GS 550L Gets a make over

[Redneck]

Yes the finish line is in sight and it is driving me crazy. Especailly after yesterday and the mid 50s temperatures. They did allow me to get the carb body painted. So it is done and the carbs are put back together in the right order. Going to give Adam a call and head over to his house this afternoon and hopefully get the carbs and airbox installed. Then It will be on to the electrical side of the house.

Paul

 

[Redneck]

Think I just need to box up my garage and move everything bike related to Adam's house. I loaded up everything to take it over to Adam's to work on the bike. Decided to take the wife's Saturn to save on gas, got to there and realized I had left the clamps for the carb boots in my truck along with the front and rear wheel. My senior moments coming back to haunt me again.

We went ahead and popped the carbs on to make sure everything would go okay. Went to popon the Air intake and discovered the boot too the #1 carb has stiffened up too much to fit over the carb. All three of the other ones are pliable but the #1 is rock solid.

We did went ahead and dropped the airbox in behind the intake so we could start looking at what we are going to do about the electronics. Since I have the new R/R which is possibly 3X larger than the stock one and the Fuse box from Eastern Beaver which is 2X the size of the OEM, we have formulated a plan to get it all in there. Going to shave on the brackes on the side of the air box and put the R/R there. The ignitor will go under the air box and we are going to fabircate a plate to go between the frame behind the airbox for the rest. With some creative wire routing should be able to easily get at everything and will also allow easy troubleshooting access for all the electronics.

In other good news was told I should be able to get in and PC the handle bars and Sissy bar tonight. Think I am goin to take the pull handle for the clutch and brake also and get them done. Sorry no pictures. Hopefully this weekend when we clamp in the carbs and the air intake.

Paul

 

[Redneck]

Handle Bars, Sissy Bar, brake and clutch lever are all now powder coated a nice shiny black... woot woot

 

[Redneck]

I sandblasted the back covers, the mounting bracket, and the wheel tension adjusters last night while I was getting the other stuff Powdercoated. I managed to get them painted today. I would run out in the 40mph gust spray the parts then run in and hang them next to the furnace.

Unfortunately Adam's boiler quit last night so he and the landlord are working on repairing that. So hopefully after dinner I will be able to get over and finish installing the carbs and the airbox completely and put on the handle bars and the sissy bar.

Paul

 

[Guest]

So... where's the pic's? Never happened if there's no photo right?

(great to hear you're getting heaps done)

 

[Redneck]

Okay Pete, I will give in and admit that you are right this time... don't let this become a habit.

Chain/wheel tensioner.

Guage Brackets

Handle bar, Sissy Bar, Brake, Clutch

BTW I also started taking apart my wiring harness last night and cleaning the wires. Everyone talked about soaking them in simple green. I happened to breake out the bottle of Grease Lightning and a terry cloth rag. No soaking and the grung was coming right off with just a minor bit or scrubbing.

My question is what are you guys using to clean the connectors. I was thinking the vinegar dip and then spraying down with WD-40 when i pull them out of the solution. Any suggestions.

Paul

 

[cowboyup3371]

I picked up some DeOxit (based on everyone's recommendations here) from the local guitar shop and from what I saw it might work okay but I won't know until I get the harness back on the bike. Gotta buy some new connectors first.

 

[GateKeeper]

Looking good there Paul,,,,,your getting lots done

Just a suggestion, the screw on the chain/wheel tensioner, I would clean up, take it to a wire wheel, because as soon as you start screwing it in or out, the paint you have on there will get removed anyways and will not look so good, better yet see if you can find some new stainless steel ones....

Great progress

not sure what to use for cleaning your harness and wires and connectors, but at the end, make sure you get some di-electric grease and put some on all connections, that reminds me, I went a purchased a small tube of it, forgot I did, and about a week later, while at the store, I purchased another one, you would think I would have the bill for one or the other so I can return one, nope, threw them both out....lol

 

[bakirkwold]

Looking good. BTW how did you prep the chrome sissy/grab bar?

 

[Guest]

Good stuff Paul, they look great! And now I believe you did them

 

[Redneck]

Looking good. BTW how did you prep the chrome sissy/grab bar?

I sand blasted them till there was nothing shiney left on them. Its nice to work where there is lots of industrial equipment. Unfortunately I usually have to sneak in after normal working hours..lol.

Paul

 

[Redneck]

Looking good there Paul,,,,,your getting lots done

Just a suggestion, the screw on the chain/wheel tensioner, I would clean up, take it to a wire wheel, because as soon as you start screwing it in or out, the paint you have on there will get removed anyways and will not look so good, better yet see if you can find some new stainless steel ones....

Great progress

not sure what to use for cleaning your harness and wires and connectors, but at the end, make sure you get some di-electric grease and put some on all connections, that reminds me, I went a purchased a small tube of it, forgot I did, and about a week later, while at the store, I purchased another one, you would think I would have the bill for one or the other so I can return one, nope, threw them both out....lol

I do not intend to re-use them, I just had them in there to keep the threads inside from getting paint all over them. I am going to replace them with allen head screws before I Install them on the bike. Not sure if I am going to use stainless or the black coated ones like i used on my exhaust and other places. Those things are going to be covered in road grime rather quickly I am sure.


Paul

 

[Redneck]

I picked up some DeOxit (based on everyone's recommendations here) from the local guitar shop and from what I saw it might work okay but I won't know until I get the harness back on the bike. Gotta buy some new connectors first.

DeOxit. I will look into it. I am rather impressed with what vinegar does with rust on steel, just have to make sure you are ready to put something on the metal to keep it from flash rusting as soon as you remove it from the vinegar.

Paul

 

[GateKeeper]

I do not intend to re-use them, I just had them in there to keep the threads inside from getting paint all over them. I am going to replace them with allen head screws before I Install them on the bike. Not sure if I am going to use stainless or the black coated ones like i used on my exhaust and other places. Those things are going to be covered in road grime rather quickly I am sure.


Paul

I figured you had a plan.....

 

[Redneck]

Well as the proverbial saying goes "The best laid plans of mice and men..." Well the daughter had a B-day party to go to and I was suppose to have the whole day to work on the bike at Adam's. Well the wife went and got sick on Friday, I actually had to come home from work to get my daughter to school and then take the wife to the doctor. Saturday morning she does not feel much better so, I tell her I just want to go get a couple things done party is not till 3 I will leave at 1. I get over to Adam's at 10am, we pull the old rear wheel off. Start putting together the new one. once all the hardware is swapped we get it all together and finally get it mounted. Issues with removing hardware from old tire took us almost 2 hours to get the new one back together and put on the bike. I get a phone call about 1130 saying party is at 2pm instead of 3pm now I need to clean up get things put away and rush off to take my little princes to her party.

So after all the rambling all i managed to do this weekend was get the rear tire put back together and installed with new sprocket at least.

oh well

Paul

 

[GateKeeper]

And I probably even did less, and nothing at all today....LOL

but do tell me, how the paint will hold up on these parts....the chain tensioner...

I painted mine, and the first time I put them in place, and tightened up the big long bolt, it cracked the paint and made the part look like crap, so I took them to the wire wheel and took all the paint off, one does not see them anyways once they are on the swing arm, and the small little covers are put back on, so I will leave them unpainted.....

 

[bakirkwold]

It will flake off on the bolt threads. And maybe the inside where the axle spacers go. Especially when you put the rear wheel on. Even my powder coat chipped a little on the axle spacers for my bike. But for the most part it should be fine.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Paul, I know the feeling. I went to Denver on Saturday to look for parts knowing the kids had friends over and I'd be gone all day. The plan then was to work on the carbs on Sunday and then go get new shoes for my 10 yr old. Well, one of the kids' friends came back over Saturday evening and since we were already going into town I felt it was better if their dad didn't waste their gas coming out our way. Then the missus decided we'd go see her dad so yea, no work on mine either today.

One other side note, do you know how hard it can be to find shoes for a 10 yr old girl with size 6 1/2 women's feet (one foot is flat footed, the other is a very low arch)? Frustrating day today.

 

[Redneck]

One other side note, do you know how hard it can be to find shoes for a 10 yr old girl with size 6 1/2 women's feet (one foot is flat footed, the other is a very low arch)? Frustrating day today.

No.. Its hard enough to shop for girls at that age because they have started getting picky about there shoes then throw in the other stuff.... I do not envy you my friend... I figure I am safe for a 3 more years from picky shoe buying because mine is only 7.

Paul

 

[Redneck]

And I probably even did less, and nothing at all today....LOL

but do tell me, how the paint will hold up on these parts....the chain tensioner...

I painted mine, and the first time I put them in place, and tightened up the big long bolt, it cracked the paint and made the part look like crap, so I took them to the wire wheel and took all the paint off, one does not see them anyways once they are on the swing arm, and the small little covers are put back on, so I will leave them unpainted.....

I did get a little flaking around where it tightened up on the axle pieces but not too bad, for the wheel adjusters. I figure they will be coverd up like you said well enough but I also figured it couldn't hurt and initially it will look good. The clutch piece is PC and actually it should hold up well enough. The only bitch i have about that right now is I can't find where I put the hinge dowel and the cable screw. I have torn apart the garage twice and still no luck I know about the time I order them they will show up. It does help that I can't find the one off the parts bike either. Grrr.

Paul