boy o boy

[jakebass12]

ok well i finally got my r65 running and there was a big motorcycle rally (the crud run) so i went to that and it rained a lot and when i was driving the bike started stuttering like it was running out of gas but 5-10 of it doing that then it stopped(i figured it was probably and electrical problem with the spark cords. so when i got home it was late and i was tired so i just went to bed. then the next day i had to run to the bank (about 10 miles away) and i decided to go on my bike. i got there shut off off the bike and went in side. i came out an hour later jumped on it and hit the starter and a loud CLINK from the right cylinder. what do you think i should do about my bike. heres some pics.

www.photobucket.com/bmwr65

any and all feedback is very appreciated

[montmil]

OMG, Jake!

If I'm seeing this correctly,  the exhaust valve seat split and partially fell into the cylinder head area. Have you found the rest of the seat or did it pass into the exhaust system? The valve and valve guide are likely toast as well. Piston top hammered, too.

There may be damage to the rocker arm, rocker arm shaft and push rod. Inspect closely.

You don't say what vintage your R65 is but, if it has the nikasil cylinders and the cylinder is damaged, it will need to be replaced as well. The nikasil units cannot be bored.

Start saving your lunch money. Terrible way to begin the Spring riding season in Wisconsin.

[nhmaf]

Ouch!  That isn't good at all.  Close inspection will tell if the cylinder bore is damaged - if it is, well, it has to be either replaced or stripped and re-coated,  I have learned that there are a few companies that can replate the Nikasil bores, but it may be less expensive to find a good used one.     The head will need closer inspection too to see if it can be cleaned up, but again, you might be less $$ out of pocket to get a good used head - they show up from time to time.

I would recommend having a careful look at the valve seats on the other cylinder as well - no sense in fixing one side and having the other side let go in another month or two.  

Sorry - very bad luck indeed!

[tvrla]

Dang! All that happened from trying to start it at the bank?

If the cylinder isn't damaged, it's possbile the piston can be used as-is. The head can be repaired, but as already mentioned, it may be lots cheaper to source a used one. I think there are some on ebay right now. If you've got the early ones, I may have a set, but I'd have to check.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I get all my head work done by Bob Grauer out in San Francisco.  408 248 9732
There are others his equal - you just want to make sure if you have someone work on your heads that they are EXPERIENCED with BMW airheads!

If you buy used heads, you won't know what you are getting and may have to spend money to have them built, as well.
It's unfortunate, but if you don't know your bikes service history, a head refreshening is a very good investment.  These bikes were built when lead was being removed from fuel, and the factory was having a difficult time matching metallurgy.  And then they gave us (Type 248s) freaky valve stems, to boot.  Thinner than the 247s and a two-piece design - that sometimes separates...

I'm getting a new, used engine for my bike soon, and I am planning on sending my heads to Bob next Winter!

[jakebass12]

well i got the head fixed and all the seats reset and a new valve and while i was putting it all back on i saw that my piston ring got pinched when it hit the valve. so i had a piston that came with the bike because it was just rebuilt. so im going to use that piston but the rings on it are stuck so im going to have to get new rings. what i need to know though is does the bike have nikasil cylinders. and i might need some help finding some piston rings but im sure ill be fine.

seems like im not suppose to be ridding this summer.

[Barry]

A 1981 will have nikasil cylinders and it uses different rings to the iron liner cylinders.

[nhmaf]

+1 what Barry said - unless someone swapped an old style iron liner cylinders onto your bike - which is fairly unlikely.   You could tell by looking for a ~1/4" thick iron sleeve for the cylinder wall versus a much thinner, plated looking surface with possibly very fine honing marks.

BE sure that you get the proper rings - nikasil cylinders use softer, iron rings, I believe, while the old iron cylinders use hard chromed rings.

[Justin B.]

Crap!  Have seen a few busted valves but this is the firstd time I've seet the seat insert fall apart!

When I re-ringed my '82 I got the rings from Moto-Bins.  You ARE doing both sides, correct?

[tvrla]

If the end gaps look ok, reasonably close to ballpark, I'd swap them to the 'new' piston. Either that, or unpinch the ring - but that could be tricky.

These things aren't rocket science - easily repaired in third world countries with blacksmith technologies.

[jakebass12]

justin the engine was just rebuilt with new pistons, rings, valves. and valve seats so i dont think i would have to put new rings on both sides. just the side that got busted. and i can seem to find rings on motobins. am i not looking in the right area or do they not have them.

[Red_Hen]

Jake,

I believe this is the correct set of rings from Motobins for your bike:
PISTON RING SET,650cc R65 1981 ON (NO OVER SIZE) (PER PISTON) Part 50375.  

For confirmation, you can email Motobins and you should get a reply from Damien in customer service.

Not sure who did the work on your engine rebuild - If it were my bike, I'd pull the other cylinder off and replace both pistons with new rings and inspect the valves.  You definitely don't want to go through this again!

Good Luck.

[jakebass12]

thanks ken for the info on motobins. and i did have both heads looked at and all the valves looked at and all the valve seats reset.

[Red_Hen]

There's a guy on the BMW MOA forum who's in the process of restoring a R75/5.  Like my story, he bought the bike in rough shape and stripped her completely down - he rebuild the engine, bought a new wiring harness, and when he put her back together, eventually got frustrated trying to get his bike to start.  

He brought his bike to a shop but so far isn't happy with the attitude of the owner so he may go elsewhere.  A forum member suggested a shop on the East Coast (USA) that specialized in Airheads called The Nickwakett Garage.  I checked out his site and found some interesting commentary about the "angles" in grinding valves.  I'll paste what I read below - I'm interested in hearing from the collective wisdom here at R65dotorg as to how different or improved a bike can run with the valves ground in a certain way:

CYLINDER HEAD REPAIR

One of my specialties is BMW Cylinder Head repair. I began doing head work at about 14 years of age, learning from my father. As I gained experience, I learned the significance of valve stem to guide fit, valve face to seat  contact and the effects of the various grinding angles used.  I have learned a fair bit about the metalurgy involved and it's effect on clearances and durability.

Many people speak about three and five angle valve jobs as if some kind of magic results from their use. In fact, the "extra" angles ground or cut on the seats are simply to make the contact area a consistent width and to place the valve correctly. Fourth, and fifth angles-or more-are to improve air flow.

[wirewrkr]

Anything that Bud from the Nickwackett garage says about cylinder had repair, you can bank on it.
I worked with him at BobsBMW for 6 years and still keep in contact with him on a regular basis. He is one of 3 people I allow to work on my cylinder heads.
Honest, integrity and 40 years of experience doing only one thing.....it's a great recipe.