Studsmanship

I finally found an early R60 final drive, but it was missing one f/d to swingarm stud, and another was bent. These studs are 46mm long, with one end threaded M8x1.25 (going into the f/d case) and the other end M8x1.0 (for the nuts to secure on the swingarm). They aren't available from BMW anymore and Bench Mark Works wants $16 per stud! I guess if you are competing in concours events that kind of originality is critical, but I'm not. Instead, I paid $12 (total) for 4 replacement studs made of hardened steel (12.9) alloy and completely threaded to M8x1.25 threads.

 They're made by a brand called Obsidian and I found them on eBay. I bought the 4 studs (the black ones seen below), which also came with locking nuts and anti-seize since they're intended for exhaust manifolds. I am using blue loctite on the threads going into the case for good measure.

Stock M8x1.25x/M8x1.0 x 46 stud above, compared to replacement M8x1.25x45 stud. You'll notice on the top studs there is a dimple on one side. That's actually a 4mm hex so you can install the studs with a hex key instead of double nutting the studs and using a wrench. Nice touch.

As seen. Don't know why the case and splines look so rusty. In real life aluminum can't rust and the case is a nice grey, and the splines and nut/washer have a nice oil coat on them and are clean.

After getting everything together I test fit it on the swingarm and all looks well. Going to have to use stock nuts and wave washers though as the locking nuts that came in the kit are far too large for the application - there's enough clearance, but not enough threads to give me a warm and fuzzy secure feeling about them. Definitely happy I went this route instead of spending $32 on two stock replacements.

restless with the R60

It'll be about a month before my timing gears arrive from Germany, along with the new bearings and spacers to complete the R60 bottom end. I'm getting so anxious to build this engine that I put together the camshaft with the bearings I was able to source locally.

How impressive...

Expect a lot more updates in a month or two

blank canvas

also, the NJ MVC can all go to hell

Limbo

Starter in my BMW R90/6 went... no kickstarter for 75s, and I don't feel like push starting this all the time. So now the starter is out for a rebuild - just in time for the spring weather...

BMW R60 title work has been stalled. Seems the DMW wants more money before issuing a title to the seller, waiting on that, and then hopefully I'll come into possession of the frame and case. In the meantime I've been scoring some excellent deals on ebay. /2 tank for $101,axles and top cover for $11, front bearing carrier $27, stuff like that, but still no important stuff. I think I'm going to offload some of the R69S stuff I bought at the swap meet to buy a complete R60 bottom end that I can transplant into my case, as it stands now, I can't afford what I've seen on the internets. More waiting...

The Aermacchi is running great though.

This may be the first time in history that an Italian bike persevered in reliability over a German built machine, though saying that may have jinxed things.

All I know is the Gathering of the Nortons at Washington's Crossing is coming up at the end of April and my riding buddies are going to be very disappointed if they have to slow to the pace of the Aermacchi. Besides that, NJ drivers don't take kindly to vehicles that max out at 65-70 mph, going on a 100 mile trip on that bike greatly increases my chances of getting killed enroute. We'll see what happens, but for now all I can do is wait.