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Guest
Guest
Good stuff Scott, looking forward to the pic's!
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81 GS550T Full Rebuild...In Ohio
- Thread starter cowboyup3371
- Start date
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Guest
Guest
Today was bearing installation part deux with an attempt on the steering bearings. I started by trying to heat the lower bearing on my stove top. It's the radiant heat kind so I put it on medium low for about ten minutes. Unfortunately I didn't leave it long enough so that even with a frozen stem it stopped at the bottom ridge.
I thought I'd try to have the base auto hobby shop use their press but once I finally got there they didn't have a long enough piece of pipe. So a stop by Lowes found me a piece of galvanized pipe 1-1/4" by 18". Using the side of my claw hammer I managed to pound the bearing into place without breaking it.:clap:
Then it was time to install the races. Again even after the freeze trick for three or four hours I had to beat them in place. Sorry about the quality of pictures but there's no flash on my phone and the light isn't great in the bedroom.
Thanks for looking.
Inase you don't go back to the other thread I copied and pasted it here.
Fix it the way it came from the factory. If your lower bearing splits or drops down the stem your going to have a dangerously loose steering stem. Your in no hurry anyway. DO IT RIGHT. Do you want to take the chance your wrong? Look up a parts fisch and see if it's suppose to be there.
Parts fiche
http://www.boulevardsuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=93558&category=Mo torcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1981&fveh=2116
Thank Eric not me.
J
Johnny Drummond
Guest
how I did mine
how I did mine
HI Cowboy,just found your thread again(my little one hogs the computer),I know this has come too late but heres what I did when I put in new races:- I measured the length of the headstock tube on the frame and the bearings,then went to the local farm supplies shop and got them to cut me a length of M14 threaded bar,4 nuts and 4 washers that had the same outside dia. as the races.When I got home I put 2 of the nuts at the bottom of the bar(locking them together) along with 2 of the washers,put the bottom race on(with a smear of grease on the bearing and frame) then simply put the bar up the tube from the bottom so the race was just touching the frame,then put on the top race(again greased) and the other 2 washers and the nut.When it was all lined up all I had to do was get a spanner and slowly wind down the nut until the washers were hitting the frame,unwound it ground a few millimeters off the washers so they fitted inside the frame and wound it up until the races were as far in as they would go.this way you can go slowly and make sure the races go in square.Ah well sorry that I was too late ,maybe this might help with the next one
.Johnny
how I did mine
HI Cowboy,just found your thread again(my little one hogs the computer),I know this has come too late but heres what I did when I put in new races:- I measured the length of the headstock tube on the frame and the bearings,then went to the local farm supplies shop and got them to cut me a length of M14 threaded bar,4 nuts and 4 washers that had the same outside dia. as the races.When I got home I put 2 of the nuts at the bottom of the bar(locking them together) along with 2 of the washers,put the bottom race on(with a smear of grease on the bearing and frame) then simply put the bar up the tube from the bottom so the race was just touching the frame,then put on the top race(again greased) and the other 2 washers and the nut.When it was all lined up all I had to do was get a spanner and slowly wind down the nut until the washers were hitting the frame,unwound it ground a few millimeters off the washers so they fitted inside the frame and wound it up until the races were as far in as they would go.this way you can go slowly and make sure the races go in square.Ah well sorry that I was too late ,maybe this might help with the next one
.Johnny
As The big phone system upgrade project at work was successfully completed last Saturday, I finally got to concentrate on the fun work at home today. We were expecting 50 degrees by this afternoon but I wasn't waiting around. I started heating the garage up, taped up parts, and painted away at the cylinder and head. I then stripped the paint off the engine side covers and took the wire wheel to them in preparation for polishing tomorrow (I hope). Of course, it didn't happen if I didn't take pictures so here's the taped up stuff:
Cylinders:
Top of the head
Bottom of the head:
And then pictures of the engine painting I did a couple of weekends ago.
The paint booth with the cylinders and head in there
I also stopped over at Steve's for some help polishing the foot peg brackets as I didn't do a good enough job with the polish I bought. Using his buffer we managed to get a decent shine on part of them so I'll see what more I can do before putting the frame back together.
Cylinders:
Top of the head
Bottom of the head:
And then pictures of the engine painting I did a couple of weekends ago.
The paint booth with the cylinders and head in there
I also stopped over at Steve's for some help polishing the foot peg brackets as I didn't do a good enough job with the polish I bought. Using his buffer we managed to get a decent shine on part of them so I'll see what more I can do before putting the frame back together.
Went over to Steve's tonight to borrow his buffing wheel. I see why he trips so much 
The gold color is the reflection from the light, they are still silver. I'm going to buy the decals for the signal generator and stator covers.
The gold color is the reflection from the light, they are still silver. I'm going to buy the decals for the signal generator and stator covers.
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Guest
Guest
Wow she's lookin' purty Scott! Good work 
Moving weekend
Moving weekend
Well it was bound to happen - finally got some good news in my life when uncle Sam decided I should get a refund check for the first time in three years. So we decided to find a bigger and nicer place to stay. So yesterday two guys from my work helped the wife and I move to miamisburg into a 4 bedroom mobile home. The only issue though is I don't have a garage again and no shed yet so any bike maintenance is out the window.
Or so I thought. One of the guys offered me the use of his garage. He already has a Suzuki boulevard in there as well as a race bike so at least mine won't be lonely. The wife also gave me the go ahead to start getting gaskets and such. So after dropping the pieces and my tool chest off at his place I'm about ready to go full bore on finishing this thing. I'll start my order this week after we get Internet here or if I decide to take the laptop over to McDonalds :clap:
Moving weekend
Well it was bound to happen - finally got some good news in my life when uncle Sam decided I should get a refund check for the first time in three years. So we decided to find a bigger and nicer place to stay. So yesterday two guys from my work helped the wife and I move to miamisburg into a 4 bedroom mobile home. The only issue though is I don't have a garage again and no shed yet so any bike maintenance is out the window.
Or so I thought. One of the guys offered me the use of his garage. He already has a Suzuki boulevard in there as well as a race bike so at least mine won't be lonely. The wife also gave me the go ahead to start getting gaskets and such. So after dropping the pieces and my tool chest off at his place I'm about ready to go full bore on finishing this thing. I'll start my order this week after we get Internet here or if I decide to take the laptop over to McDonalds :clap:
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Guest
Guest
Excellent news Scott! Had to come your way at some point soon right? Lookin' forward to the progress
I've had a long list of friends in my climate controlled garage with a great stereo and every tool imaginable. Mine can't always need work so it all goes to great use.
You might be able to learn some stuff from the other guy and lend a helping hand from time to time. That's what old motorcycles as a hobby gets you.
You might be able to learn some stuff from the other guy and lend a helping hand from time to time. That's what old motorcycles as a hobby gets you.
Agreed Duaneage. In fact, I offered to include his parts with a connector order I need to make. He's working on a cb550 for another fella from the hospital and trying to sort out its electrics.
I found out today his race bike is a Suzuki SV1000. Pretty nice looking too though I doubt I could sit in that position for long
I found out today his race bike is a Suzuki SV1000. Pretty nice looking too though I doubt I could sit in that position for long
Steve
GS Whisperer
If it's truly a race bike (not just a wannabe) his focus will be somewhere besides "comfort", so it really doesn't matter.
.
Got over to my friend's house today and organized piston rings/valve parts in preparation for my stuff to come from G&S Suzuki in the next couple of weeks. I also tried to paint the brackets that hold the pegs and the swingarm bolt but messed it up. My friend recommended I wet sand it and start over but I'm not quite positive what the wet sanding will give me (sorry, still stupid on the paint department
). Can't I just paint over the mistake or do I need to sand everything down? What does the wet sanding give me?
Also stripped paint off a couple of other parts that I intend to polish up.
). Can't I just paint over the mistake or do I need to sand everything down? What does the wet sanding give me?Also stripped paint off a couple of other parts that I intend to polish up.
J
Johnny Drummond
Guest
The main advantage of wet over dry sanding is the paper is formulated to cut quicker and not fill up,it also seems to give a smoother finish,just get a tub of water with a little washing up liquid in it(it helps if the water is warm, but its not vital) depending on how bad the result of your painting is I would start with 320 grade getting it reasonably smooth and finish with 600-if its really bad and you want to take it all off start with 150 the when you have the paint all off go to 320 this will give you a good key surface to begin again.Hope this makes sense and helps.Johnny
Okay, sounds good, thank you for the information.
No pictures yet but the swingarm/foot rest brackets are re-painted and cleared, sprocket cover/starter cover/breather cover are polished, and the valve cover is painted. Hoping parts will arrive this week to put the engine back together.
Started in on putting the speedometer and tachometer back together tonight but need to find some plastic covers for my pliers to keep from scratching up the metal rings. Also checked G&S Suzuki's website tonight and my parts will be here on Friday.:dancing:
They're Here - Kudos To G&S Suzuki
They're Here - Kudos To G&S Suzuki
Received my parts today finally and of course tore into the box as soon as I got home. Once I did, I realized I somehow ordered parts I didn't need (piston pins) and not enough of ones I did (cylinder o-rings and an oring for the head). Called up G&S and they will order the parts I need and not charge me shipping.:clap: Plus, they'll let me send back the piston pins on my dime but credit the cost towards the orings I need.
I still have enough stuff that I can take my vacation time next week and get to work. Very happy with them and looking forward to getting closer to having a running bike again.
They're Here - Kudos To G&S Suzuki
Received my parts today finally and of course tore into the box as soon as I got home. Once I did, I realized I somehow ordered parts I didn't need (piston pins) and not enough of ones I did (cylinder o-rings and an oring for the head). Called up G&S and they will order the parts I need and not charge me shipping.:clap: Plus, they'll let me send back the piston pins on my dime but credit the cost towards the orings I need.
I still have enough stuff that I can take my vacation time next week and get to work. Very happy with them and looking forward to getting closer to having a running bike again.
G
Guest
Guest
AAaaah love gettin' those red and white labelled packets! Good stuff Scott, keen to see some progress
With the exception of tomorrow and my daughter Cheyenne's pre-surgery appointment, I took this week off work to work on the bike. I wasn't able to spend a lot of time there today but managed to get started on some fun.:dancing:
First, piston rings were added back on and pistons installed to the crankcase. I found that it was much easier to install the oil ring and side rails first then do the top two rings. I know this is backwards from the book and common sense but it worked. I also learned an important lesson very quickly as I dropped a snap ring down into the area where the cam chain sits. Fortunately, it was up high enough on that shelf that the magnet grabbed it without an incident and I quickly placed a rag down before proceeding any further.
Pistons in place:
Numbers 2 and 3 piston rings. I moved the rings around to where they needed to be based on what I've read.
And I put the valve seals back on. I hope this was right and they do look/feel like they are. Guess I'll find out when I start it up. I'm sorry the picture angles are wrong on the intake side but the exhaust side looks better:
Intake 1 and 2
Intake 3 and 4
Exhaust 1 and 2
Exhaust 3 and 4
I'll get back at it on Thursday and intend to have the frame bits on, valves in place, and the crankcase back into the frame by the end of the day. I won't be able to button everything up though as I'm waiting on the o-rings I'd forgotten to order but I can still do other work. Plus, I have another big project I want to start for the wife so I may take some time on base at their wood shop.
First, piston rings were added back on and pistons installed to the crankcase. I found that it was much easier to install the oil ring and side rails first then do the top two rings. I know this is backwards from the book and common sense but it worked. I also learned an important lesson very quickly as I dropped a snap ring down into the area where the cam chain sits. Fortunately, it was up high enough on that shelf that the magnet grabbed it without an incident and I quickly placed a rag down before proceeding any further.
Pistons in place:
Numbers 2 and 3 piston rings. I moved the rings around to where they needed to be based on what I've read.
And I put the valve seals back on. I hope this was right and they do look/feel like they are. Guess I'll find out when I start it up. I'm sorry the picture angles are wrong on the intake side but the exhaust side looks better:
Intake 1 and 2
Intake 3 and 4
Exhaust 1 and 2
Exhaust 3 and 4
I'll get back at it on Thursday and intend to have the frame bits on, valves in place, and the crankcase back into the frame by the end of the day. I won't be able to button everything up though as I'm waiting on the o-rings I'd forgotten to order but I can still do other work. Plus, I have another big project I want to start for the wife so I may take some time on base at their wood shop.
My Clymers says to put Moly Lube on the valve shafts before installing them. Does it matter what I use - lube, oil, etc - or do I have to find that stuff?
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