81 GS550T Full Rebuild...In Ohio

[cowboyup3371]

Does someone have some good directions on making your own since the stuff I saw on YouTube looked suspicious last night?

[tkent02]

My home made one didn't work at all. The HF one did OK.

[Dogma]

HF sells a soda blaster for cheap that actually works.

I had better luck with a homemade one. Maybe you tried a nicer one than I did.

[tkent02]

HF sells a soda blaster for cheap that actually works.

[Nessism]

Soda blast those carbs. They will look like brand new afterwards. Harbor Freight sells the media, and you can make your own gun for cheap.

[pete]

Cool Scott... Sci's idea sounds like it could work? I didn't have to strip my carbs, just dipped and assembled...

[Sci85]

I use a dremel and the small wire wheels you can get for them. They get into most every crevice. Carb cleaner spray has also been known to work to get paint out of the crevices. I spray a small, thin rag with cleaner then wrap it around the end of a screwdriver and slowly work the area. I use the dremel method the most except for the few areas it won't reach.

[cowboyup3371]

Went by the new garage today and continued trying to strip paint off the tank and carbs. The tank went well but that's a given and now just need to take the wire wheel to finish it off before priming it. Speaking of primer, I picked up some sprayable primer and hardener from a local auto paint store. I'm hoping to put some on by next weekend if everything goes well.

As far as the carbs go, I'm still no closer to getting the old paint off. I posted these in my other thread but will add this one here too:




Also took the bike off the lift finally and placed it on the center stand/jack stands.

Thanks dude,now I'm really jealous.Even if it's not yours.

[cowboyup3371]

No work done today as it was moving day in my friend's household. He's moving into a nicer house with a HUMONGOUS garage for the bikes and so all of them had to be loaded up on the trailer. So my frame, two engines (both Hondas), his Suzuki Boulevard cruiser, and his SV1000 race bike were loaded onto my truck and Steve's trailer (yes, I strapped my frame down after this picture was taken).



Once over at the new house, we offloaded the bikes (I got to walk his SV down off the trailer and put it in its spot as the battery died) and then unloaded the engines and the tool boxes. I will say those Hondas are MUCH MUCH heavier than my 550 engine (did them by myself) to pick up and drop on the ground but I got it.

This was taken after we offloaded mine but before the others.



He's been banned from working in the garage until the house is finished but I'm tempted to put a lift table in there and a few other odds and ends; especially since I'm allowed to keep working on my bike there even after I have it running.

[pete]

Good stuff Scott, coming together now!

Ceramic coating is good stuff... the only thing I'm finding is that due to the weather I haven't washed my bike for far too long and because I therefore haven't polished the pipe, it's starting to get a slightly yellow tinge to it in places.

When I wash and polish it next I know it will be back to it's nice silver self though

[cowboyup3371]

I received front brake parts and handlebar grips from Z1 as well as needle seats and needles from Parts N More today so I'm about done for needing new parts, I hope. I won't be rebuilding either of my MCs (front is still good as best I could tell and my rear was rebuilt three years ago) but will repaint the rear. The front calipers will need to be fully rebuilt but I think my rear is also still good from its rebuild when I did the MC. Of course, that might change when I take it apart to paint.

I also received my exhaust pipes back on Monday. I haven't had time to take any pictures thanks to work and the weather but they look great. Basically I had them ceramic coated at a shop who's supposed to be better than the one I had the frame powdercoated (and claimed ceramic coating sucked).

[pete]

I know what you mean there, I originally thought blue for mine but there are so many different tints and shades of blue I gave up and stuck with maroon... still happy with that though

Keen to see how she turns out!

[cowboyup3371]

Excellent stuff Scott, glad to see her coming together!

If Tom can't find that part and the 450 part is the same, mine is also sitting here doing nothing as I have blanked mine off due to having the Acewell. Shipping could be an issue though...

So what's the plan for paint? Anything firm yet or a surprise?

Thanks Pete, I'll let you know as I believe it does fit on the 450 as well (looked yesterday don't remember today).

Paint - yea, that's the issue. I'm still sold on keeping it blue but haven't decided on the tint. Looking today I'm thinking a cobalt or a pearl color but I can't make up my mind as I am more of a visual person - I need to see what it looks like on the bike to know if I like it.

We'll see though.

[pete]

Excellent stuff Scott, glad to see her coming together!

If Tom can't find that part and the 450 part is the same, mine is also sitting here doing nothing as I have blanked mine off due to having the Acewell. Shipping could be an issue though...

So what's the plan for paint? Anything firm yet or a surprise?