My /5 rebuild intro.

[Deleted User 62]

Wonderful looking bike, can you take a few more pictures of the rack on the back, what is that under it the rack? By the way, since we are mentioning gaiters, I have an early model /6 and it has 13 rib ones, was there a change during the production run??

I think you're talking about my bike. That is a cut down and modified "Rack Factory" rear rack. The black thing under it is my rain gear, which stays with the bike at all times. I have another one with a backrest and without the wood slats for sale. PM me if you are interested. Regarding the fork gaiters, the MaxBMW fiche shows both 11 and 13 rib gaiters are still available and listed under "R75/5". I don't know if they changed at any particular date or model.

[jagarra]

Thanks Tim,

It was your bike I was looking at, just got confused since both have solo seats.
Not sure what I am going to do with mine yet, I would like to replace the seat, but that will be at the end of the all the other work I expect to do.

thanks,

gg

[Deleted User 287]

/5s had 13 ribbs and /6 and later 11.

You did check the fork tubes for alignment with a sheet of glass, yes? There's a good how to on Duane's site.

I did the glass check and I have seen the alignment procedures on Duane's site. Pretty intimidating.

Oh now I remember why I mounted those fork gaiters up high. On Duane's site he said the gaiters will last much longer if mounted at the top of the slider because the bike spends most of it's life on the center stand with the forks/gaiters extended.

Duane told me (in person) to keep the gaiters pulled down as low as possible on the slider.
The lower it is mounted (in my case on a bike not designed for them) the more the fork can compress before the gaiter reaches maximum compression and limits fork travel.

I got out my screwdriver and pulled them down.





These pictures were taken at Ken's, by Randy (Dwerbil).
I still have the tick scars to prove I was there!

The other scars have healed!




It's weird - by chance it was two of the most unfortunate riders at (or going to, in my case) Ken's rallys (different years) that met for pizza on Valentines Day this year!
Poor George in Minneapolis had it much worse than I, I am afraid. He had to rent a truck to take his bike home.

I just needed someone to ride home most of the way with me (Thank You Starstuff!) to help me with my riding jacket, as I had a broken collarbone and didn't even know it (way out at the end - barely noticeable!) and it was tough to get off after a couple of warm hours in the saddle!

[x1Buellist]

Got a few things done this week. I installed the clam shell and choke/enricher lever installed. So finally all the engine covers are back on the bike. I decided to install the lever without buffing up the aluminum. Not sure that was right, it's probably the first part I have installed without reconditioning the surface but I kind of like the patina against the finished case. As far as the alignment of the teeth inside the lever. I couldnt see any alignment marks so I just matched the first teeth of the racks with the first tooth of the gear. It seemed to move good. What does the bearing notch point half way through the travel mean?

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I also made a little custom touch to the rear fender area. Where the red reflector is supposed to go, I installed a roundel. I am pretty happy with the result. I like modifications that look like they could have been stock (to non-BMW guys).

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The last item I worked on is the not as exciting front brake switch. It was not switching from open to closed consistently. So I worked some contact cleaner into it and got it working again. Replaced the rubber cover with a new one and hooked it up. Now you can squeeze the lever about an eighth inch before it actuates.

[dirtnadvil]

Beautiful restoration. I have a 1970 /5 that I am going to start a restoration on this spring. Seeing your bike is motivating me.

[x1Buellist]

Man that roundel spontaneously exploded. Well not exploded but just like they warn you in a million places not to tighten them or they will chip. I thought I was home free, it was installed and no chips. Went out today and it was chipped. That was a waste of 50 bucks. So for now I took one of the old ones that I have that is damaged and sprayed the chip with some black paint and a clear coat. It actually is a better roundel. The one I just got had chrome lettering. The one's on my tank and the one I put on my fender now have more of a brass or bronze? color to the lettering. Oh well. That'll do for now.

[SteveD]

Bugger. $50 is $50 and disappointing to waste.
Duane has an excellent page on the roundels.
http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/emblem/index.htm

Despite what Duanes page says re: the origin of the roundel, there is an alternative belief. For a little thread degradment...

The BMW Roundel, one of the world's most recognised and revered commercial symbols, celebrates its 90th anniversary, on 5 October 2007.

In July 1917 Franz Josef Popp registered the name Bayerische Motoren Werke, thus distancing the new company from the Rapp Motorenwerke. This was a necessary move if the new company was to find new clients and prosper. The name was registered but as yet there was no new logo.

It was on October 5 1917 that the BMW trademark was registered with the Imperial Trade Mark Roll under No. 221388. It featured the circular design of the Rapp logo but with the letters BMW at the top of the outer ring and the inner featuring quadrants in the Bavarian Free State colours of blue and white but in the opposed order, as it was illegal to use national symbols in a commercial trademark. The design was not in anyway connected with aircraft engines or propellers.

The idea that the blue and white had anything to do with spinning propellers comes from a 1929 ad, which featured aircraft with the image of the Roundel in the rotating propellers.

This ad came at the beginning of the Great Depression, which coincided with BMW acquiring the license to build Pratt & Whitney radial aircraft engines. The advertising department used the Roundel and BMW heritage in an attempt to increase sales of the new radial motors.

The idea of the spinning propellers was given greater credence in an article by Wilhelm Farrenkopf in a BMW journal of 1942. This also featured an image of an aircraft with a spinning Roundel. These were powerful images and the legend of the spinning propeller was born.

The logo was registered on 5 October but it was in limited use prior to this date. On 1 October 1917 Franz Josef Popp was given a certificate confirming his appointment as General Manager and it was adorned with the now familiar BMW Roundel.

.....

[x1Buellist]

Well I got a few things done today. I cleaned up the wiring under the tank, installed the carburetors, and routed the enricher and throttle cables. Getting closer.

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[dougie]

Wow that looks good

[x1Buellist]

I have a few questions that came up today while working on my /5.
My front brake cable rubs up against the front fender. I can't seem to make any adjustment to the routing of the cable to make it not rub. Does the cable rub on the front fender of your guys /5 also?

I ordered a Odyssey battery today for it and that made me realize that I don't know where the battery ground wire is supposed to attach to on the engine.

I was browsing the parts site and I see a little felt piece that says it goes inside the brake/clutch adjuster screw. Is that correct?

TIA for any help on these questions.

Another picture just because I like pictures

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