R65 Wiring Loom - Help Needed please!!

[Keren]

Hi everyone - long story short is in rebuilding my step dads R65 (1978) and I'm at the stage where the loom goes on and I have no idea! I wasn't the person that took the bike apart so I literally have a loom in one hand and a puzzled expression! The loom is brand new, but the only problem is that I cannot seem to find the old loom in any of the boxes of bits, so I don't have anything to compare to!

If anyone has ever fitted a new loom, or can help me in any way I would be extremely grateful!

Thank you!

[peteremc]

Keren, I feel your pain. I (relatively) recently stripped an 82 model but I labelled absolutely everything. Having never tackled anything like this previously, and having publicly admitted I know very little about auto-electrics, I also learned a couple of things along the way. I'm sure (at least I hope) the experts will chime in and give detailed advice, but I can only relate the lessons I learned, which were:

(a) the colour coding on the wires is invaluable. You can check just about everything by the colour of the wiring at each branch of teh loom. I will try to attach a file of a colour coded wiring diagram which should help a lot
(b) you can classify the wiring into engine wiring and "everything else" or what I called "peripheral" i.e. lights etc.
(c) pretty much every terminal part of the wiring will only fit in one place, by virtue of the connectors, but there are a couple of these that are tricky and need further direction (possibly from the colour coded wiring diagram)
(d) a good quality manual is your best friend.

I will add that with the expert help from the forum I solved a couple of electrical system issues I never thought I could tackle 2 week ago.

Good luck, my friend

[Barry]

Here is a wiring diagram for a 78 model. Main differences compared to peteremc's diagram will be you have twin ignition coils and points.

[nhmaf]

Welcome aboard the forum, Keren!

I think that the wiring loom for the early year R65 models is slightly different than the 1981+ models, but overall should be very close.  
Do you have a part number on the new wiring harness you have - maybe we can trace to see if it is of the older variety or the newer?  

There are also a few small differences between the north american/US model harness and the European - primarily concerned with the headlight control circuit for American regulations.   I'll look in my collection of info to see if I have anything more helpful, but the picture  that peter included above should be a very good start.

If you can find a Clymer or Haynes BMW airhead manual, that can also be quite helpful - they each have some errors, but we've learned where most of them are by now.

[Tony Smith]

Guys

I think what Keren is needing is photos of looms fitted to bikes, not wiring diagrams.

I will supply some general photos of mine later today.

[peteremc]

Oops, my apologies for posting diagram of incorrect year! Wasn't thinking.

[Keren]

Hi everyone

Thank you for all the replies! When I'm at home next I'll take some pictures of the looms and how much I've built up so far, it'll probably make stuff a lot easier

I believe the loom was either bought from motorworks (uk stockists/website)

Manual wise I have three I'm working from, ones a Haynes manual, ones a workshop manual (it's in a plastic ring binder set up but covers all the R models, and one is about three inches thick with black covers. Again, I'll take a picture of them! When I was rebuilding the swinging arm, I found using a mixture of all three helped!

Anyways, thank you so much for the help so far, I'm very grateful

[montmil]

The Black One is the Clymer manual. With all three manuals, you may occasionally have fun deciding which one speaks the truth.  :-/

[georgesgiralt]

Well, my R65 is from 1982 and has a very different loom, so I can't help you with pictures.
But having done the same work on a different bike (not BMW) I may offer you a process.
First, place on the frame the parts like the regulator, starter relay, ignition coils...
Then search your loom for the mating connectors (here the wiring diagram comes to help)
Then try to lay the loom as smoothly and securely as possible and see if it fits and connect the various connectors.
Lastly, plug the loose plugs to the various bits and pieces not having a connector. If everything plugs into place double check that the loom will not interfere with the tank, steering, etc... And then tie the loom to the frame.
Cross all your fingers (toes included) install the battery and turn the ignition on. If everything is good, the lights will come on without smoke.
Before going for a well deserved beer, take some pictures for the next time and to show us your work.

[Tony Smith]

I harbour a 1979 R65/80 which should have the same harness as yours (different from 1981 on iirc).

I am a little strapped for time during the week but I will take photos of the installed harness this weekend for you.

[Tony Smith]

Keren


Here is a link to the photos I took tonight.

1979 r65 and 1984 r65 wiring looms, hopefully the photos will let you see where the loom runs to and from.


https://goo.gl/photos/GjYVwPRzUA6QTPAXA

[wilcom]

Here is a link to the photos I took tonight.

Great photos Tony! They should get him headed in the right direction.