1979 Suzuki GS 425L Project

[Midwest FZ Rider]

I've been working on my GS for close to a year now and covering the progress as it goes on my blog. Basically What I have been doing on a couple of other websites is posting a short update on in my project with the meat and potatoes of the progress over on the blog. With discussion and advice on the particular forum. I'd like to do the same here, so I've got a new update on the project, it's running!

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-old-carbs-in-and-she-runs.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlbVdnN0Foc

Thoughts on how it's running idling?

 

[Guest]

Mate that sounds like it idles pretty well, didn't watch the whole thing but it certainly started quick and held its idle well.

Other than that, bit hard to tell without mufflers etc. but I didn't hear any noises I didn't expect to hear...

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

New update, took the bike for it's first ride!

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-ride-on-gs.html

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Any other plans after the exhaust now that you got here running?

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Definitely, the headers were chopped before I got the bike, the P.O. had put some Harley Davidson silencers on it. Needless to say the outside diameter on the headers is much smaller than the inside diameter of the H.D. silencers, so much so that they don't seal on the headers when clamped at their tightest. My initial penny pinching instinct is to use the H.D. silencers with some sort of reducer. But would the bike still run lean is the next question. Secondly I might see what the local bike boneyard has laying around. I don't know if I want to get too crazy. My initial goal is to get the thing running dependinly and then tweak things to my liking from there. Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

Mate glad to see you got out for your first ride! I've yet to accomplish that with mine...

As for mufflers, if you don't have a big budget and have the HD cans still, then try some reducers and see how it runs.

If you're having issues, then go looking for something better... just my 2c anyway...

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Another blog update here, I re-installed the stock Harley Davidson Sportster mufflers that the previous owner
cobbled onto the bike using some automotive exhaust reducers and clamps. Still cobbly but at least there are not leaks :-/

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2011/08/mufflers-properly-reinstalled.html

Check it out if you're interested.

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

FINALLY Got out to the garage to do a little work on Oldbike this last Sunday. The Summer/Fall Segue always seems to be able to suck up all of my free time. Got a lot of other stuff done but not much on the bike

Most recently I took off the old rear taillight.

And earlier I got to do a little screwing around while I was running the sta-bilized gas through the carbs on the SV.

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Did a little work on the turn signals yesterday, actually it's been in the works for a bit. My machinist buddy finally got some time to do the charity work for me so hence the new blog update.

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2011/12/saying-goodbye-to-lollipops.html

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

I finally bought myself some "Christmas presents," a Suzuki GS425 Complete Gasket Set made by Athena


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS400-GS-400-GS425-Complete-Gasket-Set-New-/350326404399?hash=item519114b52f&item=350326404399&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr


And then I dodged a bullet aand instead of paying this guy $90 for his New Intake Manifold Carb Boots and hardware on this Ebay auction.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Intake-Manifold-Carb-Boots-GS400-GS425-GS450-78-82-OEM-Suzuki-Parts-F75-/270876775366?hash=item3f118393c6&item=270876775366&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr


I pieced the parts out from http://www.powersportsplus.com/ for only $63.


I am kind of pumped to be back on working on the heart of the bike rather than just aesthetics.

 

[Guest]

Good stuff.

I'm keen to see what you think of those Athena gaskets... and don't use the base gasket, buy a genuine one.

I'm not real happy with the Athena valve cover gasket as it seems to be on the verge of seeping oil continuously. I'm putting up with it until budget will let me get a genuine one later on...

All the case cover and sump cover gaskets seem ok so far, but only just over 300km's on the motor since the rebuild...

 

[lmrmllr89]

I really like those turn signals........with those pipes on did you have to get different jets for the carbs or does it run good with the stock jets and those pipes........mines got similar pipes...thats why I'm wondering .

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

I still have the stock jets in the carbs. It stands to reason that since the Harley silencers are way more open (P.O. put those on there and pitched the stock ones) that some tweaking needs to be done to the jetting. I just got the intake gaskets, o-rings, carb boots, and clamps replaced so hopefully that will help the idling/running too. I haven't messed with the jetting yet as I am not sure that I really want to keep those HD silencers on there as they are pretty heavy. I am goign to go through and try vacuum synch the carbs in the next week and see if the new intake hardware made a difference. I'll post an update when I do get to that.

Here is an update on what I did this last Monday and Tuesday.

I finally got the seat properly mounted using the brackets from the stock king and queen seat.

You can read more about the work done here.

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2012/01/properly-installed-new-seat-and-other.html

 

[Guest]

That seat's in good nic! Looks nice and comfy

If your carbs aren't in sync, the sync will make a big difference... at least it did on mine... well worth it.

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Thanks Pete! The carb synch is on the short list of things to do. Here is what I managed to get done this last Wednesday and Thursday.

Take a look at my blog if you are interested!

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

I got the shortened rear turn signals mounted to the rear fender today.

Check out the full update on the blog if you'd like.

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2012/01/saying-goodbye-to-lollipops-part-2.html?m=0

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Here is the latest update on my bike! I got out to the garage, and made some things right.

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2012/01/making-amends-for-past-transgressions.html

 

[Cyclepath834]

Nice work on the cover. Detailed blog is way cool too. Great to see you make what you have work....need to do some of that on my valve cover bolts. Cheers

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Thanks, it's never going to be earth shattering. I just hope that some of the stuff might be of use to others!

 

[Midwest FZ Rider]

Gave welding a try in this latest update.

http://79suzukigs.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-one-is-never-pretty.html