GS 550L Gets a make over

[Redneck]

Well, it is time to start the make over. The bike ran great all summer had a slight electrical problem that I will address later. But the worse problem was that the base gasket developed a leak. So in order to change it of course I have to tear down the whole engine. I would have started sooner but money was not easy to come by with the Holidays and all. Anyway I am now ready I think, just put a big order in to cyclepartsnation, hopefully it will be here soon. This is what i ordered:

4 of 09280-28003 - O RING @ $1.20ea.

1 of 11241-47081-H17 - GASKET (11241-47081) @ $9.07ea.

4 of 09280-61001 - O RING @ $2.81ea.

2 of 09280-21005 - O RING @ $1.93ea.

2 of 04211-13189 - PIN (09206-13001) @ $1.28ea.

1 of 11141-47086-H17 - GASKET (11141-47084) @ $91.78ea.

2 of 11186-45001 - SEPARATOR, OIL NO.1 34x11 (11186-45000) @ $2.85ea.

2 of 11187-45001 - SEPARATOR, OIL NO.2 35x68 (11187-45000) @ $2.85ea.

1 of 11177-47001-H17 - GASKET (11177-47001) @ $6.36ea.

1 of 11173-47004-H17 - GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD COVER (11173-47001) @ $16.01ea.

2 of 09206-08001 - PIN @ $1.01ea.

1 of 47211-47200 - COVER, FRAME LH (47211-47200-05L) @ $48.78ea.

1 of 11483-47000-H17 - GASKET (11483-47000) @ $6.99ea.

1 of 11482-47000-H17 - GASKET (11482-47000) @ $11.26ea.

1 of 11491-47000 - GASKET @ $2.01ea.

4 of 14181-37D00 - GASKET (14181-03310) @ $2.88ea.

Also a stainless steel bolt kit from Z1 Enterprises.

Yeah i went ahead and paid the bucks to get the left hand cover. I am tired of chasing around for one so I just shelled out the $50. Anyway I am also giving the bike an original paint job. Not using stock colors at all. Going to be a bright metallic green front fender, gas tank, side covers, and rear fender. the frame and engine are going to be black either semi-gloss or gloss not sure yet. I am also going to paint the rims black. I am either going to rebuild the carbs myself or send them off to be rebuilt, for they to have developed a slight leak also. So needless to say its going to be quite a project for me and hopefully I will learn a lot as I go. I will make sure to provide many pictures along the way.

Paul

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Looking forward to this one

[Redneck]

Well parts are suppose to be here today. Looking forward to that. I was going to take my Gas tank in last night use the wet blaster and then prime it up, I ended up building a gingerbread house instead. My six year old daughter has been on me to build it since Christmas and we have managed not to get it done for one reason or another but that is now out of the way. Hopefully weather will not prevent me from getting in and doing it tonight. If it looks like snow I may just get some paint stripper and use that method. My question is can I use the paint stripper in a smallish two car garage with the doors shut, btw the furnace is located in my garage also. Just thought I would see if anyone had any experience with this situation.

Paul

[Redneck]

Okay here she is as you last saw her.


I needed to add that so we have a starting point and besides everyone likes pictures.

Here is the front fender painted in the color the tank and side covers will be



Here is the tank getting ready for the 5N5 stripper from True Value.

[Redneck]

Okay i have coated the tank with 5N5 stripper about three times and I barely have the top scraped off. I am using a 10" razor blade scraper and some 60 grit sandpaper. I am so going to hit this thing with a media blaster tomorrow night. This is taking forever and not to mention my shoulder is sore from scaping and sanding.

Paul

[Flaming Chainsaws]

That's a cool color!

[Redneck]

Well Ed was correct even with the good base coat of paint, as evident by its resistance to being removed. I did find some rust trails under the paint. I will clean those all up tonight hopefully after media blasting. Then will hit it with a couple coats of filler primer and finally a primer sealer. I plan on dry sanding it with 1500 and 2000 grit paper. Do I need to wet sand it or will dry sanding be good with those grits? IF so going to have to find a sink in the area I will be working. Not sure if there is one. I can make something work. If that sounds confusing I plan on taking it in to work and using their flame spray booth to prime the tank after I media blast it. I don't know if there is a sink down there or not. I will check that out this afternoon before I leave work.

[Redneck]

Love a good media blaster

Well you know how the saying goes "Third time is a charm." I came into back to my work place tonight to use the blast booth and the first two I came upon were broke down. My third choice the guy who normally leaves his key in the desk...didn't. I was told about another one in a different bay of the building. I went down there and it is not working but, as i was asking someone about it they redirected me to a different building and they have a blast booth that not only worked but rocked. It stripped the remaining paint off with the greatest of ease. Now I am finishing up the primer. I have put three coats of filler primer on and sanded each with 1500 grit. I just put my first coat of sealer on and will sand it then put another coat on. I then plan on letting it set up on the shelf for a couple of weeks to cure real good then I will put on the Paint. I am very pleased right now because as Ed mentioned I would probably find some rust under the paint and I did. Well lets just say there is no rust to speak of now. I will however have to flush my tank out very well because I know I got some media grit inside there. It tore the duct tape i was using right off the openings. I will post pictures after I get back home.

[Redneck]

Here is a pic of the tank after it was blasted and primed. I would have taken some of the progress to primer but cameras were not allowed where I was.

Here is the tank sitting on the bike.


And here is where I set the fender up on the front tire to get a visual


yeah yeah I know I need to clean up a little. You can see where the oil is still leaking.

I do have one question. I tried a wet blaster on it first and there is a little water in the tank what is the best way to get it out and to keep the tank rust free while the primer cures. I plan on getting some alcohol and putting it in the tank, would this help?

[Redneck]

Started pulling things off today. First was the battery box.



has a little rust will blast and paint that



Then I started taking off the electronics to get the air box out.
the regulator looks like someone ground off some fins.



Then moved on to the other side and pulled the rest.
Is this bellmouth covering normal



Forgive the blurr but that is the orange and white wire going to the regulator it has burnt through the insulation. Wonder if that is where my battery is draining too.



Well then it was the air box next. I now know what the true reason peeps go to Pods. It was a royal pain in the A@@. I am not looking forward to trying to get that and the carbuerator back in when it is done.



Got a little cleaning to do.



Anyway, my next thing is to start getting ready to pull the engine. Till next time.

[cowboyup3371]

I found that by moving the rear fender mud flap thingie back, you can actually drop the air box down through the bottom of the bike. Actually fits in and out real easy that way. Course it means having the rear wheel out too but hey...

Great pictures by the way. I cleaned up some of the same areas on my bike and wish I had taken some.

[Steve]

Then moved on to the other side and pulled the rest.
Is this bellmouth covering normal

Yep, it's normal.

Well, let's just say that it came from the factory on all the bikes.

.

[Hoosier Daddy]

As I kept reading your posts I wondered why they was not many other memebers chiming in.. then I checked the dates of your posts. DANG you work fast!.
Did you get the tank dried out? Alcohol will help.
Interested in what you have planned. Thanks for sharing!

[Tim Tom]

Looks good! I can't wait to see it all shiny and painted. You mentioned the front fender will be green but what about the back one? Are you gonna respray the frame while the engine is out? Keep up the good work!

[Redneck]

Thanks all for the comments.

Cowboy I still would have had to get the front part of the air box out it was the reason i was having issues. they bolt those boxes in backwards you ask my opinion. the screws that seperate the airbox from the intake path that attaches to the carbs come in from the front where youcant get at them instead of from the air box where all you have to do is pull the filter and get to them.

No i did not get alcohol in tank hoping to do that tuesday...went broke...lol.

plan on painting the rear fender to match front.....just haven't yet...

called a blast company who also powder coats and asked them about the frame... $75 to blast and $200 to powder coat....not sure if I am just going to have them blast it and then rattle can the frame after that... will have too see...i don't feel like wire wheeling the thing that long.

Hopefully will have more pics and progress later this week


Paul