1973 BMW R75/5: Replacing Steering Head Bearings

Posted on April 16, 2013 by breams

I wrote up the procedure I used to replace the steering head bearings in this web page:

31 BMW R75/5 Replace Steering Head Bearings

At this point, the project is turning around from disassembly to reassembly as I installed the steering stem with polished lower triple clamp and new top chrome dust cover in the recently powder coated frame. 🙂

Here are a few of the many pictures you will find in the web page write up.

Steering Head After Forks Removed

Steering Stem Showing Top Bearing

BMW Steering Head Race puller

Old Race-Vertical Bands Indicate Brinelling

Top Race with Vertical Bands Indicating Brinelling

Bottom Bearing Slipped On and Seated on the Steering Stem

Top & Bottom Bearings Packed with Grease

Slotted Nut-Correct Orientation

1973 BMW R75/5 Rebuild: Replace Swing Arm Bearings & Powder Coat

Posted on April 15, 2013 by breams

In page 02 BMW R75/5 General Tear Down, I show how to remove the swing arm from the transmission and the rear drive from the swing arm. This page covers removal and replacement of the swing arm bearings and races and the powder coating of the swing arm.

Here’s a link to the page I wrote up.

33 BMW R75/5 Swing Arm Bearing Replacement

And a sample of some of the pictures.

Cycle Works Swing Arm Bearing Puller Kit

Removing the Spacer

Puller Positioned to Remove the Dust Seal

Progresso Soup Can “Sock” Over the Universal Joint

Powder Coated Swing Arm

Swing Arm Bearing Parts-Top to Bottom, Inside to Outside, Left is Drive Shaft Side, Right is Shock Side

Shock Side, Bearing Race and Grease Cap Installed

Shock Side Showing Bearing Race and Grease Cover Installed

Swing Arm Bearing Installed

Dust Seal with Sleeve Installed

1973 BMW R75/5: Refinishing Rear Shocks

Posted on April 12, 2013 by breams

I removed and inspected the Boge rear shocks to see if they could be used. I really wanted to retain the stock chrome shock covers if possible. I decided they are still serviceable, so I refinished them including powder coating the springs and removing the deep scratches in the shock covers. I wrote up a web page on this you can find on the right side of the page, and here is the direct link to it.

33 BMW R75/5 Rear Shock Refinishing

Below are a couple of the pictures included in the web page write up.

Dull, Dirty and Scratched

Hose Clamp Spring Compressor

Shackle and Spring Removed

Polished & Powder Coated Parts

Refinished Shock

1973 BMW R75/5: Refinishing the Transmission and Rear Drive

Posted on April 8, 2013 by breams

I just posted two web pages about this work with lots of pictures in the column on the right side, and here are the direct links:

I did not rebuild the rear drive or transmission, just refinish them. I did have to work on the transmission kick start and shift lever tapered bolts as they were very hard to remove due to scratches and burrs.

Here are a couple of the before and after pictures from the web pages.

Rear Transmission Grunge

Top Transmission Grunge

Bottom Transmission Gunge

Polished Parts

Refinished Transmission Rear

Refinished Transmission Top

Refinished Transmission Bottom

Refinished Transmission Left Side

Rear Drive Before Cleaning

Brake Shoe Orientation

Refinished Rear Drive Brake Shoe Side

Refinished Rear Drive Outside

1973 BMW R75/5: Refinishing Headers, Headlight and Steering Damper

Posted on March 19, 2013 by breams

Over the weekend, I dove into refinishing some of the high profile parts. I documented what I did in web pages under the “51” category for “Vehicle Trim”. There are pictures showing the before and after. The web pages are in the left navigation column, and here are the links.

51 BMW R75/5 Headlight Shell and Switch Housing Paint Repair
51 BMW R75/5 Refinishing the Header Pipes
51 BMW R75/5 Refinishing Steering Damper Knob

The other post in this category is the powder coating.
51 BMW R75/5 Powder Coating

Below is a sampling of the pictures I took.