'79 GS1000E project start

[Nessism]

Do you have a truck? Can you bring the bike up to my place? If so, there is a very good chance I've got the shims you need. Currently I've got 42 shims, most below 2.75, and Salty_Monk lives a couple miles away and I'm sure he has more you can tap into.

Edit:
Inventory

Several thin checking shims like 2.40 and 2.15's


2.40 - 2
2.45 - 0
2.50 - 6
2.55 - 5
2.60 - 7
2.65 - 8
2.70 - 6
2.70 - 6
2.75 - 1

[cowboyup3371]

I sure hope you took Ed up on that offer; if so, how's it running now?

[oldGSfan]

For some reason I missed Ed's offer and I ordered the one shim I needed, a 2.65 from Z1. I think I got too dependent on seeing an Email update saying that someone has replied - but it's not super reliable. It was only $4 and I needed some other stuff so I'm good - thanks Ed! I will keep in mind for future. I still have a few shims from my '82 GPz1100 sitting in a drawer, never chuck stuff away...

The bike had 7 of 8 shims that were correct because I did a light lapping of the valves - so it was just rearranging, and determining which size I needed. BTW I'm using the trick of a plastic zip tie jammed into the open valve. It is so much easier than dealing with the little tool you have to sit perfectly on the edge of the bucket.

Now, as I wait for the package, I did some cosmetic stuff. The ignition side of the case had a crack from an obvious drop, very slight just behind the cover, so I used JB Weld. I polished up the clutch cover in situ, and taped things off and sprayed. I used an ignition cover off the GS850 as it was in better shape. As for the overall cosmetic level, for this bike it's fine. I bought emblems but they are the wrong ones (!) which sucks, usually Partzilla is right on. But these are silver, not black. I'm leaning to not caring about originality and just using these, which I think are off the 'L' model.

Oh and I covered the seat with an eBay one, not bad. The foam is too soft for me but it's such a monster seat I just sink down in it like an old Caddy.

[Big T]

The original style emblems were superceded in the early 80s and you get the later plastic ones when you order them.
Nice work so far

[oldGSfan]

Thanks, not sure if you know: Do the black vinyl ones look good? I have gotten the really good OEM ones for about $15 each over the years on my GS's, and I suppose I could eat that cost if I were confident the plastic replacements look good. The price I see on eBay is reasonable from the UK as long as they are nice.

The original style emblems were superceded in the early 80s and you get the later plastic ones when you order them.
Nice work so far

[Nessism]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114831689631?hash=item1abc80879f%3Ag%3A-ZsAAOSwRFNgtAo0&LH_ItemCondition=4

This emblem could be cleaned up...

[oldGSfan]

Mmm, real metal yes, thanks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11483168963...temCondition=4

This emblem could be cleaned up...

[oldGSfan]

Getting closer, just working on some of the little things now. Hope to fire it up in the next week and if all goes well (which it should, inshahallah) I will throw some tires and a chain on it and go riding.

[oldGSfan]

Fired it up today, it warmed up in about the normal amount of time and settled to a steady 1K idle, very smooth and will take throttle with no hesitation, taking it easy though as I sort things out. And no fuel leaks.

There is a little bit of burbling and popping (i.e. backfiring) on overrun that you can hear when I rev it, so I need to lean it out gradually, I think, to find the sweet spot. Or something. I have the emissions mixture screw 1 turn out but I think that may be too far, from my reading. The main idle screw is about 1 1/2 at this point.

I hope fine tuning is all it takes. I was fearing it would be terrible with the pods and V&H 4/1 on there, but I think it's already in the ballpark. Unfortunately I can't take it for a ride until I get some new tires, so at this point there's more wishing and hoping than hard facts to go on. I didn't want to sink $ into tires (and I'm borrowing the GS1100E's battery) if the motor lunched itself on startup - you never know.

[Rob S.]

Nice! Is that a V&H "Sidewinder"?

[oldGSfan]

I don't think so, IIRC the sidewinder is lower in the rear, not canted upward. It isn't objectionably loud, thankfully. My Turbo is too loud, I am considering baffles for it but that may not be a good idea. I am annoyed by too much exhaust noise, comes with age I suppose.

Nice! Is that a V&H "Sidewinder"?

[steve murdoch]

Another one saved from Parts Heaven.
Excellent work, GS.

[oldGSfan]

Thanks. I finally broke down and got a Motion Pro remote fuel cannister, it is a lot better than using a tank sitting on a high shelf which I feared I'd somehow knock off.

Money is a bit tight after being laid off, so I will probably mount Shinkos on it. The Avons I put on the CB750 and GS1100E are excellent but I'm finding them scarce in my size. I also need a chain and would like to downsize from the 630 but since both my sprockets are brand new, the budget way may prevail with just another 630 chain for the time being.

Big thanks to Ed (Nessism) for sending me a good emissions mixture screw, that was the last piece of the puzzle.

Another one saved from Parts Heaven.
Excellent work, GS.

[David]

Didn't the GS850G exhausts work out?

[oldGSfan]

They are my backup plan. They fit but need the flanges modified. I have had too many other fish to fry plus I wanted to see how the V&H sounded and how it ran. Time will tell.

On other fronts, I decided that the bodywork that has original paint and graphics could be made to look decent with some 2K clearcoat I had on hand, and I did that today. There are nicks and scratches that I can't fix without a respray, but for a rider it doesn't look too bad. I just need to cut back the clear with the 2500 grit and compound it into a nice shine without the orange peel. It'll be a 10 footer (or so).

Didn't the GS850G exhausts work out?