• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

'79 GS550L, can I swap carbs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter agreendaya
  • Start date Start date
A

agreendaya

Guest
So I have an opportunity to pick up a '79 550E parts bike for a hundred bucks. It's pretty complete minus seat, airbox & grips. Engine was supposedly running previously, but it's got the later style carbs on it.
Question 1: Can I use (after cleaning & such of course) the later carbs on mine? Question 2: Anybody know how difficult it is to get rid of the remains of the bike after I'm done with it? I don't really have any experience with getting rid of parts vehicles, I usually just deal with running ones...

Thanks!
 
If the parts bike is truly a "79 model then somebody has put a later model cylinder head on the motor. I would suggest that the parts bike is probably a 1980 model which came with a different head and the CV type "BS" vacuum carbs.

If you want to put the later model carbs on your '79 bike then you will have to swap the cylinder head over with it.

Check some other things on both bikes to check for other differences. You need to verify the model and not just take the PO's word for it that it is a '79 model.

The other major difference between these two models is the type of ignition. The '79 has contact points and condensors and the '80 model has electronic ignition with igniter, etc. So check behind the ignition cover on the right hand side of the motor. The ignition runs off the end of the crankshaft.
 
Last edited:
Sorry I forgot question 2: I see you are in California and as more than half of the GS forum members live in California, haha, I'm sure someone would be happy to take the remains of the bike even if it is just the frame.
 
Interesting. It's at the local shop here and they're moving so giving some pretty good deals. I checked on the VIN plate up front and it most definitely claims to be a '79, so I guess that means the carbs & head have been switched. Sounds to me that for a hundred bucks I might as well go for it. Mine's being rather problematic, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm losing cylinder 1, getting a bit of oil on the plug. Spare engine might not hurt...
 
You can't go wrong at $100. There would be other parts you could use or sell on to other members, or even EBAY then if you have no use for them.
 
Last edited:
agreendaya said:
I checked on the VIN plate up front and it most definitely claims to be a '79, ...
Click to expand...
Are you sure? :-k

REALLY sure? :confused:

Bikes made from about 9/79 and later will actually be 1980 models. What was the production date of your bike?

Another clue would be the letter at the end of the model name stamped on the steering neck. A '79 bike would have an N, the '80 will have a T.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top