1982 GS750T Front Fork Mystery...

[SamLack99]

Fixing the front brake on Suzy (my 1982 GS750T) revealed just how awful her front suspension was.

Taking it apart, I noticed the right stanchion/inner tube didn't have the 'anti-friction metal' bush on it.

Putting everything back together today, I discovered why.

The inner tube will not fit into the lower fork leg with the bush on.

I suspect the lower fork leg is not original to my bike.

Here's a video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/t9xBMceYs9A

Any suggestions on how best to proceed are much appreciated.

Bye for now

Marcus

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Quite the quandary. As you noticed, the lower right leg of the "T" should not have the bosses for a caliper, as the "T" only has one Caliper - on the left fork. Some previous owner ground those bosses off of a leg that was not for a "T". And as you also noted, finding a lower right for "T" in Europe may prove difficult. Did the right leg leak before you took it all apart. If not, I'd maybe try to rebuild it without the bushing and hope for the best. Good luck.

As you really have no idea what bike the right leg did come from, I don't know how much luck you would have finding the correct anti-friction bushing that must be ever-so-slightly thinner than the one for the "T".

[SamLack99]

Quite the quandary. As you noticed, the lower right leg of the "T" should not have the bosses for a caliper, as the "T" only has one Caliper - on the left fork. Some previous owner ground those bosses off of a leg that was not for a "T". And as you also noted, finding a lower right for "T" in Europe may prove difficult. Did the right leg leak before you took it all apart. If not, I'd maybe try to rebuild it without the bushing and hope for the best. Good luck.

As you really have no idea what bike the right leg did come from, I don't know how much luck you would have finding the correct anti-friction bushing that must be ever-so-slightly thinner than the one for the "T".

Thanks Rich, I don't recall it leaking, but I do recall the front suspension being pretty terrible.

Perhaps with new oil, seals, and O-rings that'll improve?

Hmm.

Does anyone know if the 750T used the same front suspension as a European model?

Looking at the Suzuki GS750E/T supplementary Service Manual, I see the 'E' model had anti-dive.

My Clymer Suzuki GS750 fours 1977-1982 shows forks with double disc bosses and leading axle fork legs.

Trust me to need a straight leg fork, without a disc boss and no anti-dive.

Should be a fun search =)

[Grimly]

This might be your lucky day.
I have, surplus, a pair of fork legs from a 1979-ish GS1000C, which have one LH caliper mount and none on the right.
I used the good, low-mileage stanchions on my GS 850, and the lowers are also unworn.
They're the usual 37mm fork leg diameter, what are yours?
Yours, for the price of postage if they're any good to you.

[salty_monk]

I think they are 37mm the same. I think it was only the older ones that had the 35mm.

[SamLack99]

This might be your lucky day.
I have, surplus, a pair of fork legs from a 1979-ish GS1000C, which have one LH caliper mount and none on the right.
I used the good, low-mileage stanchions on my GS 850, and the lowers are also unworn.
They're the usual 37mm fork leg diameter, what are yours?
Yours, for the price of postage if they're any good to you.

Dang...

...That is really generous of you.

But having measured the diameter of my stanchions, they're 35mm.

So I guess that's not going to work.

But thank you again for your very generous offer.

After a few days of trawling the Internet, I think I'm going to have to take the 'anti-friction metal' bush off the stanchion and follow the same route as the previous owner.

01-forks.jpg

[salty_monk]

You can probably make some 37mm forks work if you also mount the triple trees. You may have to mess with steerer stops and gauge mounting is the only thing.

[SamLack99]

I didn't want to do it, but I don't feel I have much option.

I'm going to put the fork together the way it came apart - without the 'anti friction' metal bushing on the end of the stanchion.

New fork oil, new o-rings and new oil seals and see what Suzy handles like.

If it's bad, I guess I'll have to go for a new front end.

Having looked at a lot of parts diagrams for GS front forks, I see some of them didn't use the inner bush.

Like the SUZUKI GS750C 1979 - So perhaps it'll be alright. Not ideal, but alright.

We'll see.

02-forks.png

[dgates1]

Front right fork lower NOS listed on eBay in the US..

https://ebay.us/m/Q7sohy

[SamLack99]

Front right fork lower NOS listed on eBay in the US..

https://ebay.us/m/Q7sohy

Great spot.

Bought it.

Shame the postage is almost as much as the part LOL.

Still, I'm much happier doing it this way.

Thanks David

[GSXR7ED]

Hey Fellow "T" owner.

Appreciate your write up and narrative on your bike.

Hope it all gets sorted.

[Grimly]

I think they are 37mm the same. I think it was only the older ones that had the 35mm.

But having measured the diameter of my stanchions, they're 35mm.

That's such an oddity that I suspect the Dreaded PO has fitted an older set of forks after a front-end smash.

[salty_monk]

Yes, something weird like that! I don’t think I’d be too happy riding it, it seems like the fork legs vs stantions are a mismatch or something is bent…

[SamLack99]

That's such an oddity that I suspect the Dreaded PO has fitted an older set of forks after a front-end smash.

I'll let you know what I discover once the New Old Stock fork leg arrives...