Winter project underway

[clonmore1]

This is looking real nice Al,

Can't wait to see the finished item

[AlfromNH]

You and me both, Chris!

[montmil]

I offer this suggestion with a smile   so hope you take this in the spirit offered...

Since the starter is off, take it apart and IRAN that thing.

One starter. IRAN'd.  

Another one for you, Al. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Now you know the inner workings of your starter and saved some money to boot. Let's see... what shall we spend it on?

[AlfromNH]

and saved some money to boot. Let's see... what shall we spend it on?

I just got a quote of $400 for paint  :-/

[montmil]

Four-hundred smackers? Al, If you have a compressor and gun, materials will cost less than a C-note. Your local auto body supplier will assist in materials selection. Remember, it's just paint. Wet sanding can fix danged near any flaw.

My '83 R65: From tatty-ratty to sparkle plenty for <$100.00 plus plenty elbow grease.

[AlfromNH]

Wow! I was just at the parts store looking at colors. I was thinking that I'd stick with something along the lines of the original burnt-orangeish. Then I started looking at blues. I like your color a lot!

I have a compressor, but no gun. I think the bigger obstacle might be that I have no heated space to do it in...

I'm gonna give it some more thought tho

[montmil]

The blue color on the '83 R65 was selected by my wife during a visit to Lone Star BMW-Triumph in Austin, Texas. I forget which brand-new BMW it was but my local auto body supply matched it to a late model Honda automobile. It is a light metallic. Silver stripes on the tank and seat tail piece.

Couple dual-bulb 1000W Halogen lamps positioned nearby will warm up a shop quite nicely. You might even get a New Hampshire winter tan!

Big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's sell economical, off-shore copies of the classic Binks gun. I use one and find it more than adequate for motorcycle, two complete aircraft and Bengt Phorqs' R90 "S-style" fairing.

Moto Mongo ready to launch.

[AlfromNH]

1Well, apparently my tank is too far gone to be worth fixing. I knew it was gonna take a fair amount of work, but I pretty much stuck it on the shelf until now. Between the crude welding on the patches and numerous dents and dings, it would be more work than makes sense. So I'm looking at eBay and resellers for a decent tank.

[disco51]

Good luck finding a decent tank for a reasonable price.  IMO, the fixed priced ones are either too pricey or flawed.  Every once in awhile you'll see one go up for auction, which gets a slightly lower price.
For example, this one seems like a good deal until you see the massive dents in the front - not sure what was velcro'd on the front.  At least it's bilateral - maybe could blend in.  Getting a dent out in the corner like that might prove to be tough...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-BMW-R65-R-65-80-90-Airhead-S314-1-gas-fuel-petrol-tank-/350982782981?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b8344005&vxp=mtr

[AlfromNH]

I was eyeing that brown tank on eBay. But I called around and was referred to Josh at Parts Haus in CA. He has this tank he's sending me. $150 +Shipping. This is the "bad" side, he sent several pics and this is the only dent, he also says the lining looks very good.

Monte, does that color look familiar?  8-)

[montmil]

... This is the "bad" side, he sent several pics and this is the only dent, he also says the lining looks very good.

Monte, does that color look familiar?  8-)

Check with a "paintless dent repair" shop. With the dent's location so close to the fuel filler opening, they should be able to remove it painlessly.

Might be close on the color, Al. Mine may be a bit darker and it's a metallic.

[disco51]

That's a great deal for that tank... I bet it pops out fairly easily.  Nice find!  Wish he had another one...

[AlfromNH]

That's a great deal for that tank... I bet it pops out fairly easily.  Nice find!  Wish he had another one...

He does! He had three, this was the pick of the litter, but he said the second-best wasn't much worse. Give him a call if you're interested: Joshua 562-254-0452

[disco51]

I think I might just do that today, as long as no one beats me to it.  
Thanks!

[AlfromNH]

I think I've decided on a color:
http://www.tcpglobal.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=PPG%20PRLX4

Computer monitors can be very unpredictable in displaying colors, but in person this is a rich blue metallic. Me likey