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Search results

  1. BeardmanSam

    New head for 1979 GS550 with bad spark plug threads?

    Yeah, helicoil is probably the way to go. Word of warning with them though, be very careful about over-torquing the plugs after you've installed the coil. The coils are pretty easy to krangle up if you go ham with the spark plug socket.
  2. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Was planning on it, then ran into some issues due to the rusty as hell gas tank crapping up the fuel filter all too fast and causing me to lean out. Didn't have time before Pine Ridge to pull and clean the inside of the tank. Add on cash flow issues it was either take the truck or buy a couple...
  3. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Frankly, a whole lot better than it did with the factory carbs. Which, to be honest were desperately in need of at least a very thorough cleaning. That'll teach me to trust the PO (who was a neighbor at the time) when he says he cleaned 'em shortly before his wife made him put the bike up for...
  4. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Thanks. I love my ammo can saddlebags. I just had the things laying around the garage. Cost me a cool $0 total, since I liberated the Kindorf rail, hardware, and caution tape from work. Even cheaper than the $30 amazon special soft bags on my other bike. The tape is the really important part...
  5. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Unfortunately, I'm going to be at a music festival in PA that weekend. Maybe next time. I'll put it on my radar.
  6. BeardmanSam

    A Late Introduction from Kelowna BC

    Pretty always takes second place to functional. Congrats on the functional GS from another seminewb/mostly lurker.
  7. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Where (and when) is down here? I don't give a hoot about trophies, but I do like road trips (assuming I can swing the timeline around work/life).
  8. BeardmanSam

    It's ALIVE!

    Quite a while back I posted a bunch of questions and issues about a '79 GS550L I had acquired. I now have news of the good flavor. It lives and runs! Took a bit. And I copped out on a few things like rebuilding the carbs. But I'm now the proud owner of an actually functional antique bike. Fair...
  9. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Been a hot minute, but I thought I'd update. Between changing jobs and a promotion at the new job I hadn't had a lot of time to work on motorcycles. I now have spark (and crank). To date: Replaced the fusebox (and upgraded to blade fuses). Points were about shot, upgraded to a Dyna S ignition...
  10. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Incredibly helpful as I've never done any of this. Thank you. I haven't had time to work on the bike recently, and when I have had the time weather hasn't cooperated :mad:. Hopefully I'll be able to get out there this weekend. I'll make sure to update once I do.
  11. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Longish time, no update... Life got in the way of swearing at motorcycles for a bit :(. After replacing the fuse box, start button/killswitch, and all associated wire the engine now cranks when the start button is depressed. I still have no spark however. Plugs are only a year old. They were...
  12. BeardmanSam

    Hello! (Should've done this first)

    I guess this is technically my second thread, but I guess an introduction aught to be in order. First off, about me: I'm a factory rat currently in the central NY area. I'm an obsessive rider, my bike is basically my primary mode of transportation. Old Japanese bikes and ratbikes are my jam...
  13. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Bike is a GS550L, but the 'L' key on my keyboard is about shot and I'm terribad at proofreading. I have wiring diagrams (in service manual from bikecliff's site). Wiring (outside my changes and some dubious looking splices in other circuits) appears to be stock. I did run new wire to the coils...
  14. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Yeah, if it ain't obvious I really don't know what I'm doing :lol:. I gave up on my last project because of nightmare electrics. I was really hoping the electric issues with this bike would be minor and help me learn a bit more. Instead I find myself confused and stressed. I really love this...
  15. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    By directly off the fuse I mean one probe on any ground point (be it frame, engine, or straight to the battery post) and other probe on the end of the fuse. And now it occurs to me that the pressure from the probe might be wiggling the fuse holder enough to short it to ground? I'm out of 10a...
  16. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Update of sorts: Still no luck, but made some progress. Today I ran a new line from the fuse box to the engine kill switch. Had 12.6ish volts at the switch. Fuse still blows if I check volts to ground directly off it (so weird to me, good thing I can get glass fuses from work). Still no crank...
  17. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    Thanks all for the input so far. Unfortunately I won't have time to work on the bike until Monday sometime. I'll be sure to update when/if I find anything.
  18. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    If it helps clarify, the fuse in question is a 10A leading up to the engine kill switch/start button. Meter isn't actually capable of measuring amps. It's a cheapo, just ohms & volts AC/DC. I can get voltage readings from both sides of all other fuses just fine. I'm leaning toward just running...
  19. BeardmanSam

    79 GS550 No Spark Electric Conundrum

    I've a 79 GS550 which is currently vexing me with a no spark issue. Previous owner drilled the key switch when he lost the key. Thereafter he had no spark and no crank. Bike will not kickstart, although the kicker does turn the motor. I know for a fact that the bike ran last summer (PO is a...
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