GS 550L Gets a make over

[brslk]

That is indeed and awesome picture of a very sweet looking little girl.
I wish I had little helpers.

Bruce.

[Redneck]

Well took the back hub and sprocket to work the other night. After taking some skin off the ole finger.... and boy did it bleed... I got the sprocket off the hub and commenced to wire wheeling the hub to get off the grime and grub and clean it up a little.

Today continued trying finish the left hand control. I got it all cleaned up and was trying to get it back together when I realized i can't figure out where the silly brass pieces go. Put a thread in the electrical section

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1575154#post1575154

Completely broke so just trying to do the things that don't require money or supplies right now.

Parts were put on order, don't have to pay till they come in, (good to do enough business with local shop that they spot me order because they know I will pay when it gets in) shims and tank attaching hardwaree will be in after I get paid next week. So Friday of next week I am hoping to maybe get the valve shims all done and button up the engine. Re-install engine and attach exhaust. Then it will be on to the carbeurator. Finally tank and electrical. So cool to be so close. Just hope the paint on the rear tire, handlebars and sissy bar can get done, if not they will have to wait. I need to get this bike back on the road by May so that I can use it when I get to florida. I need to cut cost where I can while I am waiting on the family to get there at the end of June and gas is one of the big spots I can save if I can get the bike running.

Okay my little princes would now like to make a smiley pictorial:



Smiling happy Princess.

Paul

[pete]

Awesome stuff Paul, glad to see you're able to get somewhere even without budget

Remember my thumb? I feel your pain...

[Allie]

Paul your helper is precious! It must feel good that she spends time with you on the project. I know my co-pilot adds immeasurably to my rides - and in some ways measurably (I see new rear shocks in my near future)...

[Redneck]

Paul your helper is precious! It must feel good that she spends time with you on the project. I know my co-pilot adds immeasurably to my rides - and in some ways measurably (I see new rear shocks in my near future)...

LoL. That is funny Allie.

Well the hand controls are done as of tonight.



Even spent too long doing a write up on the process. Forgive me it is my first real write up and I should have organized it better so that I made sure to get more pictures at key points but it was kind of a last minute decision anyway it can be read about here

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=187568

Time marches on and yes Pete I have not forgotten your Thumb rule. I am trying hard to live by it.

Paul

[Hoosier Daddy]

Controls turned out nice Paul!
And the matching pot-holder is a nice touch

[pete]

They look good Paul!

As for the thumb... I was referring to my altercation with the improvised slide hammer... referring to your missing skin... I was literally feeling your pain

[Redneck]

I hate waiting on parts. Hopefully I will have a little energy tonight and go down and take apart my brake calipers and start wire wheeling the paint off.

Paul

[GateKeeper]

Come on Paul,,,,one thing a day.....that is the new motto, around here...

If nothing else, I will at least clean the oil cooler and paint it tonight, every little bit is one step closer towards completion

[Redneck]

Come on Paul,,,,one thing a day.....that is the new motto, around here...

If nothing else, I will at least clean the oil cooler and paint it tonight, every little bit is one step closer towards completion

Well it was 9pm before I got the little Princess to bed. After supper it was play time with her since I got home late today, so the old energy level peetered out and I went to bed. Something about getting up at 0430 in the morning. Military life got to love it. But it will get done tonight dang it. I have duty this weekend so while I am sitting around waiting for things to come in for my review I may visit the old brass wire wheel on the 1.5hp 8" bench grinders they have in the refurbishing shop.

Unfortunately with the low temperatures around here rattle can paint is out of the question till it warms up.

Paul

[pete]

Don't worry Paul, you'll get there

I know what you mean though, too knackered after a few beers to get back into the garage tonight to keep going on the tool tray, and tomorrow I gotta clean the house and the bike and then get up early on Sunday for our ride, so not a lot of time to spare on it this weekend... but it'll be worth it

[Redneck]

Well went in the garage last night... YaY.... taped up and prepped the carb body for painting. Finished cleaning up the Rear Wheel Hub and prepped it for painting. Then went to break apart the brake calipers in order to strip them.(No Pun Intended.. originally.. break apart the brake calipers.. ) That is where the fun began. I went to take out the big allen head bolts on the body of the rear caliper and they did not want to budge even in the vice. So prudent man says "No more snapped bolts" So I sprayed them down with penetrating oil and let them sit while I finished cleanning up the tape prep on the carb body. After 30 minutes I tried again. First thing was to do a little beating with a hammer to try and loosen things up, still did not move. So I took a small cheater bar put it on the end of my allen wrench to give a little leverage and to quit digging into my hand. There was a loud "POP" and then the bolt started coming on out. Yay it came on out, the PoP was just the bolt breaking loose from the corrosion. So I moved on to the second bolt.

After much cursing and frustration and a little bit bigger cheater bar "PoP" goes the second bolt, but it does not come out so smoothly, but it did come out. The bolts were some how crapped up on the inside. So now the Rear Brake Caliper is seperated. And the cups look like crap. Gunk and crud all around them. So I put them in the Utility sink and sprayed the crap out of them with PB Blaster and left them. The forward Caliper the allen bolts came out a little easier but now I need new O-rings for them. The cups on the front ones are all gunked up and dont want to be removed. In comes PB Blaster and and over night soak. I will try and get back to them tonight after I get home from work. Hoping I may get the carb body and the rear wheel hub painted today at work( again). We shall see.

Paul

[Flyboy]

Hey Paul, i know exactly what you were going through, when I tore down my rear caliper, I also had ome of the allen bolts that would not budge, also laced it with penetrating oil and let it stand, no good, also had to use brute force and ignorance, it scared the living kak out of me, all I could think was , stuck bolt, soft aluminium body. I had visions you would not even find in Revelations in the bible.
With every 1/8th of a turn I cringed, I would have to screw it out 1/8th of a turn, it would bind up solid, would scew it back in and then out, in and then out, and so it went on, but it came out ok. Phhhewww.

[Redneck]

Well the calipers are still soaking in Penetrating oil. Today at work though because it is a Sunday there was very few people in so I was able to get down and do a little painting.

I managed to get the other carb body painted, the hub for the back wheel, and the back wheel painted. Woot super stoked about that. I will post pictures when I get home. I am currently waiting for the wheel to dry enough to wrap it up and take it home. Only a couple more things to paint. The chain guard will eventually get painted and the airbox could use a freshening up. I still intend on trying to get the handle bars and the Sissy bar PCed.

I am going to let the paint cure for a couple of days then I will start putting the carbs back together and get them ready for install. Pictures to follow later.

Paul

[GateKeeper]

Your making progress, that is a good thing, just keep it up.....Today for me, no work on the bike at all, decided to take a day off.