82 850GL Resto...here we go

Thanks for taking time to read it and reply!

Epic build/thread and great work!!!

Thanks Lyra! I hope you enjoy your 850L. Even if they are a little beat up, they are strong bikes. Thanks for reading.

i have just sat and read this from start to finish. What a rollercoaster!
I have a fairly beat up 850L and i have pretty much zero technical knowledge and no garage but you a such an inspiration

Excellent! Thanks DB.

[dorkburger]

Dont know if your speedo is sorted yet (I see its an old post). I had similar problems.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?219838-1150-speedo-drive-quick-rebuild&highlight=

Just stopping in here. I've got my 1100GLZ slightly apart after some severe neglect in the hopes of getting it running for the tail end of this riding season. Naturally (via wiring harness search terms), ended up on this thread. After reading the whole thread (I have a lurking sickness similar to your polishing sickness) I only have a couple things to say:
- Sorry to disappoint with a bump that doesn't help with your speedo gear box problem (hopefully sorted by now?)
- Great job with this restoration! You've inspired me to tear mine apart this winter and do the same. Except I can't part with the pretty red of my tank and original side-covers.

Good work! Hopefully an update is in short order.

Thanks for the bump Evark! Tear into it and enjoy the process. I hope it goes well.

I am going to replace the speedo gearbox, just haven't done so yet. Actually, the bike (along with my other hobbies) has been sitting for most of the Summer. I am finishing up a degree tha requires all of my free time this Summer/Fall. Priorities! I can't wait to get back to my garage though.

[Evark]

Just stopping in here. I've got my 1100GLZ slightly apart after some severe neglect in the hopes of getting it running for the tail end of this riding season. Naturally (via wiring harness search terms), ended up on this thread. After reading the whole thread (I have a lurking sickness similar to your polishing sickness) I only have a couple things to say:
- Sorry to disappoint with a bump that doesn't help with your speedo gear box problem (hopefully sorted by now?)
- Great job with this restoration! You've inspired me to tear mine apart this winter and do the same. Except I can't part with the pretty red of my tank and original side-covers.

Good work! Hopefully an update is in short order.

I thought my speedometer cable was broken. That was the problem in the past. Ordered a new one. Got it in the mail. Went to put it on today after my Speedometer refresh as described above. When I removed the old cable I thought I would remove the inner cable to see where it had broken. I was surprised to see that it was actually intact.

I removed the front wheel and speedo gear box only to find that the gear box is completely frozen. Thus the problem. I removed the snap ring. That and the washer are the only part that I could remove. So now I'm looking at options.

Thoughts? Buy a new one? Anyone here have an extra?

Tip of the day.....next time you can use a paint lid tool to pry the metal back...so I have heard...

DOHP!!!! What a great idea. That would have been so much easier once you got it started. Thanks GK

Tip of the day.....next time you can use a paint lid tool to pry the metal back...so I have heard...

Speedo Repair

I have gone through two speedo cables and finally figured out that it was the old hard grease in the gauge that was dragging and breaking the cables. So to remedy that I got into the speedometer, cleaned it up and put it back together.



I started with a nail and hammer, methodically tapping around the bezel of the lens to bend the lip up.


After removing the bezel I cleaned up the mechanism with some carb cleaner followed up by some Balistol:




Then I reversed the process by using the head of the nail to tap the lip of the bezel back down:


It takes more time, but I prefer this process to cutting the plastic cup. If you take your time you can get the bezel looking almost as good as stock. Once you put the sleeve back on the gauge you can't tell the bezel was touched.

The gauge is turning freely now and a new cable is on order.

You can go helicoil, but they eventually pull out from what I understand. The Time Sert is the best fix I know of. Had I not needed to have the oil drain done, I might have gone with a helicoil and then just replaced it if it eventually came out.

[Cyrano]

I had a stripped exhaust bolt ...

I know the feeling. I found three yesterday (the first three from the LHS). Still debating which way to tackle this. (If only I had a MIG welder to hand)

I took my bike to the shop last week. That's right, THE SHOP. Cue the scary music. I had a stripped exhaust bolt and the oil drain plug bolt was just about to go. Instead of Helicoils I wanted Time Serts. The tools and time serts were more expensive than letting the shop do the job for me. I also didn't like the thought of accidentally drilling into the oil passage behind the exhaust bolt. Two time serts, crush washer and a new valve stem on the front tire.

Picked her up yesterday and I am set. Looking forward to another season on the GS.