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List of 6 Volt and 12 Volt light bulbs for the R24 – R27, R51/2 – R68 and R50 – R69S models

The correct functioning of a capacitor can be measured with (for example) a FLUKE multimeter. The value specified by the manufacturer is 0.22 μF (microfarad). Over time, a capacitor’s performance can be expected to decline. The left photo shows a broken capacitor: the measured value is 0.131 nF (nanofarad) = 0.000131 μF The right photo shows a properly functioning capacitor: the measured value is 0.249 μF. This is 13% higher than the specified value, but this does not affect proper operation. The value specified by the manufacturer is a chosen ideal value for the expected average engine rpm. This value is therefore
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The table below shows the radial clearance specifications for all bearings used on the R24 – R69S models

A comprehensive list of special and generic tools

It’s a wide spread misconception that pistons must be round / cylindrical. The opposite is true, This is a new Kolbenschmidt R27 piston 68.50 mm:               From the Internet: Profile: If you roll a piston across a flat surface, you’ll notice it doesn’t roll in a straight line. This characteristic is called profile. Aluminum conducts heat significantly, so pistons are designed with a taper. The top of the piston (near the crown) has a smaller diameter than the bottom (near the skirt). The skirt itself is shaped like a barrel. This taper allows the
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The only difference between the Denfeld en Pagusa saddle is the saddle deck. There are small differences between the saddle deck frames: the shape of the frame and the front threaded bolt. The Pagusa saddle bolt it is a bit longer and has a spacer so that the front of the saddle deck sits +- 1.5 cm higher compared to the Denfeld saddle deck. The grain texture of the Denfeld rubber saddle deck surface is finer than the Pagusa grain texture. There is no quality difference All other parts are the same: subframe, Z-bracket, rubber spring, spring stop piece, mounting
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Based on a sample of 74 gear sets, this graph shows the frequency of the different gear sets and the spread around the target dimension of +0.

  Click thumbnail to open the list. R24 – R27           R51/3 – R68           R50 – R69S            

Comparison of the different gearbox cam plates used in the R24 – R27 and R50 – R69S models. For more information about the R50 – R69S shifting system, click following links: Smooth shifting R50 – R69S R50 – R69S Old and New style shifter mechanism  

This is specifically aimed at 1 cylinder and /2 gearboxes. If you’ve tried everything and you can’t figure why the gearbox shafts do not turn freely, you can use following very time consuming method  🙂 to determine the cause: Instead of putting all 3 shafts in at the same time, put in 1 shaft at the time. Remove the input shaft seal from the gearbox: the seal makes it harder to rotate the input shaft, making it difficult to assess whether the shaft is running freely. Remove the idler gear and kickstarter gear segment. Whenever you install (and remove) one
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Some rubber parts are still provided with a (wax) layer when shipped: a mold release agent. A cleaning solution with hot dish soap and water is enough to remove this layer. Use rubbing alcohol for stubborn stickiness. Although alcohol is an effective cleaner for most kinds of stickiness, you should only use this cleaning agent on rubber occasionally. Dampen a clean rag with alcohol and wipe at sticky areas until they are removed. Rinse the rubber with water afterwards. Exposing rubber too often or too long to alcohol may cause it to break down more quickly than normal.

Very informative and comprehensive treatise on the tapered wheel bearings. Click on the photo to go to the relevant webpage:    

A “strenght & weakness” overview of the different seal materials available in the market.

Very informative video! https://fb.watch/gQycYmmz_h/    

The oil slinger screws are not available from BMW anymore. Most suppliers now offer a general purpose DIN 963 M6 x 10 screw. However, the head of this screw is higher than that of the original screw: the head of the screw protrudes above the oil slinger surface. This may be undesirable in some cases. We now supply oil slinger screws with the same dimensions as the original screw.

The BMW specification for the radial clearance of the conrod big end & crankpin is based on the use of slightly spherical rollers in some of the crankshafts. The use of spherical rollers prevents the rollers from “biting” when the crankshaft flexes at high RPM. Today the new FAG Dürkopp conrod sets are equipped with cylindrical rollers. This requires a slightly larger radial clearance to prevent the rollers from getting stuck when the crankshaft flexes at high RPM. Spherical rollers (used) are identified by the wear track in the center of the roller:                
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These photos show the difference between the Noris keys and the replica keys. This can help to identify the cause of malfunctioning ignition switch.      

If the valve adjusting screws have reached their end and there is still insufficient valve clearance, the cause may be (a combination of): the valves sit too deep in the valve seats the cylinder head sleeves have sunk deeper into the cylinder head over time. In our experience, the sleeves at the exhaust side sit usually deeper than at the intake side. Below an example of 2 R27 cylinder heads. The RHS sleeve at the intake side of cylinder head 1 has a height of 88.47 mm The LHS sleeve at the exhaust side of cylinder head 2 has a
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We are regularly asked for a list of tools that are needed for a complete overhaul of the gearbox. Below an overview of the special Matra tools and some of the standard tools that are required / recommended for a succesful gearbox rebuild:   Most important “tool” is a good manual: Barrington manual: https://bmwclassicmotorcycles.com/index.php/tools-products/bmw-r50-r69s-motorcycle-restoration-and-service-manual.html   BMW Factory manual – can be downloaded here: https://www.bmwclassicmotorcycles.com/parts/bmw-service-sheets/1760   NB0017 – Gearbox holder for vise                 M494/2 – socket wrench M14 for nut on output shaft (R50, R60) M494/2/1 – socket wrench M16 for nut on output shaft (R50/2
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Flow chart to identify a 2 cylinder crankshaft. Click on the flow chart and table for larger images, click <- arrow in your browser to return to this page.                                                            

This list shows the part numbers for all parts that need to be changed in case of a conversion to 12V  

Click image for table    

This video shows the repair of the idle mix thread: a thin alu-bronze bush of M8 / M7 x 0.75 is installed in the carburettor, realizing a very wear-resistant and strong thread Click this image to watch the video on Youtube:  

In this video a method is shown to remove the old and install new tappet guide bushings from a 2 cylinder engine. The new bushings with an outer diameter of 24.97 mm have an interference fit with the crankcase. After installation, the bushings ID needs to be reamed / honed to give a tappet clearance of 0.02 – 0.04 mm Click this image to watch the video on Youtube:                    

Staburag is a good alternative for “Prussian Blue” when determining the contact pattern between the crown and pinion gears. By adding a few lines, the contact pattern becomes even easier to read.                  

The R69 flywheel differs from the other / 2 flywheels because of the position of the ignition marks:

A comparison of the required shifting force needed, between the old and new style shifting mechanism.                                                                                      

Link to the original post: https://blog.scottiesharpe.com/2013/03/bmw-2-swing-arm-leaks-final-drive-leaks.html?m=1 BMW /2 Swing arm leaks, final drive leaks During a routine oil change, it was noted that the drive shaft housing was empty.   Could it have been stolen by vagrants?   A guy works hard for his oil just to have vagrants come and steal it. Well, before contemplating a move to a safer neighborhood, BMW riders should remember that oil migration from the drive shaft housing to the rear drive is a common problem. There are three ways that oil can migrate from the driveshaft housing to the final drive and they
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Valve springs can lose a lot of their strength over the years, as seen with this R25/3 valve spring: a new spring measures 16.6 kg, the old spring 10.1 kg, almost 40% lower. Lower spring tension usually causes no or minor problems on low revving engines, but it can lead to loss of power / misfiring on higher revving engines as a result of valve float                 The test device:  

Comparison between the “old” and “new” version of the R50 – R69S shifter mechanism. Click following link for a comparison of the cam plates: Gearbox cam plate comparison

The number stamped in the crankcase (from -10 to +10) refers to the size of the crankshaft and camshaft gears installed by the BMW factory. After 60 – 70 years of service, the crankcase may have grown, which means that the original gear set may not be the optimal set anymore (0.01 to 0.02 mm play between the 2 gears). One way to determine the correct gear set number is to measure the c-t-c distance between the crankshaft and camshaft. This value must then be compared to the nominal c-t-c distance. This is impossible without very accurate measuring tools. The difference in
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A comprehensive list of bolts, nuts and washers for the R50 – R69S models Click image for list :                          

Recommended press fitting for valve seat inserts in aluminum cylinder heads: OD insert 30 – 40 mm: 0.15 mm / 0.0059″ OD insert 40 – 50 mm: 0.18 mm / 0.0071″   Spindle speed for cutting a seat pocket in aluminum cylinder heads: 400 – 600 rpm It’s recommended NOT to freeze (f.i. with liquid nitrogen) the sintered valve seat inserts before installation. The valve seats are to be pressed in with a flat and square seat driver tool. The valve seat is inserted with the radius side down.   Source: DuraBond

Some statistics based on last 5 years (2013 – 2018)      

There is a clear length difference between the side stands for the R50 – R69S models and the R50US, R60US and R69US models (due to different configurations of the front fork) These are therefore not interchangeable.

All Matra tools with spindles such as M355, M499 / 1/2, M422a, M501 and M282 work much better (more smoothly) if a small amount of lubricant (eg Molykote G-n Metal Assembly Paste) is applied to the thread. This prevents galling of the thread under heavy load and reduces, to a certain extent, unwanted rotation of the other part of the tool.

Click here for installation instructions 12V dynamo system VAPE: Dynamo System 70 80 499 0XX

The width of rims can be measured in 2 different ways: the inside or the outside. This means that one and the same rim can be indicated both in (for example) 2.15 “and 3.08″ WM2: inside 1.85″ (47 mm) outside 2.72″ (69 mm) WM3: inside 2.15″ (55 mm) outside 3.08” (78.2 mm)      

For the correct set, check the number marked in the crankcase. The number is found near the upper engine mount, see following examples: In some cases, when the engine has had a long service life, it may need a different gear set number to get the required 0.02 mm clearance. However, this can only be determined through an accurate measurement.   The 30° gear set can be used to replace the 20° gear set on all 1950 to 1963 models. This requires following additional parts: › part nr. 11410052156 – oilpump gear 30° Only for crankshaft with 17 mm taper: › part nr. 11310016400 – 1.5
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These posters are only shown for information. We do not sell these posters. We welcome BMW posters from the pre-69 era.  Mail us at  info@salisparts.com    

The R50 – R69S dual cable throttle assembly cannot be simply converted to a R26, R27 single cable throttle assembly by replacing the cam & chain and the cover. The depth of the recess in single cable cam and dual cable cams differs. The mono cam will not sit deep enough to engage with the throttle twist grip. Vice versa: the dual cable cam will not fit in the single throttle cable assembly: it’s too high.

A frequently asked question is how to fix a leakage of the idle mixing screw. Further tightening the nut of the idle mix screw is certainly not the solution: holes have been drilled in the idle mix screw which connects the idle mix chamber to the the outside air. If fuel leaks out through the same bore, it simply means that the fuel level in the float bowl is too high. (assuming that the bike is on the center stand, if the motorcycle is placed on the side stand, there is a greater risk of leakage) If the carbs keep leaking, it’s
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By Michel Loos, The Netherlands The photos are self-explanatory. Steps:  filing  – sanding – pneumatic hammer – aluminum oxide blasting (Edelkorund) – glass bead blasting  

Cylinder black with part nr. 09122 For temperatures up to 500 °C continuous use and up to 700 °C with impact load 200 ml is sufficient for 2 to 3 large cylinders. Ideal for spraying and painting engine cylinders, exhaust systems and other metal objects subject to high heat. Classic cylinder lacquer is initially thermoplastic; in other words although it is air-drying, it becomes sticky even with moderate heat, expands and hardens again when it cools down. This process is repeated as long as the polymerization temperature is not reached. The lacquer must be heated at least once to 150-180 °C to finally cure. After
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  Click this link: http://www.benchmarkworks.com/articles/tech/hardstart.html   In addition: The resistance across the two spark plug leads on the ignition coil is usually 11 – 12 K Ohm (original coils and new “made in Germany” coils). Some after-market coils have a resistance up to 20 K Ohm. When the magnetic field of the rotor is still OK, this higher resistance will not necessarily cause a problem. A weak spark at the spark plug can have different causes: a broken or poor quality ignition coil is one of them. When the insulation (schellac) within the coil is damaged (crazing), the internal windings will short circuit,
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The rear suspension pivot pins of the R26, R27 and R50 – R69S models can be adjusted with the use of the Matra 513 tool. However, no replicas are made of the Matra 513 tool. The alternative is a pin wrench such as PN 31421234399.W (Pin wrench for front fork cap screw R69US, R50/5 – R100) Although the diameter of the pins is just under 4 mm and the holes in the pivot pins are 5 mm, this tool functions well. The alternative is pin wrench 31422000243.W (Pin wrench for front fork cap screw R25/3): the pins have a diameter of just
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BING jets are stamped with numbers, such as 35, 40 (idle jets) and 110, 115, 120 etc (main jets). One would expect that these numbers refer to the diameter of the jet bore, however this is not the case. This is confimed by the company BING in Germany. A few examples of main jets measured with a wire / jet gauge: BING 44-051 main jet 130 = gauge 120 (= 1.2 mm) main jet 125 = gauge 110 (= 1.1 mm) main jet 120 = gauge 105 (= 1.05 mm) main jet 110 = gauge 95 (=0.95 mm)            
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The Bing carburetors used on the R51/3 to R69S models came with 3 different flanges. We sometimes get the question: can I put carburetor X on BMW model Y? In theory you can put an R51/3 carburetor on a R69 engine and even get the engine running, but you will quickly discover that the air pipes won’t fit. These images are self explanatory   Modified carburetors can be found in the market that fit the R68, R69 and R69S cylinder heads. However, there are some differences from the original models, most notably the carburetor flange:              
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We mill 2 planes on the threaded bushing so that it is possible to use a 22 mm wrench on the threaded bushing. This is necessary in cases where (for instance) the crankshaft bearing is glued to the bearing journal, to prevent the threaded bushing from rotating while tightening the central bolt

We offer the restorations manuals from Barrington Motor Works for following models (click the link): R26 – R27 R51/3 – R68  R50 – R69S   A copy of the original BMW Repair Manual R50, R60 and R69S can be downloaded here: Download            

Very informatieve article by Duane Ausherman on “butterheads” and LK heads: http://www.w6rec.com/duane/bmw/head/

3 different breather plates have been used on the boxer engines:

The brake levers with finger grooves (PN32722072252) currently available in the market, do not fit in the throttle housing of the R26, R27, R50 – R69S models. The hole for the lever screw is of few thenth of a millimeter off it’s original position: the lever gets blocked and cannot be “opened”. New brake levers that do not have this problem are only expected to become available by the end of 2017. Till then, the solution is to mill off +- 0.3 mm from the edges on both sides. After polishing, no traces of milling are visible anymore. This is what
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Different exhaust pipes are available in the market, unfortunately not always an exact replica of the original pipes: the shape of the bends does not correspond with the original BMW exhaust pipes as can be seen on this picture. The 2 lower exhaust pipes are identical to the original pipes.   Next to that, these pipes follow a slightly different path than the original exhaust pipes. This causes a problem for the R67 – R67/3 models: in the horizontal section, they’re not running close enough to the frame, causing too little clearance between the brake pedal and the right-hand exhaust pipe,
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Table with part numbers Click here to view a larger table  

This modification and upgrade, using BMW components, results in a lower-ratio gearing for R26, R27, R50 and R60 gearboxes producing smoother, robust and responsive performance especially in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes while 4th gear is unchanged. The “S” gear ratios allow the rider to accelerate smoothly through gear changes by letting the motor rev freely through an optimum power-torque range. Although the 3rd gear of both gearboxes have the same number of teeth, they are different: The standard gear has a diameter of 65.6 mm and the S-type gear has a diameter of 65.2 mm. They have a
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Different qualities emblems are found in the market. See this example of the R50S emblem. In our opinion, the upper one is the better quality, both in shape and in finishing.   The differences are easily recognized: for example the shape of the “5” and “S”   The upper emblem follows the contour of the rear fender, the lower one is too flat. The back side of the lower emblem doesn’t have the smooth finish of the upper one. Please note that these emblems are very fragile! During installation, make sure that the holes in the rear fender are exactly
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Overview of the different crankshaft shims used in the boxer engines

With hardly any new carburetors being produced by BING for the < 1969 BMW mono and twin motorcycles, it’s getting increasingly important to be able to repair and recondition the used original carburetors. Luckily, special parts and tools are available nowadays to restore the carburetors to a good working condition. A. Idle mix screw: very often, the M7 x 0.75 mm screw thread in the carburetor housing is worn out. There are 2 good solutions to this problem. 1. drill the threaded hole to 7.2 mm – cut M8 x 0.75 mm screw thread – install the idle mix screw with
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A printed copy can be ordered here: https://bmwclassicmotorcycles.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=RMR50R69S Free download here: Page 1-43          Technical data Page 44-59        Removal of power train Page 60-89        Engine  Page 90-101      Transmission Page 102-109     Final drive Page 110-123     Wheels, brakes and forks Page 124-149     Electrical equipment Page 150-157     Sidecar mounting Page 158-160    Wiring diagram    

The official pinstripe layout by BMW is as follows: Wide line: 5mm Narrow line: 1,5mm Distance between the two lines: 4mm   In the Barrington R26, R27 manual, following guidelines are given (measured on original fenders): – The setback of the wide stripe from the fender edge on many front and rear fenders is relatively constant at approx. 8.2 – 8.4 mm. – The wide stripes on 4 original fenders measured from 4.5 to 4.7 mm on one fender and 4.7 to 6 mm on another. – The gap between the 2 stripes on 2 rear fenders varied from 4.5 to
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By MS Motor Service (Kolbenschmidt) Click here to open as PDF: KS Installation of piston rings

Fair calender Oldtimer & Youngtimer: https://www.messen.de/de/1278/branche/oldtimer-und-youngtimer (mainly Germany) BMW forum: http://2-ventiler.de/  (Deutsch) http://www.flat-twin-bmw.com/  (French)   BMW clubs Germany: http://bmw-einzylinder.de/   BMW clubs United States: http://vintagebmw.org/v7/ http://www.bmwmoa.org/ http://5united.org/   BMW clubs United Kingdom: http://www.thebmwclubs.org.uk/ http://www.theairhead.co.uk/   BMW clubs The Netherlands: http://www.bmwclubnederland.nl/ http://www.bmwcluboirschot.nl/ https://bmwmcnnl.nl/ https://www.bmwboxerclub.nl/v2/   BMW clubs Denmark: http://www.bmw-veteran.dk/   BMW clubs Indonesia: http://bmwclubjakarta.blogspot.nl/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bmwclassicmotorcycles/ (that’s us) https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmwold/   (Vintage & Classic BMW Motorcycles USA) https://www.facebook.com/groups/AirheadsAustralia/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001965546450  (Richard Sheckler) https://www.facebook.com/scottiesworkshop/ (Scottie Sharpe)   Information sites: http://w6rec.com/general-bmw-motorcycle-information/ http://bmwdean.com/ http://vintagebmw.org/v7/ http://www.beemergarage.com/ http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/information.htm https://bmwr12.net/ http://www.wildstar-fan.de/BMW/home.html (R25/2 restoration- Deutsch) http://labeheme.jimdo.com/ (/5 info – French) http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/chassis.html  (Survey of Chassis Numbers) http://weissundblau.blogspot.nl/2011_05_01_archive.html (after-market hubs) http://www.earlesfork.com/ http://www.trixondrums.de/glaeser/glaeser.htm (Gläser fairing – Deutsch) https://www.shannons.com.au/club/bike-news/old-bike-australasia-1937-bmw-r5-ss/ 
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Piston and cylinder clearances for BMW R50, R60 and R69S (also valid for R50S and R69)

Source: Wikipedia https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/ The Lead Acid battery is made up of plates, lead, and lead oxide (various other elements are used to change density, hardness, porosity, etc.) with a 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water solution. This solution is called electrolyte, which causes a chemical reaction that produce electrons. When you test a battery with a hydrometer, you are measuring the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte. If your reading is low, that means the chemistry that makes electrons is lacking. So where did the sulfur go? It is resting on the battery plates and when you recharge the
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By Richard Sheckler, Wayne, Ohio. Spot welding of panels inside the tank for strength and to plug the rust holes. The tunnel is removed to get inside. The last step before reinstalling the tunnel is to weld the knee pad brackets in place. When the tunnel is TIG welded in place, the inside is sealed with fuel resistant epoxy.  

By Richard Sheckler –  Wayne, Ohio. An example of how a broken crankcase is repaired. It’s specialist’s work, nevertheless it shows that parts that are seemingly beyond repair can have a 2nd live. Broken connecting rod shoved through the crankcase between the two cam followers on the left side. Welding by  Mark Laree, Toledo The final touches with a needle scaler, steel shot and glass beads

Wiring diagram BMW R50 – R69S – 6V  (1955 – 1959) BL = Blau = Blue BR = Braun = Brown GE = Gelb = Yellow GN = Grün = Green GR =Grau = Grey RT = Rot = Red SW = Schwarz = Black VI = Violet WS = Weiss = White        

Wheel offset for R51/2 – R68, R50 – R69S models (from “1000 Tricks für Schnelle BMW’s”)                

Overview of  BMW motorcycle models produced from 1948 to 1969 (specials not included) Click for larger image: Models & Production Numbers  

Overview of the different valve types and related components, used in the BMW 1 and 2-cylinder motorcycles 1948 – 1969

Overview of fuel cock types for 1 and 2-cylinders

Overview of ISO metric screw threads M3 – M30. Commonly used screw threads on 1948 – 1969 BMW models are M6x1 coarse, M8x1.25 coarse and M8x1.0 fine.   The length of bolts and screws is measured like this:                

Overview of carburetor nr’s and settings  

A visual inspection of the spark plugs can serve as a good indicator of the condition and tuning of the engine. This Bosch sheet may help to identify the possible cause in case of trouble. (click to enlarge)

Guidelines for correct installation of (Bosch) spark plugs  

The photos are a compilation of the work done on different crankshafts: R67/2, R60/2 and R69S.                                                                    

No. 1/61 (179) July 27th, 1961

No. 2/62 (184) April 5th, 1962