81GS650L Exhaust Leak?

[DaveP]

The 1981 GS650L that I have been working on since April is now registered and inspected. On my first test ride I found that the idle was hanging after the bike got warmed up during riding which it wasn't doing all of the time that I was working on it in the shed. The next ride was to the inspection station. When I pulled in, the mechanic says it sounds like you have an exhaust leak. Went straight home and checked the exhaust header bolts and sure enough each bolt was loose. At least each bolt turned... The exhaust system is about the only thing that I didn't touch in the last few months.

Bolt heads are marked with a 4 and are 8 mm bolts, so I tightened to 14 N-m from the chart in the manual. Went back out and it seemed better initially, but it was back to hanging idle and not as responsive again towards the end.

Do you suspect that just replacing the header gaskets will improve this issue?

Saw some other posts referring to Z1 for gaskets, but they don't appear to have gaskets compatible for the 650. Any source other than OEM for the 650?

Thanks,
Dave

[tom203]

New gaskets - not sure if this would be cause of hanging idle, but might contribute.

http://www.partsoutlaw.com/oemparts/a/suz/50d3fda7f8700230d8b4dab7/muffler

[60ratrod]

if you are going to go the ebay route, there's a seller there that's out of cali, jaquishmotorsports, that i love to use for any gaskets that i need. just about any gasket that i need he has, and his stuff is really nice, being that most of his are the felt based style of gasket which is more forgiving IMHO. here's a link to some ehaust gaskets for a gs650 in his store:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUZUKI-1983-GS-650-EXHAUST-PIPE-HEADER-GASKETS-4-KM-701-4-/230794958901#ht_374wt_1123

[DaveP]

Thanks for the links. The Jaquish Motorsports option looks interesting.

Was thinking that the engine might be able to pull air back in from the exhaust header if it expands more with heat causing the fuel mixture to get lean. On the intake side, boots and o-rings are good. Airbox and air filter are standard equipment.

[60ratrod]

like i said, i've had to use Janquish a few times and i really do like their gaskets, and the shipping is really quick. it usually only takes 2-3 days for me to get the gaskets from them, but i am also on the same coast as them