_Krivacka on April 24, 2010, 06:22:26 AM
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i haven't heard back from Justin B about his shift linkage's. I'm not giving up, I know we all have a lot going on besides motorcycles, but I thought I might try lining up a plan B just in case. So, any other leads on an aftermarket shift linkage? I'm a little shocked at how cheap and cheesy the stock one is.
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I can get you a replacement "coathanger" wire in the mail ASAP for free, if you want to go there as a temporary measure.
I have one of Justin's. I don't need my old one, anymore.
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My '81 R65 had the bent coat hanger wire link but now uses the Justin Industries Heim-joint link. More gooder, fer sure, although the shift lever slop required some machining to fit a replacement bushing sourced from Ace Hardware & BMW Supply.
My '83 has an OEM link similar but slightly smaller than the JI unit. Try the BMW parts fiche for the part number, then shop for your best price.
[smiley=2cents.gif]
Monte
PS: I believe Justin may be OOS on his shifter links. Thought that topic came up some months ago...?
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thanks Monte & Rob. Justin sent me an message saying he was going to see if he had the parts to make one up. Rob has also generously offered me his 'coat hanger' linkage to get me buy for a while. You guys are great!
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I bought one of these stainless steel linkages from Holland - superb, but expensive:
http://www.bmwboxersupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/11/products_id/73
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That stainless steel piece from Holland looks very similar to what you get when you order a replacement from BMW. Also kind of expensive, but at least it's not a straight replacement of the bent wire original.
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Here's what we're talking about...
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FR6503.jpg&hash=62811bbbb4dc38c5f0f2581a404910409e33312a)
OEM "paper clip" with broken rubber. Who shot that red arrow?
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP5100002.jpg&hash=25ca6bdc9f93475e07d39b2a5e2a5eab5b3dbe3f)
Better!
Monte
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I don't have joints in stock to make any more and I'm not inclined to order any and have them laying around so I can loose them! If there is enough interest - pre-paid orders - I will order the necessary bits and turn out a batch. They sold like hot-cakes on flea-bay for a couple of years and toward the end I would have to re-list them several times which made it not worth my while to make any more...
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first- thanks to everyone who replied. A special thanks to rob and justin, who were both wiling to go above and beyond the call of duty to help a brother out. Rob sent me his old 'coat hanger' to get me back on the road, and Justin was willing to dig up one, even though he didn't have one on hand. I called Bob's Bmw just to find out if they carried the upgraded version, and to get a price. well, they had it for $37, and it's the ball and socket type, so I decided to go for it. Rob, Justin I'm sorry. I wish I had figured this out sooner and saved y'all the trouble. Though, it really goes to show what great folks we have here.
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If I end up with another airhead this year I will be interested in ordering one.
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i received my new shift linkage from Bob's Bmw today. very fast delivery; I ordered it just yesterday. took me a couple of minutes to put it on (had to slightly enlarge the holes). I took it for a test ride. I was impressed with the improvement in the shifting between gears. I now believe that the old linkage was pretty messed up before it broke . i also received Robs 'coat hanger' shifter today, and it was different then my stock linkage. mine was bent. I can't say for sure it was bent before it broke, but I believe it was. i think it might have been a PO's idea of an 'adjustment'. Anyway, I'm happy to be back on the road.
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Yes, I had to enlarge the holes on my shift-parts when I installed Justin's version.
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Glad to hear you're back on the road i-man. That's one thing you'll never have to worry with again. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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Thanks for posting those pictures Monte. Now I understand what you guys have been talking about.
I should check my bike out to see what kind of shape that is in on it. Unfortunately it's still at the mechanics waiting for the heads to be returned. Maybe I'll go over and give it a visit tomorrow. I'd like to check that out.
Maybe if enough of us get together and want one of Justin's we can get him to make some more. He doesn't have anything else to do, right? ::) (Sure, just like the rest of us. ) At least we don't have an emergency like i-man did. It might be worth getting one before we need it.
Okay! Here is what he said.
I don't have joints in stock to make any more and I'm not inclined to order any and have them laying around so I can loose them!If there is enough interest - pre-paid orders - I will order the necessary bits and turn out a batch.They sold like hot-cakes on flea-bay for a couple of years and toward the end I would have to re-list them several times which made it not worth my while to make any more...
I wonder how much interest is enough? Let's see..........maybe nhmaf, and me. That's only 2, and those aren't even for sure. Well, we'll see how it goes. We'll start a thread about that when we know more.
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Melena, if your linkage is stock, change it. The linkage from Bob's Bmw was $34 plus s&h. a little high, but very worth it to me. like you, i would have rather had Justin's (less expensive, maybe higher quality, and I like the idea of keeping it in the family, so to speak) but if there's not enough interest to make it happen, the Bmw part is a good option.
It really is a little shocking what a difference the new linkage makes, compared to the 'coat hanger'. as I rode to work this morning, my thoughts shifted between admiration over the difference the new linkage made, and being mad at bmw for having put such a lame part on in the first place. Maybe there should be a sticky for new r65 owners-CHANGE YOUR STOCK SHIFT LINKAGE!!!!!
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Melena has a 2nd generation R65 ('81-'84), so she should not have the "coat hanger" set-up that the early bikes had. BMW upgraded in 1981 to a ball & socket connector, I believe.
Quite honestly, I never had a problem with mine, and it was with reluctance that I installed Justin's.
I like Justin's, but I believe the 1st gen. shift linkage could be fine on a one-owner bike that was babied (garaged) all it's life.
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Melena has a 2nd generation R65 ('81-'84), so she should not have the "coat hanger" set-up that the early bikes had.BMW upgraded in 1981 to a ball & socket connector, I believe.
Ahhhh! Thanks Rob. I guess I'm fine with mine then. It's kinda hard to see when it's 10 miles away. :( I'll check it out soon. Didn't make it over there today. Went for a walk around here instead.
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The 81-84 shift linkages were definitely better than the coat hanger variety, but I can also tell you that they can also get sloppy/worn in a hurry too - especially with the disintergrating fiber washers they used with them.. Glad mine is sitting on a back shelf in the garage somewhere - I think that Justin's will last much longer.
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Yes, I could see where those nylon parts would break down over decades, just like anything else.
With that in mind, I could see where a run might be feasible.
And perhaps Justin just doesn't have time for the extra work of posting the packages right now.
Someone else could put these things together?
Hey Melena - are you looking for a job?
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Perhaps Rob Valdez Enterprises, a division of squirtworx....
;)
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The required Heim joints are available from these vendors. A short, DIY threaded rod, four nuts and two bolts - all 0.25" - you're good to go.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/
A fun Saturday project. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Monte
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Both the 82 and 83 LS's I owned had coat hanger wire shifts covered with that rubber boot accordion. I got the '83s replaced with Justin's and had it on in TN. when nhmaf helped me get it adjusted the right way. I had it all wrong I think as it was never tight. So I still carry a replacement coat hanger wire for others now but it doesn't take up any room at all. I guess I just never took it off the bike even after the Justin design arrived. I did carry a spare coat hanger when the coat hanger was all I had on the bike. I bent one to fit after reading about a guy who replaced his on a trip by a visit to a hardware store. Gotta admit it is simple!! Just cheesy for a bike of such austere heritage!!
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Just cheesy for a bike of such austere heritage!!
Those little clips and that rubber boot were anything but cheesy!
And this was the first design of the linked shift lever that really improved shifting performance!
I have always been proud of mine when I looked at those poor, old airheads with their shift lever mounted directly onto the shift shaft...
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i guess i should back off on calling the coat hanger cheesy. Like i said, I think mine was messed with (bent) by the PO as some kind of adjustment. I'd be interested to try one without it having been bent.
i still have the one Rob was nice enough to send me, and i promise to send it on to the next person who needs it.
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You and me both I-man. Rob is right....especially the rubber boot is very nice and that is the one thing I missed on the bike when I replaced the wire one. Those clips were pretty inspired too and after I actually zip-tied the one clip on that only once tended to slip, it never had another problem. I bet the rubber boot setup helped me get a prize at the concours during our vintage rally.
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But those rubber boots have a short life-span, if they are removed too many times, I will quickly admit.
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I seriously believe the factory used the boot to hide the cheesey coathanger wire out of embarrassment!
If a few people want linkages I'll order some joints but I don't sell enough of them anymore to warrant stocking a bunch of parts I'll probably loose before I get around to building something!
PM me if you need/want one...
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Justin. If you're going to do another order, I'd be interested in one - let me know and I'll pay.
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Justin
Count me in for a linkage. Do you have enough orders yet?
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In anticipation of adding another airhead to my stable and in the interest of bolstering the order, I would take one, also.
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I was able to check mine out and I do have the newer linkage on my '81, so I won't need one of Justin's after all. I don't know why I never noticed that before. I wonder why the LS of the same year, like Sue's, has the wire linkage and mine has the other kind. :-? We'll probably never know.
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If anybody needs one I ordered enough parts when I made Bob's for one more.
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Justin I need one, let me know where to send the check
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Shoot - any chance for any more Justin?
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I will take one
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I was able to check mine out and I do have the newer linkage on my '81,
OTOH, my early 1981 (manufactured 10/80) had the coat hanger until I purchased a Justin Special. This appears to be another case of the factory's using up the inventory of superseded parts on the first units manufactured at the beginning of a model year. The single front disk/dual disk uncertainty regarding 1981s is another, I think.
John
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Justin,
If you are reading this, any chance your linkage is still available?
thanks
jim
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I may be out of parts but I'll check.
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I still want one as well.
Thanks
Luxlogs
Niel
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Just to clarify Melena's comment...I did have a wire linkage until I bought one of Justin's and Nhmaf helped me set it up perfectly at the '09 Tennessee BMWMOA national rally.
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OK, I need to order some pieces so how many want one of these? Price is $35/shipped First Class Mail.
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OK, I need to order some pieces so how many want one of these? Price is $35/shipped First Class Mail.
You might want to start a new thread in the tech section AND the swap meet section to get maximum exposure quickest.
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Hi Justin - I own an R65 1984. If this linkage would fit then I would be interested as well. I live in South Australia so obviously the postage would be higher. If you're willing to supply how would you like to be paid? I have a paypal account and a credit card. Perhaps a bank draft made out in American Dollars? I would love to have one of these units as the old device on my Beemer is really lose. Thanks ... Adrian
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Adrian,
The linkage should fit any Airhead with the "divorced" shift lever. Some years that have a factory adjustable selector rod may need a "ball stud" removed from the arm on the transmission but that is an easy operation.
I'm ordering parts to build three today and just PM me your PayPal info and how you would like it shipped.
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Okay thanks Justin. 2 PMs on their way with my personal details.
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I have finished a batch of shift selector rods and the folks who expressed a need have been contacted. I have one extra and will put a posting in the "Trading Post"
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Hi Justin - great news about he linkage. I don't know why my PMs didn't get thru. I do have crap Internet connectivity from time to time so maybe thats it. I'll try to Pm you now and hope you get it. Thanks - Adrian