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1981 GS650G - Canada

markitzero

markitzero

Forum Newbie
Hey,

Great Forum, already gaining lots of knowledge.

Today I'm the proud owner of a 1981 GS650G. The bike runs but will need some TLC. Ordering a Carb rebuild kit (any suggestions as to who has the best kit?) and apparently the PO says the valve seals need to be changed (a new set came with the bike). I'll be going over the bike in greater detail and creating a list.

Cosmetically, the bike is definitely Purple.

suzuki gs650g.jpg
 
Welcome to the forum.

The site's search function is a bit flaky, but if you select advanced and search by title only, you'll have better luck searching the archives for the answers you seek. But what you'll find is:

Carb kits: NO. There are carb cleaning tutorials on BikeCliff's Website. Follow those. Buy new o-rings form cycleorings.com. Clean carbs per the instructions. Only replace worn things if necessary. Carb rebuild kits are generally frowned upon.

Valve Seals is a very involved job, as I understand. Removing the head, (also means removing the cylinders, replacing the base gasket) and all its pieces. Replacing the seals, possibly machining the seats, possibly lapping the valves. Others will be along to advise. I haven't done it, yet.

And yes, that is definitely Purple. Not judging. Worked for Prince.
 
Sick purple! I just got the oring kit from cycle oring and a carb dip bucket off amazon for all the parts. As far as the valve seals Is it excessively smoking or burning oil?
 
markitzero said:
................. the valve seals need to be changed .........
.
.
Click to expand...

attachment.php


Welcome to TheGSR.

When you mentioned the valve seals, were you still talking about the carbs (the float valve seat has an oring), or were you talking about intake and exhaust valve seals? Probably were talking about the intake and exhaust valve seals but thought I would ask.
 
Thanks for the welcome wagon and pointing me in the right direction for parts.

Apparently it's burning oil according to the PO and a set of (exhaust) valve seals came with the bike.

Also I was wondering if I should order a set of valve float needles along with the o-ring kit? I was told by a mechanic that you should just change them while you are in there.

The float bowl gaskets are pretty gummy as well. Who would carry the best gasket kit for these. My location is pretty remote and I haven't found a Suzuki parts dealer yet, so I have been doing all my ordering on-line.
 
If it's not flooding or stalling or doing anything crazy now and running good you should be ok with just the orings and deep clean. Do a fresh oil change and see how much you burn in between changes. I've gotten my parts from suzukipartshouse.com. I have one small shop in town that stocks quite a bit
 
While you're in there obviously inspect all valves and valve seats
 
Aha. The Grape Ape. I feel like we have seen that 650 before.


Unfortunately, many of the chem-dips are no longer available in Canada. Kleen-Flo had a product that was available through Napa, but I was checking their site a couple of weeks ago, and they don't offer it. Most of the really effective products on the Canadian Amazon site show as not available.

Let me know if you can get someone to ship anything over from Stateside. It gets treated as dangerous goods, and I have found it to be cost-prohibitive. Now, if you live close to the border, you can use a shipper/receiver on the other side, once the border restrictions are eased.
 
personally, -an outlier here- but I do as little as possible. If the bike runs ok, ride it and do your own troubleshooting as it occurs. Learn about the bike with the "maintenance cycle" (battery check, valve check, tires, strange noises..)

It's best to buy a good bike and do simple tests BEFORE YOU BUY IT. I check forums and download manuals before looking at the bike.

I have never dipped a carb and never changed an o-ring that didn't show up as "poor" on a teardown . That said, carbs and charging system are very common problems but carbs aren't always bad-unless the bike has been sitting or the tank is rusty etc.etc etc. all things to know before buying.

The 650 may use some oil anyways. if it's not extreme or obviously smoking, ride the bike while you do regular maintainence and gather the correct tools so you can dig in to the main issues in fall,winter,spring...Winter can be hard without a heated space.. I've got lots of tools at yard sales-compression gauges abound, metric wrenches abound. All those Canadian Tire junkies selling off their hoard before dying.... too bad about covid!

Retail, Get some JIS screw drivers and an impact driver soon. and an inch/lb torque wrench and nitrile gloves..the thin disposables are the most useful overall but some proper lasting gloves are -well-ok but they are variable as to longevity I find...
 
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Thanks the tips Gorminrider, I have a set of vessel JIS screw drivers and an in/lb torque wrench, I purchased these when was getting my Kawasaki KZ400 running.

I actually downloaded the manuals, and spoke to a few GS owners I know prior to buying.
 
So what are Canadians using for carb dip?

Jim (sad owner of a GS650G with a plugged up #3 carb)
 
markitzero said:
Thanks the tips Gorminrider, I have a set of vessel JIS screw drivers and an in/lb torque wrench, I purchased these when was getting my Kawasaki KZ400 running.

I actually downloaded the manuals, and spoke to a few GS owners I know prior to buying.
Click to expand...

Oh, good- you know what you're doing! need say:there are a couple of notable flaws that MAY come up with these shaft drives...If it starts to whine you likely have "Zooks Syndrome" (he wrote a good pdf about it). search "zooks" or "whine" but just some links are
https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?242169-Whine-Whine-Whine&p=2339320#post2339320
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...78#post1732978
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...p/t-65157.html



...the other shaft drive problem is apparently the ring gear in the hub. The gold coloured ones seem to strip easily, though mine seems ok so far. (1982 650G) Molybdenum grease! Honda makes the best. You want high content of molybdenum so read the specs.

The suzuki charging system has (too) much written about it. You can't miss it in the electrical section.

I had trouble sealing bead with Avon road-riders to the 82's tubeless rims. Maybe just me but I swapped them for Bridgestone BT45s which are good. (Fort Nine is good for tires )
 
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I used the Yamaha carb cleaner last year. About $12 for a litre, that you mix with water. Worked great.
 

Update:

Paint upgraded: Porsche Agate Grey
Biltwell Tracker handle bars w/ Kung-Fu Grips
Front fork spring: Race Tech Hi-Performance Fork Spring
Rear Shocks: YSS
Carbs cleaned and O-rings replaced
Replaced Petcock
New fork seals
Pit Repilca seat cover
Led headlight
Led turn signals
Mosfet Regulator/rectifier upgrade
New Stator
Complete top end rebuild (replaced cylinder head) new exhaust valve gaskets, valves shimmed and carbs synchronized
 
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I need to mention this forum was a massive help!
I'm so grateful for the wealth of Knowledge that is contained in this forum.
 
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