1983 GS450E build. My first bike.

[83_450E]

I may have primed myselff into a rich fuel mix. The previous owner said the carbs were jetted for the k&n pod filters. Judging by his previous work it was done incorrectly.
The valve train is making a lot of noise the cover comes off tonight, rear fender should be here today and I'll try welding up my muffler. Still lots to do.
The side covers are missing the mounting points so I will makw a writeup on how tobreplace them with nylon bolts.

 

[Charlie G]

You may want to check the timing chain for the cams. If the chain jumps a tooth the valve train will make alot of racket. If it has, reset it and check that the automatic cam chain tensioner is set properly. Both of my bikes had them ( the tensioner)set improperly when I bought them. On my 450 the nut that holds the knurled on the tensioner fell off, (my fault) the chain went slack and it jumped several teeth. This is how I know. I had a thread here from a few years back called "Lost a Nut" I think. There are pictures there.

cg

 

[Guest]

Carbs should have mixture screws, and on the 80 - 82 450's they're under a cover above the butterfly pivot shaft although in Aus we got them uncovered (bonus).

On your carbs I'm not sure where they are, they changed the carbs completely for the '83 model year.

Looking at the parts fiche on Alpha Sports I see a little round section in about the same spot on the '83 carbs. They may be hiding under there... you can see parts 16 - 19 for the butterfly pivot, and just above and to the left slightly you can see another round bit with no parts marked.

 

[83_450E]

Haven't updated in awhile
did some more tinkering, adjusted the valves and started welding up the muffler (mostly burning through it)
also ground out and welded the footpegs straight again

I got laid off, two more days of work until I'm done. After I wait a while at the unemployment lines I'll have all the time I need to get this thing done and move on.

 

[Guest]

Your welding sounds like mine...

Bugger on getting laid off! Hopefully you can find something soon, but I can understand getting some bonus time to finish her off

 

[83_450E]

http://youtu.be/3xcWPubj5Y0
check it out, got to spin the rear a little bit. Seems like it is running well now.
I got to ride around my driveway some. My driveway is big enough to roll figure 8's and it was nice to practice some low speed maneuvering but damn...need to adjust bars pegs and pretty much everything.
I'm motivated to get her on the road now!

 

[Guest]

You hoon

 

[83_450E]

I went about cleaning some protective grime off the motor today. Looks like I've got a small leak from the cam chain tensioner but that doesn't surprise me. From what I understand automatic chain tensioners are a death sentence to older motorcycles.
Is there an aftermarket or home brewed option for a manual tensioner?

Looks like rebuilding this thing isn't such a huge deal.
I've got a motor noise on decel sort of a grinding sliding noise when the rpm's fall. Sounds like a rotating piece is tight on rising rpm and rattles around when slackened.

Again I'm looking at the cam chain tensioner.

 

[Charlie G]

Factory tensioners are reliable. There easy and cheap to rebuild,. Make sure it is set per the manual and the nut that holds the knurled knob has a lock washer and lock tight.

cg

 

[83_450E]

took her out for a ride today! Registered and insured without a hitch and put 30 something miles in town and a few freeway. She rides smooth and surprised me with the amount of power available. I'm completely satisfied with the time and effort I've put forward.

when you look at what I had to work with...I don't know if I'd do it again. Not yet anyway hah.
Still lots to do, I'm sure you all know projects never really finish.

 

[Guest]

Excellent, well done! Very satisfying isn't it?

 

[83_450E]

Took her out for a ride today and after twisting a couple dials on the carbs, still can't clean up the idle.
Pulled the plugs and they are white white.
So! I've got k&n pod filters, where should I start for jetting?

 

[Guest]

Start by getting your main jet right, then move to the needles, then adjust the mixture screws.

Plug chop at full throttle and read the plug colour will get your main jets done.

Same at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 throttle to read the colour will get your needles right.

Do a search on Koolaid Kid's adjusting CV carb mixture screws to get them right.

There should be a better write up on this on BassCliff's site.

 

[83_450E]

136 main were in the bike, found some 132's and drilled to 137.5 and wot top end pulls better.
Mid range...still bogs when wot near 6k then takes off at 7. Top end does pretty well. I drilled the cv's and cut the springs 20mm like you did.
I read koolaid's tut but still can't find where my idle mix screws would be.

would they be the vertical screw just behind the choke rod?
On the right facing side of the carbs there are two small plugs one slightly larger than the other. I pulled the smaller one out and there was nothing! Should I pull the second plug out?
The plug was destroyed in the process.

 

[83_450E]

Found it. One is an idle speed mix screw. The other is an allen bolt with the needle rtv'ed to the end no spring or oring. ****! Might need a new carb on this one.

 

[Guest]

Ok, lost me on that one... got a pic? I haven't seen '83 carbs myself but I would've said that the vertical screw near the choke rod would be my first guess...

 

[83_450E]

Mind you I have little idea what I'm doing to this thing. I'm trying to pick it up as I go along.

here you are
looks like the previous owner pulled the threads on the idle mix adjustment and decided to fix it by himself.
The left carb has an o-ring - spring - needle - adjustment nut
The right carb has needle - bolt

A super effective setup.
I took the left carb and went snug in, then 2.5 turns out and measured how much the adjustment nut came up by referencing the top of the carb. The right carb went snug in then backed out the same distance, or as close as I could get.
The idle has cleaned up and isn't popping out the carbs any longer but still very rarely popping through the carbs on decel.
I'll have to run by the motorcycle salvage yard around here and see if they have a similar carb laying around.

 

[Guest]

Wow ok, that's ugly!

Popping on decel is typically a lean condition, but being on decel probably means your needle needs a little shimming.

You can compensate to a certain extent with the mixture screws but the proper way is to shim the needle.

 

[83_450E]

I'll go to the hardware store tomorrow and grab some stainless. Figure .010" shims outta do it?

Pretty sure I owe you a beer for your help on this.

 

[GateKeeper]

Radio Shack has the small washers that fit, from what I have read on here in the past...

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