1979 GS850 cleanup/rebuild

[Digitus]

I found the problem ! :dancing: Broken cable that feeds +12V to various bulbs. Details are in the pics. Funny thing is that the rubber protection around the bunch of wires was not damaged ! My guess is the problem came from bending the cable repeatedly and when I took the clocks off the bike the cable was already on the verge of breaking.

Things left to do:
- paint front brake handle
- rebuild cabs
- seal airbox
- Take care of tank rust and make it presentable. I will not spend any money on a professional paint job unless I am 100% sure Im going to keep the bike and its in excellent condition.

By the way: does anyone know the best way to get the white text back on the clocks: high beam, neutral, oil pressure. Its completely faded from mine

Here pics of today's adventure:

 

[Guest]

I By the way: does anyone know the best way to get the white text back on the clocks: high beam, neutral, oil pressure. Its completely faded from mine

Not sure that it's the best way but... for my handlebar switches i used office label maker = white text on black self adhesive tape. then clearcoat.

 

[Guest]

 

[Digitus]

thx psy, looks great, Ill give it a try...

Couldnt do much in the weekend, my elbow hurts, no idea why. Maybe I ran out of elbow grease.

I tried to fit the new seat. Just bolting on a new part, should be easy enough, right? Wrong. Seat was a bit too short, I had a space between the seat and the tank. changed the mounting of the tank to solve that.

Also went on the hunt for some carb dip cleaning fluid. Nowhere to be found, just blank stares when I asked for it. So I cleaned my carbs with lemon juice, it worked quite well.

I am also on the lookout for a right hand side cover, with original blue paint and GS850 on it. Anyone anyone????


I like the way it looks now, much more presentable than the tired looking thing I bought

 

[Guest]

I am also on the lookout for a right hand side cover, with original blue paint and GS850 on it. Anyone anyone????

Remember that's Euro-spec paint scheme so you won't find it across the Atlantic...

I have a couple of matching GS850G emblems. They are yours if you want them. I can post a pic later on.

 

[mike-s]

I'm impressed, that worked quite well for lemon juice

 

[MiloBramble]

Very Nice work.

 

[Flyboy]

Wow, that bike did clean up nicely, you have done some good work there. :clap:
Keep up the attention to detail.

 

[Digitus]

Wow, that bike did clean up nicely, you have done some good work there. :clap:
Keep up the attention to detail.

thanks folks

Yes, the devil is in the details...however...Im not going for the impeccable look, it wont last when the bike is in use.

I know of some old bikes that have been restored to a state that the owner wont ride it. Instead they are on constant display. Thats not my cup of tea.

I want to ride it a LOT ... and I like cleaning and polishing after a ride

 

[Guest]

... and I like cleaning and polishing after a ride

Are you young?

 

[shwaz]

I am also on the lookout for a right hand side cover, with original blue paint and GS850 on it. Anyone anyone????

tentative here - don't want to get your hopes up but this is the scoop

i bought my bike a few weeks ago and the LH side cover fell off on I-80 during the ride home from the PO. kay sarah sarah, right? was ****ed but there's nothing to do for it - it was night and though I pulled over I couldnt see it and didn't want to die trying to pick a piece of plastic up off the highway.

I am looking for a replacement LH side and hoping I can bring my own bike to some former glory, but I'm also considering moving on and putting in a pair of blacks. I'm undecided yet, but if I go the latter route there's a RH in like-new for you here. PM me so I can find your name easily if I decide to let it go.

You're doing a hell of a job on the restoration. I hope someday my own 79 850 will look that shiny :-\\\

cheers


**edit i think mine is the same color scheme but I'm not sure. Mine photographs blue like yours but is in fact a bit more of a teal color in normal light.

 

[Digitus]

Are you young?

hahaha ! Im 41. You decide if that young or not

 

[Digitus]

tentative here -
**edit i think mine is the same color scheme but I'm not sure. Mine photographs blue like yours but is in fact a bit more of a teal color in normal light.

Thanks mate, got any bigger pictures online that show the colour? Im kinda curious if it really is the same colour.

Your story also made me think about ways to improve the way the sidecovers are held on. Thinking about some extra tie wraps

 

[Guest]

Your story also made me think about ways to improve the way the sidecovers are held on. Thinking about some extra tie wraps

With the two top metal tabs on the frame in the right position and all new rubber bits on all three bracket points I find that there's no way the side covers would ever come off by accident. In fact considerable pull is needed to take them off.

If the tabs are bent or broken or rubber bits hard or missing... well, that's another story

 

[Digitus]

Happy happy joy joy

Happy happy joy joy

I am not done completely (I think I will never be at 100%), but I'm going to try to ride it today. :dancing:

Here's already a pic of where it is now:

 

[MotoX]

I guess those who read my buildthread understand that I'm not realy in to these bikes in their original looks, but I still have to admire a bike in such a good condition. Great job on getting it so good looking!

 

[Rover]

Great job,looks fantastic.

 

[Digitus]

WoooHoo

Ride was GREAT! Still a bit rough though, carbs have to be adjusted and finetuned. Brakes were good enough. Not like the 6-pot calipers on the TL, but not bad either.

I noticed it farts sometimes when closing the throttle, Not really annoying, but maybe someone has an idea about it? Cant put it in neutral when standing still, but that may be due to high idle speed?

Next on my to do list is:
- Finetuning carb idle & sync
- checking my charging system
- Some kind of striping on top of the gastank to hide those hideous black spots (used to be brown with rust)
- Polishing the tank with a light abasive to bring back a bit more shine
- Polishing the wheels
- painting front calipers
- find a matching side cover <- I need lotsa good luck here !
Maybe more, but I'll run into it when fiddling in the shed

For now, I have to replace the chain and sprockets on the missus' bike, which is quite an operation Top priority work, dont want a grumpy wife here !

Here's the vid of the test, enjoy ! Ignore all the wind noise...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjK4enAFmU

And 1 more pic from the other side:

 

[Loki]

Bike looks fantastic, very nice work :clap::clap::clap:

 

[Guest]

Great work Digitus! That's such a fine looking motorcycle

I noticed it farts sometimes when closing the throttle, Not really annoying, but maybe someone has an idea about it?

Possibly leaks in the system - carb boots, airbox boots, airbox side covers, exhaust at the head...

Cant put it in neutral when standing still, but that may be due to high idle speed?

I found that using appropriate oil makes a lot of difference.

- find a matching side cover <- I need lotsa good luck here !

Mixing the right paint should be easy enough. Decals: http://www.bike-stickers.com/classics.htm
That's where I got mine from (very happy). Maybe they want to sell you just what you need?