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bmwdebesy
08-10-2009, 01:08 AM
Some of you may recognize this thread for I made a similar one months back but sadly i couldnt find it... probably got deleted. Anyways... my grandpa gave me the only bike he bought brand new off the floor, a 1973 R75/5 LWB toaster. He rode it until he was in his mid to late 80's and now I am in the process of restoring it.

He stored it in a shed for probably 10 years and it was running when he parked it. Before he passed away I had a chance to work on it with him. Within a couple of hours and some jury rigging we got it running and i rode it around the dirt road that goes around my house (spewing gas from the fuel lines and petcocks). When he told me the odometer had turned over TWICE!! I knew it needed some TLC in order for it to be in riding condition again. I started taking it apart the next day (against my grandpas suggestion of just riding it). Among some other faults, there was a hole in the frame where the tractor batteries he used rubbed because they were too big. The acid spill also ate away most of the battery box.

I was not able to devote all of my time to restoring it due to school and money restrictions but as of today I have completely disassembled the entire bike and have the heads back from the shop. I took the frame to a welder recommended by a fellow rider but he did not do as good as a job as I expected so I will have to find another welder to fix it. I am to the part of just sending away components to get looked at and fixed.

I will post pictures (probably out of order seeing as i am still looking for the older ones) along with questions and subtitles probably.

I am no mechanic but look at the /5 as a learning experience. I have 2 other airheads and figured the taking aart and re assembling of one would be a great benefit. I have a couple of questions for the more seasoned airhead mechanics that I know you all are.

1. Upon taking off the wiring harness I wonder, can i salvage any of the parts (pardon my incorrect description of many parts) like the bosch cylinders that the spark plug wires plug into?

2. Does anyone know of shop that does a good job on the 4speed transmissions of the earlier bikes? I live in AZ but I dont mind shipping it somewhere.

3. Anyone know of a shop that has access to 1st over pistons? I havent asked Bobs BMW yet but they are on the top of my list. Also, is Bobs going to be the best place to find parts as well? I know for sure that a new battery box is in order but I dont know what other parts i will need.

4. What are some things to watch out for/ replace that arent obvious?

5. I cant think of any other specific ones right now but any advice? I took lots of pictures and drew diagrams... anything else?

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/debespictures/0727091547.jpg

The hole in the frame


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/debespictures/0727091651.jpg

Always important to have some help!


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/debespictures/0727091751.jpg

The frame w/o the fork assembly


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/debespictures/0728090016a.jpg

The frame w/o subframe and rear wheel assembly

Thanks!!

-Vince
BuckeyeClark
08-10-2009, 05:02 AM
You should give Re-psycle BMW a try for your parts/advice needs. They have a bunch of "vintage" parts and do allot of work on the older bikes. I have my 1959 R60/2 there right now. Here you go:http://www.re-psycle.com/

Good Luck!
20774
08-10-2009, 05:04 AM
As for transmission work, you could check with Matt Parkhouse in Colorado Springs...he recently did an article on tranny repairs in the MOA News. Also Ted Porter in NorCal at http://www.beemershop.com. Ted also has a pretty good inventory of parts.
lastrada
08-10-2009, 09:45 AM
I have been on a buying spree for my /5 lately, and i can give a plug for Huckys spare parts http://www.bmwhucky.com/
His ordering system is a little odd (you have to email him and he gets back to you with shipping costs), but he ships really quickly, and his prices are really good.
mikeb921
08-10-2009, 11:30 AM
I have been on a buying spree for my /5 lately, and i can give a plug for Huckys spare parts http://www.bmwhucky.com/
His ordering system is a little odd (you have to email him and he gets back to you with shipping costs), but he ships really quickly, and his prices are really good.


+1, also he's a great guy and seems to be happy to answer questions.

MB
bmwdebesy
08-10-2009, 12:36 PM
thanks!! i will give them a call... and I talked to Matt Parkhouse in Paonia this year and he said it would almost be easier to just buy another tranny but I want to keep this bike as close (parts wise) to as how my grandpa used it. I know it may be more expensive to repair the tranny but oh well.
bmwdebesy
08-12-2009, 12:44 AM
hey does anyone know of a good shop to get cylinders rebored? I ordered 2 first over pistons but now i need to find a good person to re-bore the cylinders.
bmwdebesy
08-12-2009, 05:28 PM
I'm taking the sub frame in to get it straightened but I don't know if it was completely straight and level stock or if it had some sort of curvature. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
20774
08-12-2009, 06:13 PM
hey does anyone know of a good shop to get cylinders rebored? I ordered 2 first over pistons but now i need to find a good person to re-bore the cylinders.

There's been a recent thread on valve jobs where a number of people were listed who do top end work.

Another thing to consider is getting the bores carbide impregnated. Kind of turns them into Nikasil...sort of... http://www.bore-tech.com. Check and see what they can do for you. Many people in the /2 world speak highly of them.
TimmmyD
08-14-2009, 05:25 PM
Ditto on Hucky. Hans has a lot of stuff that you just can't find anywhere else.

I had Bob's rebuild my tranny a few years ago when I lived in the DC area. It ended up costing more than buying another, but I at least know that I have the original, low-mileage unit that now shifts and spins better than new. I figured buying another trans would amount to buying someone else's problems.