Bringing 74 R90S back to life after sitting 30 years - Page 4

_cy_ · 10-03-2011, 01:07 PM

OK... back to serious business of getting this beast back to 100% mechanical condition.

went with a smaller gel cell battery, lower weight with better cold crank amps is good by me.
original battery cracked from freezing. all the acid dripped out. really surprised there's not more damage. battery tray is coming out for bead blast and paint.

surprisingly I cannot find any damage under the battery tray

_cy_ · 10-03-2011, 06:01 PM

a bit more progress

1. making a wheel balancer
2. polish rim and scotch brite spokes
3. check rim for true and even spoke tension

still need to purchase precision bearing on both sides. wheel has to turn with little to no friction

Aircraft cable tensiometer used to check spoke tension. an even tone when each spoke is struck also is a good way to check tension.

a dial indicator will be clamped to frame

SOLO LOBO · 10-03-2011, 07:22 PM

Cy,

Love the bike and am very much enjoying the progress you are making.

I would echo what supershaft said earlier... start with getting the bike running to assess the condition of the top end and transmission.

If the cylinders need boring, heads worked on and transmission rebuilt ( which would not be much of a surprise given the long storage in the conditions you list) you are talking about spending a few $k's...

The bike will be worth the investment, but you may find you are not an "airhead" guy after some miles.

Assess the mechanical health first, and do everything else second

jackd · 10-03-2011, 07:35 PM

Aircraft cable tensiometers - I use them all the time in my work. So my guess is that you are comparing one spoke to the next to see what the reading is? Not a bad plan. I'll have to pass this little new technique on to the boys at work - I'm sure we'll have a few of them go missing from the tool stores as the boys head home to check out their Harleys...

I have to give support to the other inmates who are calling for a check of your top end, transmission and other associated important bits - for corrosion and degradation during storage. You have a wonderful specimen and I would hate to see your other efforts go to waste if the basic machine had some glaring faults from the extended storage. I would dig into it as well.

Wirespokes · 10-03-2011, 07:35 PM

Excellent advice, Solo.

Also, knowing the condition of the engine, transmission, etc, will allow you to predict and plan for future expense. Some of these things take time, in which case you won't find yourself next spring when bike fever hits hoping the (********) comes back soon so you can get the bike back together and ride it.

Everything is most likely fine on the bike, but why not test ride it and know for sure?

_cy_ · 10-03-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLO LOBO

Assess the mechanical health first, and do everything else second

that's exactly the plan ... fixing flat tires and installing new battery are on my list before starting motor. still got filters, change out oils, tear down carbs, new brake master cylinder, rebuild front calipers, new front pads, etc.

while the wheels are off doesn't make sense not to service rest of wheel while I'm there. still need to re-pack bearing before installing new tire/tube.

LOTS more to go before starting motor and trying out tranny.
hopefully will be there before too long...

I have faith...there will be nothing wrong inside.

SOLO LOBO · 10-03-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _cy_

that's exactly the plan ... fixing flat tires and installing new battery are on my list before starting motor. still got filters, change out oils, tear down carbs, new brake master cylinder, rebuild front calipers, new front pads, etc.

while the wheels are off doesn't make sense not to service rest of wheel while I'm there. still need to re-pack bearing before installing new tire/tube.

LOTS more to go before starting motor and trying out tranny.
hopefully will be there before too long...

I see where you are coming from, it it were me I would rebuild the carbs, jump to another battery and see what noises it made... at least that's what I did with my G/S when I puled it out of long-term leaky storage imposed by the PO (and a few motorcycles before that as well

)

supershaft · 10-03-2011, 08:08 PM

Thanks for that echo SOLO LOBO. Tires? I would make sure I have an engine first! Then a transmission.

disston · 10-03-2011, 08:12 PM

Your doing just fine. They all want to know if your engine and trans are OK or they can start feeding on the remains after you decide to give it up.

Fix the wheels and clean the gas tank. I can see what you are doing and it will have more cohesiveness as you make more progress. Rebuilding the carbs, maybe just a light rebuild, right away is cool too. And of course I would have new oil in in before the first crank. It's gonna go. I've done this before and they want to live. Well hopefully.

Did you rinse the tank yet? It should be rinsed pretty good at least. How much crud was in it? Should replace fuel lines. pretty cheap to do. They old rubber will be very bad after 30 years. Maybe check petcocks?

Very soon after she fires up you're going for a ride. That's what I do. I have that little stuff out of the way before starting because I'm not going to grease a wheel bearing after she fires up. We are moving out.

crazydrummerdude · 10-03-2011, 08:13 PM

I don't think I've ever seen a thread where people nitpick one guys resurrection process so much.

True story: yesterday, I picked up a semi-basket-case airhead, and guess what I did today? Installed the headlight and turn signals. Oh no, I didn't tear the engine down first!!

supershaft · 10-03-2011, 08:22 PM

Nitpick? Who's nitpicking? I just think it wise to make sure you have an engine and transmission before you start cleaning spokes. It would be a shame to get the thing all cleaned up and then not have the money to get it running for it needing new pistons/cylinders, valve job, and a tranny rebuild. That could break a heart!

_cy_ · 10-03-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazydrummerdude

I don't think I've ever seen a thread where people nitpick one guys resurrection process so much.

True story: yesterday, I picked up a semi-basket-case airhead, and guess what I did today? Installed the headlight and turn signals. Oh no, I didn't tear the engine down first!!

nah... don't mind a bit ... me being a newbie to ADV and BMW both. but not new to going on cross country adventures.

about 5 years ago I rode self contained on a bicycle from Bolder, Colo to Tulsa, OK on the Trans-American lower route.

truth be known... I'm delighted that there is sooo much interest in bringing this R90S back to life. had zero clue that R90S is the most collectable of all BMW's from the 70's before I purchase the bike.

may not be very knowledgeable about Airheads... yet... but I learn quick... especially when surrounded by sooo much expertise. don't think there is much that I cannot take care of with a bit of help of course.

naturally I hope there is nothing wrong internally... but if there is ... I can take care of it. I'm fully set up with a machine shop and just about every type of tools imaginable. I'm a bonified tool nut.

have always believed ... look at a man's tools and you can quickly tell what he's all about.

jackd · 10-03-2011, 09:00 PM

Holy smoke, I hope you're a paid mechanic somewhere! I'm into my third decade of wrenching and I haven't got a quarter of what you have. Wait a second, I think I see that 4" Snapon flat blade that I've been missing in your middle drawer!

supershaft · 10-03-2011, 09:10 PM

Yea but I didn't see a leak down tester (differential compression gauge)? That's the gauge that helps!

disston · 10-03-2011, 09:27 PM

I'm a bonified tool nut.

have always believed ... look at a man's tools and you can quickly tell what he's all about.
_______________________________

Thanks for sharing. Very true. Nice accumulation or are you calling it a collection? Since you admit to being a tool nut, just wait till you see some of the special tools that you'll be craving. The BMW originals can be hard to come by. They are getting real collectable. There are quality modern versions and reasonably priced. One of the best sources and you'll be getting stuff here soon is Cycle Works. They have recently come out with a couple of things we have been needing for Airhead servicing. The have a new multi-tool to get into the timing case. It includes pullers that the equivalent generic type are pretty heavy and pretty expensive. And I was there today to get some wheel shims, I saw this new engine holding stand. Something that Airheads have not had access to for a long time.

http://www.cycleworks.net/index.php?...roducts_id=379

Or maybe I could make my own but I don't think it would be that nice.

Charlie

10-03-2011, 01:07 PM	#46
_cy_ ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2011 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Oddometer: 2,715	OK... back to serious business of getting this beast back to 100% mechanical condition. went with a smaller gel cell battery, lower weight with better cold crank amps is good by me. original battery cracked from freezing. all the acid dripped out. really surprised there's not more damage. battery tray is coming out for bead blast and paint. surprisingly I cannot find any damage under the battery tray _cy_ screwed with this post 10-03-2011 at 02:55 PM

10-03-2011, 06:01 PM	#47
_cy_ ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2011 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Oddometer: 2,715	a bit more progress 1. making a wheel balancer 2. polish rim and scotch brite spokes 3. check rim for true and even spoke tension still need to purchase precision bearing on both sides. wheel has to turn with little to no friction Aircraft cable tensiometer used to check spoke tension. an even tone when each spoke is struck also is a good way to check tension. a dial indicator will be clamped to frame _cy_ screwed with this post 10-04-2011 at 02:17 AM

10-03-2011, 07:35 PM	#50
Wirespokes Beemerholics Anonymous Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Jackson's Bottom Oregon Oddometer: 7,392	Excellent advice, Solo. Also, knowing the condition of the engine, transmission, etc, will allow you to predict and plan for future expense. Some of these things take time, in which case you won't find yourself next spring when bike fever hits hoping the (*******) comes back soon so you can get the bike back together and ride it. Everything is most likely fine on the bike, but why not test ride it and know for sure? __________________ Wanted: Dead, smashed, crashed or trashed gauges BMW GAUGE REPAIRS - TACHSPEEDOCLOCKVOLT METER PODs & LIGHT BOARD

10-03-2011, 08:13 PM	#55
crazydrummerdude Wacky Bongo Boy Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Moore/OKC Oddometer: 6,975	I don't think I've ever seen a thread where people nitpick one guys resurrection process so much. True story: yesterday, I picked up a semi-basket-case airhead, and guess what I did today? Installed the headlight and turn signals. Oh no, I didn't tear the engine down first!! __________________ 1974 BMW R75/6, 1974 BMW R90/6, 1969 BMW R60/2 hack, 1929 Ford Model A, Metal casting, Part 2/Part 1 among others..

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10-03-2011, 07:35 PM	#49
jackd Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: North Cowichan Oddometer: 2,385	Aircraft cable tensiometers - I use them all the time in my work. So my guess is that you are comparing one spoke to the next to see what the reading is? Not a bad plan. I'll have to pass this little new technique on to the boys at work - I'm sure we'll have a few of them go missing from the tool stores as the boys head home to check out their Harleys... I have to give support to the other inmates who are calling for a check of your top end, transmission and other associated important bits - for corrosion and degradation during storage. You have a wonderful specimen and I would hate to see your other efforts go to waste if the basic machine had some glaring faults from the extended storage. I would dig into it as well.

10-03-2011, 08:08 PM	#53
supershaft because I can Joined: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay area Oddometer: 6,206	Thanks for that echo SOLO LOBO. Tires? I would make sure I have an engine first! Then a transmission.

10-03-2011, 08:12 PM	#54
disston ShadeTreeExpert Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Silver Spring, Md Oddometer: 5,223	Your doing just fine. They all want to know if your engine and trans are OK or they can start feeding on the remains after you decide to give it up. Fix the wheels and clean the gas tank. I can see what you are doing and it will have more cohesiveness as you make more progress. Rebuilding the carbs, maybe just a light rebuild, right away is cool too. And of course I would have new oil in in before the first crank. It's gonna go. I've done this before and they want to live. Well hopefully. Did you rinse the tank yet? It should be rinsed pretty good at least. How much crud was in it? Should replace fuel lines. pretty cheap to do. They old rubber will be very bad after 30 years. Maybe check petcocks? Very soon after she fires up you're going for a ride. That's what I do. I have that little stuff out of the way before starting because I'm not going to grease a wheel bearing after she fires up. We are moving out.

10-03-2011, 08:22 PM	#56
supershaft because I can Joined: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay area Oddometer: 6,206	Nitpick? Who's nitpicking? I just think it wise to make sure you have an engine and transmission before you start cleaning spokes. It would be a shame to get the thing all cleaned up and then not have the money to get it running for it needing new pistons/cylinders, valve job, and a tranny rebuild. That could break a heart!

10-03-2011, 09:00 PM	#58
jackd Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: North Cowichan Oddometer: 2,385	Holy smoke, I hope you're a paid mechanic somewhere! I'm into my third decade of wrenching and I haven't got a quarter of what you have. Wait a second, I think I see that 4" Snapon flat blade that I've been missing in your middle drawer!

10-03-2011, 09:10 PM	#59
supershaft because I can Joined: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay area Oddometer: 6,206	Yea but I didn't see a leak down tester (differential compression gauge)? That's the gauge that helps!

10-03-2011, 09:27 PM	#60
disston ShadeTreeExpert Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Silver Spring, Md Oddometer: 5,223	I'm a bonified tool nut. have always believed ... look at a man's tools and you can quickly tell what he's all about. _______________________________ Thanks for sharing. Very true. Nice accumulation or are you calling it a collection? Since you admit to being a tool nut, just wait till you see some of the special tools that you'll be craving. The BMW originals can be hard to come by. They are getting real collectable. There are quality modern versions and reasonably priced. One of the best sources and you'll be getting stuff here soon is Cycle Works. They have recently come out with a couple of things we have been needing for Airhead servicing. The have a new multi-tool to get into the timing case. It includes pullers that the equivalent generic type are pretty heavy and pretty expensive. And I was there today to get some wheel shims, I saw this new engine holding stand. Something that Airheads have not had access to for a long time. http://www.cycleworks.net/index.php?...roducts_id=379 Or maybe I could make my own but I don't think it would be that nice. Charlie