Sticky Needle

I noticed that my tachometer needle is jumping around frantically.  I read online it can be sticky cable, or sticky gears.

I removed the speedo/tach, and bench tested the tach needle using a hand drill going in reverse.  I drill could only get it up to 3000 rpm's, but it was jumping around around.  The tach is a very simple worm gear mechanism.  Two white plastic worm gears drive the main needle.  I sprayed some silicone around both gears, then applied silicone grease to one of the white gears.  I but it back together, and then retested on the bench, it did operatre much better.




One thing to note, I was bench testing with a spare cable.  The tach cable on the bike is of unknown age and might have something to do with the issue.  When first bought the bike, the lower end of the tach cable where it plugs into the bike near the cam, was dirty with oil.  I did clean up that area, but never removed the cable.  If this still has problems after road test  I will replace with my spare cable and give it go.

"Light me Up"

***UPDATE ****

In Feb I replaced the red LED below (position 3 from the top) for the generator bulb with a white incandescent, given the charging warnings, that bulb requires a small amount of current to pass through, which the LED would not always do, there is a bypass available from Motorrad Elektric but I decided since I do not have a voltage meter on the bike while it is running, I would stick with OEM bulb for now, and keep a spare in the tool tray.

http://www.motoelekt.com/genlightacc.htm

Original Article

I have decided to replace the indicator lamps with LEDs, mine are dim and two are burnt out.

SnowBums Article on replacement lights
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/lamps.htm

There are 4 12V/3W Type 194 bulbs that need to be replaced.  The Generator light is the one you have to watch since it is tied to a failure.

http://autolumination.com/194.htm

There are four Type 74 or BA7S type wedge bulbs, 12V/1.2W that need to be replaced.

http://autolumination.com/74.htm

Here is what I got, a combination of colors even though the indicators have colored plastic.  I thought I would try blue background lighting for the fun it of it, I can always return for white ones if I do not like it.

Description	Unit price	Qty	Amount
T10 Wedge Item# Bobblehead , Color: Blue , Lens: 194	$3.99 USD	2	$7.98 USD
74 Item# Superstar Led , Color: Red , Lens: Forward	$2.99 USD	1	$2.99 USD
74 Item# Superstar Led , Color: Green , Lens: Forward	$2.99 USD	1	$2.99 USD
74 Item# Superstar Led , Color: Amber , Lens: Forward	$2.99 USD	1	$2.99 USD
74 Item# Superstar Led , Color: Blue , Lens: Forward	$2.99 USD	1	$2.99 USD
T10 Wedge Item# 4-Star , Color: Amber , Lens: 194	$3.99 USD	1	$3.99 USD
T10 Wedge Item# 4-Star , Color: Red , Lens: 194	$3.99 USD	1	$3.99 USD

Blue	Super White	Red	Amber	Green	UV

This is the current bulb pattern so I do not forget.

From 1976 BMW R75/6

Valve adjustment

Took advantage of the super cold weather, and did a valve adjustment. The rockers free play was not enough when examined.

Mileage is 66, 437, it was last done about 500 miles ago, so it did not really need it, but I'm glad I did because the free play was needed to be corrected.

New Old Brake Line

When I bought the bike last year, the previous owner had rigged up a stainless steel brake line with bango bolts that went from the MC slug directly to the the Caliper bottom input line. This arrangement seemed to always leak, and it was missing the steel down tube. I found online the original assembly from the caliper all the way back up to the MC, original ATE brake line and bracket. Now I do not know the age, but the rubber hose looks ok, and the brake stopping seems solid. I might get a new brake line at some point, but I wanted to put the original lines back on.

Happy New Year

Over the holiday I ordered some parts from a named Chris Telford off IBMWR.org, he maintains a listing of parts from beemers with nice photos and pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4autobahn/

I got:

Extra set of cables, speedo, brake, tach, and speedo cables.

Got the full brake line assembly, original, steel tube, rubber line, etc.

6 Gallon Touring Tank Red with Knee Pads

Extra set of original coils

Front sport fender

Footpegs (good shape)