Restoration of BMW R69s engine

[malmac]

Well I am not sure how this projects area is supposed to work, but here is my best shot.
I am in the middle of restoring a 1960's vintage BMW motorcycle engine.
The engine has been worked on before and the bike was previously involved in a major crash, so the frame is not the original frame.
All in all the old girl has been through the wars though I have seen other bikes that have suffered a much worse fate.
Here is a few photos of work to date to get started. Given you are reading this I like pictures and I am going to assume that you do too.

Disassembling the engine - These engines were carefully assembled, often using interference fits on parts. So while the design of the engine is quite simple, working on them does require a selection of pullers and other special tools. I took my time with the disassembly, taking measurements on runout and tolerances.
The following pics give you a bit of an overview on what has been done so far.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look.

Mal

 

[malmac]

The crankcase is now empty and one of the tasks is to make a couple of custom studs to replace the standard studs because of damage/wear. I inherited the wear but inflicted the damage.

The text on the photos pretty much explains what I have been doing.

Mal

 

[C-Bag]

I had a ‘72 R75/5 with a Vetter fairing. I loved that bike, especially the incredible engineering. When i saw the header I had to check because if it was a BMW car I wouldn’t care, not at all a fan. The old BMW air cools, very cool. Had no idea it was so heavy on the special tools though. I also was a VW air cool fan and it didn’t take a 1/10 the specialized equipment.

 

[Nogoingback]

Great writeup: looking forward to your progress. Are you making all the tools, or have you acquired them?

 

[mattthemuppet2]

what a cool project and a beautiful old bike. I didn't realise they were still so art deco into the 60s. Looking forward to more updates and pictures!

 

[malmac]

Great writeup: looking forward to your progress. Are you making all the tools, or have you acquired them?

Well I am making most of the special tools but their is a couple of exceptions.
Here is some of the tools I have made so far. There is lots more but here are a few.

Thanks for asking.


Mal

 

[malmac]

I had a ‘72 R75/5 with a Vetter fairing. I loved that bike, especially the incredible engineering. When i saw the header I had to check because if it was a BMW car I wouldn’t care, not at all a fan. The old BMW air cools, very cool. Had no idea it was so heavy on the special tools though. I also was a VW air cool fan and it didn’t take a 1/10 the specialized equipment.

Yes I had a VW beetle and you are right I rebuilt the engine out of 2nd hand parts and I think I bought a torque wrench.

I also had a R90/6 - well that is a long story.
So looks like we have followed in each others footsteps.
Thanks for having a gander at the project.


Mal

 

[C-Bag]

I bumbled onto the R75/5 as often happened from an airman on nearby Castle AFB. It was almost 10yrld but only had 3kmi on it. All the guy did was ride about 3-4mi to work and back home. Because of that the pipes were rotted out so he put shorties on it. A Beemer with loud pipes, silly. The bike was not even properly broken in. I put about 5,000mi on it and sold it for more than I bought it. The only bike I ever did that with. The amazing thing was the all Hazet tool roll that came with it. You could almost disassemble the whole bike with that set. I felt like that bike was the pinnacle of German engineering. Simple and rugged.

 

[Janderso]

Nice work!
I love the boxer motor.
I sold my R1200RT when I turned 60.
Best motorcycle I ever owned. I rode bikes all my life Until that dreaded 60.
I don’t regret it. I took up the sport of hobby machining

 

[malmac]

Nice work!
I love the boxer motor.
I sold my R1200RT when I turned 60.
Best motorcycle I ever owned. I rode bikes all my life Until that dreaded 60.
I don’t regret it. I took up the sport of hobby machining ☺

Oh I may be in trouble, I am 67 and still ride my 1200 and working on the 69s for something a bit lighter though definitely not faster.

Mal