Does this airhead make me an airhead?

[dduelin]

Worn throttle cam gears and the matching teeth on the throttle tube are common and the parts aren't that expensive - well, I guess expensive is relative. The thing is that BMW replaced the older cam disc (the gear wheel with the chain) with a newer one so you need a cam disc, throttle tube, and cover plate to make the throttle action like new. I'm thinking I got all three parts for less than $60 about a year ago.

 

[PH Eudy]

Voodoo Key in Renegade

I think you will find that any Airhead key will turn the switch to the 1st park light position. The blank key probably broke loose the switch from sitting unused for a "year"

You can pull the cover off of the fork lock and pick out the broken key to have a new one copied from it

 

[sumran]

That's a RENEGADE shifter! Please, someone stop me. I may be going to find RENEGADE a stable mate...

You should wear glove while working on Renegade. Halucinogenics can be absorbed through the skin.

 

[brprider679]

We all know from your entertaining posts that you are a very talented writer. But I was wondering if your interests were far reaching, like maybe all the way to 1600 Pensylvania Avenue? You do realize that your bike is now named after President Obama's new secret service code name "Renegade" (as heard on the nightly news). Are you also a secret goverment operative disguising as a local wordsmith, BMW restorer, and all-around good guy? Being you are from Texas maybe you have credentials from the Bush years!?! Just wondering.

Good luck with Renegade and keep the pics coming!

 

[lonelobo]

How Dare you Martha

Burprider, by law I am required to not respond to this. Remember, don't ask and don't tell...unless you post pictures. By the way, you are now on the list.

 

[NEALART]

That's funny.

That means the Secret Service is reading this thread!

Hello to you SS guys and gals!

We invite you all to ride old BMWs while escorting our president.

 

[lonelobo]

This SH$T AINT FUNNY

Ok, mister. You're on the list too.

 

[lonelobo]

Naughty bits in the Pan

At the suggestion of someone on the airhead list, I enlisted a magnet to determine if the sharp metal shards I found in the filter were ferrous or aluminum. If aluminum, the thought was that they came from the timing chain rubbing against the housing and no big deal for the moment. Only problem is, they aren't aluminum and stick to a magnet tighter than a ---- well....let's just say real tight in case the pc police are watching. So, I dropped the oil pan with a song in my heart and eternal hope in my soul only to find this:

ARGGG squared!!!! Anyone have any ideas how close to DOOM the RENEGADE is? Do I need to call all the immediate family and tell them the end is near? I can hear my mother now, "Lobo, Jr.! I hope you've learned your lesson!" Of course, I never did but that's beside the point!

 

[NEALART]

Oh dear.

I cannot offer any useful mechanical advice, so I will just say you have my sympathy.

 

[bullshit]

Renegade's little sister has come up for sale in Ohio. This looks like a good addition to the stable.

http://limaohio.craigslist.org/mcy/908830171.html

 

[NEALART]

So, now that you have gotten over the shock, what are those chunks made of?

 

[James.A]

Parts bike

The first thing you do with a neglected bike is the minimun to hear it run. Having failed to do this, I advise you to break the bike and sell the parts, or, find another in-expensive airhead and use the Renegade to feed parts to your next airhead.

Living and learning, welcome to the club.

 

[lonelobo]

Blowing Chunks!

Chunks are definately attracted to a magnet.

 

[sumran]

Sorry to see that picture. I would also make a parts bike. There may be enough value in parts to soften the blow.

 

[NEALART]

Well, one of this thread's strengths is the excellent photography and educational value - to say nothing about making me feel like my own well used bike is a museum piece.

So, I wouldn't blame you for pushing it into a lake, but I hope you'll take the engine apart and find out which bearing or valve guide or piston skirt or whatever blew up in there.

Call me an enabler.

 

[crazydrummerdude]

I hope you'll take the engine apart and find out which bearing or valve guide or piston skirt or whatever blew up in there.

+1.

Even though your time is not infinite, parting it out would be my last suggestion. Knowing there is/was a problem is different than identifying (and remedying) the problem (if possible).

My R90 had a stuck piston. Everyone told me to part it out. I freed the piston, honed it, got new rings, and it'll be ready to ride once I work on the transmission.

 

[sumran]

+1.

Even though your time is not infinite, parting it out would be my last suggestion. Knowing there is/was a problem is different than identifying (and remedying) the problem (if possible).

My R90 had a stuck piston. Everyone told me to part it out. I freed the piston, honed it, got new rings, and it'll be ready to ride once I work on the transmission.

I will certainly cheer for you whatever course you take. I love to see them fixed. But, based on the well documented history in this thread, it seems like it would be hard to make the math work. Given what you have already spent and the other known problems, the addition of major internal problems is a tough break.

If you decide to part it, it could done in a way that allows you to identify the source of the chunks first. That way, if it is something that could be replaced with tolerable time and expense, you could adjust the plan.

 

[lonelobo]

With Friends like this, who needs.....

Nathan et al.
Thanks for the encouragement to bravely tread where no sane man has gone before, to venture into the fog shrouded future, thick with money sucking inept mechanics(myself included) and last century's ever more ancient technology.

While all others are saying chunk Renegade over the cliff, you are gleefully encouraging me to hold on to the handlebars and run TOWARDS the edge of the cliff as fast as I can muster.

At this point, I am undecided. But with Martin Luther as my witness, I swear I thought turkeys could fly...and the RENEGADE could be made to run...so, I guess I will have to sleep on it.

The honorable Tom Cutter, after seeing some of the pics, has suggested that the flakes in the filter are definitely babbit from the
connecting rod bearing. My guess is that the flakes in the pan are the same.

So, if that's the case, what am I looking at? New bearings? New Rods? New Crank? New Engine? New Identity?

 

[lonelobo]

RENEGADE thrashes Lone Lobo

In case anyone is keeping score:
RENEGADE: 6
LONELOBO: 0

Only problem is:

I don't know what Inning this is.

 

[88bmwjeff]

So, if that's the case, what am I looking at? New bearings? New Rods? New Crank? New Engine? New Identity?

If it's the bottom end, then a good used bottom end is a lot cheaper than rebuilding the existing one. Since the bottom ends typically go a long time (assuming it's maintained properly), they are relatively inexpensive.

Edit: Obviously, it's your choice whether you decide to fix it or part it out, but I would recommend you go over the entire bike to see if there are any other "surprises" before you make a decision. Are tranny and final drive (splines included) in good shape? What about the heads and pistons? I don't remember if you've looked at any of these, and I'm too lazy to search the past posts.