Absolutely beautiful. Not too long at all. I'll be watching it many times. This 52 year old engine is in great condition on the inside where it counts. Can't wait to see the rebuild. Thanks again.
I really like this engine as well and the design is just incomparable! Thank you for your support and I hope this will give you reference and help if you ever rebuild your engine. Exactly, that is really what counts and I will share a video of the internals in the near future. Stay tuned & best regards -Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild 23:24 to 24:49 it was perfect, unfortunately that was the usual unnecessary music which gets particularly annoying when it runs over some dialogue. I was interested in the video just not interested enough to try and puzzle out what was being said but this seeems to be a common TH-cam creator problem.
This video brings back memories of working on my 1968 R60/2 and 1969 R50/2 bikes. During a trip across Canada in 1977 my R60/2 dropped a valve seat after a long day of riding when stopping to check into a camp ground at Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia. I was able to remove the cylinder head with just the tools I had brought with me, replacing it with one sent air freight to Sydney NS by a friend back in Maryland who restored old Beemers and had a identical spare engine. A significant improvement with the /5 model over the /2 were the removable connecting rods. Those of the /2 were one piece and pressed onto the crank with roller bearing on the lower end. What did in my R60/2 was a worn wrist pin bearing. There was no option to just replace the con-rod a $$$ crank-conrod assembly had to be purchased.
Wow, that must have been one very unique trip and it's something you'll never forget! It's amazing how much one can do on one of these bikes with a small tool kit and a little bit of effort. I have never worked on a /2 yet, but I would really love to do that in the near future. There's just something about these BMW bikes that just makes we want to wrench on them and then go out for a cruise. That connecting rod replacement must have been an expensive job, especially due to the complexity of the assembly and the parts availability. Do you still own and ride these two bikes up until this day? Thanks for sharing such great memories with me, here in the comment section. It was a joy to read this! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild The steel exhaust valve seat dropped out of the head so I had to buy a new replacement head. Fortunately new stock parts were still available then. I commuted on the R60/2 until 1980 when I sold it and the R50/2.
@@TeddyCavachon I want already trying to think how you replaced the valve seat with very little tools, but now it makes more sense: you replaced the whole head! I bet that was a beauty to ride, especially a few years back when traffic wasn't this fast-going. Thanks for sharing this! Regards Andreas
Mine never dropped a valve seat, but I did burn one valve after leaning out the carburetors to try to improve fuel economy. Rose City BMW in Portland, Oregon very quickly and efficiently replaced it.
Back in the 70 's ,my friend bought a new 600 cc BMW, took it for a ride on the interstate at 100mph,felt like 60,65mph, incredibly smooth ,a truly refined road machine Great motorcycle.This guy knows his stuff.
Hi there! I agree, these machines are very smooth when they are dialed in correctly and they are tremendously fun to ride...even 50 years later! Does your friend still have that bike after all these years? I have all the parts to bring this engine back to life, except for the rocker arm assembly. This is a topic I spoke about in my most recent video and hopefully I can resolve this "parts-issue" asap. In an upcoming video I will be assembling this engine and very soon it will be able to go back into the frame. Thanks for tuning in and leaving such a great comment! Regards Andreas
He must have had the higher output R69. I bought my R60 new in 1960 and there was no way it would go 100 on a level road. It was, however, a truly lovely motorcycle to own and ride. Very smooth on the highway and the faster the engine went, the smoother it got. Very low RPM could be bit shaky.
Hi Charles, thank you for your comment! I am aware of the special BMW tool or even the aftermarket bolt (bolt with machined end), but unfortunately I did not have that during the disassembly of this engine. I grabbed what I had and it worked just fine😄 I‘m glad you noticed this! Regards Andreas
R100/7 here. Great videos. Being new to airheads, content creators like yourself have been invaluble to me. I'm tearing down the bike as I continue to ride. Using it as my personal classroom. Thank you for doing what you do and for presenting so in such a great video series. Subscribed and please continue as I still want to learn more.
Hi there! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your own story about your R100/7. If you decide to tear into some of the larger assemblies like the engine, transmission or even the final drive, I bet you'll learn a lot!!! Even though these bikes are "bullet-proof", regular services are needed to ensure safe rides. I am working on this bike behind the scenes and once I have enough footage I will have a new video once again. Thank you for your comment and support, I really appreciate it! Regards Andreas
High quality, look at the size of the cam chain for example. You can even disassembly all parts from the engine, while it's still in the frame. Wonderfull engine.
Absolutely! The build quality is remarkable, and that cam chain really shows the robust engineering. Being able to disassemble the engine while it’s still in the frame is such a clever design feature-it makes maintenance a breeze. Truly a wonderful piece of engineering! Thank for watching - Andreas
What an AWESOME video!! I ride a BMW R1200RT 2007 and I service everything myself and I always wondered what a complete tear-down of the boxer looks like. And can't believe my more modern engine is similar after so many years. Thanks for the video!
Hi John, thank you for tuning in and enjoying this engine disassembly. The BMW you own is such a great bike and I have only heard good things about them. According to sources, it is a 5-star bike! Most airhead engines are very similar, but over the years they made some neat improvements. This was BMW's first engine with an oil-filter and with a timing chain, so it already featured some cool technology. In the late 70's/early 80's they just made them even more reliable and I'll shed more light on this topic, when I introduce a new project. Thank you for sharing this comment. Regards Andreas
As a long time mechanic I sort of written off boxer engines as not really my type of engine, inline or V as the way to go. But these old BMW bikes sure are simple easy to work on, can take the cylinder head off or adjust the valves without taking the gas tank off or the engine out of the frame, sparking my interest as a lover of elegant mechanical designs.
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your opinion! Every engine is special or different in their own way and this engine happens to be built very robust and at the same time very simple. That is correct, these engines can be worked on very easily and almost every parts is accessible from the outside. I will be rebuilding this engine once I have everything ready and hopefully I can showcase more details. Regards Andreas
Very interesting video! In all my years of working on cars and small engines, I've never seen the inside of a BMW boxer until now. Very intelligent and pretty much bulletproof design. That one looks like it doesn't have very many miles on it, or it was just very well taken care of. The pistons and cylinders looked pristine, and I'm actually a bit surprised that the front cover was hiding an automotive style alternator, and then the starter up above. Big, meaty, single disc dry clutch on the rear would probably last the life of the bike!
I'm glad after all these years you were able to see the internals of the BMW boxer engine. This one specifically was designed and set into production in the late 60's. There were many upgrades that made this engine bulletproof, like an internal oil-filter, two piece connecting rods, chain drive timing, re-engineered cylinder heads and much more! The bike this engine came out of had around 93'000miles on the clock and the previous owner stated it stopped working a while ago...whatever that means. Maybe it had 100 or 200k on the clock! The pistons had less wear than the cylinders, but this was too much according to the factory specifications and therefore the engine was machined to accommodate larger pistons. Now it is just over 600cc's haha There are many neat features on this engine that make it unique and I will share more about this in an upcoming engine rebuild video. I have to resolve some parts issues, but after that I'll have a green light for the assembly. Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
Hi there! These two bikes are true icons from the past and still hold so much value in todays market. You might be surprised what I'll be working on in the near future. Thanks for tuning in and leaving a comment. Regards Andreas
Absolutely superb and informative. BMW engines are amazing. To think how compact this design was 50 years ago means it was way ahead of it’s time I design .
I‘m glad you enjoyed this video and thank you for watching! The design is very impressive and sleek at the same time. It sure is a time-capsule and I will be assembling this engine in the next few weeks. I hope you will enjoy that just as much as this disassembly video. Regards Andreas
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and leaving a comment! The engine you have on your table is a very stronger version of what you see here, and it is a little bit newer as well. I hope you will enjoy your teardown as much as I did! Regards Andreas
These engines were everywhere when I was a kid in the '70s. Then when I started riding they had disappeared and I never had a chance to get inside one. I can't believe how buried the points were. Considering how often those give trouble... The starter and clutch look huge for a 600cc boxer. I have 1.5L four cylinder car with stuff that size. Overall, looks like you got a nice core.
I believe you when you say they disappeared. I wasn‘t around at that time, but knowing what bikes were around in the 90‘s was definitely a different story. Not only were the Japanese inline 4‘s very hot, but other styles of bikes mixed up the market a little bit. BMW stuck to their roots with the boxer engine and improved the ridability. Styling was changed over the years, all the way up into the early 90‘s…but that‘s when they decided to push with their K-bikes… The clutch on the BMW /5‘s is very solid and it‘s meant to last several kilometers. This is maybe another reason why most of these bikes are high-mileage after 50years. I‘ll go into more details during the assembly process and I cannot wait to share that with you. You‘ll be able to identify more details, since the whole engine will be like new😃 Thanks for your comment! Regards Andreas
Having watched a few such, very interesting and informative videos, I have to ask why do you all not give it a good external clean before you start stripping it? A good application of Gunk or similar means your whole working is a bit cleaner; there will still be oil from within but none of that road cr*p potentially getting anywhere inside. I'm sure you'll clean thoroughly the parts but prevention is better than cure. Enjoyable video, chapeau! Makes me want to find an old airhead, just to take it apart! ... but not my 1978 R100RS
Hi there, this is a great question! I think it depends on what work will happen to the engine. If I were to just replace gaskets and seals, I would definitely clean this engine prior to stripping it. In my case, I knew I will go through every part, clean it, measure it, repair or replace it and then eventually rebuild the whole engine. Once all parts are disassembled as I can get to them from every angle and I find this much easier to clean them this way. (Cleaning usually takes forever, but that is just part of a restoration) Thank you for your positive comment, I really appreciate it! I will have an engine rebuild video of this R60/5 here very soon that you might be interested in watching. You have a lovely BMW and it might be a good thing to keep that in one piece if it's still a solid runner! Maybe you can look into the /7 models, as they are readily available on the market and fairly cheap...relative to older or more rare models. Regards Andreas
It's a nicely modular construction. BMW were aiming for a durable long service life with this engine. Even the replaceable parts seem very durable and solid. Which is one reason people can restore old BMW bike engines after 50 years - if they can still buy the basic serviceable parts.
You are spot on! The base engine assembly is modular and it housed the same components for the 500cc, 600cc and 750cc engines from the 1970's. Not only was this cost effective for the manufacturer (BMW), but it also made servicing much easier as well. Today you can still find many OEM parts on the internet, which makes servicing and restoring a very simple task. I will have an update on this engine very soon, and I cannot wait to show you the final engine assembly video. Regards Andreas
Wow, how long have you had this setup for! I'd love to see your setup and if you have any pictures feel free to send me an email (email in the description of this video). These engines are known to be bulletproof and I haven't heard of anyone putting one of these in their tractor. Since it doesn't have a fan, I wonder what temperatures your engines reaches (oil temp)... Regards Andreas
I ride a 1973 R60/5 loved seeing it all come apart. As i will at some point have to take mine apart. Very high miles on it, going to need the timing chain and sprockets at the very least. : ) still run for now.
That such a coincidence! You have yourself a lovely bike and it really deserves to still be on the road. I hope you are able to repair/rebuild whatever is necessary...The prices of parts can add up very quickly, especially if you're willing to take on a rebuild. This R60/5 had ~93'000 Miles on the odometer when it stopped working! Who knows how many were really put on this bike!! I hope you find joy in the repair work and keep your running as long as possible. The rebuild video of this engine can be seen here: th-cam.com/video/ulrai66vyoA/w-d-xo.html Thanks for tuning in to watch. Regards Andreas
Many thanks Andreas. An excellent video. And it wasn't too long!! I've come late to your channel and I'm working my way through your posts. A couple of things I like particularly about your work are that you are fabricating many special tools rather than sourcing the factory, mega-dollar, items and I've never seen you reach for an impact tool! Many of us don't have impressive workshops (if indeed have one at all) so it's nice to see what you're doing in your space. Keep up the good work. Cheers, Peter.
I have two r75/5 toaster toasters. One all original full dress with all the period Wixom accessories and another cafe style. They both run great and are fun to ride.
You have yourself some beautiful bikes, sir! The Wixom fairing and saddlebags are definitely a nice accessories and they are becoming more rare by the day. What paint color do you have on your two toaster bikes? Regards Andreas
Thanks a lot! It's been fun to tear into this neat 600cc engine and I hope I don't need to purchase too many parts...once all parts are measured I will definitly know. I really hope so and I'll try my best to bring it back to original connditon. Best regards -Andreas
Ive Got a BMW R50 /2 , 1952 model Had it for 40 years Needs a Rebuild , Haven"t Ridden it since I was About 20 Still got it tho Just Never got around too rebuilding it , You Know it it goes Some times
That is a lovely bike you have😃👍🏽 The older BMW bikes only had oil slingers and they needed to be cleaned out every now and then, in order to keep the engine oil fresh. I‘m glad you didn‘t just ride it until the engine failed. Hopefully you will find the time to get it up and running again in the near future. I have never worked on a „slinger“ BMW before and maybe I‘ll find one sooner than later to showcase on this channel. Thank you for sharing this with me. Regards Andreas
Hello! I just received a really beaten down airhead from my dad and I have to tell you your videos have been enormously helpful in order to familiarize myself with the machine. Thank you very much for sharing the process and I look forward to seeing the rest of the videos :)
Hi Luca, I'm happy to hear that you received an Airhead from your father! It's always a nice thing to keep a bike like this from another family member. I appreciate your comment and I'm glad to hear that you're collecting information through my videos. You're more than welcome and I hope I can make many more videos that will help you with YOUR new bike. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your story! Regards Andreas
Indestructible at that displacement because it's also dismally underpowered. Fortunately the cure is easy and I speak from experience. 900cc engines bolt right in and you get the kickstarter gearbox from the R60 which comes in handy. BMW Airhead interchange is quite handy and donors easy to find.
The engine was built around september 1971. Pity that you did not measure the compression before dismanteling. 10:22 M10 * 1 or M11 * 1 ? They enlarged them around that time.
Yes, this engine was produced in 1971 according to the casting numbers. The compression of both cylinders was tested in a separate video and can be seen here: th-cam.com/video/wT1_nDJ_Okc/w-d-xo.html The flywheel bolts I have here in the shop measure M10 x 1.0 and they did enlarge them in later engines. Thank you for your comment. Regards Andreas
Thank you so much for your positive feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed this video!! The engine showed some wear here and there and this has already been addressed accordingly. The engine rebuild video is just around the corner, once I find a solution to the rocker arm assembly. I cannot wait to share the final results with you. Regards Andreas
EXCELLENT tear down vid! ( besides some issue with the volume) not too long, clear views, especially for those of us that learn visually.would love to see the build UP, and maybe some general costs of new parts along the way...? great stuff, thanks!
Hi Mark! Thank you very much for your positive feedback. I am aware that some of my earlier videos had audio problems and I have since been able to resolve this issue. Thank you for pointing this out. I have a full engine rebuild video that has been delayed for quite some time now, due to parts...but once this is sorted out, I will share an in-depth assembly video. Costs, tools and products will be shared along the way, as this project takes shape. I appreciate your comment, thank you so much! Regards Andreas
Great videos excellent content you’re definitely a talented guy. My two favourite bikes which I owned and thoroughly enjoyed were an Honda CX 500 and BMW R80 RT . Quality of build was second to non on the Beemer As a lad in the 80/90s the Beemers were always out of price range but got the chance to own one true quality and excellent road holding after watching your videos makes me want to get another even just to have in the garage. Thanks again for great work
Thank you for tuning in to watch a few videos, it means a lot to me! The CX500 and the R80RT are both very solid machines and they both have the strengths. It's always a pleasure to hear that you had good experiences with your own Airhead and I bet you have stories to tell! There are still numerous worthwhile BMW airhead projects waiting for new owners. One great aspect of Airheads is the extensive availability of parts online, making it easy to find virtually everything you need, a rarity with many other manufacturers. Perhaps you'll stumble upon a project to work on soon... just don't let on that I might have influenced you (haha)! Cheers -Andreas
Hi Mark! The disassembly is usually the easy part as you only need to remove nuts and bolts. The assembly is a little bit more intricate, but if you follow certain steps you should be able to tackle an airhead engine like this yourself...with some patience. Thanks for tuning in! Regards, Andreas.
What a fantastic video. Great close up shots when needed. No fuss or annoying background music. Will have to subscribe and watch all of them (series ) multiple times as I try to get a 1964 R60/s back on the road. Awesome and thank you!!
Hi Bill! Thank you very much for your positive feedback and support!😃 I have a playlist full of BMW videos and more are on the way. Hopefully you can pick up some tips and tricks along the way for your own R60 project. If you ever need any information, feel free to send me an email with some questions. My email is in the description of each and every video. Regards Andreas
As someone with a 60/5 with about 30k on it, I don’t see most of this in the too immediate future, but the clarity and detail in this video was actually kind of thrilling and many thanks and all credit to you for producing it. It will be absolutely invaluable when I get there. Looking forward to the reassembly next, and have subscribed!
Hi Simon, I’m happy to hear that you have a BMW R60/5 motorcycle too! Your bike has very low mileage compared to the one you can see in this video. The previous owner let me know the speedometer stopped working at 93‘000 miles😁 Who knows how many were put on after that!! You‘re probably not in need of a full engine rebuild, but maybe in the near future you‘ll be replacing shaft seals. These seals keep the oil within the engine block and over time they can wear or simply deteriorate. I will feature all of this within my upcoming engine rebuild video, so don‘t worry. Thank you for your comment and I am very delighted you subscribed to watch more videos😃 Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Yes, an engine/gearbox reseal are in my near future - the oil is collecting nicely on the shelf - so any additional detail you can put on that would be much appreciated!
@@simonfletcher3982 I will share the engine seal installation, once the engine goes back together. I have already overhauled the 4-speed gearbox and that can be seen here in this video: th-cam.com/video/8GTWWUfGt60/w-d-xo.html Let me know if you are in need of any other information. Regards Andreas
This engine was pretty solid to be honest! Obviously over 50 years there will be some wear and tear and that has already been addressed. In an upcoming video I will share the ins-and-outs of this engine, during the assembly. I hope you will enjoy that. Regards Andreas
You've given me the answer to a question that's been bugging me ever since I built an airfix model of a BMW bike as a kid - what on earth is in the top part of the engine?
The top part of the engine hides a starter motor under full an aluminum cover. This part bolts down to the engine block with two bolts and it also has an engine plaque glued on to it. Whenever you see a BMW airhead, you should be able to identify the size of engine by the plaque R60/5 = 600cc others may have a different displacement. It's a very neat way to cover the top half of the engine and make it look very sleek. Thanks for your comment, Terry. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Yes the starter motor, it makes perfect sense. The engineering reminds me of the Sunbeam S8, like how a car designer would go about creating a motorcycle.
All parts needed to be cleaned externally and internally, so I can do this all at once after the disassembly. If you just want to change some gaskets or seals, than I would recommend you clean your surfaces prior to the disassembly. Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
I am looking forward seeing the complete reassembly, but it would also be very interesting seeing all the control and check you do on the engine parts before that. Great video far all BMW airhead engine lovers ! Thank you 👍from France
Thanks for tuning in Guillaume! I eager to complete this project, but at the same time I'm enjoying every moment of the rebuild process. I have already gone through the engine parts in Part 12 ( th-cam.com/video/0MO2uoXBsPA/w-d-xo.html ), but I did not share every detail as the videos would be far too long. I will get all components ready for the engine assembly very soon, but I will first work on some other aspects of this beautiful motorcycle. I appreciate your enthusiasm and lovely comment. Greetings from a Canadian Airhead lover...already! -Andreas
Quite a bit of work is involved when dealing with a damaged valve. I hope everything went back together well so you could enjoy your R60 again! Regards -Andreas
Hi Paul, thank you so much for tuning in all the way from Kenya! What an honor😃👍🏽 Based on my research the Yamaha XT225 is a single cylinder SOHC engine with two valves. This is a relatively simple setup and can be found on most off-road motorcycles. At this moment I do not have that bike, but hopefully throughout my videos you will pick up some tricks and tips that will help you along your project! Let me know if you make progress on your Yamaha😎 Regards Andreas
Thank you very much Bob, I appreciate your kind words! I'm happy to hear that you have a BMW R60/5 on the way. With a little bit of maintenance, these beautiful machines will last for a very long time. I'm planning on rebuilding this engine in the near future, so I'll have updates soon. Until then -Andreas
The R100GS does have a large starter, because it is a 1000cc engine. You were lucky to find a Valeo starter for such a good deal. You might be surprised with my upcoming project...all I can say is it is another BMW 😉
I fully agree with you and thank you for watching! I am just about to assemble this engine with many new parts and I cannot wait to share the results. Regards Andreas
Thank you very much for your amazing feedback, Richard! I will get everything sorted out for a rebuild here very soon and maybe sooner than later this engine will be in running condition. Regards Andreas
Good morning Mate !I hope all is good there, by the way excellent video of BMW!!! I love all of them ! one question... do you have a list of all the lubs and paste nedded for all the rebuild process? like Copper paste high Temp or locktite locker... Thanks Mate in advance !
Hi there! All is good on my end and thank YOU for tuning in! I usually use the same products or my engine rebuilds, and I will show everything in an upcoming engine rebuild video. Currently the cylinders and heads are at the machine shop and I'm eager to receive them to start the rebuild! Back to your question, here is a list of products I normally use: -Assembly Grease (used for bearing surfaces and other metal-to-metal surfaces within the engine) -Loctite 242 (Permatex Blue Threadlocker, frequent use) -Locatite 262 (Permatex Red Threadlocker, rarely used) -RTV Sealant (Used instead of gaskets, air cure product) -Anaerobic Gasket Maker (Used to seal precision machined surfaces, cures under squeeze) -Copper Coat (Used for Exhaust Nut in this case, a threaded part you wish to remove after assembly) I might have forgotten some products, but I'll be sure to add this into the upcoming assembly video. Thanks for your great question and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out any time! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Mate, I have seen Videos of BMW air boxer engines and let me tell you something, the amount of details and good workshop knowledge that you have is great, I'm so great full to follow you and thanks again for your great job !!!
@@chiefeng6951 Thank you so much for viewing my other videos and following along this restoration project! I will always offer as much as I can in my videos, so it's easy to foolow. I will continue to make more videos. Regards Andreas
@@chiefeng6951 I know, I know! I am super frustrated by the por quality parts I received for the engine, and the assembly is delayed once again. I just cannot wait to share the assembly video with you, it'll be a game-changer. Thank you for your support
The block (R60/5) has one design failure. The squish-bead in the cylinderhead is to much pronounced and doesnot interfere right with the form of the piston. The standard trim tends to knock too fast. Families of BMW tuners remove a conical ring from the squish-bead by machining. The compresion ratio can be increased there after, and the timing can get more advanced, both improving power and fuel economy.
This is very interesting information and I'm glad you shared this with me. I will keep this in mind when this engine goes back together. I will keep these measurements to compare with other engines that I will be working on in the future. I might just have more BMW content on the way... Thanks again for leaving an insightful comment, Louis. Regards Andreas
All circulating oil will run through the oil filter, but on the bottom of the oil pan there were metal shavings and "sludge". In an upcoming assembly video I'll show old parts up against new parts and why they have to be replaced. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the rest of my videos. Regards Andreas
EXACTLY! The clutch wasn't horrible, but it will need to be replaced after so many years. Luckily new parts can be sourced which makes this 10x easier than riveting new material onto the old disc.
You're the man. Very nice video and well done. I enjoyed watching it. Makes me want to restore a 50/5 iso the Honda's I did. Thanks a lot for the video.
Hi Hennie, thank you for your kind words and uplifting comment!! I bet if you decide to restore an R50/5 you'll learn a lot, but also create a soft-spot for German engineering. Thank YOU for tuning in. Regards Andreas
@Workshop Rebuild I'm already a German engineering fan. I now have my seventh BMW motorbike 😁. I'm a bit afraid of the special tools and the big force you need to open covers or to unlock bolts. And once the bike is fully ready it is not the sexiest one on earth and the riding is better on a Japanese 4 cilinder of the same age (Honda CB750 four, Suzuki GS750, ...) but I might give it a try since deep in my heart I'm a BMW fan. Greetings from Belgium. Continue the good work 👏.
@@HennieBours Oh wow! Congratulations to such an amazing collection!! There are certain specialty tools needed, but with a little bit of Belgian Engineering you can make them yourself haha. These BMW airhead engine were built very well, but like for any engine you must take torque specifications in consideration once rebuilding. Hopefully these videos will provide you with more information if you decide to tackle a project like this. Thank you for your lovely comments and greetings from Canada! Regards Andreas
@@HennieBours The /5's are getting somewhat harder to find, even though many were produced...the /6 and /7 models are still readily available and somewhat cheaper. Keep your eyes open on the internet for a deal 😉
This has to be one of the best put together 50 year old bike. Certainly nothing from the UK or US comes close. Maybe a Japanese? Either way this was very nice to watch. Cheers.
This bike it built very well, but in my opinion a little bit over-engineered! This was also the fact with British bikes back in the day. I haven't been able to work on an American motorcycle just yet, but maybe I'll find a good deal in the future. On the other hand, I am very impressed with Japanese motorcycles and their reliability. The parts they machined have always been top-notch and in the 70's they rolled out some very good models. I will have more video on this BMW very soon, I just have to finish up some other projects! (You probably know how that goes) I'm glad you did and I appreciate your awesome comment. Regards -Andreas
what that any kind of pin/dowel you put in to pull the alternator or a special tool? Really cool how the tach drive is off a pulley driving a bevel gear.
It's nothing special, just a solid pin that reaches through to the thread of the alternator rotor. After this, insert a bolt and start tightening it. The rotor should break free relatively quickly.
Hi Rab, while rebuilding the 4-speed gearbox that had over 90'000 miles on it, I didn't see much wear. I overhauled it with new bearings and seals, but there was no need to replace any other major components internally. It's always good to have an alternative bike for such a long trip, as you do NOT want to break down. Up until this day I have not heard of MZ, but with a little bit of research I will be able to learn more about this make and their motorcycle models. Thanks for sharing this with me! Regards Andreas
Internally it doesn't look like a worn out engine at all . . very clean and surprisingly solid logical engineering is evident. But not all German engineering is like that. I had a three year old Audi A4 TDi with 133kms from new from the first owner, with catastrophic failure of the alloy casting bracket supporting the power steering and water pump ancilliaries, whilst high speed motorway sharp bend downhill onramp cornering.. dangerous and frightening as loss of control was a distinct possibility (steering translated 'rock hard' with a sudden loud 'Bang!') I phoned the dealership and said, 'Come, take this thing away, never want to see it again, and give the money back thanks' ..and they did !
I have over half a million miles on old air heads my collection at one time was over 40 of them..love them things when I go some place I ride a airhead when I want to scare myself I ride one of my ducats. I have a 90s that has never been outta the crate..I'm gettin old bought time to pass them on 😊
Now that is something! Do you remember which bike had the most miles put on it? Your collection must have been better than some museums, especially when it comes to Airheads. It‘s never easy to pass on something that‘s sentimental to one, so enjoy them as long as you can! If you have any stories or pictures you want to share about your bikes, you can always reach out to me via email. My email address is in the description of each video on my channel. I have a new project already lined up and it might just be another BMW...you might like it! Maybe I‘ll slip a boxer race-engine into the mix, once I finish the R60/5 engine assembly😊👍🏽 Thank you for sharing this comment with everyone and with myself. It‘s always great to hear from fellow Airhead enthusiasts! Regards Andreas
I put about 120k on a 75 R90s, and about the same on a R100PD. Kinda my fave to ride was the R100PD. Had 3 of them didn't have to pay as much attention to gas stops with the big tank..
That's a fair distance on those two bikes (R90S & R100PD), especially if you have such a big collection of BMW motorcycles! I have heard so many great things about the R100PD and it would be a great experience to test one for myself in the near future. If you ever decide to pass some of your bikes on to the next caretaker, please keep me in the loop. Regards Andreas
It was built very well and it‘s sad to see that this quality isn‘t around anymore. Even the attention to detail to conceal the starter motor and alternator within the engine covers is beautifully done. Thanks for tuning in and leaving a comment. This engine will be rebuilt in the upcoming days or weeks and I‘ll share a full rebuild video on this😊👍🏽 Regards Andreas
Great video!! I enjoyed every second of it. However I started looking because I hoped I could see how to disassemble the crankcase breather valve. Unfortunately this is not on this video... Maybe you have some other video on removing this breather?
Hello Marc, I'm glad you enjoyed this video and thank you for your feedback! The crankcase breather valve probably didn't make it into this video and I'm sorry about that. The breather cover is bolted onto the engine block with two allen head bolts. Once these are removed you will see a steel e-clip holding a spring against the valve disc. Remove the e-clip and everything will come off very easily. If you decide to replace the valve disc with new material, that can be done. If you want to upgrade this part of the engine, you will need to heat up the engine block and remove the breather valve insert. This might not be the easiest thing to remove, but it will come out. Let me know if this helps and if you have any other questions feel free to reach out to me! Regards Andreas
I agree, this engine is a work of art from Germany! They must have planned to use this for many years, but maybe it outdid their own expectations😁 Thanks for viewing and sharing a comment😃 Regards Andreas
Good Video. BMW should have used helical gears to drive the Camshaft . Chain elongates change valve timing. R 50, R60 & R 69s had gear driven cam shaft. No weak links. Sadly Today's BMWs are so complicated 3 Timing chains. Expensive Toys.
Hi Tissa, that would have been a great option as they used this method in the past. Nowadays liquid cooled engines are far more prone to failure with the amount of seals and gaskets involved. To repair an engine with 3 timing chains, must be a nightmare! Once I'm done with the engine rebuild and the whole motorcycle restoration, I will reveal the price and I will already tell you now...it's by far the most expense rebuild I've tackle to date. Thanks for viewing and leaving a insightful comment. Regards Andreas
I fully agree Remy! This engine is a great piece of history and that's another reason why this engine was produced in many different variations over 25 years long. Thanks for tuning in. Regards Andreas
Hi Dan, these engines are very fun to work on and there are so many of them out there. I bet you'd enjoy working on one! Just keep your eyes open on the internet and you might just find a good deal. BMW produced this style of boxer engine between 1969-1995, so there are so many options to choose from. Regards Andreas
The only plastic wear part within this engine is on the chain tensioner. Over time the chain will stretch and also wear into the plastic and that‘s another reason why this will be replaced. BMW really focused on reliability on these bikes and they nailed it! Unfortunately this bike had a rough life and I believe some service intervals were missed. In a couple days I will be working on the assembly of this engine and it will look completely different. Thanks for leaving a great comment! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Your knowledge on these classic motorbikes are a mazing, its very hard to be able to find someone that can do what you do like you fdo it and it is such a iconic bike that deserves your care Your welcome! Regards, Dillan
Thank you for your kind words, Dillian!! I try to understand the mechanical components: how they work, how they move and what their purpose is. After a rough overview I tend to share what I find and explain everything in short. I have some other projects lined up that might spark your interest, especially when it comes to internal engine components. Thanks again! -Andreas
Thanks for the video. Your presentation and video editing are superb. It has been very helpful to me. Do you have a video that discusses whether or not it is absolutely necessary to disassemble a perfectly good running a air cooled BMW twin just to clean the slingers? is this absolutely necessary? I have heard yes and no. I was wondering what you or anyone else thinks. Thank you again!
First of all, thank you for your wonderful comment William. If you‘re talking about BMW twin engines with oil-slingers, than you‘re talking about pre 1970‘s engines. These engines are easily recognizable as the pushrod tubes were above the cylinders (camshaft over crankshaft). All of these engines had slingers, because removable oil filters were not implemented back in the day...at least not by BMW. They used oil slingers - a formed plate on either side of the crankshaft that collects & filters material within the oil by centrifugal force. In the /5 model engines (like the one you see in this video) they added a paper based oil filter, just above the oil pan. This means there was no need for „slingers“. According to manuals online slingers should be cleaned regularly. 30‘000km intervals are the maximum you should do, and that is probably already far too much! At the end of the day if your slingers are clogged, that could cause serious issues to your engine! The only way to clean them out, is by taking the engine apart to a certain degree, cleaning it and putting it back together. You want clean slingers for better engine health in general. Engine oil is not just for lubrication, but for your compression and cooling too. I have never worked on a /2 (pre 1970‘s) engine before, but it sure would be interesting to learn more about them. There is a lot written about this online...maybe you can find more information just by googling this term „ BMW /2 Slingers“. I hope this helps and thanks again for your great question! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Again, thanks for helping me out. Yes the bike I have it’s a 1966 R60/2. I have not run it in many many years and I have never cleaned the slingers. I just don’t feel like going into the engine that deep to clean them, but from all I have heard, I may not have a choice if I want to have peace of mind. thanks.
@@williammagill5634 Nothing to thank me for! Taking an engine apart is usually easier than putting it together, but various tools are needed and a lot of patience. If your engine has never been opened before, it might be very hard to remove some nuts or bolts as they could be seized in place. To really know the condition of your engine, you will want the slingers cleaned before you go onto a trip. Maybe if I find a /2 model soon enough I could enourage you to tear into your engine, by sharing a disassembly and assembly video. Up until today I have not seen one BMW /2 for sale in all of Alberta...so it probably won't be the easiest bike to find around here. Regards Andreas
The crank puller may fit my stronglight 93 crankset for.my bicycle. I used to own a 2002 BMW so I love and respect BMW engineering. When you get that engine back together and in your motorcycle blessed be advised of the gyroscope pull out ward and to the ground when riding your BMW R 60 motorcycle. I only know of 2nd hand knowledge of this engine through a friend who rebuilt one as you are doing. The motor cycle has a tendency to lay rt. Or left as you lay unto a turn. The carburetor will be leaky and problematic if it is like my friends BMW r60 carb. I hope You are able to get her running again and many safe enjoyable miles on your beautiful engineered BMW r 6o? I am just a ignorant bystander and am not a mechanic. I tinker with bicycles. I am sure it will be beautiful when you are done with her! Happy overhauling!
Most crank pullers are universal and suit many different make and models, so it's very possible that it would work for your project. Thank you for sharing you experience with the BMW brand and a 2002 car is becoming a true collector in this modern world. It must have been a blast to drive! I will keep this in mind when I get this motorcycle back up and running. My goal is to restore it as best I can and bring it back onto the road for a nice trip or two, keeping everything in tip-top shape. The carburetor leak is notorious on the older carburetors, but with a simple carburetor rebuild, one can have a leak-free experience. I will have an engine assembly video here very soon and I hope you will enjoy it as much as the disassembly. Thanks for watching and leaving such a great comment. Regards Andreas
That is a great suggestion! They are very long and they could easily be damaged if I'm not careful enough. I agree with you, these BMW airhead engines are great in many ways! Regards Andreas
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Luckily, there is large group of classic BMW motorcycle enthusiasts that have kept these engines alive with OEM and aftermarket parts. This engine is in the rebuild process and hopefully I can share an update video very soon. Great question by the way!! Regards Andreas
Liked and subscribed. Just wish I didn't have to go to work right now, as I'm loving this series so much. Thank you for putting this together and sharing it with us. I cannot imagine the time and effort involved to edit, format, upload and all that stuff. So thanks for your effort, it's appreciated. Right, I'll be back later today to watch the rest. Thanks you =)
Thank you so much for your awesome comment and feedback!! It's always a great feeling when I can read comments like yours. To be honest, it was super fun to take this engine apart and I already learned A LOT! Filming everything usually takes the longest, as I really like to get the best angles I possibly can...sometimes this means I have to redo a clip or two. Even if these videos take long to create, I believe it will be very valuable to those that would like to work an engine like this themselves. It's all about sharing! Once again, thank you for tuning in and following my progress. You made my day! Regards Andreas
Hi Russell, this is an interesting topic! I haven‘t heard of this before and that‘s probably because I never worked on an aircraft engine before. Please let me know if you have any information about why it‘s forbidden. I have a feeling it will not hurt this engine, but I guess I‘ll have to wait and see😅🤞🏽 Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild I don’t think it will either, with aircraft stuff they are extremely safety conscious, I believe simply, if something stops, pulling over to the side of the road is not an easy option I could assume that items that may become theoretically magnetised may attract minuscule amounts of metal that may block or reduce oil passes, or increase the possibility of fine tolerance areas to possibly be compromised in this way The real reason is likely to be far more interesting than my assumption I think it was the hydraulic push rod lifters and maybe some other things also but can not exactly remember I could look it up but better still, will ask someone in the field why this is so All I know is that this is a real thing in aircraft engineering maintenance and training
Great video. It looks like the engine was touched not so long before the video. Bolts are shiny and all come off easily. Not so easy in real life unfortunately.
Thanks a lot Thierry. After I measured all the parts in another video, everything was to the original specifications. Therefore no major components were touched. The bolts are shiny because they are zinc-coated and the aluminum looks dull, because it was oxidized. I don't put on a show for TH-cam videos haha. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for tuning in Rob! I went back to check and you're right...my hands stayed very clean throughout the disassembly process of this engine. Pretty funny in hindsight! Thanks for pointing that out. Regards Andreas
This engine is a true time capsule! Since this engine was produced in the 70's I could say it's more refined than the 2cv engine. Looking back a couple years, BMW produced engines that had a similar horsepower ratings to the Citroen and even the looks. This must have been post war for sure. Zundapp is another company that had very similar looking engines and many parts were even shared between Zundapp and BMW! Regards Andreas
According to the original BMW workshop manual I have the crankshaft is the same for the R50, R60 and R75! All specified measurements are for these three models, so they should be interchangeable. The only thing you'd want to check is if someone already ground a crankshaft to an undersize (main bearings or connecting rod journals). I hope this helps you out! Regards Andreas
A very detailed strip down the internals look in good condition great German engineering from an eta when they built things to be indestructible it’s not uncommon to see these with very high mileages still sounding nice and riding well. Despite all the parts it’s beauty is in it’s relatively simple design it’s very strong and doesn’t put out huge amounts of power so it’s long lived.
The German Police (and other forces) bought them by the thousands. Then loaded them up and ran long hours every day. That's why they're over-engineered and built like tanks. They had to be.
Thank you for tuning in to watch this video, Phil! This engine design is known to be bulletproof and it's a great all-rounder with 600cc's of displacement. The horsepower is not all too important on a classic bike that you want to take on a winding road! I hope this engine (and bike), will see many more miles once it's rebuilt. It really deserves another life, so to speak. Regards Andreas
Great question! I've never seen a generator before, but I have seen a company use these engines for water pump setups. They fabricated custom cooling shrouds around the engine and added a cooling fan up front. I'm not sure what the company was called, but they were based in Europe.
Correct, Ural engines are very similar, because they are based on German boxer engines. The earlier engines from BMW had the camshaft, above the crankshaft and therefore you had pushrods above the cylinders. The crankshaft was timed to the camshaft with timing gears back then too! This engine on the other hand is timed with a timing chain...something that was somewhat new for BMW in the early 70's. Thanks for sharing this comment. Regards Andreas
Allen socket head bolts are over 100 years old, but due to expensive manufacturing processes back in the day, they became more readily available in the 1940's.
Hi there, I have already measured all the parts and have been able to determine which need to be replaced and which ones can be reused. The camshaft bearing surface within the engine block is still within factory specifications. I will be rebuilding this engine very soon. Regards Andreas
Hi Tim! According to previous owner this bike was in original condition and showed ~93'000 Miles! The odometer assembly was seized and it must have stopped at that mileage, so it could possible be a 100'000+ Mile bike. The engine could have kept on going for a couple more years, but according to the measurements I took, there is some machining involved before this engine gets reassembled. Once I'm ready, I'll have an assembly video of this engine where you will be able to see before and after shots. Thanks for your question. Regards Andreas
HAHA, not on this bike as it was previously stored in a garage. I would have to be careful if I found this motorcycle in a barn or out on a field! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your comment. Freundliche Gruesse aus Kanada! -Andreas
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed this video. I will be assembling this very soon and the results will be very interesting. Stay tuned for more. Regards Andreas
It sure does, but everything will get measured and replaced if necessary. The odometer read just over 93000 miles before the disassembly. I hope this answers your question. Best regards -Andreas
Thanks you very much John, I appreciate your comment! I will have an assembly video as soon as I'm ready to rebuild this amazing engine. Thank you for your support, it means A LOT! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild = Hello friend, Your tutorial documentation is terrific. We are all looking forward to your fine lessons work going forwards … Most likely to be soon acquiring a 1966 R-60/2 in good condition to enjoy. Cheers to the vintage BMW gang !
Thank you John! Your comments are always uplifting!! I will do my best to document as much as possible in the upcoming days and weeks. If you do acquire the R60/2, they you will have a beautiful bike in front of you. The styling of a /2 is unlike many other makes and models. I have never seen one in person, but I have seen some examples online. I hope you enjoy your weekend. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild - Dear Mentor instructor: Turned out to be a 1968 in fine running condition with 46, 350 miles plus, owned by a 71 year old gent who claimed to ride it every Sunday so long as no snow or salt … Changed the oil twice a rear, and never used ethanol fuel … all Good ! Now learning how to start reliably with kick start and not flooding it ! Some times it just throws back it’s mechanical willful mind and just laughs at my newbie feeble attempts and I have to walk away … but fun to ride !
And now for the fun part this winter up here in Maine … seems the experts WARN the older 1950’s & 1960’s BMW owner community to STOP & do the maintenance work required … They have oil “Slinger’s” on the crankshaft, That collect metal fillings from years and many miles of ring & cylinder wear that over time collect, and block small oil passages that are to lubricate the wrist pins and cylinder walls … one must pull the crankshaft to clean or replace these “Slinger’s” before they fail and do damage … Fun !
German engineering at its best, see the piston after 50+ yr still as new. These boxer engine R/50,R/60, R/70 is the most ya THE MOST reliable. Some of its have ridden 200000 miles without even changing piston or block.
I agree with you Bhavesh! Many of these boxer engines have survived the test of time and the still run like when they were purchased new. Unfortunately, the cylinder walls within this engine will have to be machined as they are out of the factory specifications, but that is not a big issue. BMW introduced their Nikasil coated cylinders in the early 80's, which gave these bikes a very long lifespan. This engine does not have this coating, but I'm still happy with the overall condition. I will be rebuilding this very soon and maybe you'll be interested in that video as well. Thanks for tuning in! Regards Andreas
That looks like a recently-rebuilt motor? First clue was the colour of the oil. Pistons and bearings look mint. Heads look great. Replace all the seals, new clutch and off you go 👍 Audio levels went to poop at the end their fella 😅
Hi there! This engine is far from freshly rebuilt and it hasn't been opened for 50 years. It's possible that the oil and the oil filter was changed in the past, but other that that it's all stock. There are many indications this is all original like: the original oil seals (made in West Germany), original timing chain & sprockets (heavy wear), standard pistons and so on... The measurements indicate that there is wear within this engine and many important parts have to be repaired and some replaced. I will have a full rebuild video here pretty soon which will showcase engine in better light. Excuse me for the audio levels in this video...I have since made adjustments to my newer videos and I hope the viewing experience is much better for you. Thank for tuning in and leaving such a great comment. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild sorry, that didn't come out the way I meant it. For an old engine, it's in remarkable condition. The owner(s) have obviously looked after it properly. Usually old motors are full of black sludge, but this shows signs of regular oil changes. Look forward to seeing this run again. Like many people, I've not seen inside a boxer engine, so it's all very interesting. Cheers.
Wow that is some stunning German over engineering there. I swear that’s the same starter motor as for a Golf and mounted on top of the engine ! Someone needs to produce a lighter one to help with C of G and all up weight. I want one of these so badly.
Starter motor is from Bosch, I think the same as in a Kadett. The later boxers got a startmotor from Valeo, not very reliable (magnets might come loose). I once had a broken Valeo startmotor and no kickstarter on my GS. I was a long way from home....
Yes, my 1981 R80 G/S had the same as a Golf starter motor and very heavy! Replacing the starter with a lighter alternative and replacing the lead acid battery with a lithium battery would lead to significant weight savings.
It sure is an amazing engine and the nicest thing is that you can still find parts 50 years later! I'm familiar with VW's, but if you think it is, than that's actually really cool. A lighter starter motor would definitely help bring down the top-end weight, or even remove it completely because BMW still left the kickstarter on these bikes between 1970-74...after that they removed them from most bikes! There are many airhead for sale and if you're lucky you might just find a low-mileage bike. These are common to over 100'000 km without any big issues, so it's a great base for a project or even a clean classic bike. Thanks for your comment, Robin. Regards Andreas
@@BasArntz Very interesting information here! They sure did make some improvements over the years...and some probably weren't for the better. You must have been out of luck when your GS starter broke. This won't be my last BMW, as I found a new project a few weeks ago😉 Similar to what you might have had...
You don't show how to secure the crankshaft on the front, if you don't plan to remove the crankshaft, you don't want the thrust washer to fall in the crankcase. With the flywheel removed, the crankshaft can move to the front.
Correct, I did not show that because this was a disassembly video of the 600cc BMW engine. When I rebuild this engine, I will share details about the assembly process. The thrust washers will be a very important step of the rebuild and I hope you will find that valuable. Regards Andreas
Thank you! I'm better at designing and machining parts, but I love to wrench on machinery to learn new things. Hopefully I can continue to share as much as I can, so it will help other enthusiasts down the road. Regards Andreas
I'm happy to hear that! The engineers did an amazing job to draw, manufacture this engine. Once can only imagine how long that took (drawn on paper)! Thanks for sharing and tuning in. Regards Andreas
Absolutely beautiful. Not too long at all. I'll be watching it many times. This 52 year old engine is in great condition on the inside where it counts. Can't wait to see the rebuild. Thanks again.
I really like this engine as well and the design is just incomparable! Thank you for your support and I hope this will give you reference and help if you ever rebuild your engine. Exactly, that is really what counts and I will share a video of the internals in the near future. Stay tuned & best regards -Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild 23:24 to 24:49 it was perfect, unfortunately that was the usual unnecessary music which gets particularly annoying when it runs over some dialogue. I was interested in the video just not interested enough to try and puzzle out what was being said but this seeems to be a common TH-cam creator problem.
This video brings back memories of working on my 1968 R60/2 and 1969 R50/2 bikes. During a trip across Canada in 1977 my R60/2 dropped a valve seat after a long day of riding when stopping to check into a camp ground at Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia. I was able to remove the cylinder head with just the tools I had brought with me, replacing it with one sent air freight to Sydney NS by a friend back in Maryland who restored old Beemers and had a identical spare engine.
A significant improvement with the /5 model over the /2 were the removable connecting rods. Those of the /2 were one piece and pressed onto the crank with roller bearing on the lower end. What did in my R60/2 was a worn wrist pin bearing. There was no option to just replace the con-rod a $$$ crank-conrod assembly had to be purchased.
Wow, that must have been one very unique trip and it's something you'll never forget! It's amazing how much one can do on one of these bikes with a small tool kit and a little bit of effort. I have never worked on a /2 yet, but I would really love to do that in the near future. There's just something about these BMW bikes that just makes we want to wrench on them and then go out for a cruise.
That connecting rod replacement must have been an expensive job, especially due to the complexity of the assembly and the parts availability. Do you still own and ride these two bikes up until this day?
Thanks for sharing such great memories with me, here in the comment section. It was a joy to read this! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild The steel exhaust valve seat dropped out of the head so I had to buy a new replacement head. Fortunately new stock parts were still available then. I commuted on the R60/2 until 1980 when I sold it and the R50/2.
@@TeddyCavachon I want already trying to think how you replaced the valve seat with very little tools, but now it makes more sense: you replaced the whole head! I bet that was a beauty to ride, especially a few years back when traffic wasn't this fast-going. Thanks for sharing this! Regards Andreas
Mine never dropped a valve seat, but I did burn one valve after leaning out the carburetors to try to improve fuel economy. Rose City BMW in Portland, Oregon very quickly and efficiently replaced it.
Back in the 70 's ,my friend bought a new 600 cc BMW, took it for a ride on the interstate at 100mph,felt like 60,65mph, incredibly smooth ,a truly refined road machine Great motorcycle.This guy knows his stuff.
Hi there! I agree, these machines are very smooth when they are dialed in correctly and they are tremendously fun to ride...even 50 years later! Does your friend still have that bike after all these years?
I have all the parts to bring this engine back to life, except for the rocker arm assembly. This is a topic I spoke about in my most recent video and hopefully I can resolve this "parts-issue" asap. In an upcoming video I will be assembling this engine and very soon it will be able to go back into the frame.
Thanks for tuning in and leaving such a great comment! Regards Andreas
He must have had the higher output R69. I bought my R60 new in 1960 and there was no way it would go 100 on a level road. It was, however, a truly lovely motorcycle to own and ride. Very smooth on the highway and the faster the engine went, the smoother it got. Very low RPM could be bit shaky.
The engine screams unrivalled build quality.
I agree Gareth! The build quality, materials and over-all appearance is phenomenal! Thanks for tuning in, Regards Andreas
clever removal of alternator rotor
Hi Charles, thank you for your comment! I am aware of the special BMW tool or even the aftermarket bolt (bolt with machined end), but unfortunately I did not have that during the disassembly of this engine. I grabbed what I had and it worked just fine😄 I‘m glad you noticed this! Regards Andreas
R100/7 here. Great videos. Being new to airheads, content creators like yourself have been invaluble to me. I'm tearing down the bike as I continue to ride. Using it as my personal classroom. Thank you for doing what you do and for presenting so in such a great video series. Subscribed and please continue as I still want to learn more.
Hi there! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your own story about your R100/7. If you decide to tear into some of the larger assemblies like the engine, transmission or even the final drive, I bet you'll learn a lot!!! Even though these bikes are "bullet-proof", regular services are needed to ensure safe rides.
I am working on this bike behind the scenes and once I have enough footage I will have a new video once again. Thank you for your comment and support, I really appreciate it! Regards Andreas
High quality, look at the size of the cam chain for example.
You can even disassembly all parts from the engine, while it's still in the frame.
Wonderfull engine.
Absolutely! The build quality is remarkable, and that cam chain really shows the robust engineering. Being able to disassemble the engine while it’s still in the frame is such a clever design feature-it makes maintenance a breeze. Truly a wonderful piece of engineering! Thank for watching - Andreas
What an AWESOME video!! I ride a BMW R1200RT 2007 and I service everything myself and I always wondered what a complete tear-down of the boxer looks like. And can't believe my more modern engine is similar after so many years. Thanks for the video!
Hi John, thank you for tuning in and enjoying this engine disassembly. The BMW you own is such a great bike and I have only heard good things about them. According to sources, it is a 5-star bike!
Most airhead engines are very similar, but over the years they made some neat improvements. This was BMW's first engine with an oil-filter and with a timing chain, so it already featured some cool technology. In the late 70's/early 80's they just made them even more reliable and I'll shed more light on this topic, when I introduce a new project.
Thank you for sharing this comment. Regards Andreas
As a long time mechanic I sort of written off boxer engines as not really my type of engine, inline or V as the way to go. But these old BMW bikes sure are simple easy to work on, can take the cylinder head off or adjust the valves without taking the gas tank off or the engine out of the frame, sparking my interest as a lover of elegant mechanical designs.
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your opinion! Every engine is special or different in their own way and this engine happens to be built very robust and at the same time very simple.
That is correct, these engines can be worked on very easily and almost every parts is accessible from the outside. I will be rebuilding this engine once I have everything ready and hopefully I can showcase more details. Regards Andreas
Подари мне этот мотор не ломай!
Why would I break it?😄
@@WorkshopRebuild дада в казахстан отправь
@den-ed6qs Maybe I will ride there one day😁👍🏽
Very interesting video! In all my years of working on cars and small engines, I've never seen the inside of a BMW boxer until now. Very intelligent and pretty much bulletproof design. That one looks like it doesn't have very many miles on it, or it was just very well taken care of. The pistons and cylinders looked pristine, and I'm actually a bit surprised that the front cover was hiding an automotive style alternator, and then the starter up above. Big, meaty, single disc dry clutch on the rear would probably last the life of the bike!
I'm glad after all these years you were able to see the internals of the BMW boxer engine. This one specifically was designed and set into production in the late 60's. There were many upgrades that made this engine bulletproof, like an internal oil-filter, two piece connecting rods, chain drive timing, re-engineered cylinder heads and much more!
The bike this engine came out of had around 93'000miles on the clock and the previous owner stated it stopped working a while ago...whatever that means. Maybe it had 100 or 200k on the clock!
The pistons had less wear than the cylinders, but this was too much according to the factory specifications and therefore the engine was machined to accommodate larger pistons. Now it is just over 600cc's haha
There are many neat features on this engine that make it unique and I will share more about this in an upcoming engine rebuild video. I have to resolve some parts issues, but after that I'll have a green light for the assembly.
Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
My two favorite BMWs are the R90S and the PD100. Built solid and will run forever with minimal maintenance.
Hi there! These two bikes are true icons from the past and still hold so much value in todays market. You might be surprised what I'll be working on in the near future. Thanks for tuning in and leaving a comment. Regards Andreas
Absolutely superb and informative. BMW engines are amazing. To think how compact this design was 50 years ago means it was way ahead of it’s time I design .
I‘m glad you enjoyed this video and thank you for watching! The design is very impressive and sleek at the same time. It sure is a time-capsule and I will be assembling this engine in the next few weeks. I hope you will enjoy that just as much as this disassembly video.
Regards Andreas
Thank you. I have a R90/6 on the table since this afternoon I will do exactly the same prosess thees next days !
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and leaving a comment! The engine you have on your table is a very stronger version of what you see here, and it is a little bit newer as well. I hope you will enjoy your teardown as much as I did! Regards Andreas
These engines were everywhere when I was a kid in the '70s. Then when I started riding they had disappeared and I never had a chance to get inside one. I can't believe how buried the points were. Considering how often those give trouble... The starter and clutch look huge for a 600cc boxer. I have 1.5L four cylinder car with stuff that size. Overall, looks like you got a nice core.
I believe you when you say they disappeared. I wasn‘t around at that time, but knowing what bikes were around in the 90‘s was definitely a different story.
Not only were the Japanese inline 4‘s very hot, but other styles of bikes mixed up the market a little bit.
BMW stuck to their roots with the boxer engine and improved the ridability. Styling was changed over the years, all the way up into the early 90‘s…but that‘s when they decided to push with their K-bikes…
The clutch on the BMW /5‘s is very solid and it‘s meant to last several kilometers. This is maybe another reason why most of these bikes are high-mileage after 50years.
I‘ll go into more details during the assembly process and I cannot wait to share that with you.
You‘ll be able to identify more details, since the whole engine will be like new😃 Thanks for your comment! Regards Andreas
Having watched a few such, very interesting and informative videos, I have to ask why do you all not give it a good external clean before you start stripping it? A good application of Gunk or similar means your whole working is a bit cleaner; there will still be oil from within but none of that road cr*p potentially getting anywhere inside. I'm sure you'll clean thoroughly the parts but prevention is better than cure.
Enjoyable video, chapeau! Makes me want to find an old airhead, just to take it apart! ... but not my 1978 R100RS
Hi there, this is a great question! I think it depends on what work will happen to the engine. If I were to just replace gaskets and seals, I would definitely clean this engine prior to stripping it.
In my case, I knew I will go through every part, clean it, measure it, repair or replace it and then eventually rebuild the whole engine. Once all parts are disassembled as I can get to them from every angle and I find this much easier to clean them this way. (Cleaning usually takes forever, but that is just part of a restoration)
Thank you for your positive comment, I really appreciate it! I will have an engine rebuild video of this R60/5 here very soon that you might be interested in watching.
You have a lovely BMW and it might be a good thing to keep that in one piece if it's still a solid runner! Maybe you can look into the /7 models, as they are readily available on the market and fairly cheap...relative to older or more rare models.
Regards Andreas
It's a nicely modular construction. BMW were aiming for a durable long service life with this engine. Even the replaceable parts seem very durable and solid. Which is one reason people can restore old BMW bike engines after 50 years - if they can still buy the basic serviceable parts.
You are spot on! The base engine assembly is modular and it housed the same components for the 500cc, 600cc and 750cc engines from the 1970's. Not only was this cost effective for the manufacturer (BMW), but it also made servicing much easier as well.
Today you can still find many OEM parts on the internet, which makes servicing and restoring a very simple task. I will have an update on this engine very soon, and I cannot wait to show you the final engine assembly video. Regards Andreas
Iv got a r75/5 motor rigged up on a old wheel horse tractor. It was a very easy conversion and mows the yard very quietly. These are great motors.
Wow, how long have you had this setup for! I'd love to see your setup and if you have any pictures feel free to send me an email (email in the description of this video). These engines are known to be bulletproof and I haven't heard of anyone putting one of these in their tractor. Since it doesn't have a fan, I wonder what temperatures your engines reaches (oil temp)... Regards Andreas
Such a brilliantly designed engine .
Yes it is indeed! Tomorrow I will upload the engine assembly video and I hope you enjoy that as much as this video.
Regards Andreas
I ride a 1973 R60/5 loved seeing it all come apart. As i will at some point have to take mine apart. Very high miles on it, going to need the timing chain and sprockets at the very least. : ) still run for now.
That such a coincidence! You have yourself a lovely bike and it really deserves to still be on the road. I hope you are able to repair/rebuild whatever is necessary...The prices of parts can add up very quickly, especially if you're willing to take on a rebuild.
This R60/5 had ~93'000 Miles on the odometer when it stopped working! Who knows how many were really put on this bike!!
I hope you find joy in the repair work and keep your running as long as possible. The rebuild video of this engine can be seen here: th-cam.com/video/ulrai66vyoA/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for tuning in to watch. Regards Andreas
Many thanks Andreas. An excellent video. And it wasn't too long!!
I've come late to your channel and I'm working my way through your posts. A couple of things I like particularly about your work are that you are fabricating many special tools rather than sourcing the factory, mega-dollar, items and I've never seen you reach for an impact tool!
Many of us don't have impressive workshops (if indeed have one at all) so it's nice to see what you're doing in your space.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers, Peter.
I have two r75/5 toaster toasters. One all original full dress with all the period Wixom accessories and another cafe style. They
both run great and are fun to ride.
You have yourself some beautiful bikes, sir! The Wixom fairing and saddlebags are definitely a nice accessories and they are becoming more rare by the day. What paint color do you have on your two toaster bikes? Regards Andreas
Props to actually taking the whole thing apart and addressing the concerns you had. This thing is gonna be beautiful when finished.
Thanks a lot! It's been fun to tear into this neat 600cc engine and I hope I don't need to purchase too many parts...once all parts are measured I will definitly know. I really hope so and I'll try my best to bring it back to original connditon. Best regards -Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild I have a BMW I'm going to work on this is very helpful
@@johnnyhernandez5660 I'm glad to hear this will help you out, Johnny! This won't be my last BMW project😉
Ive Got a BMW R50 /2 , 1952 model Had it for 40 years Needs a Rebuild , Haven"t Ridden it since I was About 20
Still got it tho Just Never got around too rebuilding it , You Know it it goes Some times
That is a lovely bike you have😃👍🏽 The older BMW bikes only had oil slingers and they needed to be cleaned out every now and then, in order to keep the engine oil fresh. I‘m glad you didn‘t just ride it until the engine failed. Hopefully you will find the time to get it up and running again in the near future.
I have never worked on a „slinger“ BMW before and maybe I‘ll find one sooner than later to showcase on this channel.
Thank you for sharing this with me. Regards Andreas
Hello! I just received a really beaten down airhead from my dad and I have to tell you your videos have been enormously helpful in order to familiarize myself with the machine. Thank you very much for sharing the process and I look forward to seeing the rest of the videos :)
Hi Luca, I'm happy to hear that you received an Airhead from your father! It's always a nice thing to keep a bike like this from another family member. I appreciate your comment and I'm glad to hear that you're collecting information through my videos. You're more than welcome and I hope I can make many more videos that will help you with YOUR new bike. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your story! Regards Andreas
Indestructible at that displacement because it's also dismally underpowered. Fortunately the cure is easy and I speak from experience. 900cc engines bolt right in and you get the kickstarter gearbox from the R60 which comes in handy. BMW Airhead interchange is quite handy and donors easy to find.
The engine was built around september 1971. Pity that you did not measure the compression before dismanteling.
10:22 M10 * 1 or M11 * 1 ? They enlarged them around that time.
Yes, this engine was produced in 1971 according to the casting numbers. The compression of both cylinders was tested in a separate video and can be seen here: th-cam.com/video/wT1_nDJ_Okc/w-d-xo.html
The flywheel bolts I have here in the shop measure M10 x 1.0 and they did enlarge them in later engines. Thank you for your comment. Regards Andreas
Enjoyed watching this. A nice methodical stripdown. That engine looks in pretty good shape too. Good job 👍
Thank you so much for your positive feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed this video!! The engine showed some wear here and there and this has already been addressed accordingly. The engine rebuild video is just around the corner, once I find a solution to the rocker arm assembly. I cannot wait to share the final results with you. Regards Andreas
EXCELLENT tear down vid! ( besides some issue with the volume) not too long, clear views, especially for those of us that learn visually.would love to see the build UP, and maybe some general costs of new parts along the way...? great stuff, thanks!
Hi Mark! Thank you very much for your positive feedback. I am aware that some of my earlier videos had audio problems and I have since been able to resolve this issue. Thank you for pointing this out.
I have a full engine rebuild video that has been delayed for quite some time now, due to parts...but once this is sorted out, I will share an in-depth assembly video. Costs, tools and products will be shared along the way, as this project takes shape.
I appreciate your comment, thank you so much! Regards Andreas
Great videos excellent content you’re definitely a talented guy.
My two favourite bikes which I owned and thoroughly enjoyed were an Honda CX 500 and BMW R80 RT . Quality of build was second to non on the Beemer As a lad in the 80/90s the Beemers were always out of price range but got the chance to own one true quality and excellent road holding after watching your videos makes me want to get another even just to have in the garage.
Thanks again for great work
Thank you for tuning in to watch a few videos, it means a lot to me! The CX500 and the R80RT are both very solid machines and they both have the strengths. It's always a pleasure to hear that you had good experiences with your own Airhead and I bet you have stories to tell!
There are still numerous worthwhile BMW airhead projects waiting for new owners. One great aspect of Airheads is the extensive availability of parts online, making it easy to find virtually everything you need, a rarity with many other manufacturers.
Perhaps you'll stumble upon a project to work on soon... just don't let on that I might have influenced you (haha)!
Cheers -Andreas
Mine is a 1975/R60 ..... this is great stuff.... I may try this......May!!!! :)
Hi Mark! The disassembly is usually the easy part as you only need to remove nuts and bolts. The assembly is a little bit more intricate, but if you follow certain steps you should be able to tackle an airhead engine like this yourself...with some patience. Thanks for tuning in! Regards, Andreas.
What a fantastic video. Great close up shots when needed. No fuss or annoying background music. Will have to subscribe and watch all of them (series ) multiple times as I try to get a 1964 R60/s back on the road.
Awesome and thank you!!
Hi Bill! Thank you very much for your positive feedback and support!😃 I have a playlist full of BMW videos and more are on the way.
Hopefully you can pick up some tips and tricks along the way for your own R60 project. If you ever need any information, feel free to send me an email with some questions. My email is in the description of each and every video.
Regards Andreas
As someone with a 60/5 with about 30k on it, I don’t see most of this in the too immediate future, but the clarity and detail in this video was actually kind of thrilling and many thanks and all credit to you for producing it. It will be absolutely invaluable when I get there. Looking forward to the reassembly next, and have subscribed!
Hi Simon, I’m happy to hear that you have a BMW R60/5 motorcycle too! Your bike has very low mileage compared to the one you can see in this video. The previous owner let me know the speedometer stopped working at 93‘000 miles😁 Who knows how many were put on after that!!
You‘re probably not in need of a full engine rebuild, but maybe in the near future you‘ll be replacing shaft seals. These seals keep the oil within the engine block and over time they can wear or simply deteriorate.
I will feature all of this within my upcoming engine rebuild video, so don‘t worry.
Thank you for your comment and I am very delighted you subscribed to watch more videos😃 Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Yes, an engine/gearbox reseal are in my near future - the oil is collecting nicely on the shelf - so any additional detail you can put on that would be much appreciated!
@@simonfletcher3982 I will share the engine seal installation, once the engine goes back together. I have already overhauled the 4-speed gearbox and that can be seen here in this video: th-cam.com/video/8GTWWUfGt60/w-d-xo.html Let me know if you are in need of any other information. Regards Andreas
You don't often see a 50 year old engine look this good.
This engine was pretty solid to be honest! Obviously over 50 years there will be some wear and tear and that has already been addressed. In an upcoming video I will share the ins-and-outs of this engine, during the assembly. I hope you will enjoy that. Regards Andreas
You've given me the answer to a question that's been bugging me ever since I built an airfix model of a BMW bike as a kid - what on earth is in the top part of the engine?
The top part of the engine hides a starter motor under full an aluminum cover. This part bolts down to the engine block with two bolts and it also has an engine plaque glued on to it. Whenever you see a BMW airhead, you should be able to identify the size of engine by the plaque R60/5 = 600cc others may have a different displacement.
It's a very neat way to cover the top half of the engine and make it look very sleek. Thanks for your comment, Terry. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Yes the starter motor, it makes perfect sense. The engineering reminds me of the Sunbeam S8, like how a car designer would go about creating a motorcycle.
I’ll never understand why some mechanics don’t clean the engine before disassembling it.
All parts needed to be cleaned externally and internally, so I can do this all at once after the disassembly. If you just want to change some gaskets or seals, than I would recommend you clean your surfaces prior to the disassembly.
Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
Makes sense to clean off before strip down.
I am looking forward seeing the complete reassembly, but it would also be very interesting seeing all the control and check you do on the engine parts before that.
Great video far all BMW airhead engine lovers !
Thank you 👍from France
Thanks for tuning in Guillaume! I eager to complete this project, but at the same time I'm enjoying every moment of the rebuild process. I have already gone through the engine parts in Part 12 ( th-cam.com/video/0MO2uoXBsPA/w-d-xo.html ), but I did not share every detail as the videos would be far too long. I will get all components ready for the engine assembly very soon, but I will first work on some other aspects of this beautiful motorcycle.
I appreciate your enthusiasm and lovely comment. Greetings from a Canadian Airhead lover...already!
-Andreas
Now I appeciate what Cambridge BMW needed to do when I blew an exhaust valve on my 1968 R60 back in 1977. Thanks.
Quite a bit of work is involved when dealing with a damaged valve. I hope everything went back together well so you could enjoy your R60 again! Regards -Andreas
Kindly advice me on Yamaha xt225 engine strip down and rebuild. Liked your content alot. Paul, kenya
Hi Paul, thank you so much for tuning in all the way from Kenya! What an honor😃👍🏽
Based on my research the Yamaha XT225 is a single cylinder SOHC engine with two valves. This is a relatively simple setup and can be found on most off-road motorcycles.
At this moment I do not have that bike, but hopefully throughout my videos you will pick up some tricks and tips that will help you along your project!
Let me know if you make progress on your Yamaha😎 Regards Andreas
Excellent video! Thanks! My 1977 BMW R60/6 is on its way here now.
Thank you very much Bob, I appreciate your kind words! I'm happy to hear that you have a BMW R60/5 on the way. With a little bit of maintenance, these beautiful machines will last for a very long time. I'm planning on rebuilding this engine in the near future, so I'll have updates soon. Until then -Andreas
Had to replace the starter on my R-100 GS. Found a exact replacement ( Valeo) at my local auto parts store, 100$ !
The R100GS does have a large starter, because it is a 1000cc engine. You were lucky to find a Valeo starter for such a good deal. You might be surprised with my upcoming project...all I can say is it is another BMW 😉
What a nicely designed and engineered motor! Thanks for the vid
I fully agree with you and thank you for watching! I am just about to assemble this engine with many new parts and I cannot wait to share the results. Regards Andreas
Solid vid shows all of the details that are important
Thanks a lot, I appreciate your comment! I tried my best to share as many details as possible.
Great project. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Miguel! I hope you enjoyed this😊👍🏽
Wow, great video, enjoyed the teardown and look forward to watching more!
Thank you very much for your amazing feedback, Richard! I will get everything sorted out for a rebuild here very soon and maybe sooner than later this engine will be in running condition. Regards Andreas
Good morning Mate !I hope all is good there, by the way excellent video of BMW!!! I love all of them ! one question... do you have a list of all the lubs and paste nedded for all the rebuild process? like Copper paste high Temp or locktite locker... Thanks Mate in advance !
Hi there! All is good on my end and thank YOU for tuning in! I usually use the same products or my engine rebuilds, and I will show everything in an upcoming engine rebuild video. Currently the cylinders and heads are at the machine shop and I'm eager to receive them to start the rebuild!
Back to your question, here is a list of products I normally use:
-Assembly Grease (used for bearing surfaces and other metal-to-metal surfaces within the engine)
-Loctite 242 (Permatex Blue Threadlocker, frequent use)
-Locatite 262 (Permatex Red Threadlocker, rarely used)
-RTV Sealant (Used instead of gaskets, air cure product)
-Anaerobic Gasket Maker (Used to seal precision machined surfaces, cures under squeeze)
-Copper Coat (Used for Exhaust Nut in this case, a threaded part you wish to remove after assembly)
I might have forgotten some products, but I'll be sure to add this into the upcoming assembly video. Thanks for your great question and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out any time!
Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Mate, I have seen Videos of BMW air boxer engines and let me tell you something, the amount of details and good workshop knowledge that you have is great, I'm so great full to follow you and thanks again for your great job !!!
@@WorkshopRebuild Man ! we are waiting for the next Video and thanks again for that passion !!!
@@chiefeng6951 Thank you so much for viewing my other videos and following along this restoration project! I will always offer as much as I can in my videos, so it's easy to foolow. I will continue to make more videos. Regards Andreas
@@chiefeng6951 I know, I know! I am super frustrated by the por quality parts I received for the engine, and the assembly is delayed once again. I just cannot wait to share the assembly video with you, it'll be a game-changer. Thank you for your support
The block (R60/5) has one design failure. The squish-bead in the cylinderhead is to much pronounced and doesnot interfere right with the form of the piston.
The standard trim tends to knock too fast.
Families of BMW tuners remove a conical ring from the squish-bead by machining. The compresion ratio can be increased there after, and the timing can get more advanced, both improving power and fuel economy.
This is very interesting information and I'm glad you shared this with me. I will keep this in mind when this engine goes back together. I will keep these measurements to compare with other engines that I will be working on in the future. I might just have more BMW content on the way...
Thanks again for leaving an insightful comment, Louis. Regards Andreas
thats been well looked after its so clean inside
All circulating oil will run through the oil filter, but on the bottom of the oil pan there were metal shavings and "sludge". In an upcoming assembly video I'll show old parts up against new parts and why they have to be replaced. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the rest of my videos. Regards Andreas
9:25 Like talking to a baby :D "Where is the clutch lining?..THERE is the clutch lining!! :D"
EXACTLY! The clutch wasn't horrible, but it will need to be replaced after so many years. Luckily new parts can be sourced which makes this 10x easier than riveting new material onto the old disc.
@@WorkshopRebuild How easy or difficult is it actually to get parts for it?
You're the man. Very nice video and well done. I enjoyed watching it. Makes me want to restore a 50/5 iso the Honda's I did. Thanks a lot for the video.
Hi Hennie, thank you for your kind words and uplifting comment!! I bet if you decide to restore an R50/5 you'll learn a lot, but also create a soft-spot for German engineering. Thank YOU for tuning in. Regards Andreas
@Workshop Rebuild I'm already a German engineering fan. I now have my seventh BMW motorbike 😁.
I'm a bit afraid of the special tools and the big force you need to open covers or to unlock bolts. And once the bike is fully ready it is not the sexiest one on earth and the riding is better on a Japanese 4 cilinder of the same age (Honda CB750 four, Suzuki GS750, ...) but I might give it a try since deep in my heart I'm a BMW fan.
Greetings from Belgium.
Continue the good work 👏.
@@HennieBours Oh wow! Congratulations to such an amazing collection!! There are certain specialty tools needed, but with a little bit of Belgian Engineering you can make them yourself haha. These BMW airhead engine were built very well, but like for any engine you must take torque specifications in consideration once rebuilding.
Hopefully these videos will provide you with more information if you decide to tackle a project like this.
Thank you for your lovely comments and greetings from Canada! Regards Andreas
@Workshop Rebuild Your video's are of great help. Thank a lot.
First I'll need to find a complete and affordable R60/5 or R50/5 😉.
@@HennieBours The /5's are getting somewhat harder to find, even though many were produced...the /6 and /7 models are still readily available and somewhat cheaper. Keep your eyes open on the internet for a deal 😉
Great video. Interestinhg to watch. Thanks a lot.
Hi Manne, I'm glad you enjoyed this video and thank for leaving a kind comment! Regards Andreas
This has to be one of the best put together 50 year old bike. Certainly nothing from the UK or US comes close. Maybe a Japanese?
Either way this was very nice to watch.
Cheers.
This bike it built very well, but in my opinion a little bit over-engineered! This was also the fact with British bikes back in the day. I haven't been able to work on an American motorcycle just yet, but maybe I'll find a good deal in the future. On the other hand, I am very impressed with Japanese motorcycles and their reliability. The parts they machined have always been top-notch and in the 70's they rolled out some very good models.
I will have more video on this BMW very soon, I just have to finish up some other projects! (You probably know how that goes) I'm glad you did and I appreciate your awesome comment. Regards -Andreas
what that any kind of pin/dowel you put in to pull the alternator or a special tool? Really cool how the tach drive is off a pulley driving a bevel gear.
It's nothing special, just a solid pin that reaches through to the thread of the alternator rotor. After this, insert a bolt and start tightening it. The rotor should break free relatively quickly.
Gearbox usually gets them. Me and a mate diverted to an MZ250 for a French Trip(from Edinburgh) when his R600 BM broke its one.
Hi Rab, while rebuilding the 4-speed gearbox that had over 90'000 miles on it, I didn't see much wear. I overhauled it with new bearings and seals, but there was no need to replace any other major components internally.
It's always good to have an alternative bike for such a long trip, as you do NOT want to break down. Up until this day I have not heard of MZ, but with a little bit of research I will be able to learn more about this make and their motorcycle models. Thanks for sharing this with me! Regards Andreas
Internally it doesn't look like a worn out engine at all . . very clean and surprisingly solid logical engineering is evident. But not all German engineering is like that. I had a three year old Audi A4 TDi with 133kms from new from the first owner, with catastrophic failure of the alloy casting bracket supporting the power steering and water pump ancilliaries, whilst high speed motorway sharp bend downhill onramp cornering.. dangerous and frightening as loss of control was a distinct possibility (steering translated 'rock hard' with a sudden loud 'Bang!') I phoned the dealership and said, 'Come, take this thing away, never want to see it again, and give the money back thanks' ..and they did !
I have over half a million miles on old air heads my collection at one time was over 40 of them..love them things when I go some place I ride a airhead when I want to scare myself I ride one of my ducats. I have a 90s that has never been outta the crate..I'm gettin old bought time to pass them on 😊
Now that is something! Do you remember which bike had the most miles put on it?
Your collection must have been better than some museums, especially when it comes to Airheads.
It‘s never easy to pass on something that‘s sentimental to one, so enjoy them as long as you can!
If you have any stories or pictures you want to share about your bikes, you can always reach out to me via email. My email address is in the description of each video on my channel.
I have a new project already lined up and it might just be another BMW...you might like it! Maybe I‘ll slip a boxer race-engine into the mix, once I finish the R60/5 engine assembly😊👍🏽
Thank you for sharing this comment with everyone and with myself. It‘s always great to hear from fellow Airhead enthusiasts! Regards Andreas
I put about 120k on a 75 R90s, and about the same on a R100PD. Kinda my fave to ride was the R100PD. Had 3 of them didn't have to pay as much attention to gas stops with the big tank..
That's a fair distance on those two bikes (R90S & R100PD), especially if you have such a big collection of BMW motorcycles! I have heard so many great things about the R100PD and it would be a great experience to test one for myself in the near future.
If you ever decide to pass some of your bikes on to the next caretaker, please keep me in the loop. Regards Andreas
Really nice work that was a time when people built something to last forever
It was built very well and it‘s sad to see that this quality isn‘t around anymore. Even the attention to detail to conceal the starter motor and alternator within the engine covers is beautifully done.
Thanks for tuning in and leaving a comment. This engine will be rebuilt in the upcoming days or weeks and I‘ll share a full rebuild video on this😊👍🏽 Regards Andreas
Great video!! I enjoyed every second of it. However I started looking because I hoped I could see how to disassemble the crankcase breather valve. Unfortunately this is not on this video... Maybe you have some other video on removing this breather?
Hello Marc, I'm glad you enjoyed this video and thank you for your feedback! The crankcase breather valve probably didn't make it into this video and I'm sorry about that. The breather cover is bolted onto the engine block with two allen head bolts. Once these are removed you will see a steel e-clip holding a spring against the valve disc. Remove the e-clip and everything will come off very easily.
If you decide to replace the valve disc with new material, that can be done. If you want to upgrade this part of the engine, you will need to heat up the engine block and remove the breather valve insert. This might not be the easiest thing to remove, but it will come out.
Let me know if this helps and if you have any other questions feel free to reach out to me!
Regards Andreas
Excellent step by step video ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for your wonderful comment, William! Regards Andreas
Completely fascinating, wonderfully engineered, I'm guessing 'Planned Obsolescence' was never translated into German?
I agree, this engine is a work of art from Germany! They must have planned to use this for many years, but maybe it outdid their own expectations😁 Thanks for viewing and sharing a comment😃 Regards Andreas
Good Video. BMW should have used helical gears to drive the Camshaft . Chain elongates change valve timing. R 50, R60 & R 69s had gear driven cam shaft. No weak links. Sadly Today's BMWs are so complicated 3 Timing chains. Expensive Toys.
Hi Tissa, that would have been a great option as they used this method in the past. Nowadays liquid cooled engines are far more prone to failure with the amount of seals and gaskets involved. To repair an engine with 3 timing chains, must be a nightmare! Once I'm done with the engine rebuild and the whole motorcycle restoration, I will reveal the price and I will already tell you now...it's by far the most expense rebuild I've tackle to date.
Thanks for viewing and leaving a insightful comment. Regards Andreas
that is an incredible engine, well-designed thanks
I fully agree Remy! This engine is a great piece of history and that's another reason why this engine was produced in many different variations over 25 years long. Thanks for tuning in. Regards Andreas
I suddenly discovered that I need an old boxer in something in my garage
Hi Dan, these engines are very fun to work on and there are so many of them out there. I bet you'd enjoy working on one! Just keep your eyes open on the internet and you might just find a good deal. BMW produced this style of boxer engine between 1969-1995, so there are so many options to choose from. Regards Andreas
Surely that must be good inside! Back when BMW made their motors without planned obsolescence and do notice there is next to no plastic used
The only plastic wear part within this engine is on the chain tensioner. Over time the chain will stretch and also wear into the plastic and that‘s another reason why this will be replaced.
BMW really focused on reliability on these bikes and they nailed it!
Unfortunately this bike had a rough life and I believe some service intervals were missed.
In a couple days I will be working on the assembly of this engine and it will look completely different. Thanks for leaving a great comment! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Your knowledge on these classic motorbikes are a mazing, its very hard to be able to find someone that can do what you do like you fdo it and it is such a iconic bike that deserves your care
Your welcome!
Regards,
Dillan
Thank you for your kind words, Dillian!! I try to understand the mechanical components: how they work, how they move and what their purpose is. After a rough overview I tend to share what I find and explain everything in short.
I have some other projects lined up that might spark your interest, especially when it comes to internal engine components.
Thanks again! -Andreas
Thanks for the video. Your presentation and video editing are superb. It has been very helpful to me. Do you have a video that discusses whether or not it is absolutely necessary to disassemble a perfectly good running a air cooled BMW twin just to clean the slingers? is this absolutely necessary? I have heard yes and no. I was wondering what you or anyone else thinks. Thank you again!
First of all, thank you for your wonderful comment William.
If you‘re talking about BMW twin engines with oil-slingers, than you‘re talking about pre 1970‘s engines.
These engines are easily recognizable as the pushrod tubes were above the cylinders (camshaft over crankshaft). All of these engines had slingers, because removable oil filters were not implemented back in the day...at least not by BMW.
They used oil slingers - a formed plate on either side of the crankshaft that collects & filters material within the oil by centrifugal force.
In the /5 model engines (like the one you see in this video) they added a paper based oil filter, just above the oil pan. This means there was no need for „slingers“.
According to manuals online slingers should be cleaned regularly. 30‘000km intervals are the maximum you should do, and that is probably already far too much!
At the end of the day if your slingers are clogged, that could cause serious issues to your engine! The only way to clean them out, is by taking the engine apart to a certain degree, cleaning it and putting it back together.
You want clean slingers for better engine health in general. Engine oil is not just for lubrication, but for your compression and cooling too.
I have never worked on a /2 (pre 1970‘s) engine before, but it sure would be interesting to learn more about them.
There is a lot written about this online...maybe you can find more information just by googling this term „ BMW /2 Slingers“.
I hope this helps and thanks again for your great question! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Again, thanks for helping me out. Yes the bike I have it’s a 1966 R60/2. I have not run it in many many years and I have never cleaned the slingers. I just don’t feel like going into the engine that deep to clean them, but from all I have heard, I may not have a choice if I want to have peace of mind. thanks.
@@williammagill5634 Nothing to thank me for! Taking an engine apart is usually easier than putting it together, but various tools are needed and a lot of patience. If your engine has never been opened before, it might be very hard to remove some nuts or bolts as they could be seized in place. To really know the condition of your engine, you will want the slingers cleaned before you go onto a trip.
Maybe if I find a /2 model soon enough I could enourage you to tear into your engine, by sharing a disassembly and assembly video. Up until today I have not seen one BMW /2 for sale in all of Alberta...so it probably won't be the easiest bike to find around here.
Regards Andreas
Thank you for a excellent video, simple but yet detailed.
I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed this video. Thank you for watching and leaving a very positive comment. Regards Andreas
The crank puller may fit my stronglight 93 crankset for.my bicycle. I used to own a 2002 BMW so I love and respect BMW engineering. When you get that engine back together and in your motorcycle blessed be advised of the gyroscope pull out ward and to the ground when riding your BMW R 60 motorcycle. I only know of 2nd hand knowledge of this engine through a friend who rebuilt one as you are doing. The motor cycle has a tendency to lay rt. Or left as you lay unto a turn. The carburetor will be leaky and problematic if it is like my friends BMW r60 carb. I hope You are able to get her running again and many safe enjoyable miles on your beautiful engineered BMW r 6o? I am just a ignorant bystander and am not a mechanic. I tinker with bicycles. I am sure it will be beautiful when you are done with her! Happy overhauling!
Most crank pullers are universal and suit many different make and models, so it's very possible that it would work for your project.
Thank you for sharing you experience with the BMW brand and a 2002 car is becoming a true collector in this modern world. It must have been a blast to drive!
I will keep this in mind when I get this motorcycle back up and running. My goal is to restore it as best I can and bring it back onto the road for a nice trip or two, keeping everything in tip-top shape.
The carburetor leak is notorious on the older carburetors, but with a simple carburetor rebuild, one can have a leak-free experience.
I will have an engine assembly video here very soon and I hope you will enjoy it as much as the disassembly. Thanks for watching and leaving such a great comment. Regards Andreas
I would have removed the long cyl. studs as soon as able to prevent then from being bent or broken if it fell over on them . Great engines !
That is a great suggestion! They are very long and they could easily be damaged if I'm not careful enough. I agree with you, these BMW airhead engines are great in many ways! Regards Andreas
Great video. Any concern getting parts?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Luckily, there is large group of classic BMW motorcycle enthusiasts that have kept these engines alive with OEM and aftermarket parts.
This engine is in the rebuild process and hopefully I can share an update video very soon.
Great question by the way!! Regards Andreas
“A bunch of oil ?!” 😂
🤣✌🏽
Liked and subscribed. Just wish I didn't have to go to work right now, as I'm loving this series so much. Thank you for putting this together and sharing it with us. I cannot imagine the time and effort involved to edit, format, upload and all that stuff. So thanks for your effort, it's appreciated. Right, I'll be back later today to watch the rest. Thanks you =)
Thank you so much for your awesome comment and feedback!! It's always a great feeling when I can read comments like yours. To be honest, it was super fun to take this engine apart and I already learned A LOT! Filming everything usually takes the longest, as I really like to get the best angles I possibly can...sometimes this means I have to redo a clip or two.
Even if these videos take long to create, I believe it will be very valuable to those that would like to work an engine like this themselves. It's all about sharing! Once again, thank you for tuning in and following my progress. You made my day! Regards Andreas
In aircraft maintenance, using a magnet extraction of journals is forbidden
Not sure if it is an issue with these types of engines though
Hi Russell, this is an interesting topic! I haven‘t heard of this before and that‘s probably because I never worked on an aircraft engine before. Please let me know if you have any information about why it‘s forbidden.
I have a feeling it will not hurt this engine, but I guess I‘ll have to wait and see😅🤞🏽
Thanks for your comment. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild I don’t think it will either, with aircraft stuff they are extremely safety conscious, I believe simply, if something stops, pulling over to the side of the road is not an easy option
I could assume that items that may become theoretically magnetised may attract minuscule amounts of metal that may block or reduce oil passes, or increase the possibility of fine tolerance areas to possibly be compromised in this way
The real reason is likely to be far more interesting than my assumption
I think it was the hydraulic push rod lifters and maybe some other things also but can not exactly remember
I could look it up but better still, will ask someone in the field why this is so
All I know is that this is a real thing in aircraft engineering maintenance and training
Great video. It looks like the engine was touched not so long before the video. Bolts are shiny and all come off easily. Not so easy in real life unfortunately.
Thanks a lot Thierry. After I measured all the parts in another video, everything was to the original specifications. Therefore no major components were touched. The bolts are shiny because they are zinc-coated and the aluminum looks dull, because it was oxidized. I don't put on a show for TH-cam videos haha. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts.
Sooooo soothing, this video....
I appreciate your comment, Michel! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Regards Andreas
Good video nice to watch 👍
Hi Mick, I am glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know😃👍🏽
Excellent! I am amazed that you kept your hands are clean! :)
Thank you for tuning in Rob! I went back to check and you're right...my hands stayed very clean throughout the disassembly process of this engine. Pretty funny in hindsight! Thanks for pointing that out. Regards Andreas
Excellent video - 👍
I appreciate your comment, Brian!👍🏽👍🏽
subscribeded, I like seeing these engines worked on
Thanks for your feedback and support! I hope I can put this engine together very soon😀 👍🏽
It looks like it was made yesterday!
You could almost say that it's the more refined version of a Citroën 2cv ?
This engine is a true time capsule! Since this engine was produced in the 70's I could say it's more refined than the 2cv engine. Looking back a couple years, BMW produced engines that had a similar horsepower ratings to the Citroen and even the looks. This must have been post war for sure. Zundapp is another company that had very similar looking engines and many parts were even shared between Zundapp and BMW! Regards Andreas
Does the 600 have the same base and cranck as the 500?
According to the original BMW workshop manual I have the crankshaft is the same for the R50, R60 and R75! All specified measurements are for these three models, so they should be interchangeable. The only thing you'd want to check is if someone already ground a crankshaft to an undersize (main bearings or connecting rod journals).
I hope this helps you out! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Hey thanks a lot..
A very detailed strip down the internals look in good condition great German engineering from an eta when they built things to be indestructible it’s not uncommon to see these with very high mileages still sounding nice and riding well. Despite all the parts it’s beauty is in it’s relatively simple design it’s very strong and doesn’t put out huge amounts of power so it’s long lived.
The German Police (and other forces) bought them by the thousands. Then loaded them up and ran long hours every day. That's why they're over-engineered and built like tanks. They had to be.
Thank you for tuning in to watch this video, Phil! This engine design is known to be bulletproof and it's a great all-rounder with 600cc's of displacement.
The horsepower is not all too important on a classic bike that you want to take on a winding road!
I hope this engine (and bike), will see many more miles once it's rebuilt. It really deserves another life, so to speak. Regards Andreas
I wonder if they ever built generators with BMW engines? Certainly they would need cooling shrouds on them for that application.
Great question! I've never seen a generator before, but I have seen a company use these engines for water pump setups. They fabricated custom cooling shrouds around the engine and added a cooling fan up front. I'm not sure what the company was called, but they were based in Europe.
El motor es muy parecido al URAL lo que el árbol de leva y varillas están por encima
Correct, Ural engines are very similar, because they are based on German boxer engines. The earlier engines from BMW had the camshaft, above the crankshaft and therefore you had pushrods above the cylinders. The crankshaft was timed to the camshaft with timing gears back then too!
This engine on the other hand is timed with a timing chain...something that was somewhat new for BMW in the early 70's. Thanks for sharing this comment. Regards Andreas
Ese motor es una obra de arte por los arquitectos de mi marca preferida bmw en los alpes va varia...
It sure is a work of art! More to come on this engine and other BMW motorcycles.
".....bunch of...."
I couldn't listen to that.
I said that far too often and I'm sorry. I hope you have a better viewing experience when you watch my newer videos. Regards Andreas
I didn’t know they had hex Allen key head bolts back then.
Allen socket head bolts are over 100 years old, but due to expensive manufacturing processes back in the day, they became more readily available in the 1940's.
Nockenwellenlagersitz im Gehäuse vor der Ölpumpe überprüfen. Das Nockenwellenende läuft im Gehäuse.
Hi there, I have already measured all the parts and have been able to determine which need to be replaced and which ones can be reused. The camshaft bearing surface within the engine block is still within factory specifications. I will be rebuilding this engine very soon. Regards Andreas
well done
Thank you sir!😃
Great job dude ! But why not a circle clip tool?
Thank you very much, I appreciate your kind words! I will have to add one very soon. Collecting tools is an ongoing story, haha. Thanks again Jorge!
Good video👌
Thank you very much!
Any idea how many miles were on this engine? Many of the components seemed to be in very good condition.
Hi Tim! According to previous owner this bike was in original condition and showed ~93'000 Miles! The odometer assembly was seized and it must have stopped at that mileage, so it could possible be a 100'000+ Mile bike.
The engine could have kept on going for a couple more years, but according to the measurements I took, there is some machining involved before this engine gets reassembled.
Once I'm ready, I'll have an assembly video of this engine where you will be able to see before and after shots. Thanks for your question. Regards Andreas
Good morning!
When you removed the front cover I was afraid of a mouse- nest undercover….🐭😱
Greets from Mouse-
Land Germany…..💩👾
HAHA, not on this bike as it was previously stored in a garage. I would have to be careful if I found this motorcycle in a barn or out on a field! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your comment. Freundliche Gruesse aus Kanada! -Andreas
Круто!!!!! И мотор крутой!!!!!
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed this video. I will be assembling this very soon and the results will be very interesting. Stay tuned for more. Regards Andreas
How do you have a bunch of oil? A bunch of bananas, a bunch of grapes , but oil !!
Sorry for being a little bit informal. Cheers
Looks great for it's age, but I'm curious how many miles were on it.
It sure does, but everything will get measured and replaced if necessary. The odometer read just over 93000 miles before the disassembly. I hope this answers your question. Best regards -Andreas
Well done & presented through …. Will be looking for one of those nifty sweat shirts .
Thanks you very much John, I appreciate your comment! I will have an assembly video as soon as I'm ready to rebuild this amazing engine. Thank you for your support, it means A LOT! Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild = Hello friend, Your tutorial documentation is terrific.
We are all looking forward to your fine lessons work going forwards …
Most likely to be soon acquiring a 1966 R-60/2 in good condition to enjoy.
Cheers to the vintage BMW gang !
Thank you John! Your comments are always uplifting!! I will do my best to document as much as possible in the upcoming days and weeks.
If you do acquire the R60/2, they you will have a beautiful bike in front of you. The styling of a /2 is unlike many other makes and models. I have never seen one in person, but I have seen some examples online. I hope you enjoy your weekend. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild - Dear Mentor instructor: Turned out to be a 1968
in fine running condition with 46, 350 miles plus, owned by a 71 year old gent who claimed to ride it every Sunday so long as no snow or salt …
Changed the oil twice a rear, and never used ethanol fuel … all Good !
Now learning how to start reliably with kick start and not flooding it !
Some times it just throws back it’s mechanical willful mind and just laughs at my newbie feeble attempts and I have to walk away … but fun to ride !
And now for the fun part this winter up here in Maine … seems the experts
WARN the older 1950’s & 1960’s BMW owner community to STOP & do the maintenance work required … They have oil “Slinger’s” on the crankshaft,
That collect metal fillings from years and many miles of ring & cylinder
wear that over time collect, and block small oil passages that are to lubricate the wrist pins and cylinder walls … one must pull the crankshaft to clean or replace these “Slinger’s” before they fail and do damage … Fun !
German engineering at its best, see the piston after 50+ yr still as new. These boxer engine R/50,R/60, R/70 is the most ya THE MOST reliable. Some of its have ridden 200000 miles without even changing piston or block.
I agree with you Bhavesh! Many of these boxer engines have survived the test of time and the still run like when they were purchased new. Unfortunately, the cylinder walls within this engine will have to be machined as they are out of the factory specifications, but that is not a big issue.
BMW introduced their Nikasil coated cylinders in the early 80's, which gave these bikes a very long lifespan. This engine does not have this coating, but I'm still happy with the overall condition.
I will be rebuilding this very soon and maybe you'll be interested in that video as well. Thanks for tuning in! Regards Andreas
That looks like a recently-rebuilt motor? First clue was the colour of the oil. Pistons and bearings look mint. Heads look great. Replace all the seals, new clutch and off you go 👍 Audio levels went to poop at the end their fella 😅
Hi there! This engine is far from freshly rebuilt and it hasn't been opened for 50 years. It's possible that the oil and the oil filter was changed in the past, but other that that it's all stock. There are many indications this is all original like: the original oil seals (made in West Germany), original timing chain & sprockets (heavy wear), standard pistons and so on...
The measurements indicate that there is wear within this engine and many important parts have to be repaired and some replaced. I will have a full rebuild video here pretty soon which will showcase engine in better light.
Excuse me for the audio levels in this video...I have since made adjustments to my newer videos and I hope the viewing experience is much better for you. Thank for tuning in and leaving such a great comment. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild sorry, that didn't come out the way I meant it. For an old engine, it's in remarkable condition. The owner(s) have obviously looked after it properly. Usually old motors are full of black sludge, but this shows signs of regular oil changes. Look forward to seeing this run again. Like many people, I've not seen inside a boxer engine, so it's all very interesting. Cheers.
Wow that is some stunning German over engineering there. I swear that’s the same starter motor as for a Golf and mounted on top of the engine ! Someone needs to produce a lighter one to help with C of G and all up weight. I want one of these so badly.
Starter motor is from Bosch, I think the same as in a Kadett. The later boxers got a startmotor from Valeo, not very reliable (magnets might come loose). I once had a broken Valeo startmotor and no kickstarter on my GS. I was a long way from home....
Yes, my 1981 R80 G/S had the same as a Golf starter motor and very heavy! Replacing the starter with a lighter alternative and replacing the lead acid battery with a lithium battery would lead to significant weight savings.
It sure is an amazing engine and the nicest thing is that you can still find parts 50 years later! I'm familiar with VW's, but if you think it is, than that's actually really cool. A lighter starter motor would definitely help bring down the top-end weight, or even remove it completely because BMW still left the kickstarter on these bikes between 1970-74...after that they removed them from most bikes!
There are many airhead for sale and if you're lucky you might just find a low-mileage bike. These are common to over 100'000 km without any big issues, so it's a great base for a project or even a clean classic bike.
Thanks for your comment, Robin. Regards Andreas
@@BasArntz Very interesting information here! They sure did make some improvements over the years...and some probably weren't for the better. You must have been out of luck when your GS starter broke. This won't be my last BMW, as I found a new project a few weeks ago😉 Similar to what you might have had...
You don't show how to secure the crankshaft on the front, if you don't plan to remove the crankshaft, you don't want the thrust washer to fall in the crankcase. With the flywheel removed, the crankshaft can move to the front.
Correct, I did not show that because this was a disassembly video of the 600cc BMW engine. When I rebuild this engine, I will share details about the assembly process. The thrust washers will be a very important step of the rebuild and I hope you will find that valuable. Regards Andreas
@@WorkshopRebuild Great videos btw, looks like you have great experience in mechanics, always interesting learn from experienced people
Thank you! I'm better at designing and machining parts, but I love to wrench on machinery to learn new things. Hopefully I can continue to share as much as I can, so it will help other enthusiasts down the road. Regards Andreas
My dream engine bike ❤️
I'm happy to hear that! The engineers did an amazing job to draw, manufacture this engine. Once can only imagine how long that took (drawn on paper)! Thanks for sharing and tuning in. Regards Andreas