1983 GSX250S Build

[Guest]

Aaaah of course... a Holden... too knew for me to know about though, gave up caring about cars when my 1 year old Holden Acclaim dropped a crankshaft bearing after having it for 4 days back in '96... seriously regretted trading in my '87 Suzuki Sierra on it which gave me almost no grief whatsoever...

 

[Woodsy]

vectras are the worst car to work on, not normal bolt heads they are all a torque head which is like a star, double over head cams and you cant reuse the head bolts.

Finally mounted the gauges on the bike today, it look a while and some head scratching but i've got it in a place i like.

Original headlight and gauge location

New height.

Here is how i mounted them.

You can also see above the holes i drilled in the blinkers.

 

[landshark]

Did you move them forward to be able to see them?
I had my original gauges dropped about the same distance but i didnt need to move them forward, i have since gone to an acewell.

 

[Woodsy]

They are moved forward a little bit but simply to stop them from hitting on anything still get clear vision of them when i'm on the bike all up it cost me 50c lol

 

[Guest]

Nice effort Josh! They look heaps better down low there.

I'm really counting on a fly screen to hide mine a bit, we'll see how it goes...

Landshark, how hard was it to fit the Acewell? I've heard good things about them... maybe something for me to consider down the track a bit if I get sick of the stock gauges...

 

[Woodsy]

Thanks Pete, i'm really keen to get it all painted now, going to take it for a ride tomorrow, first time in afew weeks.

 

[Guest]

Good stuff! Will be good to get out for a change... I know I can't wait!

 

[landshark]

The acewell was easy to fit and wire up, i havent got it perfect yet in regards to the tacho and fuel gauge.
I believe the tacho on it isnt that accurate and most people put a seperate one on, i dont really care about it that much.

 

[Guest]

Cool... will keep that neatly tucked away in the back of my mind where it will haunt me for years to come until I give in a do it...

 

[Woodsy]

Well....... This could be the end for one 1983 GSX250S.

Went for a ride today, then all of a sudden there came loud rattling noises so i jumped on the clutch and shut the bike down which is a good thing because the engine is locked up, could of been alot worse.

7km and pushing 150kg later i'm home........ Havent had a chance to pull it apart yet to see what the problem is, but the cam chain tensioner is locked solid.

Only 1 person stopped to see if i was ok and that was a writer from Rapid Motorcycle magazine just as i came around the corner our house is on... Thanks Richard.

Hope its nothing major...................................... anyone got a spare engine?......

On the plus side i dont need to go to the gym tonight!

 

[Guest]

Awww man that sucks the big one!!! You gonna tear her down? I wonder if that's where your missing locknut went to and if so it might not be so bad...

Could also be a good excuse to finish the cosmetic stuff while looking for an alternative motor too if you're keen...

 

[Woodsy]

I'm abit ****ed with it at the moment, i checked everything to make sure there were no problems, it was running really well up until then, i dont really want to tear it down again, if its cheaper i might just try and find another motor. I was going to get stuck into it tonight but its to cold outside.

Days like this make me want to sell it and get a car..... i wont though coz i bloody love it

 

[Guest]

Yeah I know what you mean, there are definitely sucky days like this...

Take a breather over night and see how you feel tomorrow, you can always just "ignore" it for a few days until you're not quite so grumpy with it and just tear it down slowly and bit by bit. That's sorta what I did with mine for a few years...

 

[Woodsy]

Are these motors an interference fit? If the chain has broken or come off a cam would the valves hit the pistons?..

 

[mike-s]

Shoot, that is no freaking good. If it turns out to be something horrible during the autopsy then perhaps you can convince this chap to selling the engine seperately?

Two other thoughts, there is a wreckers in Windsor that had a couple of GSX250's i saw with my own eyes when there 2 months ago. I'll give them a call and find out what they would be willing to take for one of the engines, even if they have got things like carbs starter and exhaust missing and pass the info onto you.

Lastly theres a bike in victoria being wrecked on the trading post if that helps. I also put out a "wanted" on advriders aussie "wtb" thread in case anyone had any leads.

 

[Guest]

Are these motors an interference fit? If the chain has broken or come off a cam would the valves hit the pistons?..

Not sure what you mean by interference fit? And you mean cam chain?

If cam chain, then yeah it's possible... if the cam shafts get their timing messed up they'll be all over the shop.

Seriously though I'd be pulling the valve cover off and looking first, it really could be as simple as that lock nut jamming something somewhere... or it could be worse. Won't know 'til you look...

 

[landshark]

Damn, i sold a 250 about 12months ago for $100, it was 90% complete and wouldnt have taken much to get it running!

 

[Woodsy]

Okay, I've pulled it down, first thing i noticed was a 20cent piece size hole above one of the cams.

Spark plugs out and Took the rocker cover off, the cams looked in good condition and none of the cam caps were loose and the valves were all where they should be. PHEW!!!!, so off come the cams and out came the cam chain tensioner, put a spanner on the crank and turned it slowly till it stopped turned it back until it stopped, then all of a sudden it would rotate freely anti clockwise but would stop when i went the other way, then it stopped both ways.

I couldn't get a clear view into the the engine so out it came! First time i have taken an engine out of a bike. As soon as i got everything disconnected and carried it to the garage ( bloody heavy by the way! glad its not anything bigger! ) First look into the engine and i found the problem..........

Remember that tappet adjusting nut that went missing..... found it sitting on one of the lugs on the crank, got it out with my magnet and checked all the crank lugs to make sure none were badly damaged and it rotates nicely now!! I'll check the chain to see if its damaged in anyway and go from there, while its out i think i'll tidy the frame up with a lick of paint.

So.......... anyone got a spare rocker cover?............

 

[mike-s]

Phew

So by that logic i should probably take the exhaust off my gsx and then the oil pan & oil filter mesh to make SURE that i find that little bastard.

This is despite me having done at least 5000km on the bike since that incident.

 

[Woodsy]

I'd say yours is sitting in the sump, thats a lovely job that is! I'm glad i found it, just wish it was sitting under something on my bench rather than in my engine, Going to give the frame a tidy up and even spray the engine while its out as soon as i find another rocker cover.

Fancy that! Me doing something constructive on my bike! lol