And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, January 22, 2024
From bronze axe heads to something a little more complicated
BMW RS500 engine, I think as they had 4 nuts holding the valve covers. Could be from anytime between the late 30s to the late 50s. Shoddy lockwiring, on the intake cam bolts its backwards. Al_in_Ottawa
The BMW air cooled twin, built in the '70s thru the mid '90s, is probably the most durable motor ever put in between two wheels, capable of 100s of 1000s of miles if maintained. In the '90s the 'air head' engine was replaced by the 'oil head'. You can identify the oil head by the downward tilt of the cylinder head. Al_in_Ottawa
Safety wire is run from a bolt head or nut, (through a drilled hole), and angled to keep the fastener from loosening. It is tensioned to keep it tight, usually. Normally run to another fastener to save time and wire. Common mistake is to run it the wrong angle, so it would be pulling to loosen the fasteners.
Al, I worked with a guy , about '77-79, who commuted on an old 500cc BMW. Early 50's vintage, IIRC. 45 min each way on a good day. He lived on Skyline Blvd, and took the backroads as much as possible down to Santa Clara to the multi-brand bike shop where he was the head mechanic. He did that for many years. I could see why he avoided the freeways as much as possible. I took it around the block, and it was low geared and low powered. Frugal ride, and it would have discouraged aggressive corner carving. Never saw or heard about any problems with it. One of the brands we carried was BMW. The owner's wife rode an R100RS around the bay, but had a Moto Guzzi for distance rides. More comfortable, she said.
BMW
ReplyDeleteYes, but what year? Mine had two pushrods in tubes, not a direct drive overhead cam. 1930s? The roller cam followers are nice...
ReplyDeleteIt's not actually all that complex. It would be loud, though.
BMW RS500 engine, I think as they had 4 nuts holding the valve covers. Could be from anytime between the late 30s to the late 50s. Shoddy lockwiring, on the intake cam bolts its backwards.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Good catch.
DeleteHow are those for reliability? I had a neighbor with a later version (90s) and he was a devoted follower.
The BMW air cooled twin, built in the '70s thru the mid '90s, is probably the most durable motor ever put in between two wheels, capable of 100s of 1000s of miles if maintained. In the '90s the 'air head' engine was replaced by the 'oil head'. You can identify the oil head by the downward tilt of the cylinder head.
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Good eye about the safety wire. Would they have used reverse threads? Righty loosey.
DeletePlease explain the safety wire comment.
DeleteSafety wire is run from a bolt head or nut, (through a drilled hole), and angled to keep the fastener from loosening. It is tensioned to keep it tight, usually. Normally run to another fastener to save time and wire. Common mistake is to run it the wrong angle, so it would be pulling to loosen the fasteners.
DeleteSince almost all threads are right handed, the lockwire should be pulling the fasteners clockwise. Go here and scroll down a bit for the illustration
Deletehttps://malinco.com/everything-worth-knowing-about-lock-wire/
The two bolts on the left are lock-wired backwards unless they are left-hand threads.
Al_in_Ottawa
Al, I worked with a guy , about '77-79, who commuted on an old 500cc BMW. Early 50's vintage, IIRC. 45 min each way on a good day. He lived on Skyline Blvd, and took the backroads as much as possible down to Santa Clara to the multi-brand bike shop where he was the head mechanic. He did that for many years. I could see why he avoided the freeways as much as possible. I took it around the block, and it was low geared and low powered. Frugal ride, and it would have discouraged aggressive corner carving. Never saw or heard about any problems with it.
DeleteOne of the brands we carried was BMW. The owner's wife rode an R100RS around the bay, but had a Moto Guzzi for distance rides. More comfortable, she said.
Sidecar racing engine?
ReplyDeleteMy first guess was a Ducati as seen from above.
ReplyDeleteMy first guess was early Ducati (pre '74 or so- later had angular fin shape) with the tower gear drive visible
ReplyDelete