Ed80 Recommissioning blog

[Rockburner]

Well, I gotta start somewhere....
(don't expect a rapid pace on this... at least not yet)



Having a centre-stand makes any bike easier to work on, and this thing needs a fair bit of work.
(it also means it takes up a little less square footage in the workshop, and I can get around the bugger)


Obligatory up-the-hole photo....

[mangocrazy]

Don't wish to sound ignorant nor nuffink but...


What's an Ed80?

[Rockburner]

Don't wish to sound ignorant nor nuffink but...


What's an Ed80?

BMW Rockster Edition 80:


(see more details on how I came to have this bike here : https://revtothelimit.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... on#p271758 )

[Skub]

I like the Rockster,it's just that little bit different,they should have called it the Rockstar,though.

Future classic maybe,in some world?

[Rockburner]

I like the Rockster,it's just that little bit different,they should have called it the Rockstar,though.

Future classic maybe,in some world?

Dunno, maybe, possibly. If so then the Ed80 "might" be one the more valuable ones, but that's not my purpose.

Going to see if this one is "a good'un" or not - if so then I'll make it "mine" and sell on the bronze bike for whatever I can get for it. I don't need 2, and if the bike with 50,000 fewer miles on it is worth keeping, then it makes sense to keep it. All the mods I've done to the bronze bike are removable and will go on this one no probs. (well - except the clutch repairs)

[v8-powered]

sell on the bronze bike

Bronze? I said mine was ginger, next you'll be calling it strawberry blonde!

[katana]

Don't wish to sound ignorant nor nuffink but...


What's an Ed80?

BMW Rockster Edition 80:


(see more details on how I came to have this bike here : https://revtothelimit.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... on#p271758 )

Quite like the colour scheme..

Do like that BMW engine.

[Rockburner]

Emptied the tank last night, and discovered a charging lead on the bike! So - I hooked up my old Optimate.



I believe it may even be the original battery..... Will it charge? PLACE BETS NOW!



I also whipped the seats off and discovered that not only did the bike still have the original toolkit, but even the OE tyre repair kit!
I've not seen one of these for 20 years.....



Also found out that the fusebox appears to have some sort of anti-tamper switch... that small black box on the right, with "HAMLIN" printed on it.... there's a matching "latch" on the fuse-box cover.


Have to say I'm not looking forward to trying to strip out the alarm....

[Rockburner]

Unbelievably.... the battery is taking some charge! It nearly had enough to turn it over this evening! Restarted the charger to see if I can get it charged a bit more.

And the alarm seems to be working too....

[Beancounter]

sell on the bronze bike

Bronze? I said mine was ginger, next you'll be calling it strawberry blonde!

I always said mine was copper.

[Rockburner]

Woohoo!!



buggeration



It's a start....


Passenger!




So: the battery is showing as fully charged, so I had another go at turning it over, just to see if it would, and yes it did turn over - but didn't fire (probably a good thing). I'm not sure if that's just bad fuel, filthy plugs, or the alarm system (but surely the immobiliser would kill all electrics??).

I was rewarded for my efforts with a string smell of old petrol.... a bit of investigation later: the quick disconnect has broken. Ah well: they've a reputation for it and I've had 4 bikes without the issue before, so it's not really a surprise. Add that to the shopping list...

Pulled the tank off to check out the status of things below and it all looks ok, relatively clean too. Found matey tucked up behind the connectors behind the headstock, decided to let him make his own way off the bike.....

That was friday night, spent most of Sunday cutting down my ginormous workbench so a more reasonable size, I now have more room to work on bikes, and a couple of 2mx0.35m 18mm ply planks which I'm wondering what to do with..... I've already shelved every available wall!

[Rockburner]

Lots of wires on these alarm things...

[Count Steer]

Dunno about the immobiliser but I spent days trying to get a bike to start after it had been laid up for a few months. It would spin over like a good un but of sparks there were none, not even a feeble one.

Eventually an electrician neighbour cast an eye over a wiring diagram and said 'Wassat do?'. It was the kill switch.

*waggle waggle*
*press*
*brrrrmmmmm!*

I guess it had corroded while sat. I'd certainly never used it in the years I'd had the bike. Maybe the immobiliser works like the kill switch?

[Rockburner]

Finished off stripping the alarm yesterday, dismantled the fuse box only to discover that the two alarm loom wires that had been fed into it weren't joined to the loom at all, and in fact were only inside the fuse-box to hide the alarm's independant fuse-holder in the box! Gah!

Also stripped the dissolving loom sheath off the switch-gear, and headlight harnesses and re-covered them with fabric loom tape.







Funnily it's only those 3 sub-assemblies that had shitty sheathing, the rest of the loom is fine.

Today I ordered up a new male fuel connector from Motorworks - once that arrives I can see if the bike will fire up.

Going to put a drop or two of oil down the plug-holes and rotate it by hand first though.

[Rockburner]

Pulled the alt-cover off yesterday :



Looks new!



I also pulled the plugs (used, but still very usable),



the lower plugs were more oily - but I'd expect that (they're always manky).

I sprayed a small amount of light oil (3-in-1) into each combustion chamber, just to loosen off the rings (well - that was the idea). Left the engine for a bit, then rotated it using the alt-belt nut (a 16mm oddly, it's the only place I've ever seen a 16mm nut) and the engine turned over smoothly and quietly - all good!

I have a feeling that this bike had a full service just before being put away by the previous owner. The engine oil is a) slightly over-full, and b) bright red. It's obviously virtually new.

Which is more than I can say for the battery. I've had it on charge for a weeks or two now - trying to bring it back, and I put it on the bike yesterday to see if it would turn the bike over.....



Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click


nope - no go. And it got noticeably weaker on the 2nd and 3rd attempts.

So - it may well be new battery time.

I've also replaced the broken fuel-line-connector but I've not yet replaced the tank and tried the bike with fresh fuel. That's the next step. I've got a jump-starter which I know has plenty of juice for this (used it on my other bike a few times), to get the bike started.

Still weighing up whether to go full-on and do all the "upgrades" (strip the ABS, replace the calipers and discs, etc etc).

I'll do a valve service once I get it running - but to road test it I'll need to get it MOT worthy and then taxed and insured.