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Author Topic: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed  (Read 2563 times)

Offline motoleo

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R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« on: April 16, 2016, 04:43:43 PM »
I have been searching but I haven't come up with anything on this list as the best way to remove the stock fairing and instrument covers on an 82 R65LS. I have some loose turn signal stalks, broken turn signal units and a light socket for one of the gages that is danging inside the pod that I need to get back into place as well as some fairing cosmetic repair.

Any detailed instructions or photos would be a big help as I don't want to break any more parts/plastic related to the fairing
« Last Edit: April 16, 2016, 04:45:56 PM by lseidman »

Offline nhmaf

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2016, 10:14:39 PM »
First thing - if you still have the inside black plastic covers on the left and right and side (they slip over the top of the fork tubes) - you want to take those off carefully.   Remove the screw that is at the outer corner of them - it screws into a screw hole in the colored (red or silver) fairing part.  Carefully work the part back toward the rear of the bike and upward a little - rocking a bit at a time can be effective and be ready to move the cables out of the way.  Helps to make the  handlebars turn all the way to the opposite side when doing it.  Depending on length & height of handlebars (Euro vs American) you might even want to loosen the perch screws so you can move the throttle/brake or clutch lever upward to gain more clearance.  These left & right covers are NLA, so if you break it, well, you know the story..

To remove the black cover on the instrument cluster/cowl, you need to remove the black ring that goes round the ignition key.  It is also important to loosen (at minimum) or remove the bolts you will see up near the top of red or silver fairing part that bolts it to the black cowling/cover..   Now, there are (or were) little plastic tabs on the black cover/cowling piece that latched into a lip  of the colored fairing part on either side of the headlight, down toward the leading edge of black cover piece, maybe an inch or two back from the front edge - you want to be careful about levering that area inward and upward to avoid breaking them - but chances are they were already broken off by a PO.  The black cowling will need to slide backward and upward so that it basically slides up and away from the instrument dial faces.   You might find that loosening the lower pair of bolts (left and right side that hold the color fairing part to the bracket on the fork tubes also helps a bit.

The turn signals basically push in through rubber grommets in the colored fairing part, and are held in slight compression by the bolts on the tubes  that stick out to the side from the inner bracket.   It is basically a thing metal squeezing on plastic sort of situation, so you want to be gentle with them and not overtighten - but you do have have to fully loosen those bolts to pull the blinkers out to the side - the wires will still be attached, so will only come out so far without disassembly of the turn signals.   I've found that neatly wrapping some electrical tape around the turn signals to increase their diameter and give the tube/clamp something more to grip works well on combating the droopy turn-signal syndrome.

I don't have access to my pics of the bike at the moment - hope this helps

« Last Edit: April 16, 2016, 10:17:06 PM by nhmaf »
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2016, 07:24:51 PM »
Thanks for that detailed explanation! It made some sense just reading it but I'm sure it will be much clearer when I look at the bike/parts while reading your explanation again.

thrang

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2016, 06:30:42 AM »
I was going to put a description but Nhmaf has done better than I could, the only thing I'll add is be careful not to damage or lose the marked ignition position indicator surround as they are rare as rocking horse sh*t, and not available from BMW.  

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2016, 05:52:12 PM »
Quote
Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
First thing - if you still have the inside black plastic covers on the left and right and side (they slip over the top of the fork tubes) - you want to take those off carefully.  

Well I don't have to worry about those black plastic fork covers as they are not there!

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2016, 05:53:27 PM »
Quote
I was going to put a description but Nhmaf has done better than I could, the only thing I'll add is be careful not to damage or lose the marked ignition position indicator surround as they are rare as rocking horse sh*t, and not available from BMW.  
Thanks!

buzza

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2016, 02:17:57 AM »
The largest problem I had in removing the nose fairing cover was dealing with the elec. connectors to the indicator warning lights . I could not easily get my fingers in to pull out the light globe holders and of course the clips broke. It was even more difficult to get them back in place.
If I have to remove the cover again I will extent the length of the wiring to allow the cover to be lifted clear or the instruments, thus allowing access to all elec. connections.

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2016, 04:10:09 PM »
Quote
Quote
Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
First thing - if you still have the inside black plastic covers on the left and right and side (they slip over the top of the fork tubes) - you want to take those off carefully.  

Well I don't have to worry about those black plastic fork covers as they are not there!
Just picked up a pair of these on ebay (since they are no longer available). If I ever end up doing a restoration at least I'll have them.

Don't have the covers yet but here is my next question: I know the covers slip over the fork tubes but where/what do the small screws with rubber washers that hold the covers on go or screw into?

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2016, 07:44:27 PM »
Quote
Quote
Quote
Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
First thing - if you still have the inside black plastic covers on the left and right and side (they slip over the top of the fork tubes) - you want to take those off carefully.  

Well I don't have to worry about those black plastic fork covers as they are not there!
Just picked up a pair of these on ebay (since they are no longer available). If I ever end up doing a restoration at least I'll have them.

Don't have the covers yet but here is my next question: I know the covers slip over the fork tubes but where/what do the small screws with rubber washers that hold the covers on go or screw into?
Just got back from looking at the bike and I see the screw holes that nhmaf spoke of concerning the fork covers.

So is there only one screw on each fork cover with the fork covers just snapping/going over the forks?

Offline Oconner

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2016, 01:43:57 PM »
Yep just the one on each side. Let them sit in the sun for a bit they go back on easier.
'82 r65LS
'72 Honda CL 350
'13 FZ6R

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2016, 03:21:10 PM »
Quote
Yep just the one on each side. Let them sit in the sun for a bit they go back on easier.
Thank you.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2016, 07:11:37 PM by lseidman »

Offline nhmaf

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2016, 05:27:53 PM »
They came from the factory with cheap foam glued on the inside curve where it wraps aroudn the top of the fork tubes - to make it fit more snug and to avoid rattles.   I found that on my bike this foam had turned to yellow dust.   A trip to the hardware store to get some 1/4 or 3/8" thick self adhesive foam weatherstripping does the trick as a good replacement.
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

Offline motoleo

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Re: R65LS nose fairing removal- help needed
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2016, 07:14:19 PM »
Quote
They came from the factory with cheap foam glued on the inside curve where it wraps aroudn the top of the fork tubes - to make it fit more snug and to avoid rattles.   I found that on my bike this foam had turned to yellow dust.   A trip to the hardware store to get some 1/4 or 3/8" thick self adhesive foam weatherstripping does the trick as a good replacement.
Thanks. I saw in the photos of the covers I bought, 2 rectangles on the inside of each cover and thought they might be foam tape.