New Airhead

[kmkahuna]

They're back...

Heads, pistons and jugs are back from Motorworks in National City. ..Continuing to clean, clean, clean.... Man that crap from the clutch is like oily chalk dust... tough stuff. As usual, more pictures at the shutterfly site below...

 

[kmkahuna]

VIN Sticker

Does anyone know if BMW will replace this sticker? I am thinking of taking all the black parts to get painted or maybe powder coated, but I'd like to keep the original look of the frame.

 

[535IS]

Does anyone know if BMW will replace this sticker? I am thinking of taking all the black parts to get painted or maybe powder coated, but I'd like to keep the original look of the frame.

Since it has the VIN, I doubt BMW would sell a replacement. I'd just carefully mask it.

 

[boxermaf]

You want to be VERY careful with that sticker and preserve it - I've heard of some folks going through tremendous nightmares at the DMV trying to re-register a bike that has been restored, but in which the VIN sticker was lost in the process. It *might* be possible for the original manufacturer to make a duplicate replacement sticker for you, but they are not required to, and I'm pretty sure such request would go to the very bottom of someone's "In" basket back in Munich.

 

[kmkahuna]

You want to be VERY careful with that sticker and preserve it - I've heard of some folks going through tremendous nightmares at the DMV trying to re-register a bike that has been restored, but in which the VIN sticker was lost in the process. It *might* be possible for the original manufacturer to make a duplicate replacement sticker for you, but they are not required to, and I'm pretty sure such request would go to the very bottom of someone's "In" basket back in Munich.

The VIN is stamped on the neck of the frame, so I'm not too concerned; I have a picture on my shutterfly pages. But, it sure is easier to read the VIN from this sticker...I'll probably just tape it and paint the frame myself. I just want to make sure I get paint that doesn't flake off in a year, and ruin all this work...

 

[kmkahuna]

Starter and diode board

Took the starter and the diode board off today. How's the teeth on the starter? Anyone care to comment? As usual, more pictures located on the shutterfly page: I took quite a few to make sure I could reconnect the wiring and route them in the correct place..

 

[boxermaf]

Aaah, you are "lucky" in that your bike is pre-17 digit VIN, so it uses the frame SERIAL NUMBER as the VIN. If you had a 1980+ bike with 17 digit VINs, you have to be especialyl careful as the frame only has the 7 digit serial number on it - the ONLY place on the 80s airheads that has the VIN is that flimsy foil sticker, located down on the bottom of the frame where it can be easily damaged.

 

[30064]

Kurt,

DO NOT DESTROY THAT EPA STICKER!!!!

I just spent 5 months and 5 trips to the DMV, AAA, local Police Sub-Station and CHP because I didn't file a non-op on my 81 R65 restoration project and the powder coater destroyed what was left of that sticker. Best advice is always keep your registration current, if you're not going to drive it, file the non-op. All 7-digit VINs have fallen out of the DMV system since they now require a 17 digit VIN. It's obsurd, but true. The matching Vin's are clearly stamped on both my right frame gusset and engine case but this seemed to take less priority than the missing EPA sticker on the right lower frame rail. In fact, I would suggest you guys photograph your stickers if you have them to historically archive them. Photoshop and adhesive mylar can do wonders these days.

You don't want to hear the gory details. Good news is; I finally received my plates. I honestly think they ran out of forms and inspections for me to fill out and have completed.

 

[godfather]

Kurt,

DO NOT DESTROY THAT EPA STICKER!!!!

I just spent 5 months and 5 trips to the DMV, AAA, local Police Sub-Station and CHP because I didn't file a non-op on my 81 R65 restoration project and the powder coater destroyed what was left of that sticker. Best advice is always keep your registration current, if you're not going to drive it, file the non-op. All 7-digit VINs have fallen out of the DMV system since they now require a 17 digit VIN. It's obsurd, but true. The matching Vin's are clearly stamped on both my right frame gusset and engine case but this seemed to take less priority than the missing EPA sticker on the right lower frame rail. In fact, I would suggest you guys photograph your stickers if you have them to historically archive them. Photoshop and adhesive mylar can do wonders these days.

You don't want to hear the gory details. Good news is; I finally received my plates. I honestly think they ran out of forms and inspections for me to fill out and have completed.

and I thought only the Feds were creating jobs

 

[kmkahuna]

Great advice Mike!

Thanks again for the good advice, Mike, I'll do just that...

 

[kmkahuna]

Before and after: BING flat top carbs

Just got my carbs back from Scott Brown in Escondido after he took the time to rebuild them for me, thus giving me more time to disassemble my bike into more ziploc bags....
I've posted more pictures now that: the transmission is off and clean (the plug does have some shavings, but not too bad...) and now the engine sits on blocks awaiting cleaning.
Reading up on the clutch chapter to make sure I pull it off correctly...just bought another 200$ of parts, gaskets, o-rings and the like from BMW San Diego... coming along!

 

[mymindsok]

The VIN is stamped on the neck of the frame, so I'm not too concerned; I have a picture on my shutterfly pages. But, it sure is easier to read the VIN from this sticker...I'll probably just tape it and paint the frame myself. I just want to make sure I get paint that doesn't flake off in a year, and ruin all this work...

You should check with your DMV before you decide to be unconcerned about losing that sticker.

Here in Cali, if you remove of distroy that sticker, you're in a world of trouble if you ever have to have the bike inspected. (Like when you sell it!) The Sargent in charge of our local DMV office has informed mr that that sticker is coded with the Interstate codings that are not included on the frame r headstock and that without that coding, they can't confirm the legality of the bike.

You'll do what you want but I'm just sayin....

 

[James.A]

http://www.motorworkspromach.com/
Cisco Gonzales at motor works in National City is the guy I am taking the heads to: I found him on this forum and through other airheads in the local area here, and he should be able to clean them up. The money is there for now, and I think these big ticket items are worth it. Now I'm really glad I pulled these..

For anyone who hasn't seen it in person, this image is exactly what valve reccesion and/or valve plastic deformation looks like. Great job on the re-hab, by the way.

 

[kmkahuna]

Holy flywheel, Batman...

For anyone who hasn't seen it in person, this image is exactly what valve reccesion and/or valve plastic deformation looks like. Great job on the re-hab, by the way.

Thanks for all the kind comments, guys. The forum here has been really invaluable during this entire process.
Having said that....Holy flywheel, Batman! I've never SEEN so many holes! Has anyone seen this on a 78 slash 7?

 

[20774]

Yes, I've heard about but never seen it in person. That looks like the extreme of lightening. Some of those holes on the outer edge appear to have very little distance between them if any. Seems like a bit much to me.

 

[535IS]

Thanks for all the kind comments, guys. The forum here has been really invaluable during this entire process.
Having said that....Holy flywheel, Batman! I've never SEEN so many holes! Has anyone seen this on a 78 slash 7?

Holy Schmidt!

 

[kmkahuna]

Holy Schmidt!

made another thread on the flywheel...turns out it might be a bit of history!
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=47745
A milestone has been reached: The bike is now down to the bare frame...
Like any good stallion, first they must be broken, before they can be ridden...(of course, I'm paraphrasing Spock in the new Star Trek, but what the hell, it fits..).

Now it's time to finish up the cleaning, organize the parts, and start the restoration:
- Prep and paint all the black parts.
- Prep and paint all the painted fiberglass and tank.
- Clean and polish the alloys.
- Pull the flywheel and inspect/replace the main seal if necessary.
- Inspect and clean the instrument cluster.

Wow, that only took 2 months: Checked my first thread when I started and it was June 17...And it's not like I've been working on it every single spare afternoon I have or anything...only someone who is OBSESSIVE would do something like that..!

 

[kmkahuna]

- New or refurbished handlebar controls for both sides.
- New front shock boots.
- New/refurbished chrome mirrors.
- New locking gas cap (the old one is broken).
Most of the other items (at least those that can be seen!) are probably restorable to decent shape: I am not a full restore guy: I am hoping to get her purring and cleaned up, but leave the character on her........
In the meantime, I am organizing my tools, and thinking of the tear down process. I got a lot of shelves ready, and my digital camera at the ready! Hope to start in the next week or so.

Ha ha ha! Oh, that's ripe.... "I'm not a full restore guy"...ha ha hah!!! Oh, yeah, I crack myself up....

Off to Stoners today to get some parts....front turn signal holders, maybe a new center stand, various and sundry items. Not much progress in the last few days, but I've been out and about on the roads of Malibu: Mullholland and Little Sycamore, so I got a good excuse!

 

[rowens816]

Frame up restore. Duh?

 

[kmkahuna]

Ahhh...Okay, that's' the first step after the cleaning and painting...