Pole Shed Find - 1974 R90/6

[bmwscott]

Hello everyone. I was able to find this Pole Shed (Pole Barn) 1974 R90/6 that has been sitting since 1996 from the original owner. He traveled the United States with it and put on 78K miles from 1974 to 1996. At this time, he moved into his current house and parked in the barn. After some power washing and removal of about 150 lbs of things I am not going to keep on it for the restoration, it is ready for some restoring. The engine currently seems to be stuck, but the seller assured me when he parked it, it was a runner. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to investigate the engine in more detail. First BMW motorcycle and really stoked to get into this project. Only part missing is the right side cover.

 

[fmdualexhaust]

Sweet find!
I owned a '75 for a long time.
Sorry I sold it.

Good luck with the restoration.

 

[barryg]

Nice!

 

[soocom1]

FANTASTIC!!!


Gotta love these sweet deals.

 

[Darryl Cainey]

You should keep the tool box that fits over the battery & the headlight should be able to go back on. Good luck!

 

[bmwscott]

You should keep the tool box that fits over the battery & the headlight should be able to go back on. Good luck!

Good catch. It was just sitting there to dry.

 

[1074]

parts

You should keep the tool box that fits over the battery & the headlight should be able to go back on. Good luck!

Looks like a Luftmeister fairing so the turn signal pods are in the fairing. Unscrew the lens screws to get it all out.

 

[ebeeby]

Well done!

 

[dennisdarrow]

Really nice find..….How did you try to turn the engine over???...…...Pull the plugs, put it in 4th or 5th and turn the rear wheel with the bike on the center stand…..Put something like a typical solvent that some can suggest and try turning it over. The condition that the tool kit is in tells a lot about what the internals of the engine are perhaps like...…..Good luck...

 

[Rinty]

Lucky you. That bike cleaned up really nice.

 

[bmwscott]

Update

Been a bit from the original post. I have been doing some work and diagnosed the problem. Stuck left piston and a crack in the cylinder liner. Right side looks good. Having the left side piston and cylinder replaced. Many other parts purchased and now waiting for the engine work to be complete. Just need to do the master cylinder and caliper rebuild. Here is a few pics of the progress.

 

[RPGR90s]

R90/6

Been a bit from the original post. I have been doing some work and diagnosed the problem. Stuck left piston and a crack in the cylinder liner. Right side looks good. Having the left side piston and cylinder replaced. Many other parts purchased and now waiting for the engine work to be complete. Just need to do the master cylinder and caliper rebuild. Here is a few pics of the progress.

Once done, you'll have a bike that will outlive most people.

Don't forget to ask the P.O. if the tranny shifter spring was replaced/updated. I think it's called the pawl return spring. They all eventually break on '74 trannies and will leave you stuck in the last gear selected.

RickR90s

 

[lmo1131]

Good grief! Was this monstrous trailer hitch bolted onto that poor bike?

 

[James.A]

Please consider joining the Airheads Beemer Club. By doing that and contacting your state's Airmarshal, you will gain access to a collection of owners who are capable of giving you guidance on your project and maybe even "hands on" assistance. In Illinois, we have over a half a dozen members who know everything there is to know about these bikes.

 

[bmwscott]

Found some bags for her. Joined Airheads Beemers. Continue to search for a 74' cylinder.

 

[69zeff65]

What did you use on the engine & transmission cases

I'm always looking for the right stuff to get that clean but not shinny look on my post /2 bikes.

 

[bmwscott]

I'm always looking for the right stuff to get that clean but not shinny look on my post /2 bikes.

Rub'N Buff Silver Leaf 76308M

 

[happy wanderer]

Rub'N Buff Silver Leaf 76308M

Try mixing the silver with pewter 50/50. Comes out a little less bright but the end result is closer to when it was new. ;-P

R 'N B is my secret clean up weapon. And it leaves behind a finish that cleans up easier.

 

[bmwscott]

Stablemates to my R90/6 is my older brothers 71 R50/5 and my nephews 76 R75/6.

 

[harryhendo]

Trailer hitch removal

Great find. But now that you've removed the trailer hitch, you can't use it for plowing.... ;-) I assume you'll be rebuilding the carburetors. It's an easy job and necessary after sitting for so long. There is a great youtube video on the rebuild that I used for my '87 R80.