Another R65LS resto

[jamestnewsonr65]

I'm not sure about the actuator arm. It was like that originally and I just replaced the worn boot, bearings and bolts.

[jamestnewsonr65]

After not really doing much on the bike over the past week I managed to get some stuff done this weekend.

I took the swing arm to a local motorbike garage to install the bearings, but they decided they couldn't do it and had one of the bearings stuck, so i went over to Bob Porecha in Sydenham and he managed to pop out the bearing and install them for me.

It was great to go and have a chat with him, but I ended up buying more stuff than expected!! I will be going back to him in the next week so that he can do the preloading for me on the rear which makes me happier as I know nothing about this really. I understand the principle, but just dont really have the tools and would rather know it is done right.

Anyway, here's some pics of what has been happening.

The bevel drive had a good clean and looks good. I like the patina on this rather than perfect and shiny.




Decided to go for the Acewell which tidies up the bars alot, and picked up some original hella bar end indicators from Bob Porecha which I cant wait to get on.






Ive been looking for a replacement fuel cap but didn't really like the bulk of ones I had seen, but in Bob's shop he had a solid CNC aluminium one which is made in germany, so I grabbed one of these also




I also managed to get the front bearings installed today by heating the hub and sticking the bearings in the freezer. Worked a treat and as smooth as silk. Runs for ages, but I installed a couple of brake disks I got from James Sherlock only to find one of them is distorted quite a bit and not really centred by the looks of it either.




I took a video which I need to send them so they can get me a replacement sent out.

http://jamesnewson.co.uk/STUFF/R65/06.07.14/06.07.1417.MOV

Overall it is coming together slowly, but once I had the wheels mounted and fixed I can get it on the ground and then hopefully get on with the bits to get it running. At the moment thought it seems like a never ending list of things to do and buy!!

[steve hawkins]

Do not kid yourself    

You have plenty more to do :-?  

The bike can sit there looking more or less complete for ages until the thing is wired up and properly set up.

But, it is nice seeing it come together and start to look like a real motorbike again.  It should give the impetus to complete the job.

Looking good, though.

Rev Light

[jamestnewsonr65]

Yeah, I think I am trying to blank out actually how much there is to do still!

As i'm a contractor I might just take two weeks off work and blitz it.

Looks good though as it comes together and the forum is a continual source of great help and information.

[jamestnewsonr65]

So after being a bit quiet on the updates front I have been busy trying to find solutions to problems I encountered along the way. I can't give enough thanks and praise to this forum and the help they have given me in achieving what I set out to do.

I've built a bike which I love the look of and will enjoy riding, which started out with me buying the bike on a whim having looked at a couple of pics on google. These bikes seem pretty simple to work on which I think it part of the appeal and without any mechanical knowledge (Im not joking when I say that) I have managed to build it back up.

I am just waiting for my VonZeti diamond stitched seat to arrive and then it is pretty much complete. Then all it needs is an MOT and we are done.

Anyway here are a few pics of how it now looks which is very different from the original. Enjoy.

[jamestnewsonr65]

I forgot to mention that I would also like to change the mirrors as these are just being used to get it roadworthy. At the moment though I can't really find any simple clean oblong shaped ones I like.

Ideally I would like them to be pretty low and not extend so much upwards.


Also, I need to clean the internal glass of the headlight, but can't get the glass to come away from the back casing. Do these come apart or is it a case of just put up with the slightly yellowish tint.

[montmil]

... Also, I need to clean the internal glass of the headlight, but can't get the glass to come away from the back casing. Do these come apart or is it a case of just put up with the slightly yellowish tint.

There is a thin rubber gasket between the glass lens and the reflector. Supposedly these can be separated. I believe the operative word here is "supossedly".

I've tried removing the glass from both R65s and had no luck. Got a bit heavy-handed with one and took a small chip from the edge of the lens. Enough. Know when to stop.

I removed the bulb and poured in a bit of glass cleaner. Made up a swab using a stick and some old t-shirt fabric. That worked OK for the glass. I then made up an articulated-looking thingy and used more t-shirt fabric with just a light touch of the cleaner.

Worked pretty well. You have to hold your tongue just right. Use caution not to damage the reflector's shiny hiney.

Mirrors? With the riding position you've set up on the bike, the mirrors you want are usually sold under the heading of "Armpit Viewers". You'll be MOT legal but you won't see much of following traffic. Bar ends would be useful, if you like that look.

[Tony Smith]

James

I am interested in your fuel cap. I am not concerned about being able to loc the cap, I am concerned that my cap is about to fail and I don't want to pay BMW's price for a new one.
 
where did you get your cap and how much was it? If you have a link that would be great.

[jamestnewsonr65]

@montmil - I thought that might be the case. Was hoping it might just pop open. Will have a go at using a makeshift cleaning stick of sorts.

@Tony - I got the fuel cap from Bob Porecha here in the UK. He doesn't have a site or a link, but there is a pic of it higher up the page. This pic shows it with the stock BMW plastic surround which I have decided not to use as I like the look better. He gets them made from a guy in Germany out of billet aluminum. It was £70.

He would happily send one over to you I imagine as he said to me he could order any parts and get them shipped, and he has been doing this for 50 years.  https://plus.google.com/108786159830856967246/about?gl=uk&hl=en

Hope this helps, and if you want any close up pics of it fitted let me know.

[steve hawkins]

You could quite easily trim down that number plate without attracting too much attention.

Time for a shake down soon then.  Then you will find out what works and what doesn't.

Even now you are not finished.  You will never be finished.  But then, that's the beauty of it.

Good effort.

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