Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

therealkennyboy wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:05 pm

I always thought that tool was for installing the key mechanism rather than the board? For making sure when the key is pushed down that everything lines up correctly?

Thats correct. The tool held the key mechanism in place, "compressing the spring" which allows the board to go into place. Once the board was in I removed the tool and heated/bent the tabs.

Looking SUPERB, makes me want a white one.

I bought the ignition install tool and thought it was a great help and easier.
One question on the tabs, I just bent them over cold. Is it necessary to heat them first ?

mcsherry1328 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:45 am

I bought the ignition install tool and thought it was a great help and easier.
One question on the tabs, I just bent them over cold. Is it necessary to heat them first ?

Barrington recommends that you heat the tabs first. They also recommend you don't press the tab all the way over at one time so I tapped each tab 2-3 times before they were fully seated. I didn't have a long punch so I used a 10" ratchet extension to reach up into the headlight.

Heat is needed in order to reduce or eliminate the work hardening that happens. When you bend something over and over, the metal becomes more brittle and prone to cracking...think what happens when you take a coat hanger and bend it back and forth...eventually it breaks. Heating or annealing helps to reduce the effects of bending to allow it to be bent again.

Great thread and restoration!

drpetemurray wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 8:21 am

Great thread and restoration!

Thanks Pete. We are getting close to getting her started and on the road.

While I'm waiting for the transmission I added some accessories ... SS gas tank emblem trim and Albert headlight mirrors. I wasn't sure I was going to like the emblem trim but I think it really looks good on the Dover white. I have always loved the look of the Albert mirrors.

The transmission finally made it back to the shop. We installed it by removing the three motor mounts and sliding the engine forward. I was just going to rotate it forward but since I had the extra hands we slid it forward. With the transmission in we gave it a few kicks and it came to life. We had a sticky float in the left carb but once we addressed that we were able to start tuning. After about 10 minutes it was dialed in and running well. Still a lot to do before we can take it for a test run but Im very happy so far.

It's getting closer. I'm going to run it a couple more times to fine tune the carbs then it should be ready for a road test.

It's all together and almost ready for a ride. I still need to work on the fuel tank and fuel delivery.

I can't finish the build without you guys looking it over so I don't miss anything. This time I didn't forget to put the shift lever bolt in from the bottom. . So far it shifts through all the gears and everything seems to be working as expected.
Chuck