Oh the joy of SOBMWs

Got the R80 out and got the lad to help service it (fluids) yesterday.
It's amazing how much extra oil you need if there's an 11-year-old doing
the pouring.

Anyway after that, the 2 of us went out to check it was OK and did 60
miles or so through the Cotswolds. Utterly delightful, sun shining,
lovely afternoon.

This evening, I has 120 miles to cover so got the R80 out again.

Now my whole world seems to reek of petrol; left boot is drenched where
the carb has overflowed. I expected it of the R65 last weekend and it
didn't disappoint, but I expect better behaviour from the R80.

Hurrumph

 

Dried-out float bowl seals, possibly. My solution was to soften them up
with LM grease for a while before refitting them. I think the grease soaks
in and plumps them up a bit. Anyway, it always worked for me.

 

.... or shit in the carbs. I've had that problem with SOBMW carbs more
than once.

 

what I like about mine is that it sits in the shed all winter and I haul it
out, check the oil, turn the petrol on, connect jump leads and it starts.

Mind, it does need some attention. down on power and smokey on one pot, I
suspect rings or maybe this time a rebore and pistons are in order.

Ideally, it'd get reworked heads as well, but that depends on finances.

 

Gyp as long as the carbs are in good condition, and the bike has been
sitting, then I never need to do more than:

turn off petrol then one at a time...
remove float bowl and tip out fuel, it often has water contamination
turn on petrol for a moment and wiggle floats up and down as it drains
with both bowls replaced turn on fuel and leave for a few seconds before
starting
and if sitting a long time I pull the plugs and give them a quick polish
with a brass brush first

the main carb gaskets, cork type stuff, seem to last many years.

 

Could well be; it wasn't coming out as quickly as it tends to with a
stuck float needle (or whatever it's called)

 

I tried that but the struggle with the oversuit was too much for me

 

Just like I did last weekend with the '81 R65. Except it pissed on my
shoes

How old it yours? The question is aimed at discovering if you have
Nicasil plated barrels or not

 

1. Why do you need gloves?
2. If you really don't have any, I've got some I can let you have

 

Mind does that, too.

 

Then you need new float needles and carb gaskets to be sure. Possibly
the item the needle locates into, rare though.

 

no, it's a 1974 R60. Iron liners. or steel, or wotever.

 

Mine never did...

 

What reg. was yours - just so I know if I should be budgeting for a
shock replacement, like..... ;-)

 

shoudl be said that a few years back when I put some new rings in it, there
was no detecable wear on that either. Certainly no step on the bore. Might
get awaty with a quick hone and new rings, which would be cheap, and get
another year or two out of it. I still fancy fitting 750cc barrels and
pistons, one day

 

Are you the ultimate Pikey BMW owner I wonder!

 

Oh, I try, I try. Seriously though, the bike is by no means essential to
anything I do, it's very much a toy for playing when the weather's nice. As
such, it's low on the list of priorities when it comes to allocation of the
very limited income I have - so anything done to it has to be on the cheap.

If I ever have lots of money, I wouldn't be tight about fixing it.