Cheap 750E w/ bad motor? How fast should I run away from it?

[exdirtbiker]

Hi guys.... I'm baaaaaaack !
long time, no bike. I think I need another, but...
from the seller:
.
1981 Suzuki GS750 with 17,000 miles. Ran great 2 years ago, sat for last 2 years, couldn't start 2 weeks ago, bike mechanic says engine "locked up" and requires rebuild. Bike is very clean with new tires and battery. I am 2nd owner.


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Looks great in pics. Do I really want another project ?... Chances of getting motor running good without rebuild ?

 

[rphillips]

No go get it, eng. locked up should make it "real cheap". Doesn't seem right, running 2 yrs ago, locked up now?? Wouldn't think that would happen unless eng. apart and sitting out in the weather. Mechanics are different, some know what they'r talking about, others think a faulty starter solenoid is a locked eng. Running 2 yrs ago and needs a rebuild now. Only way that would seem right would be if when running 2 yrs. ago, eng. had known terrible problems. Those weren't the best engines Suzuki ever made, but probably worth the effort.

 

[93Bandit]

No go get it, eng. locked up should make it "real cheap". Doesn't seem right, running 2 yrs ago, locked up now?? Wouldn't think that would happen unless eng. apart and sitting out in the weather. Mechanics are different, some know what they'r talking about, others think a faulty starter solenoid is a locked eng. Running 2 yrs ago and needs a rebuild now. Only way that would seem right would be if when running 2 yrs. ago, eng. had known terrible problems. Those weren't the best engines Suzuki ever made, but probably worth the effort.

I agree with this. I've come to learn very quickly that just because someone is called a mechanic doesn't mean they know anything. I help friends out with repairs on small engine stuff, mowers, ATVs, chainsaws etc. You wouldn't believe how many have been brought to me because "my other mechanic couldn't fix it, he said it's beyond repair" all because this "mechanic" connected the starter cable to the batt neg post when replacing the battery, instead of putting it back on the starter solenoid... I don't claim to know everything, there have definitely been issues that stumped me for a long time, but I fix a lot of obvious issues induced by previous "mechanics" rather than actual component failure. These scenarios seem to be most often electrical related rather than mechanical though.

As for cheap, how cheap? If seller advertises a 42yr old bike with a bad motor, that's a $100-200 bike to me. No more.

 

[Nessism]

Could be hydro-locked with gasoline from overflowing carbs.

To me, mechanical stuff is easier to overcome than ugly aesthetics. Those often cost more money to fix.

 

[exdirtbiker]

He's asking $950.
I was thinking "maybe for 500"... but I'll aim lower.

 

[Rob S.]

He's asking $950.
I was thinking "maybe for 500"... but I'll aim lower.

Much lower. And "locked up" may be just some minor corrosion. Squirt a little oil in spark plug holes and put a breaker bar on the crank and turn!

Didn't a member here just put a 'frozen' (locked up) engine on his trailer and it was unlocked by the time he got home, just from the bumps and shaking of the road?

 

[93Bandit]

Could be hydro-locked with gasoline from overflowing carbs.

To me, mechanical stuff is easier to overcome than ugly aesthetics. Those often cost more money to fix.

That's the main reason I sold the 750 I had. It was going to get real expensive real fast to take it from where it was to where I wanted it to be cosmetically.

 

[93Bandit]

He's asking $950.
I was thinking "maybe for 500"... but I'll aim lower.

Yeah, I'd offer maybe $250 if it's near new cosmetically. But I'm not afraid to walk away if I offend someone lowballing. Probably not my best trait haha. I figure it doesn't hurt to ask. "You never know how cheap they'll go until you hit them with a low blow."

 

[93Bandit]

Much lower. And "locked up" may be just some minor corrosion. Squirt a little oil in spark plug holes and put a breaker bar on the crank and turn!

Didn't a member here just put a 'frozen' (locked up) engine on his trailer and it was unlocked by the time he got home, just from the bumps and shaking of the road?

Ya, ensure said that in his GSX750 build thread. I've freed up several various rusted stuck engines with an ATF and MMO soak and a breaker bar. They ran great and didn't seem to use much oil afterwards.

 

[rphillips]

Many possibilities, and can't know till you find out. Again, if it was running fine, when last ran 2 yrs. ago, I just don't see how it could now need a complete rebuild. .. Of course no way to know till you find out.

 

[Suzukian]

$250, if the rest of the bike is in good condition. Who knows, a 1/2 hour later, you could have a running motorcycle.

 

[Who Dat?]

I will agree on the $250 MAXIMUM, but ONLY if there is a clean title that goes with it.

 

[rphillips]

You may not be interested in selling parts, and no way to know without seeing bike... If seat and tank are near as nice as the "poor" picture looks, those 2 parts, I would think, easily be worth $ 250. Those parts also fit the GS1100 E's... How far is it from Brick N.J.... Worth a trip to look??

 

[exdirtbiker]

To follow up... the seller never responded, after a week of poking him. I assume it's gone.
It had a RC exhaust, too. and fork brace.

 

[rphillips]

I wonder if RC as in Russ Collins? I thought they were almost gone when our GS's were in their Hay Day. I never remember seeing one on a GS, but then there's a lot of things I've never seen.