Tank Badge Reinstall

[montmil]

I'm outta the heavy work and into the fun stuff with the repaint on the '83... finally.

Earlier, I had used dental floss -the thinner, stout style- to saw off the tank and tail farkles without damaging them. Of course, this renders useless the OEM foam/sticky tape backing. Silicone RTV adhesive is the weapon of choice for replacement. The RTV adhesive does give you some time for adjusting the roundel's position.

Side bar note: I never have liked the sticky back material on the current BMW roundels. Usually, once the adhesive touches the sheet metal, that's it. You're stuck; level or not. Anyway...

For the fuel tank badges, I visually leveled the bike with some scrap wood under the rear tire. Squeeze a thin bead of adhesive about 1/4 to 3/8-inch inside the perimeter of the badge. Leave an adhesive gap at the bottom for a moisture/condensation vent.

Position the badge, press down gently -don't want any goop squeezing out around the edge- and visually level the roundel. Confirm the position using a small level placed parallel with the crossbar in the logo. A lightly applied strip of blue painter's tape -less aggressive adhesive- holds the badge until the adhesive cures.

I attached the tail piece roundel using the tried n' true TLAR method.

Monte

[Yikes]

Golly that new blue paint looks sharp with the blue of that roundel!  I have some new roundels on order to replace my very brown originals.

Are you going to pinstripe the tank?

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Given you aviation background Major Monte, I think you should consider painting the underside of the tank and fenders that cloud gray color, sort of like they do those fighter jets.

Sidebar comment:  You would have loved the crazy guy in the biplane that was doing stunts over the beer tent at the national last Saturday night.  He looked like he was flying around 500 to 1000 feet doing all sorts of loops, falling leafs, and even did an outside loop.  One crazy guy but an outstanding pilot!  I didn't think you could get a beer tent full of thirsty beemer riders to leave their chairs but almost everyone was outside cheering the guy on.

[montmil]

Golly that new blue paint looks sharp with the blue of that roundel!  I have some new roundels on order to replace my very brown originals. Are you going to pinstripe the tank?

One of my oldy browny roundels now graces the front leg shield of my wife's brand new, nibs aren't worn off the tires, same gas in the tank as purchased scooter. This is the scooter she said she would ride for her 0.50 mile... as in one-half of a mile... commute to the schoolhouse. She has ridden it exactly one time in the nine+ months since we bought it.

It's been a number of years since I limbered up my sword striper brushes. Don't know if I'm as steady now as I was back in the day. Used to be an alky pin striper here in town but I think he found religion, sobered up and got the shakes pretty bad. I wouldn't defile the old bike with vinyl tape but that's just me.

Monte

[montmil]

Given you aviation background Major Monte, I think you should consider painting the underside of the tank and fenders that cloud gray color, sort of like they do those fighter jets.

That would be so subtle as to rank as an outstanding idea. I did prep and paint under the tank, front fender and backside of the side panels. Glutton for punishment, I am.

Sidebar comment:  You would have loved the crazy guy in the biplane that was doing stunts over the beer tent at the national last Saturday night... I didn't think you could get a beer tent full of thirsty beemer riders to leave their chairs but almost everyone was outside cheering the guy on.

I like that sorta flying. As I recall from squadron days, the rule was, "No smoking twenty-four hours before a flight and no drinking within fifty feet of the aircraft." At least that's the way I remember it. [smiley=beer.gif]

Monte

[Lucky_Lou]

That would be so subtle as to rank as an outstanding idea. I did prep and paint under the tank, front fender and backside of the side panels. Glutton for punishment, I am.
[smiley=beer.gif]

Monte

To quote or good freind DS in Kellys Heros .....i only drive em i dont know what makes en work,
Lou

[weasel01]

Monte , Thats the same color as my bike ....your giving me inspiration!

So your a pilot? I'm an aviation nut too.
Grew up on a small airport owned by my uncle.

[weasel01]

Monte , Thats the same color as my bike ....your giving me inspiration!

So your a pilot? I'm an aviation nut too.

Grew up on a small airport owned by my uncle had the bug ever since.

[beemer]

I'm outta the heavy work and into the fun stuff with the repaint on the '83... finally.

Earlier, I had used dental floss -the thinner, stout style- to saw off the tank and tail farkles without damaging them. Of course, this renders useless the OEM foam/sticky tape backing. Silicone RTV adhesive is the weapon of choice for replacement. The RTV adhesive does give you some time for adjusting the roundel's position.

Side bar note: I never have liked the sticky back material on the current BMW roundels. Usually, once the adhesive touches the sheet metal, that's it. You're stuck; level or not. Anyway...

For the fuel tank badges, I visually leveled the bike with some scrap wood under the rear tire. Squeeze a thin bead of adhesive about 1/4 to 3/8-inch inside the perimeter of the badge. Leave an adhesive gap at the bottom for a moisture/condensation vent.

Position the badge, press down gently -don't want any goop squeezing out around the edge- and visually level the roundel. Confirm the position using a small level placed parallel with the crossbar in the logo. A lightly applied strip of blue painter's tape -less aggressive adhesive- holds the badge until the adhesive cures.

I attached the tail piece roundel using the tried n' true TLAR method.

Monte

Do you do all your own spraying?it looks great,Julian.

[montmil]

Do you do all your own spraying?it looks great,Julian.

Thanks, Julian, for the kind words.

Yes, I do my own paint n' body chores. It has been my experience -and opinion- that time spent in preparing to paint is far more important to the quality of the final finish than simply pulling the trigger on a paint gun.

The '83 R65 required fixing a ding in the fuel tank, sheet metal work to straighten out the seat tail piece, serious time rehabilitating the fiberglass front fender and repair of several cracks and one missing tab on the side panels.

The entire job consumed many hours of labor. What I call the getting ready to stage. I would encourage anyone interested in this type of work to give it a shot.

Monte

[beemer]

Do you do all your own spraying?it looks great,Julian.

Thanks, Julian, for the kind words.

Yes, I do my own paint n' body chores. It has been my experience -and opinion- that time spent in preparing to paint is far more important to the quality of the final finish than simply pulling the trigger on a paint gun.

The '83 R65 required fixing a ding in the fuel tank, sheet metal work to straighten out the seat tail piece, serious time rehabilitating the fiberglass front fender and repair of several cracks and one missing tab on the side panels.

The entire job consumed many hours of labor. What I call the getting ready to stage. I would encourage anyone interested in this type of work to give it a shot.

Monte

I can't wait to see it when it's all done!it's going to be a stunner!!Julian.

[OLY65LS]

Here's how I got my new emblems on straight.  First, stick some conventional masking tape on either side of the dimple.  Mark the level line, to line up with the horiz. line on the badge.  Then, before peeling off the protective paper, hold the badge in place and use a 6-8 inch piece of duct tape to create a hinge/flap that comes about half way across the badge.  If you want, you can add another strip or two of duct tape to be sure the badge is held where it should go.  Then, lift the badge away from the surface, peel off the paper, and if you've been careful, the duct tape should let you bring it back to the exact right spot.