BMW Heyco Tools / Vintage Tools

"Full Time" RV living does have some disadvantages....or maybe they could be looked upon as advantages. That is that a person cannot collect any quantity of superflous junk. I've made headway in getting rid of excess "stuff" over the past couple of years. By chance not everything is "junk' so to speak and has value to others.

I've been selling off most all my spare BMW  motorcycle parts as that situation was getting out of hand. I decided that rather than keep a multitude of "stuff", "just in case", I'll just buy things as needed. Now I have hung onto a couple of bigger ticket items, such as a couple spare transmissions and one final drive for the sidecar rig. I've run into a couple of circumstances where I needed something that I had sold but those instances are minor.

 

During a visit to a local "Flea Market" I spied these old "Williams" wrenches, tagged for $6.00. I knew they were something special just looking at them as they were in near new condition and of older manufacture. I wittled the seller down to $5.50 before taking them off his shelf. Upon arrival at home I did a little research and came to find out that these were likely a set of WW2 U.S. Govt. Issue Tools for a Willys Jeep. The vintage was correct and the tool specifications were "spot on".

I listed them on EBay and they sold for $80.00. They should actually have brought a higher price due to their rarity but I was happy.

 

 

 

(Below) I found this old set of "New Britain Tool Co. Handle Lock Sockets" 15 years ago or so at an antique store. They were in perfect condition and I think I gave $8.00 for them. Unfortunately I stored them on my little MC trailer in an old ammo box and eventually water (and therefore rust) got to them. They have a Patent Date of Dec. 12, 1922 stamped on them. I "de-reusted" them and spent a little time cleaning them up. Too bad the rust got to them. I listed them on EBay recently.

 

 

The paint / decals were in pristene condition before I got my "paws" on them.

 

Now every time I check out a Flea Market or garage sale I'm on the lookout for old vintage tools that may have some resale value.

The wrench below is also of WW2 vintage, purchased for $.50 cents at a garage sale. Bid is now at $10.00 on EBay.

 I had a spare complete set of  early 80's vintage BMW Motorcycle tools which I really didn't need. The set was missing one small "pin spanner" (which I liberated as my set was missing one) and had a couple other extra tools included. It went for over $170.00 via EBay.

 

"BMW" Heyco wrenches will usually bring a minimum of $8.00 - $10.00 each on EBay. The "DIN" tools were available from many different West German Tool makers. "Heyco" and "Hazet"  were two of the more popular brands used by BMW and other vehicle manufacturers.

I'm always on the lookout for "DIN" tools when at garage sales.

I bought a box full of "DIN" wrenches in a pawn shop last summer.  Paid about $10.00 for 15 of them. Sold for around $8.00 - $10.00 each on resale.

 

Below is a "DIN 895" wrench with no other marking. The "DIN" configuration is identical to "Heyco" tools which are used in BMW tool sets. This wrench will always bring $6.00 - $8.00 each on EBay.

 

I had a quantity of stainless steel clamps on hand. These are an odd size needed for mounting the old school "Luftmeister" header guards. I looked for a long time to find them and bought a lot of spares. They sell for around $4.00 each.

 

I've been listing all kinds of "small' items on EBay this Winter. Nothing of any large monetary value but over time all the small sales add up.

 

The tool purchases / resale are kind of a fun "hobby" for me. finding them is a challenge, then selling them and usually bringing a 300% - 400% + profit return is fun too!

Breil Cooler Fail

The newly installed Breil Cooler managed to leak a couple cups of oil over night. I removed it this AM and took it to a couple of TIG welding guys to look it over.
One guy thought he could repair it but thought it might warp in the welding process and need to be
 re-planed to insure an even sealing surface. He didn't have the equipment to re-plane the surfaces.
He figured at least 2 hours at $55.00 / hour with no guarantee that it would be usable.
Another shop looked at it too. He had a grandiose plan to remove the tubes, rebevel them, reweld them, blah, blah, blah, to the tune of 4 - 6 hours labor @ $75.00 / hr.
The seller is a "straight up" guy and offered to refund or repair the piece. It's refreshing to run into another ethical person in the world. A lot of assholes in the world who's word means nothing. I have given away a lot of parts over the years to help others out. So maybe some good "karma" has come my way. As soon as I decicided to return the part and let him know, the seller sent me over the purchase price via Pay Pal. What do you know...
Looking at the poor workmanship on the part, and the hassle / expense of sending it around the country for repairs just doesn't excite me very much. I decided to quit where I am and return the part to cut any further frustration and costs. looks like I'll be "eating" the return shipping costs.(?)
I asked for some welding opinions on a Forum site and had quite a few offers to try to repair it for free....but I have a little issue of taking advantage of such offers without some sort of reimbursement. Plus the costs of shipping it around the country and the hassle of it all.....
So it looks like I'll be a searching for a Breil Oil Cooler..... again.
Hopefully the crappy quality of this one is an anomaly?

Three steps forward...four steps back...

Experienced a "dead short" in the electrical system after installing the R100S starter. Ended up removing the starter and disassembled it down to the bare bones. This was good as I thoroughly cleaned evrything and inspected all componants. Then cleaned and lubed all bushings and moving surfaces. Finally figured out that the top engine cover had contacted the main hot lead to the starter due to a bad section of wire insulation covering the lug. The tear was very tiny but it must have arched enough to short out. Luckily it doesn't appeard to have damaged anything.

 

Spent a couple hours installing the "Breil" oil cooler today. While I was filling the crankcase with oil, the cooling tubes started dripping oil. Looks like the initial fabrication of this thing was a FAIL.

 

Nearly every tube end is faulty. Looks like the ends were "overground" during clean up after the initial welding. Not all are leaking...yet... but as soon as the oil got hot, it would be pouring out.

 

 

I wanted to remove it today but the day ran late and darkness was coming on. I'll remove it tomorrow. Found a guy over the mountain pass to the east who does TIG welding. Wellton, AZ. is actually closer than Yuma, so I'll run over there tomorrow. Gives me an excuse for a bike ride.

 

The fellow who sold me this, offered a refund if I would send it back, but we'll see what a welding repair would cost first.

Breil Cooler install / R100S Starter Removal / Suzuki VX800

Late yesterday I decided to get a start on the R100S projects. The battery seemed low so I went ahead to recharge, might need to rreplace(?). I'll take on a number of small tasks while the bike is apart:

Clean fuel tap stainers.

Check ignition points.

Reset ignition timing.

Disassemble / lubricate starter bushings.

Clean electrical / ground connections.

Install the Breil Oil Cooler.

Re-synch Bing Carbs with Twin Max.

 

Upon removal the air filter element looked as new, so not a lot of crankcase blow-by getting into filter. I've retained the stock crankcase vent recycle into the airbox rather than an external vent. This blow by oil often fouls the filter elements over time.

 

 

This is the Breil Oil Cooler sitting on the stock R100S pan.

 

The starter has been acting a little sluggish so I decided to remove it, disassemble it and lube the bushings. The "sluggishness" might have been from the low battery but the starter has always seemed finicky. Since I'm tearing into the bike, might as well check everything on my "list".

 

I removed the Heinrich Tank to drain it, then will pull the fuel taps to clean the strainers. Haven't done this for a couple years. Seems like there is always some debris on the screens after a couple years. We'll see.....The tank had leaves / dust in it when I found it. I simply flushed it out before putting it to work years ago. No rust, but it has always seemed to generate some small debris onto the strainers.

 

 The starter comes out easily with 3 bolts. The front cover must be removed to access one of them. That's cool cause I need in there to set the timing / check the ignition points anyway.
The BMW Airhead design is so simple....took only minutes to take the engine down to this point. Of course I've done it numerous times and have had a lot of practice. 

 

While in here I'll be cleaning electrical connections and generally checking things over. Looked over the brake master cylinder and all looks good. I've "shrouded" the coils with old rubber inner tube pieces as the Heinrich Tank tunnel contacts a few spots when in place.

 

Had an interest in a 1993 Suzuki VX800 from a local Canadian seller. Rode into Yuma the other AM to check it out. Poor old bike has been pretty abused and laid down. Had sat for 6 years with fuel in the tank. Tank interior had a lot of varnish and minor rust. The carbs were not stuck and the owner had rolled the bike in gear and the engine is not "stuck".

Kind of a intriguing machine with the V- twin engine.

 

 

The odometer showed 28k odd miles. The bike had a lot of small issues, loose wires, dents, broken signal light, damage to instument housing, sun - rotted plastic, old tires, etc.

Could have probably hauled it off real cheap ($300.00 - $400.00)  but it looked like a one way money pit to me, the seller suggested $500.00 but was open to offers.

Quite a risk to buy a non running bike with all these small issues. Resale value would be low without a lot of $$$ investment. The brake hydraulics would have likely needed a complete rebuild also.

 

 

 

Breil oil cooler / R100S maintenance

 

I recently found a supposedly "NOS" Breil oil cooler for the sidecar rig. This static cooler is basically an oil pan spacer which fits between the engine block and the oil pan. These were 1970's accessories and not very easy to find anymore. I bid on a few via EBay but the prices went over $200.00 and most were very used and would require major clean up. I'm currantly running a large MAC extended oil pan but this cooler type spacer should aid more in oil cooling.

This spacer utilizes three large diameter tubes running through the length of it which will be cooled by air flowing through the assembly while underway. Good concept and it should aid in cooling.

The oil pickup spacer extends down to set the oil pickup assembly lower in the pan. Luckily I hung on to my old stock R100S oil pan which will be needed to add the Breil Cooler.

 

(crappy internet file photo)

 

I found the pan via the IBMWR web site. I "over paid" and gave a premium price but the seller claimed it was "New Old Stock".  After receiving it I'm not sure about that claim, I think I see a small amount of sealant in one of the bolt holes. It has a few scars in the edge but could have been from handling over the years. But it is completely clean and appears to be in near as new condition. I acquired the new gaskets needed for the installation so will fit the spacer in the next couple of days.

I was going to try to fit a conventional radiator type BMW oil cooler but the plumbing from the oil filter housing, plus the fact that the oil filter tube must be changed, took me this direction. The oil filter cover plate is very close to the sidecar subframe so working space is minimal at best on my layout.

Appears my high dollar Odyssey Battery is nearing its' life end. The battery has always checked at 100% when attempting to charge but now has lost capacity (down to 60%) twice in the past couple of weeks. It's been in place for over 3 years so I guess it has degraded. I typically get only 2 years from any conventional MC batteries.
I've toyed with the thought of installing a car battery / case in the sidecar tub for a few years. This would definately aid in running accessories. Wiring would be pretty easy. I kind of hate to give up some of the side car "behind seat" storage for a battery though, plus this will add significant weight to the sidecar, which is already quite heavy when loaded for travel. I'll have to decide pretty soon as I don't want to chance loosing battery function while on a trip. It will hold charge for a number of days it appears, but slowly runs down after a few weeks. If I decide to install another Odyssey Battery I think I'll rig up some remote charging lugs so I don't have to remove the seat / sidecovers to access the battery as I do now.

While I have the bike disabled I think I'll pull the front cover and give the ignition points a "look over".  I want to reset timing, check the points and re-synch the carbs.
The R100S engine has had an anomoly the past year or so and will have a very intermittant "miss" every now and then. Like the ignition on one cylinder decides not to "hit" every so often. This happens rarely and only one "miss' at a time. This has been occuring since last year when we rode the 2000 miles to Death Valley and around So. Cal. Since I'll be going into things, I'll pull the fuel tank and check all electrical connections and maybe remove the petcocks to check the petcock filter screens too. Haven't done that for quite some time.

Palo Verde Loop / Dezert Dog

Decided I was overdue for a solo ride so loaded up the OldWing this AM and headed out for a spin. Crossed over the AZ. Border, and the Colorado River into California, then on to Ogalby Road / CA. S-34. This road borders the Algodones Dunes as I headed north towards Ca. 78 North.

 

Gold Rock Ca. is a local attraction.(?) I've passed the place dozens of times but never have driven the few miles over to check it out....oh well, not too many towns list the times when their "open".

 

(Click on photos to enlarge) 

 

Some recent mining has gone on over to the east.

 

 

The day was warm and beautiful. The mountain views changed with each turn. I love the desert in the Winter.

 

 

 

 

Saw this old ruin off the road a ways so ran the OldWing in the rocks for a little ways. Not sure what this was going to be but someone never got very far with their project.

 

 

Picacho Peak in the distance

 

Hitting the end of S-34 I turned North on CA. 78 North. This road follows the Palo Verde Mountains. Lots of light curves and lots of deep dips. Also a Border Patrol Check Point on this route. The Border Agents looked pretty bored and just waved me through.

 

 

This monument is just North of the check point.

 

 

Approaching Palo Verde the Colorado River is within view of the road in a few spots. Lots of agriculture in this valley. Sheep, Cotton, Alfalfa and numerous crops grown here. The town of Palo Verde had a little activity.

 

 

Stopped there for a couple minutes to stretch my legs.

 

 

The town sported my type of campground!

 

 

I  rode to Blyth Ca. then over the Colorado to Ehrenburg AZ....Quartzsite when only 20 miles so headed there for fuel. Once in Q'site and headed North to one of the long term camping areas in search of a buddy. I had e-mailed him late last night but never got his reply, had to go searching for him. By chance I chose the right place and rode right to his camp.

The infamous "Dezert Dog".

 

 

He has a great little campsite and camper. The Q'site population is growing for the Winter so he'll likely be looking for less populated diggings soon. We sat down and talked for a couple hours. He has traveled many corners of the world and has a lot of great tales to tell. He also sent my wife a beautiful set of his hand made pure silver ear rings....and he didn't even know that her Birthday was yesterday.

 

 

It was nice to sit down and visit with another Montana Native. His Family has been in MT. about as long as mine.

 

 

The GS is ready for the desert.

 

The day was running short so I made a b-line for Yuma, which was only 80 miles down the road. Timed the ride perfectly as the sun was about gone when I pulled into my driveway.

 

 

 

 

 

All in all a great day for a ride. The temperatures were in the low 70's in the afternoon. The Oldwing ran flawlessly and acheived almost 40 mpg.

 Typically ran 65 - 75 mph all day. The bike is effortless to ride and handles great in the corners. My only complaint is the "Progressive" rear suspension which is quite harsh on the rough CA. roads. But "harshness" is a better trait than "mushiness" when cornering. I used to have a GL650 Silverwing which handled very poorly in comparison to the OldWing.

My ancient old leather riding coat finally blew the zipper out today. Time to retire it maybe.....or find someone to replace the zipper. It is like an old friend so repair might be the way to go.(?)

 I made an attempt to humor my left arm and rested it on the tank bag from time to time while riding down the road. My last long OldWing ride (550 miles) resulted in three days of shoulder issues. Today, everything felt fine, but I only ran about 220 miles.. Maybe the vile arthritis drugs they have me on are working.

I picked up a "Breil" oil  cooler for the BMW sidecar rig...plus my oil  sender is leaking. Hope to have all my parts together tomorrow so I can get the cooler installed and one of the oil leaks staunched. More on the "Breil" cooler later.

Adios Amigos!

 

 

Last Chance Rendezvous 2012

We "rang in" the New Years at the annual "Last Chance Rendezvous" with the So. Cal. Airheads Beemers Club. This year was a 3 night / 4 day event and included wonderful sunny, warm weather, wind and rain. Typically the weather is dry here in this part of the Anza Borrego Desert but some Winter squawls were seen this year. Snow was visible early Monday morning in the mountains across from us. Highs were in the low 60's (for a few minutes) and lows were probably in the high 30's.

 


 

 

 

A lesson in Brewing technique was witnessed on Sunday. This "batch" was brewed up and will be aged for sampling next New Years.

 

 

 

 

 

An "alternate' method of tent camping.....this one had a rigid frame and wind was no match for its' construction! 

One of our Hosts was using additional means of support. The additional two legs didn't seem to hinder his cooking skills. The food, three meals a day, was wonderful as usual.

A couple of these alternate three wheeled machines were in attandance this year. The more I look them over, the more I like them. A great alternative for us who may need additional wheels as we age. I think the "Spider" would be a lot easier to ride than a sidecar rig. This particular rig was very pretty....as was it's pilot. (pictured)

 

A nice view from the cliffs above the campsite.

 

One group of folks got it down.....tables, chairs, heaters, music, you name it, they brought it. These participants came in with big bikes / trailers, and all the comforts of home. I envied the propane space heaters as darkness  and the cold came in.

 

We had a pretty healthy shower blow in on Sunday night. We brought our large tent for the additional space but it is a fair weather tent and not suited for much rain. (We found that out the hard way a couple winters ago at a sidecar rally). The rain / wind hit Sunday afternoon and continued for a few hours. Luckily the rain was intermittant and about the time I began witnessing tent leaks the rain subsided. This years rain storm was the biggest rain we've ever seen here. Typically the rain will miss the valley, but not this year.

 Quite a few folks pulled out on day three, We "rode" it out to the end as we always do. The Rally is always a lot of fun, regardless of the weather. Pretty light turn out this year. Probably 50 -60 folks throughout the weekend. We always enjoy seeing our friends and catching up on everyone's adventures. Quite a few "old" friends and a number of new faces too. We began attending this get together in 1996 and have only missed one New Years Eve here. Of course we seldom make it til midnite "Pacific Time". But "Eastern Time" midnight is close enough for us! One would think that after all these years of drinking practice, that we would be accomplished alchoholics....but for some reason our alchohol consumption shrinks each year. Becoming "light weights" in our old age I guess...lol

Our next gathering is just around the corner , to be held at "Bashfords Hot Springs" in a few weeks. I'm hoping to talk my lovely wife into riding over on our Honda Goldwing. She's not keen on riding on two wheels anymore but I hope to sweet talk her into it.