Going to see/buy a R65.. What should I check?

[Lucky_Lou]

Hmmm thanks bob, small frame + electronic ignition would be perfect for me.. (I'm short) lets hope I get lucky

Thanks once again..

The bike looks in good nick...i wouldnt get too excited about the ignition the electronic v points debate rages on some people have gone back to points!!. the spark plugs are standard size personaly i like NGK bp7es  and steer clear of Bosch.
But thats just me.
Lou

[Adamastor]

Let us know how the ride home turns out.

Will surely do so

I live in Porto, northern part of Portugal:

http://www.portoturismo.pt/

Hope the bike is so good as it looks, but I do already know that photos almost always make things look better...

Wish me luck next Monday or Thursday...

[Adamastor]

I am home... and came riding my new R65!











I had however some problems... at 40 km from home, it started raining... and the engine went dead. That was not very cool... Were do you think water is doing problems? I removed first one plug and found out both were B7es... I had two BP7ES on my bag (the right plug for it, right?), so I put them in... but still no success, and the right side cylinder plug was very dark so I believe that the right cylinder electrics were loosing more spark than the other, right? I checked both for spark and both seemed to have nice sparks(I know, I earthed the spark very well so I would not fry the electronics).
With new plugs, and after about 10 minutes resting (and after two un-successful tries/cleaning plugs) she started fine again, and I managed to ride home with no more rain on my way.

There was also a missing rubber from the flywheel hole... must buy that really fast...

There is also a cosmetic weird thing on this bike, the front light doesn't turn with the headset, so maybe it once had a fairing, right? This upsets me a bit, because it looks weird when the front wheels is not aligned with the bike body... Can I change it to the normal situation?

There will be a lot of questions on the near future, so please be patient with me, ok?

Regards,

Sergio

[Bob_Roller]

You've got a good looking bike there, a few non-standard parts for the R65 .

The engine quitting on you during a wet ride, is most likely an ignition coil, or spark plug lead problem .

The OEM black and gray coil is a known problematic part, commonly referred to as the 'crack-o-matic' coil, for the propensity of cracks in the plastic case .

You've got a bit of work ahead of you, but nothing to be scared of .

[Adamastor]

I still didn't have any time to explore the bike, and will only have tomorrow night at my father's house. The ignition coil is located under the seat (the box where the spark plug leads go to)?

Regards..

(oh, the speedo slowly stopped working during the journey.. hope it's only the cable..)

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Like the color there.  Yes, the coil is under the seat.  Just lift the seat up and then remove the wire bale/clip under the tank.  Be sure to remove the fuel line.  Follow the spark plug leads to the coil.  If it's a gray coil then you have the famous "crack-o-matic" coil.  Wet weather does make it subject to failure, (although I have experienced Hall vane sensor failure in wet weather).  Easily replaced though.  Look at "motoelektric.com" for the red Dyno coil.  As to the headlight, the first thing I would check is the bulb.  If it's good then you'll have to run some electrical trouble shooting.  Again, you have come to the right place.

[montmil]

My 1981 R65 had the original Bosch Crack-O-Matic mounted forward under the tank and attached to a factory bracket welded to the main frame backbone. That's also where my replacement Dyna coil lives. My 1983 R65 is the same; coil under tank and forward.



I notice the plug leads on Adamastor's engine are running forward. Where would a coil fit under the seat of an '81 R65? The square-holed bracket above the OEM fuse box? How about a photo of the chassis under the seat area.

Water and old Bosch dual lead coils don't play nice. Replacement is the only sure cure.

Monte

[Adamastor]

Hi there once again...

I took her out for some photos and here they are in hi-quality:

http://img507.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=igp9714.jpg

Unfortunately I believe I have the gray crack-o-matic, and I actually saw a large crack on the plastic case...
The plug leads also have some small cracks.

I need to do a list of "must buy" things, and would be very grateful if you guys could help me out... Please take a good look at the pictures...

Things to do:

1- Clean gas tap (only works well on reserve)
2- Adjust valves (I can hear them a lot)
3- Rebuild carbs
4- ?  (please help me fill this list)
x- Clean/Lub Splines (maybe first put her running well a ride a bit)

Things to buy:

1- Timing hole rubber
2- Speedometer cable
3- The non crack-o-matic coil
4- Mufflers + back H union
5- ?

I notice the idle is a bit high, and it tends to be higher after rolling a bit. Is this symptom of anything? Could simply be cable adjusting?

I also noticed the headlight backets are soldered to the frame, so there will be no easy way to convert this to a normal R65 headlight (that turns with headset). Can anyone take a photo of how is a normal R headlight bracket?

Regards,

Sergio

[SCJJR65]

Say, I just noticed that your bike's color is nearly an exact match for my bike!  Wow!!

I never thought I'd see another R65 painted the same as mine!  You have good taste, my friend!  

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Adam, see the thread by Rob Valdez, "New folks that need help on identifying parts" on the Important Topics header of this board.  That will come in very handy.  

You say that the headlight brackets are soldered onto the fork tubes?  Simply amazing!  Of course I had a bike one time with the kick starter welded to the shaft but that's a six pack discussion.  Send us a photo of that.  

If it was me, I would begin the refurbishment with electrical upgrades.  It's my experience that about 90% of the engine problems tend to be electrical in nature.  Secondly, rebuild the carbs.  You'll probably need new floats too.  Motobins has good prices and prompt delivery.  After you do that you will need to balance the carbs.  A simple job but the carbs have to be fresh for starters.  Obviously the frame and running gear are in good order since you drove home.  You can sort out that stuff later on or in your spare time.  I saw a tank on the IBMWR marketplace a day or so back.  Don't know if it is still available.
That's my tuppence.   [smiley=2cents.gif]

[steve hawkins]

I would not bother converting back to the normal R65 headlight setup, unless it really bothers you.  I think it looks okay from the pictures.  Same goes for the saddle.  It looks nice and is is the least of your worries.  Be different - whenever you are stopped by a knowledgeable BMW enthusiast it will be a good topic for discussion - anyone else won't notice.

Concentrate you efforts on the HT circuit.  

After you have checked the valves you will still hear them.  Its when you stop hearing them there's an issue.

Fix your speedo - I hope its the cable!

And at 67,000 miles, I bet those rear shocks are tired!

Enjoy your bike.

[Adamastor]

You say that the headlight brackets are soldered onto the fork tubes?  Simply amazing!  

Oh sorry, english is not my native language so I might have confused you. The headlight brackets are soldered to the main frame (the center tube) not to the fork tubes.
The bike looks funny like this, but I dont want to put a fairing on it, since I dont like fairings very much.
Would it be too bad to simply cut the original bracket near the frame, and then simply use a universal headlight bracket like this?


Regards

Sergio

[Adamastor]

I would not bother converting back to the normal R65 headlight setup, unless it really bothers you.  I think it looks okay from the pictures.  Same goes for the saddle.  It looks nice and is is the least of your worries.  Be different - whenever you are stopped by a knowledgeable BMW enthusiast it will be a good topic for discussion - anyone else won't notice.

Concentrate you efforts on the HT circuit.  

After you have checked the valves you will still hear them.  Its when you stop hearing them there's an issue.

Fix your speedo - I hope its the cable!

And at 67,000 miles, I bet those rear shocks are tired!

Enjoy your bike.

Yes, main priorities are to get her running well and with liability. Then I'll do the cosmetic restoration... I actually like that /5 seat.. and its confy.
The rear shocks might not have the 67.000km, on the way home, although I didn't run more than 100 km/h, they seemed fine...  (my only bike experience is with Vespas, Lambrettas and a Suzuki GN250)

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Oh sorry, english is not my native language so I might have confused you. The headlight brackets are soldered to the main frame (the center tube) not to the fork tubes.

Not a problem Sergio.  Being from Texas, English isn't my first language either.  I have headlight brackets like that on my (former) R65.  Monte "Chicken Man" Miller pointed out that my headlight is either aftermarket or from some other bike and it actually looks pretty good.  Check out the "Show us your R65 thread" and see what I mean.  You'll see all manner of customization on this site and almost all of them look really good.  What you don't want is something like this.  http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcy/1335109316.html
A rat bike extraordinnaire.

[montmil]

That's the correct headlight bucket for the R65 but the mounting setup is completely home-brew.

Same thing for the side covers. The plastic edge trim, shape and odd faux-louvers are, well, odd.

Get the engine running properly, tend to any safety of operation issues, and lastly, mess with the cosmetic issues.

Monte