petrol splashes and other nonsense....

[timbo]

hi folks

when filling up last week i ended up with bit of a 'spurter' and
some splashes of petrol ended up on the black plastic surfaces
on the rear of the front indicators - ie either side of the dash/clocks.
i washed it off with water straight away - but it seems to have made
the black surface go milky?! arse. anyone done this too? it won't
go with just polish....any ideas?

also - jump starting.....? i have a 2004 BCR and there is a + connector
next to the starter motor (with a rubber cap) - i assume for the connection
of jump leads? what do i connect the negative lead to? the frame? there
is no mention of this in the (rather bleeding useless) manual......

how easy is it to replce the horn? i haven't looked yet - but i've just ordered a new LOUD one....anyone done this mod? any tips?

thanks.


psw. still loving it. not done enough miles. but great.

[oyster]

One of the first things to bin on this bike - the sad horn. Repalcement on mine was an unmatched pair which located back to back via the same mount and some extended wires soldered into place. A pair of macho Fiams are too big to fit easily here, so I used one Fiam and another slim 120dB. Watch out that nothing snags though during lock to lock steering. Some minor adjustments will be required.
A thought on the battery, fit an Optimate lead, or a power take off socket, and keep the battery charged regularly. Better all round that trying to jump start it.

[sandbar]

some splashes of petrol ended up on the black plastic surfaces on the rear of the front indicators - ie either side of the dash/clocks. i washed it off with water straight away - but it seems to have made the black surface go milky?! arse. anyone done this too? it won't go with just polish....any ideas?

Yes - it happens. Various motor trade products help, but require repeated applications. There are similar retail products around such as 'Back to Black' from Halfords and the like. After that use a bit of 'coloured' polish and if all else fails - Kiwi shoe polish!!

Mind you - if my memory serves the cost of new BMW indicator pods is pretty low.

also - jump starting.....? i have a 2004 BCR and there is a + connector
next to the starter motor (with a rubber cap) - i assume for the connection
of jump leads? what do i connect the negative lead to? the frame? there
is no mention of this in the (rather bleeding useless) manual......

I agree with the comments about jump starting. Use an Optimate and make that even easier with an 'auxiliary power socket' kit from your local friendly BMW dealer.

Sandbar
www.sandbarcomposites.co.uk

.

[Mick Mac]

A temporary fix to the spotty black plactic bits is to give it a good old rub with a cloth soaked in WD40. It comes up a treat but you'll have to re-do it after you wash the bike.

ATB, Mick

[madman]

Replaced the horn on both our bikes, one Fiamm each no problems with clearance that way.
On my 2004, I also have the + terminal on the starter cover, but there is also a - terminal on the LH cylinder some where below and outboard of the inlet.

[Harry]

WD40 on the pods.
harry.

[Boxered]

WD40 on the pods.
harry.

OOH err missus


Steve

[timbo]

thanks guys

i have tried WD40 and Amourall on the splashes - no good....maybe it's
gonna have to be some sort of coloured polish. will let you know.

battery etc - to be honest i have had no need to do anything like
charge or jump start it yet - even after 2 weeks of doing nothing it
fired first spin. but i just want to try and know now so if i'm caught out somewhere......i'll have a look for the additonal negative 'pole'. it already
has an accessory socket so i'll maybe look at that too...

cheers
tim

[bernsmartco]

Tim,
Like madman mine has the '-' connector just where he says. Maybe its just the silver ones that have both a '+' and '-' connector.

I polished up my pannier lids with black dubbin, brought them up a treat.

[Ade B]

have the same problem with the LH pod on my SS - WD40 worked for about a week. Sort of used to it now - part of the overall 'patina' of age that the entire bike is exhibiting...

[BOWLER]

Indicator Pods £22 ,I had to replace one a few months ago
Jeff

[Gats]

Paint the bloody things!

Petrol splashes will be less of a problem then.

[oyster]

Shell garage on the road out of Ramsgate; not bad prices, but iffy fuel delivery. So I got the big blowback today. Petrol over tank, pods, clocks, jacket, etc. Three hours later I used 'Back to Black', a 151 product I got from the one pound shop (not worth any more than that; got some brake cleaner too!). All ok now. And for the plastics, absolutely brilliant wax, Nielsen liquid gold. A bit hard to find. Absolutely the best wax I have ever used for autos, and I used to detail cars as a side line.

[Lightrunner]

I had the petrol blow-back last night and covered me, tank, clocks and both pods last night. I had no idea that when people said they had tank blow-back that it was quite so impressive... I think I'd have got less petrol on the bike if I'd have stood a few feet away and taken careful aim with the fuel pump.

Oyster did you use the Nielsen wax stuff on the pods to remove the white marks or did you apply it on top of the back to black stuff?

I'm probably not worried enough about the marks to replace the plastics as it could happen again I'm guessing but I'd like to try and clean the bike up a bit if possible

Cheers

[oyster]

I only use back to black on the black bits. Most cream waxes leave a residue that shows up - although the Neilsen doesnt! I use that on the coloured surfaces most effectively.
Reading from the start of this thread relating to the feeble OE horn, I now have the Nautilus, mounted in the same location. Most effective. Sunday morning car driver went back onto his drive MUCH quicker than he came out in front of me after giving him the benefit of the fanfare.