The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: nhmaf on June 28, 2013, 10:12:18 PM
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It seems June is airhead repair month for me - or comedy of errors:
R100/7 decided to have its undertank master cylinder leak out all of its contents onto the frame and engine this spring. I took the R65LS down to MAX BMW to pickup the parts I needed and a new Spiegler brake line for the R100/7. On the way to Max's, I noted that it was time for new tires on the R65LS to pass annual safety inspection (this month). I support my local independent bike shop by buying my tires from him, so I stopped by and ordered a set of tires. On the way to Max's the R65's left front fork seal starting squirting oil. Great!
At MAx's I get new fork seals, 7.5W fork oil, and drain washers for the R65LS, as well as the brake parts for the R100/7.
I get home and decide to tackle the R65LS first. I take the wheels off, and decide the peeling paint on them really has to be addressed. I get out my tire irons and bead breaker tool to remove the tires so I can strip the wheels and sand them & paint them. Bead breaker breaks. Literally. Tires are still on the wheels. I decide to tape off the tires, use chemical stripper (tires and tubes being replaced anyway) and have at it. I take the forks apart to replace the fork seals and discover the dreaded dark plastic shrapnel and sludge at the bottom of the fork tubes -> damper assembly topping out bumpers have disintegrated. Great.
Get on Kawasaki and go back to Max's to pick up washers and damper assembly parts to rebuild the damper assemblies, so I can then replace the fork seals and put the forks back on. I bought clamps to attach fork gaiters and put them on the forks instead of the dust caps that the LS model normally uses - hoping to extend the life of this set of fork seals.
Finally, all back together, with new rubber, newly painted wheels, fork oil, etc. in place and time for a test ride. Battery is dead, dead, dead and will not take a charge. Hmmmm. Order new battery. Wait 5 days.
New battery arrives and I install it. Bikes starts right up and I decide to verify that the battery is being charged. Hmmmmm. Revving the engine to 6K RPM and the battery voltage isn't rising above 12.5V. Not good. I verify that the GEN light is working properly, all connectors under the tank seem OK. On a hunch, I eye the original factory voltage regulator. I remember buying a new solid state voltage regulator from Motorrad Elektrik a year or two ago and never installing it. I Search through my growing pile of airhead-related bits and find it. Install the new voltage regulator and Voila! Charging voltage on battery now goes up to 13.8V @ 4000 RPM. Whew!
Brief test ride (in between continuous thunderstorms today) indicates things are working well, though the fork springs are noisier than they used to be. I'm just going to live with it for a bit until after I get my inspection sticker. At least now I know why the previous battery gave up the ghost.
Now, on to the R100/7... (which is also becoming a long story)
Somedays, it seems you just move from one problem to another. But at least the R65LS should be a reliable ride for the summer now!
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hahaha - not to laugh at your misfortune, but I sure know how that goes!
Seems like work has been that way for me lately, stop n go n stop... ;D
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Look at this way, how much work would you be performing on a 31 year old car that you used regularly !!!!!
The problems always seem to come at the same time and usually when you have the laest amount of time to devote to it . :D :D :D :D
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Oh, it isn't the fact that old things will break down now and then - I expect that to happen. It is their uncanny ability to COORDINATE it so it all seems to happen at once that really irks me!
:D
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My old Volvo is shuttering terribly from neglect since I have been working on the R65 for so long... So it needs love but I've been putting it off. I just took my first decent run with the bike (which went great) across southern nh. So I replaced the oil and filter in the car to no avail, and the r65 quit in the middle of town on my way to work last night... Wouldn't start back up.. Started checking my carbs, got heckled. Still wont start.. Parked at work. And today I'm moving out back to homelessness.
When it rains, it pours(!)
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Agreed - sometimes wish to have less cylinders - bikes lawn tractor older truck . . : all require maintenance
Some days feels overwhelming & unmanageable!
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How many times have I heard the story of someone getting a second (car, bike, whatever) for a back up, and BOTH fail at the same time? ;D
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Mike - have you met Chris Harris who owns a shop in NH? Affordable Beemer Service? He makes some wild videos on working on airheads - I've corresponded with him - a very nice guy!
Some people are offended because he drops the F bomb a lot in his videos but he's really funny.
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Mike - have you met Chris Harris who owns a shop in NH?Affordable Beemer Service?He makes some wild videos on working on airheads - I've corresponded with him - a very nice guy!
Some people are offended because he drops the F bomb a lot in his videos but he's really funny.
I just watched his 4 part vid on spline lube, top notch all the way. He explains most everything as he goes leaving little to no mystery. As far as his language I found no problem. I've said a lot worse working on things LOL
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I can vouch for Chris Harris and his work. My R65 is featured in his videos. Spline lube, front forks ect. I'm glad I spent the money on it as it is my favorite ride.
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I've seen his advert in our local BMW group newsletter, but I've never visited his shop. Stockman - if you are interested in joining the Granite State BMW Riders club (it is a fairly low effort club, but have a couple of nice events coming up in August) let me know.