Can you polish a turd?

[MikeP]

Stands reassembled;

Waiting for some parts before sticking the gearbox back in, plus two new swing-arm pivots. The fixed one was a bugger to remove and I trashed it getting it out. The adjuster came out with the lock-nut. Inspection shows why; the lock-nut has cross threaded but only part way down the pivot pin. I'm trying to imagine how that could happen.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Superb work Mike.

 

[MikeP]

Superb work Mike.

Thanks Jim. I've adopted an Olympics buzz-word; this bike is my legacy to one of my nephews.

 

[MikeP]

Well this morning I fitted the new pushrod rubber bootie and then checked that I'd torqued the clutch cover screws correctly before sticking the gear box back on plus re-fitting the alternator, battery tray and starter;

Then I added the re-furbished stand set and coupled up the side stand retractor;

The swing-arm is loosely re-fitted, the shaft (freshly lubed splines of course) inserted and clicked home, final drive and new suspension unit attached;

Nothing is yet done-up tight or adjusted. I need to save some things to fill the time while the fairing and belly-pan are being re-painted.

 

[MikeP]

Bolted it all together properly;

Adjusted the new clutch then started it to reassure myself that it wasn't going make unpleasant noises. I've never done a clutch on a bike without a flywheel before and following a PM to Neil, I felt happier that the amount of end float on the output shaft is normal. It didn't self destruct. Cheers Neil.

I'm looking forward to getting out on it and seeing how the new rear suspension performs. Trouble is, the paint-shop are taking their time re-spraying the fairing and belly-pan.

So I filled-in the time by stripping the engine bars (a bit tatty with quite a lot of stone chips) and getting the first coat of paint on them.

I bet the body panels will be ready next week when the forecast is back to piss-poor.

 

[Humbug]

Lovely job. A credit to you sir.

 

[MikeP]

Bollocks.

After putting the "final" coat on the engine bars, my "paint booth" collapsed. So now I have to wait for the paint to harden enough to rub them down again and get rid of the damaged finish.

Still, as I've just been told that the fairing parts won't be ready until Tuesday, there's no rush.

 

[DavidHale]

Bollocks.

After putting the "final" coat on the engine bars, my "paint booth" collapsed. So now I have to wait for the paint to harden enough to rub them down again and get rid of the damaged finish.

Still, as I've just been told that the fairing parts won't be ready until Tuesday, there's no rush.

Leave 'em out in the sunshine, be ready to do tomorrow.

That bike's looking great Mike, it's always a pleasure to see how you work.

 

[MikeP]

Leave 'em out in the sunshine, be ready to do tomorrow.

Funny you should say that David. They have been "cooking" in my conservatory and are now baked to perfection.

 

[Fanum]

That bike's looking great Mike, it's always a pleasure to see how you work.

It is indeed, on both counts

Mike...Got an old ikea bookcase or something? Or take an angle grinder to an oil drum, that'd make an ace paint booth

 

[Steve B]

Great thread Mike and a fabulous looking bike! Always a pleasure to watch someone with a passion for perfection. So much so I've being trawling German E-bay. http://www.ebay.de/itm/bmw-K-75-S-/160859231969?pt=Motorr%C3%A4der&hash=item2573f516e1 Must resist.

This one particularly
http://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-K75s-Top-Zustand-mit-Koffersatz-und-komplettem-Service-Gelsitzbank-/251124281601?pt=Motorr%C3%A4der&hash=item3a782c7101

Keep us all updated

 

[MikeP]

Great thread Mike and a fabulous looking bike! Always a pleasure to watch someone with a passion for perfection. So much so I've being trawling German E-bay. http://www.ebay.de/itm/bmw-K-75-S-/160859231969?pt=Motorr%C3%A4der&hash=item2573f516e1 Must resist.

This one particularly
http://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-K75s-Top-Zustand-mit-Koffersatz-und-komplettem-Service-Gelsitzbank-/251124281601?pt=Motorr%C3%A4der&hash=item3a782c7101

Keep us all updated

Steve, thanks.

The white one is a steal if the price stays low but needs some work (and the RT bars removing. What was the owner thinking? ). City cases too but they sell for more money here than a good set of late Motocases for some reason.

If you buy it, I have a good pair of 'S' bars that I got on ebay for 99p, you can have them for nothing. I'll even do a tart-up and sort it out for you for nowt (you just buy the parts and materials needed).

The black one is very nice, a bit pricey by the time you add-on the cost of getting it back here and finding an mph speedo unit.

Try this German search engine.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?scopeId=MB&lang=en

There are some very cheap K-Series over there.

 

[turnipbmw]

another cracking post from you MikeP -what a lovely tidy garage as well.

bought my first K in about 1988 and must have owned 40 over the years (sometimes its cheaper to buy a bike than tyres/discs)

For a few years I thought the K75s was the best bike in the world - 130mph on the clock and a best of 75 mpg (V power fuel)

Polishing a turd is a great title though - we see a lot of shiney bikes on this site that the owners wont ride in the rain/winter or spend too many hours cleaning that could be spent riding/drinking

My current K100LT is an e bay special from Shetland, owned for a year now is left outside, used almost every day and after the intial shakedown, new cables, all electrical connections cleaned/lubed, full service etc its not even been cleaned.

It has actually attained a sort of shabby chic and I noticed quite a few people interesed in it at the Pilgrim rally last week.

So, I wish I was more like you but I know why I'm not.

 

[MikeP]

Thanks (I think ) Damned with faint praise is the phrase that springs to mind.

The world is divided between the polishers and the non-polishers it seems.

Me? Well I'm obviously in the first camp. Why? A good question and I've often tried to analyse why.

I suppose it's a mixture of pride in ownership, pride in doing something, the sheer pleasure that I get from making something better (very subjective) and the more pragmatic; it's nice to do routine work on something clean (good to know that fasteners are not likely to be stubborn or seized), it does enhance the value and probably most importantly it's easier to see when something needs attention.

I've never minded my bikes getting dirty through use, it's just that I won't leave it dirty for long and experience has taught me that a well polished surface shrugs off the dirt easier than one that's already grubby.

So with all that in mind, I gave the re-painted engine bars a coat of Zymol, the water pump cover really needs re-painting (maybe when it needs to be removed next time) but it and the timing chain cover also got the polish treatment because once the belly-pan and radiator grille are back on, they won't be removed unless I have to. They'll have to be cleaned by a squirt through the mesh with a hose.

I'm not happy with the finish of the fork-brace so it's off again for a rub down and squirt with more paint (hence the lack of mudguard).

 

[MikeP]

That's better.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks (I think ) Damned with faint praise is the phrase that springs to mind.

The world is divided between the polishers and the non-polishers it seems.

Me? Well I'm obviously in the first camp. Why? A good question and I've often tried to analyse why.

I suppose it's a mixture of pride in ownership, pride in doing something, the sheer pleasure that I get from making something better (very subjective) and the more pragmatic; it's nice to do routine work on something clean (good to know that fasteners are not likely to be stubborn or seized), it does enhance the value and probably most importantly it's easier to see when something needs attention.

I've never minded my bikes getting dirty through use, it's just that I won't leave it dirty for long and experience has taught me that a well polished surface shrugs off the dirt easier than one that's already grubby.

So with all that in mind, I gave the re-painted engine bars a coat of Zymol, the water pump cover really needs re-painting (maybe when it needs to be removed next time) but it and the timing chain cover also got the polish treatment because once the belly-pan and radiator grille are back on, they won't be removed unless I have to. They'll have to be cleaned by a squirt through the mesh with a hose.

I'm not happy with the finish of the fork-brace so it's off again for a rub down and squirt with more paint (hence the lack of mudguard).

I'm in your camp Mike

I do the same, strip it down and improve, using all genuine BMW or Honda parts, just spent over £100 on new Genuine Honda rear mudguard, and ancillaries (no. plate holder and light/tailight lens and reflector,even down to the warning labels) on an old Honda XR250

Perfectly good pattern parts available, but OEM stuff is so much better

I'm with you

 

[MikeP]

Well this morning I collected the re-painted panels;

First job was to reassemble the belly-pan and offer it up. It took a little jiggling with the mountings as they seem to move slightly once they are disturbed.

While the bits were away I searched my stocks and found some odd slightly domed washers that have a thin layer of dense foam on the reverse. I have no idea what they were for but they were ideal to replace some of the washers on the fairing. The foam will stop the inevitable wearing away of the plastic.

I used two strips of helicopter tape to add some stone-chip protection to the belly-pan leading edge.

Then with it polished to within an inch of its life, I took out for an airing (and to get some miles on the new rear suspension before twiddling with it);

The new clutch just needs readjusting now that it's bedded-in.

What am I going to do with myself now? I might flog this and buy another to tart up.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I'm impressed, really impressed - looks fab

What's the handling like now you've sorted the damper out?

Andres

 

[MikeP]

I'm impressed, really impressed - looks fab

What's the handling like now you've sorted the damper out?

Andres

Cheers Andres, much appreciated.

It tracks nicely, as it should. The new rear suspension is like a magic carpet ride after the poor old thing that was there before. It will only get better once I'm able to twiddle with the knobs and things.

Today, I actually wondered why I was ever so keen on the Paralever and Telelever nonsense. It's so much more rewarding to ride than bikes with modern technology but it isn't as forgiving.

 

[chad]

Mike that looks bloody fab