The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: StanG on April 25, 2009, 07:46:11 PM

Title: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: StanG on April 25, 2009, 07:46:11 PM
After several months and several $$$ I completed the reconditioning of my 1982 R65 today and took it for a short ride.  Next step is a one day shake down ride.  I plan to ride the bike to the national rally in July.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Justin B. on April 25, 2009, 07:50:37 PM
It looks great!  Pat yourself on the back...
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: fastcataz on April 25, 2009, 09:04:06 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: nhmaf on April 25, 2009, 09:13:11 PM
Looks great - good job !!!


Will look forward to seeing you at the rally !
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: montmil on April 26, 2009, 07:24:28 AM
Hey! That's my bike... except mine is kinda grubby, missing a few items, doesn't have your bling and is stained, like me, with a certain patina of age.

Beautiful job. Just gorgeous. Green envy. Now lemme guess who took care of that fine yard and flora while you were locked in the shop with a smoking credit card.  ;)

Happy Trails to ya!   Monte
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: aussie on April 26, 2009, 08:01:30 AM
Oh I say.

Very nice. Congrats - you've done a bang up job!
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Altritter on April 26, 2009, 08:21:43 AM
Wow! Wish I could get my '81 to look like that! Pure, good-natured envy.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: StanG on April 26, 2009, 09:15:31 AM
Good catch Monte, your right my wife is responsible for the flora.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Yikes on April 26, 2009, 09:51:34 AM
Wow, Stan!  Beautiful job.  Your bike will be turning a lot of heads when you take it out to show it off.  It's geat to see what my black '82 can look like.  

My only question is, how did you get your engine so bright?.  I've kind of resigned myself to having that flat grey patina on my engine and final drive.  At least that's easy to maintain.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: vestandpants on April 26, 2009, 03:17:12 PM
That looks fantastic StanG, you've done a top job  ;D
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: StanG on April 26, 2009, 06:19:43 PM
Yikes,

The alternator, timing chain and starter covers along with the valve covers, heads, cylinders, and fork sliders were blasted with glass beads giving them a metallic finish.  To maintain the finish I had the fork sliders, alternator and valve covers powder coated with a metallic aluminum finish.  The timing chain and starter covers were powder coated a gloss black.  I did not powder coat the heads or cylinders due to concerns about heat transfer and therefore over time they will oxidize and need to be blasted again.  I cleaned the engine and trans bodies with Simple Green and Aluminum Jelly using SS and bronze brushes.  The Aluminum Jelly is made by Duro and I found it at an Ace Hardware.  Need to follow the directions, if left on too long it will turn the surface dark.  Although the pictures don't show it the engine and especially the trans still have discoloration.

Probably more information than you wanted.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Justin B. on April 26, 2009, 07:49:57 PM
That silver powder coating looks nice.  The Duro stuff must have phosphoric acid in it, the Eagle 1 wheel cleaner is acid based and will also darken some of the alloys.  The times I've done it it seems engine cases turn out quite "white" but the transmissions turn out darker.  Go figure...

I see we also have another HF motorcycle lift user among us!  ;D
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: montmil on April 26, 2009, 07:55:30 PM
Like the BMW roundels on your Bing carb tops. I've heard of folks using them to secure the often loose "tops". Where did you find them? [smiley=beer.gif]

Monte
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Justin B. on April 26, 2009, 08:05:36 PM
Oilhead package tray screw cover?  The one on the 1200ST is 27 mm...
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: StanG on April 27, 2009, 07:17:14 AM
Monte, I found the BMW carb roundel on the motobins website.

Justin, have you found a better product for cleaning engine and trans cases?  I hope to obtain another project bike in the near future.
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Justin B. on April 27, 2009, 08:05:56 AM
Stan, I've found "Greased Lightning" which, although I don't think there is any acid in it, is a highly aggressive high alkaline concentrated cleaner.  It even does a pretty fair job as a piston top soak for softening up thick carbon deposits.  I usually to the scrubbing with Greased Lightning and when clean I use the Eagle 1 to try to get out any dark staining.  Seems to work fairly well...
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: vestandpants on April 28, 2009, 06:18:45 AM
I scrubed mine with vinegar, being a mild acid and very cheap @ £2.25 a gallon. I didnt just dip it, I used a plastic based scourer used for paint preparation. It lifted most of the dirt off although it was more of a challenge doing the fins on the heads. All thats needed is elbow grease!
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: CraigC on April 29, 2009, 02:36:33 PM
Hi Stan,

Just wanted to congratulate you on a great looking restoration. I have a red 81 R65 with 25K miles in similar condition to yours before you freshened it up. Since we both live in Baton Rouge, I was wondering if you'd mind answering a couple of questions. First, did you paint or powder coat the frame? Also who did you use for this work? Did you use a local painter for the tank and other bits? I intend to do almost exactly the same thing to mine as you did.

Thanks,
CraigC
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: StanG on April 30, 2009, 07:59:25 AM
Hello Craig,

I used several different people for the work.  I can give you the info here or we could get together and discuss.  Would you like to meet for lunch, after work, or at Hebert Cycles on Saturday morning?

Stan
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: CraigC on April 30, 2009, 11:08:11 AM
Thanks Stan,

PM sent...
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: Reopropf on May 13, 2009, 06:34:45 PM
Stan,

Beautiful job.  I love the look and appreciate the work involved and expense.  It's "new" and original.

I hope to achieve similar result with my LS.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning and cover specific powder coating.

Regards, Peter
Title: Re: Reconditioning Completed
Post by: ambrose78 on June 17, 2009, 03:07:15 AM
very inspiring.

Getting lots of urges to do similar things to my bike now.

Congrats.