After all the trouble this thing has given me since it was "on the road" I have decided on a new name - "the Black Pig". Its much more descriptive of this product of Spandau and German engineers with no sense of humour.
First, the gearbox was shot. The early 1974 gearbox this bike came with was in all likelihood the worst box Bavarian Motor Werks ever produced. Its not really worth rebuilding even though it would be nice to stay with everything original. I find a 1979 gearbox, order and fit it. Then massive leaks from everywhere. Maybe from using the very best synthetic oil available - dunno.
I ponder this for a while as I mournfully view my bank account balance... Tim my BMW-knowledgeable friend advises me to drain the oil and measure it. Yes he was right (again). there was too much oil. Fill gearbox to correct level, add a seal-swelling potion and all seems good.
Then my futile efforts at balancing carbs only seemed to result in a bike that ran worse. Note to self - balance the carbs soon.
Finally, the bitch would not run. CRAP!
The symptoms seemed to be much like having a flat battery, a few seconds on the starter and it was flat. But its the very best AGM battery that money can buy. Even with a fully charged battery - no start, and when it did fire, it ran as rough as an engine possibly could.
Oh no - back to the freaky bits at the front - points, diode board and other electrical mystery things.
So I install a new diode board. Start the bike and it runs. Great - replace the front cover and no-moa start. Take off the front cover and I discover I have neatly severed the wire running from the points. Oh joy.
Fix that, replace front cover and now it just produces the biggest, loudest backfire you ever did hear. Take front cover off, rip out the points and backing plate, re-set the gap, re-time the bike, but there is no adjustment left on the backing plate. Rip off backing plate again, extend the amount of travel the adjustment screws can make, re-time the points, re-set the points gap - try to start bike. Runs great!!! Replace the front cover - bike now dead...
Take front cover off. Have severed the points wire AGAIN! Fix points wire, replace front cover VERY CAREFULLY. And the bitch starts and runs just like it should.
Finally it all seems ok. Now, however, if I switch the headlight on; the bike stops - no electrical power at all. Back to the schematic and I now think I know why. I will attend to this minor thing soon, but in the meantime I'm gonna ride the "Pig" around a bit. Its funny, now we are on the road and all is running well enough - the Pig just wants to find the autobahn! She loves speed and well-built roads. The streets of Hilo resemble potato fields with their potholes, cracks, lumps and man-hole covers 4 inches lower than the asphalt. - not something the Pig was ever built for. Maybe this afternoon we will go for a blast up the Saddle road. I'm sure she will love that!
