My 1974 R90/6 never-ending project, with plenty of pics.

I think I read that you need/want a steering damper knob? I have a couple of the squarish (4 handles I think) that if you need, just let me know.... PM me.

sumran said:

I'll look forward to the thread when he fixes all that stuff.

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rpeckham136133 said:

I think I read that you need/want a steering damper knob? I have a couple of the squarish (4 handles I think) that if you need, just let me know.... PM me.

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That makes the... 4th or 5th offer for one. I think I've got it covered, but thanks!

crazydrummerdude said:

That makes the... 4th or 5th offer for one. I think I've got it covered, but thanks!

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Dang! I was hoping to hold onto mine and have it go up and up in value........

So, yesterday, I spent quite a bit of time trying to start it before it actually fired. Then, I rode it around quite a bit.

I pulled back in the shop and it was just weeping oil out of the valve cover.



I figured; Dag nabbit. What does this mean?

But, while I let it stop dripping, I turned this:



into...

oops. I forgot to take a pic of the finished product.

Earlier in the day, I had picked up a few parts from the local BMW dealer. I shelled out the big bucks for official BMW hose clamps.



So I turned this:



into this:



It looks kinda goofy. I don't know why. My R75 has 11-rib boots, too.. and they're also fastened at the top of the slider. Oh well.

I figured since I was waiting on my paint to dry on my battery tray, I'd swap out my headlight rings. I swapped the old style one:



for a spare new style one I had laying around.



I then set to work on the last semi-major hurdle; the caliper rebuild. I ordered a rebuild kit before I took my old one apart. Well, after some polishing, my old piston still looks good.



But, the new kit arrived. I inquired if I could return it, but they said it'd incur a 15% restocking fee. Well, I don't really want to have to pay $20 just for looking at it for a day, so I rebuilt it with the new piston.. and rubber seals.

The ring I mentioned a few posts ago was just part of the old seal, so I popped it out. The rubber piston seal I overlooked before, but I pulled it out, too.



..and reassembled with all the proper parts.



I re-installed:



..and bled the brake:



..and now we're in business.

So, I re-adjusted my valves since it was so hard to start earlier in the day.



They needed it.. and in the process I discovered why it was leaking so bad on the right side. The washers go on the OUTSIDE of the valve cover, not the inside. I guess I reassembled it when I took it off last time and forgot to take the washers off the posts before installing the head gasket.

Now, it doesn't leak any more!

I'll be going for a ride on the streets today. It's 38 degrees out right now.

EDIT: They say the camera adds 10 pounds. Well, after looking over my post, it looks like my camera adds grease, rust, and scratches! Maybe I should down-grade my cameras. Haha.

I love this thread!! Good for you Nate, keep going!!

Happy New Years Day ride.
P.S DOn't forget to check the oil, I bet it leaked quite a bit.

Rapid_Roy said:

P.S DOn't forget to check the oil, I bet it leaked quite a bit.

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Actually, I didn't lose too much. Just on the bottom edge of the full line.

I've got good news and bad news.

Good news: I rode 19.4 miles today. Ran like a top. Just pulled me right along.. especially after I burnt off the old gas and filled up with premium.

I pulled it out for an updated shot, because it probably won't look much different than this for a while. Well, the tires, battery, and seat will probably change, but you get the idea.



I knew I had to adjust the front brake, because it was more of a "slow suggestion lever" than a brake lever. So, after the ride, I shut the bike off and removed the tank for an adjustment. I bent down and and saw the bad news:



Now how the hell does that happen? It was cool to the touch.. and nothing was rubbing. When I aligned the rotor last night, I made sure everything was lined up properly and nothing was rubbing or hanging up. I distinctly remember hearing a "tink tink" as I was riding, so I guess that explains the sound. Anyone seen this before?

Now I've gotta 1) find out why it happened, and 2) find a new (used) rotor.

Arg! I'm bummed.. and broke.

Facinating Thread

I am soooo hooked on this thread. Soon I'll get to start a not-so-involved restore of my R75. This is really great to watch the changes.....and I love the from this to this pics....Thanks for sharing.

As a side note, I used to have one of those Daytona fairings....at the time they were kinda cool....

Great thread, Nate. Good work on this puppy, man.
Happy new year.

crazydrummerdude said:

Now how the hell does that happen? It was cool to the touch.. and nothing was rubbing. When I aligned the rotor last night, I made sure everything was lined up properly and nothing was rubbing or hanging up. I distinctly remember hearing a "tink tink" as I was riding, so I guess that explains the sound. Anyone seen this before?

Now I've gotta 1) find out why it happened, and 2) find a new (used) rotor.

Arg! I'm bummed.. and broke.

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Nathan, I had a similar notch on my rotors. Maybe something was left on the old pad(s)? Did you scuff them up? My guess was that it was the spot where the pads were when it was set to rest (and die).It didn't warp the rotors, but seemed to leave a little something behind where the rest of the rotor area was exposed completely. My calipers are Brembos and don't have any real adjustment, but I seem to recall yours do from my old 90/6.

Another thing that I had to double check was the recess where the rubber piston ring goes. I used an angled mirror to look ultra close for corrosion and found a lot. Even though the piston would seat it was really tight until I cleaned all that up.

You could try one of those brake rotor/drum scuffing tools to get you by for a litttle while. Not sure I'd rely on that for too long on such a critical part. Ya got the beast to "go" reliably, now ya gotta get it to stop reliably.

Cracked?

Looks like the rotor has a couple of cracks.
Look at the top of the rotor.

I am probably going to buy an EBC rotor to put on mine. They aren't too expensive and the /6's especially with single discs need all the help they can get.

Is that a notch or are those cracks that go all the way through the disk? It is kinda hard to tell from the picture.

edit: oops, I went into the basement to look at the /7 disk and PMonk has already mentioned this.

Are EBC rotors inexpensive? Or are they a worthy investment? I thought that they are about $200 each. I have that on my list of purchases to replace all three on the RS.

Cracked.

I looked back at all my pics of my front end for signs of any other cracks on the rotor. All I can see is 1 faint line, as evidenced by the 3rd to last pic on post #64 of this thread. Previously, I couldn't really see it with my eye. So, maybe the flash of the camera picked it up.

But, upon inspection yesterday and like shown in the picture, there were probably 6 cracks spanning from the outside edge almost to the inside edge of the rotor.

I'm bummed about that because, well, it's another hurdle. Unless someone wants to donate one?

On the other hand, I am super excited about the rest of the bike because it was powerful and fun. 2 notes, though;
1) I gotta tighten the mirrors. They'd blow back parallel with the wind upon quick acceleration.
2) Nothing's better than worn out rear shocks to remind one how fat they are. Everything was jigglin'. I even discovered some new fat in my back that snuck up on me.

LHairgrove said:

As a side note, I used to have one of those Daytona fairings

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Really? I looked for information on them, and couldn't find anything. If I remember correctly, mine was a "Meyer Plastics" brand. It came with lowers, too.

Sorry to hear about the rotor. If you end up buying a new rotor, try Motobins. Motobins sells Grimeca replacement rotors that were a lot cheaper than stock, and unlike EBC rotors, come with the carriers. I've heard those rivets can be a PITA to drill out.

http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?function=show&subs=104&title=GRIMECA+BRAKE+DISCS

88bmwJeff said:

Sorry to hear about the rotor. If you end up buying a new rotor, try Motobins. Motobins sells Grimeca replacement rotors that were a lot cheaper than stock, and unlike EBC rotors, come with the carriers. I've heard those rivets can be a PITA to drill out.

http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?function=show&subs=104&title=GRIMECA+BRAKE+DISCS

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Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't really want to have to rivet them.

According to google, "77 British pounds = 111.5499 U.S. dollars." That's not too bad! Looks like I'll have to save up, though.

Or.. maybe steal the front wheel off my R75. Arg! No, I couldn't do that.

EBC rotors

kstoo said:

Are EBC rotors inexpensive? Or are they a worthy investment? I thought that they are about $200 each. I have that on my list of purchases to replace all three on the RS.

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I would like to hear from someone who has them and see how much of an improvement there is. Since I only have one it isn't that expensive for me.

Here is one place you can get them.

http://www.beemershop.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=66&osCsid=edf11c6f8d42ddb97a184ee9454564c8

crazydrummerdude said:

Cracked.

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D'oh! I didn't see the cracks until now. I got all sorts of junk here, but no spare rotors to donate.
...

crazydrummerdude said:

1) I gotta tighten the mirrors. They'd blow back parallel with the wind upon quick acceleration.

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Now that's some power...heh? My left mirror comes lose often, so this time I put a little blue Loctite on it.

88bmwJeff said:

and unlike EBC rotors, come with the carriers. I've heard those rivets can be a PITA to drill out.

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?
I think that the EBC just bolts on.
I have had good report about them, they wear less because they are drilled/slotted properly, they are "floating" to compensate for heat growth, ...
they look cool

Originally Posted by crazydrummerdude
1) I gotta tighten the mirrors. They'd blow back parallel with the wind upon quick acceleration.

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Yeah, I laughed when I heard that one, too!! If that is your biggest problem then stop whining here!