Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Discuss all things 1970 & later Airheads right here.
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Airbear
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Oz, lower right hand side, in a bit, just over the lumpy part.

Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Airbear »

Last week there was an entire running R90/6 sitting in my shed. Now it's like this -

Image

It all started with a valve adjustment. The clearances on the port side jug had grown again since last adjustment. After adjustment I pushed the old girl off the centre stand to go for a warm-up ride and noticed a very spongy front brake and a notch in the steering. "O bother", (or something similar) I said. "Time for some slightly more serious attention."
Fast forward and the frame is completely stripped, ready for blasting. Parts are laid out on every available horizontal surface or are being soaked in various toxic solutions. New and pre-loved parts are winging their way from various parts of the world.

Here are some observations:
A BMW Airhead is composed of a great number of parts. Most of those parts are filthy.
The frame is really light in weight. Much lighter than I thought possible.
I enjoy doing this sort of thing.

Brunhilde will be 40 next year - a tricky age for a girl - so a makeover is bound to cheer her up. I want to make her look nice while retaining her hard-won patina. The paintables will be painted and decisions still need to be made about the rest.
Just thought I'd share.
Charlie
and Brunhilde - 1974 R90/6
Image

Graduate, Wallace and Gromit School of Engineering and Design (Pending)
2valve
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:00 am
Location: Glen Innes Australia

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by 2valve »

hi airbear , ahhhh mate i hope thats not the BM you had at my place because it looked a lot better than it does at the moment !
ME 109
Posts: 7306
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:00 am
Location: Albury, Australia

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by ME 109 »

Great goin' man!

I can see you propelling your front wheel to Tottenham with a stick. :P And a back pack of course.

Couldn't stop huh?

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Lord of the Bings
Mal S7
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Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:26 am

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Mal S7 »

Nice one Charlie.

I hope you have taken the time to number all the parts so it doesn't get put back together as Optimus Prime!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKqpvriKZuA

cheers
Mal
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Airbear
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Oz, lower right hand side, in a bit, just over the lumpy part.

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Airbear »

Ha, I'm sure she'll come back together eventually and still have a bit of that shabby-chic appeal.
Maybe before Tottenham, maybe not. Just a vague springtime non-deadline.
Charlie
and Brunhilde - 1974 R90/6
Image

Graduate, Wallace and Gromit School of Engineering and Design (Pending)
moosehead
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:57 am
Location: Canukstan...north of the checkerboard

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by moosehead »

Ah...I love it...I call these "patina" rejuvinations....

Bruny will love you even more after this!

Always fun to do in those long, cold winter months....or do you have a "winter" on the other side of the planet?

Have fun Charlie!
Retired from work....not life!
Duane Ausherman
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Location: Galt California
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Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Duane Ausherman »

I hate to tell you, but that is the hard way to fix a notchy steering bearing. It will work though.
Ask the Indians what happens when you don't control immigration.
Deleted User 62

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Deleted User 62 »

Airbear wrote:Just thought I'd share.
Oh dang, ya broke it! Just kidding... we know what you are really asking: "Where did the !@#$% perch wedges disappear to?" My vote is for under the cabinet to the left. ;)
Major Softie
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Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Major Softie »

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to do that valve adjustment all over again.
MS - out
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Airbear
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Oz, lower right hand side, in a bit, just over the lumpy part.

Re: Sometimes it's hard to stop ...

Post by Airbear »

Some good giggles there folks. Thanks for the encouragement.
This is a first time for me and I am suddenly more respectful of those who have gone there before me.

Moose, we do have a winter here - there is snow on the lumpy part, about an hour's ride away. I burn wood in the CatWarmer (woodstove) from May to early September. Today is a dreary wet day, forecast temp range 6-11C, perfect for rugging up and playing in the shed.
Charlie
and Brunhilde - 1974 R90/6
Image

Graduate, Wallace and Gromit School of Engineering and Design (Pending)
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