1956 R69 #652532 No Longer Available
This is a brand new project i just acquired. At this point i do not have a solid plan but i am beginning to think Dover White. This bike was acquired in “baskets”, so to speak and will require a full and complete restoration.
As you can see i decided on Dover White and have been making decent progress. The engine has been completely re-done including a totally rebuilt crankshaft. The engine was bored 2nd over and fitted with new pistons. The heads received new Black Diamond Valves, guides and seats and all work done by North East Machine. The reassembled engine received the proper rear spherical bearing along with all new bearing as seals. Engine, transmission and final drive cases were media blasted and coated with Eastwood Hi-Temp Clear satin to prevent oxidation. The transmission and final drive also received a total rebuild with new bearings and seals. The frame and swing arms were blasted to bare metal and a zinc primer applied and baked the surface was scuffed and then painted. All of the polishing and chroming was done by Niagara Plating.
the 1955 and 1956 R69 bikes had some very unique features that were eliminated in the later R69 models such as the “dished” head light bucket, the rounded front shock covers and the small ridged mounted head light ears. One of the most unique items were the very rare “single cross” spoke pattern in the wheels and hubs. in 1957 they went with the traditional 2X spoke pattern. The wheels, (not shown) are the single cross type with polished early Weinmann aluminum rims. The wheel hubs were stripped and media blasted and fitted with new wheel bearings that were properly preloaded, laced onto single cross newly polished rims and trued. Heidenau 350 X 18 tires and new tubes were mounted to give the early tread pattern look and feel on the road.
I have tried to be as true to the original production as possible.
- Frame and swing arms were stripped to bare metal and zinc primed before being painted with single stage Dover White.
- Engine, transmission, and final drive were totally disassembled and evaluated
- New Schmidt pistons, BMW valves, guides and all new bearings and seals were installed, including the correct rear main spherical bearing which was customary on the R50S, R69 and the R69S.
- Crank shaft was rebuilt by Chris Chambers to factory spec.
- Cases were media blasted and clear coated with Eastwood Clear Satin Hi Temp Sealer to prevent oxidation
- Shocks were dismantled and rebuilt with new cartridges where needed and new rubbers installed.
- Swing arms received new bearings and seals properly packed and lubricated.
- Wheel hubs were media blasted and coated with clear satin to prevent oxidation
- New wheel bearings were properly shimmed and seals replaced.
- Wheels were laced with new stainless spokes, newly polished Weinmann Hi lip rims and trued with the proper offset
- New Heidenau tires and tubes, 350-18, were mounted and balanced
- Carburetors were dismantled bead blasted and rebuilt with new jets.
- A new wiring harness, seals, grommets, gaskets, switches, bulbs were added
- Bar end Hella signals, Albert headlight mirrors and a chrome headlight guard were added
- Speedometer was totally rebuilt with a new bezel and set to 00000
- New cables and battery were installed
- Denfeld solo seat, tank rosettes, and new emblems were added
- The bike received fresh lubricants with 30 weight non-detergent break-in oil in the crankcase.
- New header pipes, hangers and stock BMW mufflers have been installed.
- Original and new-old-stock parts were used where possible
