valve lash adjustment???

[Jap_rider_Jim]

Hi Guys,I went with my brother inlaw today and we picked up a pretty nice 1980 r65. The bike has 38,000 on it and is in overall nice shape. The one thing I did notice is a fairly loud ticking noise. I called a friend of mine and he listened over my cell phone, he said it probably is a valve lash adjustment. That sounds good, I noticed a milld skip up to about 2000 RPM's then it smooths out. Could this be a combination of the valves out adjustment and the carbs needing to be synched???
 All in all I think the bike is pretty nice and he got it at a price that allows for some repairs in the budget. I'll post pics soon.     Thanks for any input guys.  Jap rider Jim 8-)

[nhmaf]

Carb cleaning/adjustment and valves in need of adjustment could be a plausible explanation for some rough
off-idle running.   The valves on these bikes always do make some tapping sounds even when they are properly
adjusted, but it shouldn't be really loud (all things are relative, though, and they still sound like sewing machines
compared to other motorcycle engines).   When you have more info on the bike and/or pictures, let us know
and we'll all try to help you guys out.

 

[Justin B.]

Congrats on finding what sounds like a nice example to start your Beemer experience with.  I would start with a "major service" as outlined in an owners manual or the Haynes book, this will give you a maintenance baseline to gage your future maintenance intervals from.  Valve adjustment is part of the major service but they ain't never gonna sound like jap valves.  The old Beemer saying is "Noisy valves are happy valves."  Properly set they are going to sound like they are out of adjustment to someone used to a jap bike, in fact if they start to get quiet THEN you need to adjust.

[mandosi]

Hey guy's I'm the brother in law who bought the 81 R65. I'll be looking to get the "major service" done real soon. I rode it briefly today and it didn't sound bad. I think overall I've got a good bike for not a lot of money. I'll try to post some comments and questions as I get it on the road and learn about it.

[MrRiden]

Ah it's a beauty! Factory shocks and hard bags too! Looks like you found a good-n from the photo! I concur on "Noisy valves are happy valves."
Rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Yes, put rear shocks on your short list.
Or at least the top of the long list.

That is a nice looking bike.  Very original.  Nearly 1-owner?
The fairing is from that time period.  The name escapes me right now.

[msbuck]

I was going to ask about the little fairing on this beautiful bike.  Is there any markings on it that tell you what it is?  I've always loved that color as well.  

Congrats on a great purchase.  Have fun breaking it in!!

[mandosi]

I've it scheduled for a "major service" in a week or two. In the mean time I'm looking for some advice on tires. There are Metzlers on there now...very little wear but some cracking on the side walls, it looks
like the bike may have sat for a long time and they are dried out. I'm thinking I'll just replace them to be safe and not find out I should have in the middle of a ride.
Also I'd like to find a replacement tool kit for this years bike...any suggested sources? Will a kit from a year close to 81 contain what I need? Thanks!! Steve

[Justin B.]

Pretty much any toolkit will work, you can get a new one from Chicago BMW for well under $100 last time I checked.  Replacing any tire that has weather cracking in the sidewalls is a must, don't even think about riding on it.  Even if it doesn't blow the rubber will be very hard and have almost no grip.

You "scheduled" it for a major service?   Ouch, you are fixin' to understand why BMW means "Bring More Wampum" , among other things.  Has Jim decided to not help you with getting this into running order?  Figures that a "rice-boy" would wuss out on ya...  

[Jap_rider_Jim]

Hey wait a minute!!! Who do you think is going to help him load it on the truck. All kidding asside, time for the both of us is real tight, I'm sure we'll be doing some stuff on it though.

[Justin B.]

Heh, have fun!  

[mandosi]

Oh no...now I'm a bit scared about a major service...any idea what I might expect in terms of dollars?
I've got a week or so before I bring it out and I can sure do a lot myself in terms of fluid changes, plugs, air filter etc but I'm not up to messin with the valve adjustments...by the way I found a nice little mouse nest in the air filter!!!man those guys will get into any place!...$60.00 replacment cost. (I see what you mean if only it was wampum instead of cash!!)

[Justin B.]

Unless y'all strictly don't want to, or are short on time, you should do as much as you are able.  I know the Haynes book has the minor and major services broken out and I could see you two saving several hundred bucks with just a weekend or two of wrenching and beer drinking.

This is a major service checklist I made in Excel format.  I just check off things when I have them done.  You could then consider the items you did not/could not do and decide what to have a dealer do for you.

[suecanada]

You say you don't want to tackle the valve adjustment...well I'm here to advise you TO DO IT YOURSELF!! It's not hard at all...prooF? I do it!!!  This is not one of those valve shim setups and there isn't any bells and whistles to remove first or other parts you can mess up.  One head cover acorn bolt and you're in there! 2/10mm wrenches and you have the tools! The gasket may need replacing but usually you can reuse it over again. Being an old bike you may want to have  2 new cylinder gaskets on hand though.

I get along quite well by just putting the bike in 5th gear and I can turn the back wheel with one hand and look into the timing hole with a small head flashlight until the right timing mark comes into view. The timing hole has a rubber disc plug covering it on the left side of the bike behind the carbs or thereabout. A thin screwdriver will dislodge it. Acorn nut needs a very very light touch when tightening....Over the next few months you need to ask us about work as there are a few places that published torque values are rubbish and you'll strip things....the final drives little bolt that fits in the rear of the final drive and is used to CHECK the fluid level...don't use it I'd suggest...just dump the fluid and renew with proper amount. The fork oil drain bolts are another place you just need to snug carefully and the book is wrong!

Honest injun'..you'll save $$$$$ and feel so proud. The guys or the manual can give you all the details.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Oh no...now I'm a bit scared about a major service...any idea what I might expect in terms of dollars?
I've got a week or so before I bring it out and I can sure do a lot myself in terms of fluid changes, plugs, air filter etc but I'm not up to messin with the valve adjustments...by the way I found a nice little mouse nest in the air filter!!!man those guys will get into any place!...$60.00 replacment cost. (I see what you mean if only it was wampum instead of cash!!)

As well you should be scared!

The first thing to do is contact the Service Manager and find out if they are even willing (or have a competent mechanic) to work on your bike.
There are two different BMW dealers these days: Airhead Friendly, and the rest...

If they do work on them, then you can find out what it is going to cost (have a list ready for him).

And the valve adjustments are the LEAST of your worries!   They are the easiest thing to do on this bike!
Do you have an owners manual, yet?  They are available special order for just a little over $20, and they detail all of the routine maintenance items WITH PICTURES OF YOUR BIKE!  You will not get this kind of personalized service in a Clymer or Haynes manual.  They barely acknowledge that the R65 exists...