New GS1100 G Restoration Project. Rebuilding my Dad's bike

[psyguy]

I would be very interested to see them anodised as I love that finish ...

However, what I found out is that anodising doesn't work all that well on CAST parts but only on the parts that are milled out of a block of alu (and then polished before anodising). I assume the carb bodies would be cast alu?

As you've got spare carb bodies, maybe you could try anodising one for a trial?

[Charlie G]

I've always assumed that the carb bodies on our bikes are cast zinc alloy, not alumunium. I'd like to know what the actual metal is.

cg

[hampshirehog]

I've always assumed that the carb bodies on our bikes are cast zinc alloy, not alumunium. I'd like to know what the actual metal is.

cg

They're pot metal if that helps. The term covers a wide of alloy mixes where the primary component is zinc.

[Charlie G]

They're pot metal if that helps. The term covers a wide of alloy mixes where the primary component is zinc.

My thought exactly! I understand pot metal. Didn't know if that term extended beyond the US. Thanks.

cg

[londonboards]

Do you have any idea how pot metal would work with anodizing. There are also other finishings I could look at like black chrome, blacking, powder coating, zinc spraying.

What I am looking for is a once and for all finish that will keep the carbs looking good but will not require maintenance or refinishing every few years.

I started off wanting to paint them like the factory Katanas but they always end up getting chipped.

Greetings

[Agemax]

anodizing needs the carbs to be polished first to get the best results.
how would you chrome them without every orifice in the carb getting chromed as well?

[Paul]

I if it were me I'd get that get the bowl from carb you drilled out, polish it as best you can, then send it off and conpare the areas that work and dont work..... kinda like when you were a kid they gave you red tablets chew to see where you're not polishing you teeth right.... been having a beer, but think that analagy works

[londonboards]

Good point. I made the same sort of mistake today. I took the carb bodies, tops and bowls to the vapour blasting shop disassembled. "Oh" the guy said "they need to be assembled to prevent the media getting into the jet holes. Have you got the screws to put the tops and bowls back on?". Of course I didn't. Rookie mistake. He managed to find enough in his shop luckily and he said he would bung up the holes for the air pilot jet and so on. Phew.

The shop also did chrome restorations and quoted me a tidy £800 for chroming my complete exhaust system. Huge amount of money.

[londonboards]

Very good! I think I have saved that carb. The hole into the venturi will be blocked by the screw and I'm getting an insert for the air pilot jet (hopefully). We shall see.

Yes I think I will try an old carb. Look on this webpage. Wait for the picture to automatically scroll. See the brake calipers and disk holder. I love this:

http://camcoat.com/diamondyze/

Greetings

[psyguy]

I have had the fork legs polished to a chrome like finish and they turned out crap after anodising - confirming as said above that the "alu" parts on these bikes are actually cast zinc-aluminium

i have had on the other hand some large nuts (80mm diameter) turned out on a cnc machine out of billet alu block and anodised (without polishing first) and that turned out quite well, as in "satin" finish

Chroming should work as long as you could plug/seal out ALL the holes which would be very impractical

For the powdercoating to have good adhesion you would need to use a primer - all adding up to a rather THICK coating. Not saying it can't be done but I wonder as to end result...

I've had good results using the automotive hight-temp ceramic paint

[londonboards]

Day 197 Exhaust Pipe Cut Up

We had a nice day here in the UK so I went into the garden to hack up one of my manky (rotten) pipes to see if there was any chance of fixing it.

See: My GS1100G Blog - Exhausting Pipes

This is what I wanted to do:



But I didn't really have the tools for the job.









I got the rattling thing out though:



Just wondering if I can cut the whole thing open, clean it up, sand blast it, have it brazed back together and then re-chromed. I estimate a cost of £1,000 (or USD $1,600) for the pair. This rebuild is getting outta control.

Greetings

[Charlie G]

There is always this option.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/83-SUZUKI-GS1100-GS-1100-GS1100G-EXHAUST-MUFFLERS-E2-/370527927571?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56452f7d13&vxp=mtr

I need to take care of mine. There worth more than I could sell the bike for.

cg

[hampshirehog]

......This rebuild is getting outta control.....

It's cheaper to buy a new bike than rebuild one like you started with.

But whats the point in that......

[londonboards]

Exactly. It's just getting the right balance of compromise between finished product and cash outlay. If we are going to get really OCD about it I will have to double my £5K budget for sure. Perhaps I will start zinc plating my own nuts and bolts after all!

Greetings

[londonboards]

There is always this option.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/83-SUZUKI-GS1100-GS-1100-GS1100G-EXHAUST-MUFFLERS-E2-/370527927571?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56452f7d13&vxp=mtr

I need to take care of mine. There worth more than I could sell the bike for.

cg

charlie yes I saw those (don't we all become ebay experts as rebuilders?) but figure the cost of getting them back to the UK and they still need re-chroming which would cost USD$1,400. They would need to be cut to be sent here and that would be more expense putting them back together.

I am looking in the UK but I am not holding my breath!

Greetings