1980 gs450

[shinjiikarii]

Hello, just purchased a used GS450 and I am in need of new a new shift lever and linkage, mine is so sloppy I can barely shift the thing. Checked locally here in Kansas but was unable to find anything. Found little on ebay for the gs450, however I did find several levers with the linkage off of 1980 GS500's and 550's. Will these work on my 450? They look identical, but just wondered if anyone on here has had experience with interchanging these particular parts?

Thanks!

 

[tkent02]

Someone on here was parting out a 450 a little while ago.

I have a 450 and 550 both, could compare the two but it will be a while before I can.
I bet the 550 stuff would fit but maybe the adjustment rod would be a different length.
That part would be easy to make. I have several for a 550.

Suzuki still crries everything new but some of it is expensive.

 

[Big Rich]

Wow, look at the mirrors on that thing......

As far as the actual part goes, find the part number on www.partzilla.com (or similar) and you should GR able to cross reference what other bikes used the same one.

 

[shinjiikarii]

Someone on here was parting out a 450 a little while ago.

I have a 450 and 550 both, could compare the two but it will be a while before I can.
I bet the 550 stuff would fit but maybe the adjustment rod would be a different length.
That part would be easy to make. I have several for a 550.

Suzuki still crries everything new but some of it is expensive.

I don't really need the adjustment rod. Just these two parts.

25520-47000 This one seems to be the same.
25600-44100 However this part is different.

Well Balls.

 

[shinjiikarii]

Wow, look at the mirrors on that thing......

As far as the actual part goes, find the part number on www.partzilla.com (or similar) and you should GR able to cross reference what other bikes used the same one.

Thanks! Trying that now. (Oh and the mirrors are on their way out, any suggestions on replacements?)

 

[Big Rich]

Part of the problem might be the attachment on the shifter shaft (the shaft that comes out of the sprocket cover). In the pic you just posted, notice how the attached part is sticking towards the front of the engine slightly? Generally, you want that part pointing straight down at the ground, along with the part on the shift lever it attaches to ......if that makes any sense. Because they are at different angles, it can cause the shifter to bind.

As far as mirrors go, it's really a personal opinion. I have bar end mirrors at all times - I think they vibrate less and you get more visibility IMO. But it's up to you.

 

[tkent02]

Part of the problem might be the attachment on the shifter shaft (the shaft that comes out of the sprocket cover). In the pic you just posted, notice how the attached part is sticking towards the front of the engine slightly? Generally, you want that part pointing straight down at the ground, along with the part on the shift lever it attaches to ......

Yes, move that piece one spline on the shift shaft so the arm is vertical, shorten the rod so the lever is in the right place. It will work much better. Is that pivot on the frame all worn out too?

 

[shinjiikarii]

Yes, move that piece one spline on the shift shaft so the arm is vertical, shorten the rod so the lever is in the right place. It will work much better. Is that pivot on the frame all worn out too?

I will do that, thank you gentlemen. Still the ball joints on both ends of the linkage are SHOT, so going to need to do something about them at some point, still anything that makes this thing more rideable in the meantime helps immensely!

 

[hardline_42]

You can probably drill out the rivets that hold the rod ends on and replace them with generic rod ends with threaded studs and a nut, if you have sufficient clearance.

 

[gspower]

Wish I could help, but my 425 doesn't have any of that. The shift pedal fastens directly onto a corresponding rod in the crankcase area. No "linkages" or anything.

 

[shinjiikarii]

You can probably drill out the rivets that hold the rod ends on and replace them with generic rod ends with threaded studs and a nut, if you have sufficient clearance.

Would that I could, don't really have the resources available at the moment, living in a studio apartment while I attend college. All my mechanic work is done in the parking lot. Ugh.

 

[Guest]

I had the same problem... the stock heim joints are peened so a dremel or grinder will take care of removing them from the linkages.

Then I used some hobby ball joints with M6 threads to replace them. They've been on for over a year and a half and about 30,000km's now no problems.

The ones I used are "JBS-M06.0Lx32.50-CS" and "JBS-M06.0Rx32.50-CS" that from this place:

http://www.smallparts.com.au/store/partslist/jointsballandsocketrightanglelightduty/jointsballandsocketrightanglelightduty/Q/1/

Remember to use locktite when securing the arms to the linkages... I lost both nuts at different times when I didn't and that makes for some very interesting shifting!

 

[shinjiikarii]

Well gentlemen, thanks for all of the help. I got a set of used linkage and am now able to at least shift through the gears properly, still seems a bit harder to shift than other bikes I've ridden, but at least it works.

Unfortunately I have made another fun discovery about the bike I just purchased, someone has swapped the original carbs for some inferior models, which is giving me all sorts of idle problems. Just thought I'd see if anyone had some original GS450 Carbs lying around that they would like to get rid of?

Thanks!

 

[Big Rich]

What carbs are on there now? Pictures please?

 

[shinjiikarii]

 

[Big Rich]

It's been awhile since I ran stock carbs (ahem.......never), but if I recall correctly, those are stock.

 

[tkent02]

They look just like mine, but they look different sitting in a box.

 

[jeffasaurus2]

Those are definitely stock carbs.

 

[Guest]

Yup, stock carbs right there...

Edit: Two things I noticed... you appear to have the stock fuel tap (top right of first photo) but the vacuum port on the left carb doesn't have the vacuum hosed attached so you won't be getting any fuel.

The other thing is the left carb is missing the cover over the butterfly pivot shaft so you probably want to make sure that's sealing up correctly.

 

[jeffasaurus2]

Don't take it back to them!