New member, just picked up an R65 last night...

[HellBilly]

Just wanted to introduce myself. Name is Jared, from Vermont. MMI grad, parts guy at an HD dealership. Have a sporty, dirtbike, couple of old Triumphs (71' & 72').

Just picked up a 1981 R65. 9300 miles on it, sat in a guys dry garage for 15 years, he never rode it once. Thing is cherry.

Anywho, is there anything i should know about R65's ? Im just gonna throw some new gas in it, drop the float bowls. Put a new batt in it and start it.

anywho ello

[MrRiden]

15 years? Carb diagrams come to mind, prolly need refreshing. Think you also have the brittle coil that is prone to cracking. Absolutely flush the brake fluid before your ride. Let us know if it starts. Pics?
rich

[HellBilly]

Thanks man, ill check the coils too. This bike seems like a mechanics dream. Everything is like right there and accessible. Yah im doin the brake fluid when i get home tonight. Ill try to get some pics when i get a chance.

15 years? Carb diagrams come to mind, prolly need refreshing. Think you also have the brittle coil that is prone to cracking. Absolutely flush the brake fluid before your ride. Let us know if it starts. Pics?
rich

[MrRiden]

oops meant carb diaphragms. blasted sphell cheek.

[Chris_in_BC]

Anywho, is there anything i should know about R65's ? Im just gonna throw some new gas in it, drop the float bowls. Put a new batt in it and start it.

Sounds like you have a great find. I would change all four oil compartments. Agree with MrRidden that diaphragms  probably need checking.

Not first thing by any means, but think you should budget for new tires,that rubber although maybe lots of tread is probably pretty old and hard by now. Ya don't want to slip on your first hard corner due to hard rubber.  :-/

Chris

[Ed Miller]

When I got my '81 it had only been sitting for 6 years and the brake fluid had solidified in the hoses.  So yeah, you need to check them out too.

There are some weak points in the '81 caused by new design stuff (mostly tranny and clutch), but you should be a long ways from seeing any of those.  Let us know how it goes.

[HellBilly]

how many separate oil compartments are there? As far as engine/tranny/primary is concerned

[Justin B.]

All fluids should be changed:

- Engine Oil
- Brake Fluid
- Transmission Lube
- Driveshaft Carrier (p/o swingarm)
- Final Drive

Also in need of serious maintenance:

- Clean and Lube Steering Head Bearings
- Clean and Lube Swingarm Bearings
- Clean and Lube Transmission Input Splines
- Clean and Lube Wheel Bearings
- Clean and Lube Rear Wheel Splines.

The list could go on and on and on and...

Complete everything on the attached checklist and you should be good-to-go.

Have fun!

[MrRiden]

justin,
was there at one time a maintance check list in .HTML (don't have excel) on the r65.org site? Now
I wish I had a copy.
rich

[Justin B.]

I don't remember, this is one I put together several years ago from mainly the Haynes manual - plus a couple of things I feel should be done.  I would think that you could probably get an excel viewer at tucows.com that would allow you to view/print .xls files.  Microshaft may even have one available...

[HellBilly]

are there grease fittings for the steering stem/ swingarm?  i'm getting my clymer manual monday

[Justin B.]

No on the steering head or wheel bearings - disassemble, clean, grease, adjust.  There are sorta grease ports for the swingarm pivot bearings but if it sat that long I would imagine all of the grease, everywhere, is going to be pretty hard so it would be best to do it the "hard" way.

[Chris_in_BC]

how many separate oil compartments are there? As far as engine/tranny/primary is concerned

Copying from Justin
All fluids should be changed:
 
- Engine Oil   - 20-50W - approx 2.5 litres with filter change - measure with dipstick resting on top of engine, not screwed in.  Change filter, but read up on how to do it -- lots of good reading http://home.jps.net/~snowbum/Oil.htm

- Brake Fluid  - NOT DOT  5 -   use  DOT 4
- Transmission Lube   - 800cc - 85-90W Hypoid gear oil
- Driveshaft Carrier (p/o swingarm)   - 150cc - 85-90W Hypoid gear oil
- Final Drive  -  - 350cc - 85-90W Hypoid gear oil