81 GS550T Full Rebuild...In Ohio

[cowboyup3371]

What are your plans for paint?

Same color as I tried in October. I'm not touching the paint gun this time and will let my friend do it all so it should turn out better. I will, however, do the sanding so there's still a chance at having a major screw-up.

Nice one Scott, can't wait to see the results, long time coming, I have to keep reminding myself that you poor buggers only get to work and ride in seasons.
I can't wait to do my tank and get the paintwork done, but I have vowed to leave it until last, as I know it will get dinged otherwise, and if I drag anymore "garage stuff" inside, I will be sleeping out on the lawn in the tent.

[tkent02]

What are your plans for paint?

[cowboyup3371]

If at first you don't suck-seed, suck again until you do suck-seed.

Yep!!!........

[Nessism]

If at first you don't suck-seed, suck again until you do suck-seed.

[cowboyup3371]

Tank is back to primer just waiting for a nicer day - probably Thursday night

[cowboyup3371]

Yes, the project that just won't go away. I took the rear tire to Iron Pony yesterday with the intent of replacing it but I also asked them to check the wheel for straightness. They subsequently told me the tire was not properly balanced so they adjusted it advising me that if my problem still exists, they'll install a new tire. I installed the wheel today but didn't have access to my temporary tank so I will wait until tomorrow to check it.

I say my temporary tank as the actual tank is stripped and re-primered for repainting. Yes, we are going to redo the work and hopefully get it right this time. More info to come as I hope that my friend and I can have it ready by next weekend.

Scott, jury rig yourself a stand with whatever you have at your disposal, then use a dowel stick, pencil, Swambo's mascara pen, or something similar, mount it in the stand so the point is 1/8 inch away from the side wall of the tire and spin the wheel, watch the gap between the tire side wall and the tip of the rod/stick whatever, you will immediately see if it opens and closes as the tire spins, confirming it is moving from side to side.
Repeat the exersise, this time with your pointer 1/8th inch from the rim itself.
You will know right there if your rim or your tire is faulty.
I like to use a permanent marker, the white one, I bring it in close enough so it marks the "high" spots on the rim for me, I use this method when I re-lace spoke wheels.

[cowboyup3371]

No the tire is still in one piece and as best as I can tell the rim is not bent.

I'm no expert but looks like the tire has a sprung belt, see it all the time on cars around here with the rapid up and down of the thermometer, or the rim is bent?

In your video, you can see the gap between the tire and the sprocket changes. I would say to hook up a dial indicator but a simple block of wood placed within a sixteenth of an inch from the tire should do as it will be kicked out.

[cowboyup3371]

There's an inch of play in the chain (manual specifies up to 1.2 inches) with the wheel off of the ground.

What about the angle of that video makes you think the wheel isn't seated properly?

I sure appears that the tire is not fully mounted on that rim to me. Also, the chain looks really loose.

[cowboyup3371]

Ground down the powdercoat with the dremel today and sure enough, everything is working properly again.


I then started trying to figure out the wobble seen during my last ride. I first checked to see if the wheel moved by pulling on it side to side and top to bottom. Nothing moved although I didn't rotate the wheel to check a few more times. I also looked at the marks on the swingarm where it seems they were off. Yet after loosening the wheel and resetting it, I still think I have a wobble but can't figure out why. The chain looks straight to me and is probably at the low end of the tension but seems ok.

While the wife helped with the throttle, I took a video from the rear of the bike. Does anyone else see the wobble (blow up the video to full screen please)? Do you have any suggestions on how to figure out why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-46USH9d9c&feature=youtu.be

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks Stan. Though I was wondering about running those two grounds back to the Eastern Beaver box ground side. It's there for that use and is already connected to the battery ground so I thought it might be a good idea to use it; any one have their own thoughts?