Neutral Switch Replaced

[montmil]

Both R65s have developed leaky neutral switches. That's just swell...

The 1981 runs TrailTech's Vapor digital gauge and no longer has a neutral lamp indicator position. This bike will be getting a short bolt to replace the OEM leak very soon. The neutral switch wires will be joined, secured out of the way and that's that.

However, the 1983 has an instrument cluster in perfect condition so I went ahead and replaced the second leaky OEM switch with an Italian-made "pattern" switch from Motobins. Half the cost of BMW's.



A small scissor jack with a wooden pad supported the engine as I removed the lengthy motor mount bolt. A slight bump-up on the jack released pressure from the bolt and a 12-inch 1/4" ratchet extension drifted the bolt free. Mind the exhaust support clamps during removal.

A few tugs with a long, flat-blade screwdriver popped out the thick-walled aluminum tube spacer. After a clean up, a small bevel was ground on each end of the spacer to aid replacement. Very helpful. I've heard of some owners placing the spacer in the freezer in an attempt to "shorten" the tube and ease replacement. With our freezing temps this weekend, I simply laid the spacer on the concrete shop floor back in a frosty corner.

With barely adequate working area, the old switch came out and the Italian Job went in. Nasty under there, fer sure. And do not forget to refill the gearbox! I taped a cautionary note on the fuel tank as a reminder to self...

Monte

[GrimReaper]

Good job Monte.BTW are you satisfied with Trail's Tech Vapor?I was thinking for one of these

[Justin B.]

I taped a cautionary note on the fuel tank as a reminder to self...

Geesh, glad I ain't that old, yet...  [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

[montmil]

I taped a cautionary note on the fuel tank as a reminder to self...

Geesh, glad I ain't that old, yet...  [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

But you're gettin' there

[montmil]

Good job Monte.BTW are you satisfied with Trail's Tech Vapor?I was thinking for one of these

They are pretty slick. More info provided than I can keep up with.

When I bought the '81, the plastic and rubber instrument pod was totally toast. Odometer didn't work. Interior lamp sockets were sorta damaged/broken. Fixing everything would have been 2+ times as expensive as simply buying the Vapor at $124.95. I feel the digi visually lightens up the R65 front end.



I added a Radio Shack LED to the oil pressure circuit. Fitted the lamp into the Steering head top nut, ran the wires out the bottom and added quick disconnect plugs for service access.

[Adrian]

Hi there - all this info on the Vapour is really interesting. I have an R65 from 1984. I have a PDF file of the instruction book for the vapour and it looks quite straight forward - especially if I also buy the dash board of idiot lights to match.
My question is this - Assuming that the rev counter is replaced (as per fotos) along with the speedo - does the bike still run okay?
I had to have my rev counter repaired some time ago after water damage which caused the whole electrical system to stop functioning. I was told that the rev counter unit acts like a dash board in that it serves not to just as a place for all the indicator lights for oil, neutral et al - but also as a central area for ignition.
Did you do something special and extra so as to be able to replace the rev counter or was the information I was given false? I have to replace my broken speedo as it's not repairable and the Vapour will save me a lot of money and it looks really great.
Thanks for your help .... Adrian

[montmil]

Adrian, for the tachometer feature, the TrailTech Vapor has but one 22 gauge wire to hook up to the low voltage side of the ignition coil. That gets the tachometer rockin' after you follow the programing to tell the Vapor you're not riding a 2-stroke. This is the truth, really.

Can't speak to the info your were given about the OEM tach. I've had zip, nada, no problems with the Vapor install. It's lighter than the OEM pod and steam gauges so the bike must be faster.

BTW, I dumped the "riding lawn mower" ignition switch that was hacked into the R65's instrument pod. I no longer utilize a keyed ignition. Toggle up and I'm running.

Monte

[Adrian]

Okay thanks mate - much appreciated - Adrian ....

[azcycle]

Good job Monte.BTW are you satisfied with Trail's Tech Vapor?I was thinking for one of these

They are pretty slick. More info provided than I can keep up with.

When I bought the '81, the plastic and rubber instrument pod was totally toast. Odometer didn't work. Interior lamp sockets were sorta damaged/broken. Fixing everything would have been 2+ times as expensive as simply buying the Vapor at $124.95. I feel the digi visually lightens up the R65 front end.



I added a Radio Shack LED to the oil pressure circuit. Fitted the lamp into the Steering head top nut, ran the wires out the bottom and added quick disconnect plugs for service access.

Where did you ground the new Oil Pressure LED?

[Bob_Roller]

Graeme,

I'm sure you have the fuel tank off, look for all of the solid brown wires that are 'gange' together around where the relays, ignition control, voltage regulator, etc .

You can add your ground there, that's the main grounding, or earthing poit for the bike .

[montmil]

Jeez... A fella retires from work and skips outta town for a couple days with his bride and now Graeme thinks I'm ignoring him.  

Thanks for answering, Bob R.

[azcycle]

   No worries. I'm just getting closer to installing my new Vapor and want to do something similar. I think my biggest hurdle will be cutting/bending a piece of steel/aluminum to house the vapor and ignition key. I don't have a lot of fancy tools in the workshop so it may be rather crude.

[montmil]

Since you're investing in some nice tools, this Harbor Freight bending brake is economical and will do the job in fabricating a mount for your new Vapor and ignition switch. I would suggest using aluminum; it buffs up real shiny.

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-bending-brake-39103.html

The HF brake worked fine for my Vapor install.

Monte