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Spark plug caps originality

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jwonder
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Spark plug caps originality

Post by jwonder »

All,

Restoring an early 1953 R68 and I am wondering what the original spark plug caps would be.

The choices are the silver metal 1k ohm caps and the brown 0 ohm caps with the bmw logo on top. There is also the black Norris one but I don’t think that was ever used on the R68.

Guidance is appreciated.
James Wonder
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Long Island, New York

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TaosTwinCam
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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by TaosTwinCam »

Definitely brown with BMW logo on top. Metal caps came much later. Todd

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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by TaosTwinCam »

Volume 43/no.1 Page 30

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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by jwonder »

Todd,

Thank you for the reply. I looked a volume 43 issue 1 page 30 and it is the Barrington Manual. I am not sure you meant to reference that. I went back to the Barrington manual that is sitting next to me and Re-read the sections on the HT leads as well as the back reference section and found nothing on the caps. I had done this before I asked. Maybe I missed it.

I feel you are right, but I asked because there are several pictures on the web of professional restorations, typically held out as the best, and most have the metal shrouded plug caps.

Thanks
James Wonder
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Long Island, New York

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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by schrader7032 »

Look at page 36...maybe that was what he was referring to.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by sherman980 »

See pics below. These caps are NOS from a dealer buy out I did years ago. Pretty sure they are being reproduced now. The rubber "boot" is not correct, but close. The originals I had were so dried out that they cracked into pieces when I when to remove them from the cap body. While you're at it, take a look at the finned exhaust nut. Notice how the edges of the fins are quite square. They look like they are sandcast vs the later style that have rounded fin edges and look diecast. The later style are NOT correct. The early style were used all the way into the early 60's on R69 and R50S models (same casting, different machining).

DSC02650.JPG
DSC02649.JPG
Thanks.
Chuck S

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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by jwonder »

schrader7032 wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 5:17 pm
Look at page 36...maybe that was what he was referring to.
Thanks Kurt, I got it! Thanks to Todd too for referencing it!
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Re: Spark plug caps originality

Post by jwonder »

Chuck, I see you have the ISDT exhaust mounted as well, very cool!

Thanks to everyone for the help.
James Wonder
Vice President, Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners
2022 BMW Friend Of the Marque
Long Island, New York

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