80 gs550e project

[Track06]

Hello, I'm quite excited to start on this new project i picked up the other day. It's a 1980 gs550 that tbh has already been started and was nearing completion before i got it. This however is perfect for me to get my hands wet and finish the build. This is not my first bike, but it is my first bike that I'll be putting together. So a bit about what i got. It is currently a roller, a clean one too. The carbs have already been cleaned, rebuilt and synced, the frame has been chopped, rear triangle cleared. Battery and electrical box has been welded in under the custom brat style seat, and hoop has been welded in. Forks have been rebuilt, brakes are done, nice vintage koni war shocks, new tracker/ dirty bike bars with new grips, switches and a new master cylinder. Came with a nice clean set of pipes, everything. Else is in a tote and is bagged and tagged. Two sets of gaskets, two wiring harnesses, the manual, and a tote of pretty much everything that was taken off the bike.
I'm going to just replace some gaskets and get the motor in the frame. I picked up a chain and sproket set, a battery, me head light and tail light with built in indicators (my state require you to have them.) Thanks for check it out, and thanks for the future advice! I'll be taking pics of my progress, I'm really excited to get this thing up and going!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Welcome, cool. Bike in a box. I love puzzles. Looks like fun.

 

[Track06]

Got some work on the tank done while i wait for some supplies... I used Aircraft paint remover... This was after the third attempt, almost there!

 

[Track06]

Alright, kids are gone, the lady isn't home... Time to get back into this bike. So I've picked up some wire, I've been reading so much about the wiring and rewiring on these bikes i think I'll just take a stab at rewiring... But that's for later, tonight I'll be getting into the motor and checking the valves, cleaning more and replacing gaskets!!!

 

[Track06]

Alright, moving right along! I've made some really great progress in the past couple nights and mornings, basically whenever i can squeeze some time in... Also lots of parts are starting to arrive! So I've started getting into the motor, and cleaning off all the old gaskets, man that's been quite an adventure! I've cleaned, degreased and primed most of the covers. Oh yeah I also started painting the tank, i wentback and forth between a bunch of oranges, and finally found one i really like! Unfortunately once a nice and shiny coat of paint was sprayed i noticed two more tiny dents... Doh!!! So time to sand back down and fill those areas! I really love the color of the tank, I'm thinking about a black pin strip on it somewhere, somehow, i haven't decided that yet. Well It's almost 1am and I'm about to call it a night, tomorrow however I'm off work so I'm really hoping to get a lot accomplished!!! Pay no attention to my messy garage, i barely have a corner to work with here...
https://i.imgur.com/aH417ME.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Y3bqAlq.jpg

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

When you said orange, I was worried. But I actually like that color, not that it matters. It's your bike, do what you want. Nice work.

 

[Track06]

When you said orange, I was worried. But I actually like that color, not that it matters. It's your bike, do what you want. Nice work.

Thanks!!! Yeah i was going for a burnt orange, this is kinda closer to gold but i dig it... I tried going back in and fixing the dents in the tank, but so far you can definitely see the the area i worked on under the primer... So i might have to start over again on that one. I'm still trying to figure out how to post photos on this forum...i got a bunch done today, i might sneak back out there after everyone goes to bed. The motor is completely torn down degreased and primed, I'll be painting it flat black tomorrow, all the covers got painted gloss black Today...I'm debating on whether or not i want to paint the edges of the fins a blue silver... Also can't decide if i want to paint the wheels all black. The guy i bought it from took the time to paint them a gun metal grey, and kept a polished lip...so i don't know. I wanted to chop the front fender so i could prime it too but my only cut off wheel was broken!! Waiting on my valve spring compressor so i can lap the valves then start getting this motor put back together, shim it and get it back into the bike! I know I'm going to catch Hell for this but , i ordered k&n pods, shorty's and a stage 3 kit today... Lol so hopefully i can get this thing tuned!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Photos are best if hosted on another site. Set up a free imgur account. Copy the BB code from the image in Imgur. Paste it into your post. No need to mess with the forum toolbar buttons. This works best on a pc or Mac. It's tricky to do from a phone or tablet.

 

[steve murdoch]

You call that garage messy? Amateur!

Gasket cleaning/scraping can be a giant pain in the backside depending on what the previous owner has used as a sealant.
I once bought a set of plastic scrapers that were next to useless.
A careful touch and metal blades were required.

 

[Track06]

So, i woke up this morning before everyone, went out to the shop to start working on the tank... And i found it on the ground!!! It fell off the jig i had hanging from the garage door tracks!! Great... so i sanded it back down, broke out the bondo and started filling.... Again! In other news the motor is now flat black. Also found out what an "M unit" is last night........ Fv*k!!! I need that in my life! Here i am thinking I'm about done with spending money on this bike!!! So my side job is making yoyos, sounds kinda crazy i know, but I actually do pretty well. I have a horror themed wooden yoyo company... Lol yep! Anyway i just got a bunch of really cool wood in yesterday and i think i might be able to sell enough yoyos to pay for that m unit by the end of next week! Fingers crossed!!!! Till then it's waiting for paint to dry! http://imgur.com/a/NTilKUv

 

[Track06]

You call that garage messy? Amateur!

Gasket cleaning/scraping can be a giant pain in the backside depending on what the previous owner has used as a sealant.
I once bought a set of plastic scrapers that were next to useless.
A careful touch and metal blades were required.

HA, this is the clean section!!! I'm a wood worker, a turner actually, i make wood chips for a living! and yeah, whoever re built this motor really loved so gasket maker!!! No wonder the motor had a leak the gaskets so far have all been toast, i mean real bad, must have used the cheapest set he could find!

 

[Track06]

Photos are best if hosted on another site. Set up a free imgur account. Copy the BB code from the image in Imgur. Paste it into your post. No need to mess with the forum toolbar buttons. This works best on a pc or Mac. It's tricky to do from a phone or tablet.

Thanks, i tried that but it just gives a link to the actual imgur site gallery... I'll have to try on my computer like you said. I'm just doing this off my phone.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

on a pc, here's a screenshot of what you get when you click on one of your pictures. You get a bunch of choices for what kind of file you want to copy, and at various sizes at the bottom(pic below is a large thumbnail). you can experiment with the sizes and what looks best for a given picture on the forum, the important part is you want to copy the BB Code, and paste it right into your post, no need to mess with the image button in the forum toolbar. On the mobile version of Imgur, I haven't figured out a way to get the BB code. Makes it hard to do this from a phone. Hope this helps.

 

[Track06]

More parts came today!!!!�� new carb boots, speedo, taillight, and diode!

 

[Track06]

Woooohoooo more parts came in today!!!! I know i know, pods... But at least they are K&N and i hear people have better luck with the dual pod too... Dynojet stage 3 kit should be here Monday! Still waiting on my valve spring compressor kit so i can lap the valves... I'll more than likely need to order new shims... then in goes the motor! I think by then I'll have the M Unit ordered too. Well I finished getting the entire motor painted last night. Tank has been primed... Again... Today I'm focusing on using the shop for wood turning... Need to make some yoyos so i can sell them to get that new M Unit!�� here a a few i made this morning. I'm going to try and make 10 more.

 

[Track06]

More mail!!!

Still waiting on my valve spring compressor, kinda at a stand still till that comes in. I did chop the exhaust and got my shortys ready to fit up. I also picked up this welder today, and I'm grabbing some gas tomorrow.

I've talked to a few people about this welder and seems like it was a good choice for what i want to do. It's my second welder so I'm excited to be welding again. I'm thinking about making this electronics tray deeper so i can fit my Agm battery in there. I also finished the base coat of my tank, still trying to figure out if i want to do any pin stripes/ numbers/ design...i really love this copper color.

 

[Track06]

Got some work done, picked up a cylinder of gas today welded up my new battery tray! The old one was way too small, not even the smallest lith. Ion battery would fit in there. Plus this bike didn't have a kick start, so i opted for the full size. Here is what i did.

 

[Track06]

Look what finally came in!!! Time to do the valves!

 

[Track06]

Yep, I'm on my kitchen table working on the valves... This motor is so close to getting back into the bike!!!!

 

[Rob S.]

I salute you, sir! I'm 100% for indoor motorcycle work, storage, even riding (Animal House).

About your big tank of gas..as I recall from my days as a 19 year old hospital loading dock raider, green was oxygen, blue was...he, he, nitrous.