GS 850 piston rings

[mvalenti]

Where is a good source for piston rings for my GS 850 all I can find is oversized

[tkent02]

I have a set.

Can get to it in about a week.

[mvalenti]

I have a set.

Can get to it in about a week.

Thank you very much what's the price on them

[tkent02]

I'll have to check.
Whatever I paid for them.

[mvalenti]

Cool thank you looking forward to see what the prices also do I need a Base gasket or can I reuse what I have

[tkent02]

You will definitely need a base gasket.

I might have that too, can't remember.

[bwringer]

They're still available from Suzuki. About $25-$30 a set depending on your supplier.

Part #12140-45121 is the standard size for piston rings -- it can be difficult to tell which is which on many online fiches.

One good supplier that many have been happy with is G&S Suzuki:

http://www.gssuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=95278&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1982&fveh=2144

[rustybronco]

Among other things and in addition to the cylinder base gasket, don't forget the (4) cylinder base o-rings as well.

[tkent02]

There may be confusion at the parts place (especially if you go to RideNow), the standard ring for the 1000 is the oversize ring for the 850. This confusion took so long to get straightened out at the RideNow House of Incompetent Ass Holes, by the time my rings got here for the 750/850 conversion the 1000 engine was already in the 750 and had been for weeks.

By the way, in case I haven't mentioned it lately, RideNow sucks.

[mvalenti]

Conversion??? 1000 head on an850???

[mvalenti]

So I'll need a head gasket base gasket and o rings as the base gaskets copper

[bwringer]

So I'll need a head gasket base gasket and o rings as the base gaskets copper

You'll also need a shop manual.

No, the base gasket isn't copper.


Starting at the top, you'll need:

- You'll probably need a breather cover gasket and a valve cover gasket (unless these have been replaced very recently during a valve clearance check).

- Valve stem seals

- The four copper sealing washers on the outside corner studs.

- Head gasket

- New piston pin circlips - do NOT re-use the old ones.

- Base gasket

- Base gasket o-rings -- these are the pear-shaped o-rings surrounding the rear outer studs.

- Cylinder sleeve o-rings -- these are the large, skinny o-rings that surround each cylinder sleeve.




While you're in the area, you'll also want to replace:

- carb boot o-rings, even if you recently replaced these. (and carb boots if needed)

- Seals, o-rings, and gasket in cam chain tensioner if you haven't already done this

- Seals in tach drive fitting if they're not recent.



Seriously consider replacing:

- Hard rubber cushions holding the cam chain idler pulley. Believe it or not, they're not supposed to be glass-hard.

- Rear and front cam chain guide blades if they're showing ANY wear or cracking

- The two 6mm bolts at the sides and the one in the front of the cylinder head. These are always corroded to hell and they're cheap.

- Cylinder head nuts -- same.

- Inspect the studs, and replace any with damaged threads.

[bwringer]

Conversion??? 1000 head on an850???

No, 1000 engine in an 850 frame.

The 850, 1000, and 1100 shaftie engines are all interchangeable. You also need the carbs, airbox, and driveshaft, and ignition from the donor bike, but the mounting points on the frames are all the same.

The 750/850 conversion refers to putting a 1979 (VM carbs) 850 block, pistons, and cylinder head onto a chain drive 750 engine. You have to grind the cases a bit, IIRC.

[mvalenti]

Thanks for the boatload of info. I have the head gasket, recently replaced the valve cover gasket and half moons as well as the orings on the intake manifold, have a bag of 25 so ill replace em again... I have downloaded the shop manual. whats the break in after rebuild? im not a redliner, but just curious. Hopefully with the ring job and shims ill see some more power, well noticable....

[mvalenti]

Suzukiparts.com has a head gasket for 103$! Am i reading that right?