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  • hellion
    • Jan 2026

    #1

    need help

    1979 gs859g and the gs850gl. Do they have the same engine. I have 1979 gs850gl and not sure if all the gs850 engine are the same trying to find parts and repair manual
  • JTGS850GL
    Forum Guru
    Past Site Supporter
    • Aug 2013
    • 9735
    • GA

    #2
    Here's the manual and a lot more information you're going to need:


    As for the engines, if you're looking at the differences between the 79 850G and the 79 850GL there are none that I'm aware of as long as both are 79 production models.
    Last edited by JTGS850GL; 02-22-2015, 07:52 PM.
    http://img633.imageshack.us/img633/811/douMvs.jpg
    1980 GS1000GT (Daily rider with a 1983 1100G engine)
    1998 Honda ST1100 (Daily long distance rider)
    1982 GS850GLZ (Daily rider when the weather is crap)

    Darn, with so many daily riders it's hard to decide which one to jump on next.;)

    JTGS850GL aka Julius

    GS Resource Greetings

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    • gustovh
      Forum Sage
      Past Site Supporter
      • Oct 2006
      • 4991
      • Vernonia

      #3
      The 79GL might actually be a 80, if it has CV carbs it is the 80. That is your main difference since they both are shafties.

      V
      Gustov
      80 GS 1100 LT, 83 1100 G "Scruffy"
      81 GS 1000 G
      79 GS 850 G
      81 GS 850 L
      83 GS 550 ES, 85 GS 550 ES
      80 GS 550 L
      86 450 Rebel, 70CL 70, Yamaha TTR125
      2002 Honda 919
      2004 Ural Gear up

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      • Nessism
        Forum LongTimer
        GSResource Superstar
        Past Site Supporter
        Super Site Supporter
        • Mar 2006
        • 35784
        • Torrance, CA

        #4
        The '79 engine is a little different from the later engines. Smaller intake ports to match smaller carbs, points instead of electronic ignition, kick starter vs. none. The '82 engine is further changed in terms of the ignition. All should interchange with a little fiddling, although the carbs can be a pain.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

        Comment

        • Steve
          GS Whisperer
          • Jun 2005
          • 35924
          • southwest oHIo

          #5
          Add in the fact that there was no '79 850GL, it's a safe bet that it's actually an '80 850GL that was made in late '79.

          If that is the case (and I think it is), there will be a few differences, as Nessism stated, but if you get all the stuff that goes along with the '80 engine, it's a bolt-in proposition. The things you will need will include the airbox (the '80 has larger boots), the carbs, the ignitor. You will also need to do a bit of rewiring to accommodate the ignitor, but that is rather minor.

          .
          sigpic
          mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
          hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
          #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
          Family Portrait
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          Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
          (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

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