81 Dashboard Questions...

[azcycle]

I'm new here, with a recently acquired 1981 r65 in overall great shape. However, the one thing it is missing is the original "dashboard." The previous owner (was going to be my father-in-law until he passed away three weeks ago) removed the gauges and dashboard. He found some other BMW indicator light/ignition panel and just zip-tied it to the handlebars over the non-stock headlight.  All it indicates (I think) are: Oil, turn signal, neutral, high beam, battery, and has the ignition. I think it's another BMW "panel" because the stock plug is plugged into the back.  

I've dug through a few boxes of motorcycle parts and found the original speedo (missing the trip meter button), the tachometer, and what seems like the original rubber/plastic dashboard.  However, the dashboard is in fairly bad shape... top and bottom halves okay but the horizontal piece that extends over the handlebars has been broken off. I have it as well, but don't know if I'd be able to glue it back together or not. I'm hoping he didn't tear apart the wiring too much.

So, my question is: What do I need to get this back to stock dashboard configuration?  Is there a bracket that mounts the dashboard to the handlebars/tripletree? I've searched and have found images of a few bikes, but they all have intact dashboards... I can't figure out how it actually attaches to the bike.

Any help/advice on what parts I may need would be welcome.  And of course if any of you HAVE the parts I need, let me know.  I'll take some photos tonight and post 'em up when I get a chance.

[Lucky_Lou]

The "dashboard"bits can be expensive and hard to find as there the first bits to get banged up if you have a wreck....PM Oldbikesrcool he may have a spare in his box of bits or put an add up on traing post for bits your after.Does the tacho have the multi pin plug with it ??
Lou    

[Barry]

Have you got the brackets that mount the speedo and tach ?  if not check out one the parts fiches. They are not exactly crystal clear on this area of the bike though.  The "dash" is a push fit over the dials and the ignition switch has a screw down ring which holds the dash in place. There are also 2 spring clips which fit through a bracket on the handle bar clamps.

I think you are really going to need a look at someone else's stock bike to be clear on this.

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/DiagramsMain.aspx?model=R65%2078-85&prod=071978-041985

[azcycle]

Thanks, fellas.  That microfiche helps.  Looking at image #31 "panel" it seems I don't have ANY of those parts.  I think John (my FIL) removed all that and added aftermarket headlight brackets and light.  But it looks like that is what I'm missing to mount the gauges/dashboard.

Lucky_Lou... I'm not sure what you mean by "mini pin plug" but if what it is what I think it is, then yes.  That is the mini plug that is currently plugged into the "indicator panel" that I mentioned in my first post.  

I guess when it comes down to it.... i'd prefer to go back to the stock gauges but if I can't then I don't mind going aftermarket. Maybe I can have some sort of custom bracket fabricated. But I need SOME sort of gauges on there. I'm certainly not comfortable not knowing how fast I'm going.

No wonder John got so many speeding tickets.  

[Lucky_Lou]

Im referring to the Multi pin plug that goes into the bottom of the tacho its the main electrical feed to other circuits.
This may be a good source of reference put the frame number in.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=6346898&part=&kind=M&series=K56&body=ohne&arch=0

its currently set on mine just alter the serial number  (Frame) and year ect.
Lou

[montmil]

I'm in the late stages of replacing the steering head bearings on my 1983 R65. As the dash pad is yet to be refit, here are some photos of my disassembled dash and gauge components. Identical to my/your '81 R65s.


This bracket is anchored to the two forward handlebar clamp bolts. An O-ring on the brake hose is secured to the bracket and holds it in position under the upper cover, aka: the cow's tongue.


Top cover. Note the two metal tabs that capture the sheet metal screws on the lower cover.


Another view of the top cover. Note the spring clip in the metal tab. The clip passes through the outer holes on the brake cable bracket. These also help hold the two plastic covers together.


Lower cover. Two sheet metal screws with trim washers on left and right sides.


This threaded ring secures the top cover at the ignition switch location.


Tachometer and speedometer each have two threaded studs. The instruments are each secured with two small nuts. The "cathedral-looking" upper part of the complex metal plate is a component of the headlight mounting ears and the turn signal stalks.

It is rare to find a complete upper and lower plastic instrument shroud that does not have some sort of damage. My '81's cow tongue was in bad shape so I dumped it in favor of a Trail Tech digital instrument.



Hope these photos helped a bit. Good luck on your quest.   Monte

[clouseau]

Call http://www.re-psycle.com/
They always have parts and if they don't now, they may have in the future.
Also, call this guy who I know has a wrecked R65:
Rick (Black Kat Motorwerks) 310-741-8196

[azcycle]

Thanks for all the great photos and references.

Yes, it does still have the mini plug that goes into the tachometer.  I'll have to dig in the wiring and see if the two turn signal wires/bulbs exist.

We're headed up to his property tomorrow. I'll dig around in some more boxes and see if I can find anything else r65 related.  But i know I would have noticed a huge front bracket/plate so he may have tossed that.  It wasn't like John to throw anything away, though so it may be hiding somewhere.

I'll keep ya'll updated.  

[steven m]

I recently replaced my dash pad, upper and lower, since the ones that came with my bike had been cut back on the left side about an inch.  Not sure why, and I think I was the only one who noticed it.  You can have them if you like, for the price of postage.  I have been offered parts from other forum members in the same way and would like to pass on the technique.  

Certainly not perfect, but it will get you on the road until you find a perfect set.

[azcycle]

Steven... thank you for the offer. I may take you up on that, but upon some further research, I may have found why John removed everything: I don't think the gauges are working correctly. Read on:

Here is a box of r65 parts I found on his property yesterday. Looks like full dash but broken/torn and in bad shape. Both gauges, a couple headlights and a headlight bucket, a tail-light, and the major fork/frame dashboard piece.



This is the front of the bike now.  This small dash is from some sort of BMW as the mini-pin plug fits right in.  All lights work, etc.


Underside:


Now, when I get it running, all lights work, even the turn signal.  The high-beam has a blob of gum stock over it. John obviously didn't like that glaring at him all the time.


However, when I plug in the tach/lights, ONLY the oil lit up solid.  And notice the green light... that is the neutral indicator. But it only lit when the HIGH BEAM was on.  So something is wrong in the internals.





Also... is the tach electronically driven?  It wasn't working at all when I had the it plugged in and the engine running.

[Bob_Roller]

I'm only guessing here, but the electrical connector that goes on the tachometer, looks to be metal .

Doesn't look OEM for an R65 .

You may have to get the wires sorted out, to get things to work .

The tachometer gets it's electrical signal from the ignition coil .

[montmil]

Those are some keen looking aluminum headlight brackets clamped to the fork tubes, Graeme. If you decide to dump them, I'd like first refusal on buying them from you.

The large, stamped and spot-welded plate mounts on the triple clamps at four positions. From your photos, it appears the rubber grommets and tube bushings are still there. That's a good thing. Also note that the short tubing bits that the OEM turn signals mounted on have been cut off and/or awol. No biggie that.

The headlight looks rather chopper-ish. Maybe aftermarket sourced from Orange County Choppers? LOL.

If you have a service manual, Haynes or Clymer, start a wire tracing exercise to sort out your questions. Is the plastic fuse box still on the bike? The euro-style ceramic fuses can be problematic with corrosion on the fuse ends and their respective spring clips.

Monte

[azcycle]

I'll have to pick up a Haynes/Clymer manual (was planning to anyway.)  I assume all fuses are working as the lights all work on the existing zip-tied panel (2nd up from last photo).  Where the heck is the fuse box located on this thing?   :-?  So considering those same lights don't work in the tachometer (just plugged in the exact same mini-plug) there is something wrong with the tachometer.

Tracing the wiring down, I do see some cut wires but I need to track down a wiring diagram to see which ones they are.

I'm considering just leaving the existing panel as it is and finding a way to actually bolt/mount it... and buying a Trail Tech digital gauge.

[montmil]

Lift the seat and pull the tank. At the end of the frame's upper backbone and just below it, is a thumbscrew that opens a small plastic box. Two fuses inside.



Lid off original fuse box and fuses removed. DVOM said fuses were good but corrosion on fuse ends and mounting clips played havoc with a couple lights.



OEM euro-ceramic fuses replaced with weatherproof mini-blade fuses.



NAPA #784667. You'll need two plus a couple 7.5 amp fuses.

[azcycle]

Thanks, Montmil!  Looks like I'll have to do some snooping and check the condition of the fuses before I go ripping apart the dashboard electricals.