I was bummed when I broke my door handle lock on my 1968 BMW 2002, the entire tumbler came out leaving no way to lock my driver side door. I searched for all kinds of fixes, replacement parts but nothing I could find would really work, and I want to keep my key that starts my car and unlocks the other door the same.
Broken tumbler with key pins removed.
I was on ebay and found a very good condition used driver side door handle and i thought this was it! I got it for a very reasonable price considering that these parts for a 68 are getting a bit hard to find…
Taking apart the new locking mechanism and pulling the tumbler out, it was very easy to take each one in order of the key pins out, and replace into the new tumbler… and with a bit of new grease… it worked!
A spot check of the key in the key hole to verify all the key pins where at an acceptable level (Below the housing) I was good to go!
Reassembly went fast and double checking the spring, it all came together!
turning the key is below, which will move the lock, unlock lever:
I will replace the handle of my BMW tomorrow and feel comfortable driving around town now knowing I can lock my door.
August 1st, Adrienne and I went for our first “Drive 4 Corners” BMW meet and had a blast!
A great event with an amazing drive to Pagosa Springs Colorado. Three days of scenic views, curvy roads, Bimmer talk and meeting new people with the same passion for BMWs.
With 98 BMWs at the event there was plenty of eye candy from over 4 decades, representing 6 states. It was an event that will grow and Adrienne and I are already planning for next year… the only problem is deciding which of my BMWs to take on the drive.
The link below will take you to the offical website for the “Drive 4 Corners” BMW meet gallery
On a Sunday morning I decide I would get my 1969 BMW 2002 ready as spring is just a few weeks away and warmer days with longer day light in the late afternoons means I could be cruising to Louisville for some Texas Bar-B-Que and talking about the fun of driving BMW’s reason they “made it” in the automotive world. (BMW “Neue Klasse”: technically new, modern, fast, sports sedan, which changed the automotive industry for decades).
I changed out the Belt, added brand new bushings to my alternator, checked the valve rocker clearance and did an oil change and tune up. There was another reason I needed to drive my “Stuka” (Named after the Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German dive bomber) for my BMW 525i Wagon had just had the serpentine belt DISINTEGRATE while driving to work one morning and I had to wait for tools and parts to be mailed to me. (You can read about my belts and pulley replacement here : http://blog.fcpeuro.com/2014/03/18/bmw-525i-diy-belt-and-pulley-replacement/ ) So, I thought what a good time to get her running again and enjoy some quality time.
My 1969 BMW 2002
Monday morning I headed out and the Stuka was running great, the engine warmed up and the drive was pleasant. Getting off on my exit I had a large truck carrying propane jump from the middle lane all the way over tot he exit and before I knew it I was slamming on the breaks and seeing the large bumper at the level of my front grill and hood quickly approaching… not wanting to total the front end I dropped the transmission into 3rd gear in a panic and let the clutch out to be awaken by a large pop and a grinding sound… I had blown the transmission… but avoided the crash. Knowing I had high speed traffic behind me I forced it into neutral and coasted to the side of the road. Not a great way to start a Monday. Nursing it into 2nd gear and crawling through the stop light, two left turns and several rude drivers later I made it to the safety of my work’s parking lot.
Later in the afternoon I got it home by means of a flat bed tow truck and started my research for a used replacement. How painful.
I ended up on a Pittsburgh Craigslist to find a suitable donor transmission and after speaking with the gentleman on the phone about the condition, approximate miles and what other items would come along in the package I made my purchase. He was very nice and understood my vocal and in depth discussion about my concerns. It arrived that Friday via FedEx Ground and I had been talking with my neighbor about my near miss when it showed up. “Is that your transmission?!” he asked, seeing how the box was no bigger than a small wine cooler refrigerator and weighed about 80 pounds as I picked it up and brought it into the garage. I told him that this car is not build on being large and bulky but clean, light and fast. Thus the transmission is very small and does the job nicely with out trying to look like a Muscle car.
New “Used” Transmission prior to clean up.
This morning I am embarking on the adventure of removal of the bad transmission, clearing critical work shop space and cleaning up, replacing the fluid and gaskets on the new “used” one.
I will be posting more about this adventure as I go, I will try and post as many pictures as I can through out my experience. I also will be using my very informative and vintage (first edition 1970) Autopress workshop manual to guide me through the process.
Autopress workshop repair manual. First edition 1970
I hope you will enjoy this adventure as much as I will. As learning something new on my Stuka, is always a fun filled experience.
As promised I am back to share and provide detail of the discovery, restoration, repair, accessorizing and riding adventures of my 1956 BMW R50!
It all started the summer of 2011… searching e-Bay for the “One of a Kind” motorcycle that would be… first off a good learner bike… second be mechanically sound to start a simple and easy restoration. I had never ridden a motorcycle and had never even though of buying one until I moved from Reno, Nevada to Colorado and realized the area I was now living provide almost year round “scooting”. A term now I like to use to let my wife know that there will be no crazy stuff occurring on two wheels and thus safe for her to ride along with me on an always certain adventure, a term is used to describe the easy going, back road, very balanced and smooth, warm sun in your face riding experience only a BMW can provide.
Thus the nickname I have fondly given my BMW… ‘Scooter’ which some people think I am telling them that the motorcycle I am describing to them is an actual moped or scooter…. but make no mistake when they finally see this ’56… they always appreciate that it is a great rider with good steady power, classic lines and a “gentlemanly” look to it.
My wife was a bit concerned that I might be a bit crazy to buy a 56 year old motorcycle, and with no previous riding, why would I want such an adult toy. But I convinced her that this would be a great purchase and for collecting a good bet that this BMW would only go up in price… thus if I never felt able or comfortable riding it, we could get our investment back with ease.
The auction for the R50 would end on July 4th in the evening… I waited next to the computer like a little kid until the very end and was the first and only bidder.. (you can be sure, that on the 4th of July, there would be few people that would be watching a computer screen instead of the fire in the sky celebrating the independence of our great United States of America ).
The gentleman I bought the BMW from was very nice and worked with me on the delivery as though he knew it was going to received as a prized possession and that it would be well looked after… he brought it down in his van while going on a trip to Arizona.
Here is, in his words, the description presented….
“1956 BMW R50 discovered in a basement in Duluth Mn. in 2005. Bike had a 1960 Mn. plate on it so it sat in this basement for 45 years. I know the guy who found it…he has a garbage route and was contracted to clean out the house. He traded it to the fellow I got it from, whom I also know very well. Second guy (Jim) likes to tinker…he played around with it, discovered that the magneto still had spark but was insufficient to get the bike running. He patched in a coil and battery & it started right up and ran quietly and smoothly. This was all in the last three months. He wanted me to sell it for him, changed his mind and said he’d just sell it to me. As I said, he likes to tinker, but isn’t really a rider. He sort of loses interest or finds something else to occupy his free time. He hangs out in his little garage/shop without a telephone or cell phone. I bought it knowing the title was lost, and after advertising this bike on numerous occasions and on many venues, I finally took the leap, went to the DMV, picked up a one sided single sheet “lost or misplaced title’ document. Got together with Jim, filled out the form, and along with 4 pictures, now have a clear title coming in the mail. Bike is in my name and I have a temporary title and a brand new Mn. license plate. Unfortunately, Mn. titles take 8-10 weeks to arrive at a person’s mailbox. This should not persuade a person from buying this bike, as the temporary title is proof that the bike is sellable. Title will be promptly mailed out to the new owner when I get it. Odometer shows 16K miles and I know that this is correct. Bike was sold at a dealership in Minneapolis, Mn. and was on the road from 1956 to 1960, when it was put in storage. “
Dent… what dent? I see some character.
He went on to describe the dent in the gas tank that could be fixed (which I would never have fixed, as I like the character) the few items that were “extra” and the two things he did to get the bike started with a coil and a battery (the original magneto was bad, and since been replaced at a very steep cost) and how the ” Left muffler chrome is lifting, otherwise the bike is solid, straight, and not oxidized. “ thus began my love affair with this great motorcycle.
One of the first images I saw online of the R50.
I was very excited the day the Scooter arrived… my wife and I planned to be at our home the entire day, as not to miss Rick as he delivered the motorcycle to our home. As he pulled in I can remember the nice Colorado July day, a bit hot, sunny day, but nice enough to sit on the front porch of our home. The van slowed near our home after a 20 minute wait. The time that had to pass since he called me to let me know he was near and on his way. Rick the seller was very nice and talked with my neighbor who was there to see my new purchase and I. As we all looked over the classic lines, the patina on the engine parts and how the motor would be turned over by a side mounted kick starter. I remember feeling like the past was now present and that the next chapter was going to be a dream come true with the adventures my wife and I would have on this R50.
I proudly showed my wife the extra parts and tools that came with the purchase. “Look here !” I said to my wife… “a complete set of original tools in the canvas roll!” like a young boy finding the next large box of LEGO Bricks under the Christmas tree . What a find… what a treasure to behold… but now what?
The extra parts that followed the bike from Duluth.
What was I going to do with a motorcycle that needed some expertise and caring hands to make this R50 a road warrior again, with safe and correct operation?
I just started taking it apart, right there in the drive… in a way it was like just going “back to the basics”.
After getting my R50 and fixing it up, riding it and enjoying the attention that it brings to me every time I ride, I have decided to share my adventure with photos, repair photos and general information I have learned over the past two years.
I bought her off of ebay on July 4th 2011… the auction ended that night and you already know that half of America is out watching fireworks and the other half wants nothing to do with an old Bimmer …. I was the only bidder!
Of course my wife asked what was I going to do with this 56 year old bike, since I had never ridden a motorcycle, never owned a motorcycle and surely had no experience restoring/fixing an old BMW motorcycle…. I told her that this bike will bring many days of joy to the both of us and that this bike was exactly the first bike that I would treasure forever…
Of course it wasn’t all great at the beginning. I had many repairs, rebuilds, parts to buy, knuckles to bust, tears to cry and electrons to measure. So I thought it would be fun to share this adventure and provide a look into the world of fixing, learning to ride, what I still have to fix, drawings I found, “other” parts that work and maintaining a 1956 R50.
1956 BMW R50 with out any fixing. (Purchased condition)
Future post will be about the history of my R50, the clutch rebuild, the 6 volt battery, how to check the bike before riding, the carburetors (why floats!) that I wished were easier to work on and how I found great parts.
March 28, 2023 It’s been a while but I have found some information on the rims of this bike and wanted to stick the information somewhere….it turns out that the rims on my motorcycle are Weinmann Aluminum Wheels R50S and are very hard to find
Turns out... I am Crazy! 