The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: not-so-fast-ed on December 10, 2007, 06:00:53 PM
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I need to buy a service manual for my 1987 R65 mono. Any consensus on which manual provides the best info? Sure would like to avoid having to buy multiple service manuals if I can just bite the bullet on one.
Thanks,
Ed Bellair
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Get the one for your bike from BMW. Expensive but worth it. The Clymer has so many models that it is easy to confuse numbers. Then there is the blatent missinformation (like the spline lube procedure and pictures (!@#$%^&*). Don't get me started....
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I have a BMW shop manual, and the manual is written assuming that you have been trained by BMW in maintenance of their bikes, all of the 'common knowledge' items are not in the text, you're supposed to know them already.
Like blocking the crankshaft before removing the flywheel. There is not one mention of it in my manual.
It's great for torque values and clearances and the like, but unless you are quite familiar with what you are doing, you can get into trouble using the BMW manual.
I don't have any other manuals, so I can't comment on them.
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I've mostly heard (read) what Bob says about the BMW factory manuals, though that didn't stop me from bidding on one on Ebay recently. I lost; it sold for $180! I'm pretty sure the dealer would sell me a brand new one for less than a hundred, though no doubt the price has gone up in dollars. I still want one.
The manual for an '87 R65 probably includes the information for the other "normal" airheads as well.
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Ed (Miller)
Here's the part number off of my manual : 01 51 9 798 092. Max BMW shows a price of $57.43US, a search of other online dealers shows it's not a good number, so I guess that would mean it's not available.
So if you're interested there's the info.
This manual is a ' loose leaf' type ( easy to remove and photocopy so as not to get the original dirty ), not a 'bound' type book.
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Bob, I have seen a lot of "paperback" type manuals up on e-Bay lately so possibly the loose-leaf had been superceded. Does anybody have one of the "white" paperback versions? If so, post the part number...
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There's a 'paperback' copy up for sale on eBay at this time .
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I made a copy of a friend's factory manual back in the 80's. I still have it in a box in storage. I never use it for the reasons Bob Roller mentioned above.
It also shows everything being done with factory tools...
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does anyone have a digital copy of the service manual
it only needs to be done once and the world can learn the wonder of a BMW manual?
id like a copy anyway
SHANE
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I have the same loose leaf manual as Bob Roller and also I use Haynes. Mostly I "search" Boxerworks and Airheads and ask right here on our own forum. Unfortunately, one source doesn't seem to cover all the problems and challenges I have faced. Most manuals leave out the essential little tricks of the trade. I liken it to the day way back in 1983 when I didn't have a clue that the symbol ">" meant "enter" on the " let's get started on the computer" instructions. I just sat there with this dumb look on my face while absolutely nothing happened on the screen! ::) ;D
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I've got the haynes and the BMW manual, they both have their good points and bad, but in the main the Haynes is good for general instructions and the BMW for specifics.
Having said that neither is of any use with my current head scratcher?
Tony
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does anyone have a digital copy of the service manual
it only needs to be done once and the world can learn the wonder of a BMW manual?
id like a copy anyway
SHANE
I am anal enough to take on the task of scanning it, but I don't think my 25 year-old xerox copies would be worthy of the task.
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Howdy,
That digital version (PDF) of a factory manual may soon be a reality. I am currently waiting for the "BMW R45 – R65 Workshop Manual" that I bought on ebay to arrive from the UK. My girlfriend has agreed to scan it into the computer if I cook her dinner. Awesome!
I'll keep you all posted.
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That would be great, and I will gladly buy you a beer next time you are in town...
As far as the factory manual is concerned I have not seen the factory R65 manual but I did have one along with my '72 R60/5. I probably would not have bought it "off the rack" but I got it from the PO who had purchased it at the same time he bought the bike new. My primary manual was the Clymer but when I ran into things that were less than adequately explained by it I would turn to the factory manual for clarification. Usually between the two of them I could figure out most stuff...
The early 70s vintage manual seemed to have been translated into a somewhat strange dialect, if I remember correctly, with terms such as "fitter" for a mechanic and "master fitter" for the grizzled old BBMFW. ;)
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ok so how long until the pdf file
im happy to buy it
shane
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Hi Everybody,
It has taken awhile but I hope to be able to hand out a little winter gift to you all very soon. The beautiful blue book is about 1/5 scanned and that took a little over an hour, so we'll keep plugging away. I may need some help figuring out how to get approximately 200 pages of PDF's into one email-ready file. Any help?
PS: The winter gift is not the smiling lady!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/jeffcday/DSC00205.jpg
Cheers,
JD
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Dang.
...I mean, what years does that book cover? I have no idea how to email stuff like that, but there are programs like Winzip that can compress files. I think. I've never done it.
Thanks in advance!
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Hi Ed,
My best guess is that it covers the R45 & R65 ('78) right up through 1984. I believe after 1984 they began using R80 parts (according to the BMW motorcycle Buyers Guide by Mark Zimmerman and Brian J. Nelson). This manual is very technical (to me anyway) but the pictures are very good and seem to be scanning well. Procedures are explained, then numbered. If you need to remove the brake shoes you would remove the rear wheel and that would be procedure # 36 30 320. My R65 will soon be in my friend's garage for a top end gasket replacement, fork seal kit, a few electric repairs, etc and this book gives me some confidence. With the Haynes Twin book and and a couple of airhead buddies checking in every so often (and this forum of course) I am eager to start. Hope this helps. I'll post when the Manual is fully scanned.
JD
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Probably the best way would be to create multiple .zip files, maybe one zip per chapter? I'm not really sure as your various e-mail providers have different attachment file size limitations and amount of space allowed. I'll check into the possibility of finding some ftp space to upload it to and then folks could just ftp a zip of the entire manual.
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stop after each hour and make a pdf or a doc file
then just send 2 or 3 files in each email
im really thank full to you
and the good lady
shane
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Hello,
I am about 1/3 the way through scanning the R65 Manual, maybe about 75 pages done. It has taken much longer than I thought it would, but everything worth doing always does, right? Anyone who wants the sections I have compressed so far (with winrar) can email me and I will begin to get these out to whoever wants them. I will continue to scan pages this weekend. I have the flu so it is about all I am capable of for the time being.
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I did not turn my computer on for 6 days straight last week. I think that is a new record for me.
Don't push yourself. Sleep and fluids.
You will hear from me! Thanks!
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So how did we go scanning the manual????
I already have a BMW factory repair manual, but I'd rather something I can print a page and not worry about greasy fingers.
Mine's a loose leaf version, in a four ring binder.
I'm thinking of taking it to work and scanning it into a pdf.
We have a good quality colour scanner with document feeder that will do multiple page pdf's, so it's not too big a hassle for me to do the scanning,, but don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel if someone has already done it.
Also is there any difference in manuals for different countries???? besides German manuals being in German.
;)
Are American manuals in Americanese or English ???????
John
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Maybe Spinachpie will chime in with a progress report...
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He sent it to me, zipped up. I have to sort it out. I can't remember if he did it all or not; it's got to be a boring job.
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If it's complete then shoot me a copy and maybe we'll put it up for download somewhere...
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Well I pulled my manual out of it's folder and placed it in the document feeder for the scanner at work, thinking haha this will be too easy.
Bugger, spoke too soon.
The shiny coated paper it's made from coupled with slight damage from high humid environment of Darwin, and it continually misfeeds.
Oh well looks like I'll have to do it the hard way when I have more time.