GS 550L Gets a make over

[Guest]

+4....Thankfully I have my MX bike but still, really want to get on the street. I almost broke down and bought a brand spanking new Triumph scrambler a couple weeks back. I would have done it too except for the severe beating I would have gotten when I got home...

Now see that's a new bike I could understand getting... I love the new Scrambler and is probably the only "new" bike I'd ever consider owning at this point. Definitely some inspiration for my 450 there

SCI-
+4....Thankfully I have my MX bike but still, really want to get on the street. I almost broke down and bought a brand spanking new Triumph scrambler a couple weeks back. I would have done it too except for the severe beating I would have gotten when I got home...

I actually found a running 1982 Running Goldwing for an excellent price that would require no immediate work other than getting the title and plates put in my name. But the beatings that would occur if I came home with it.

Well on a sadder note tragedy struck last night... I was prepping the tank for putting in the liner. I used laquer thinner in the tank to clean it up, then mixed up and added the two part apoxy liner that claims to be better than both POR15 and Kreem.... When I removed the glad wrap I had put over the tank to protect it I realized that some thinner had leaked up under the wrap. It did not totally destroy the paint job but it has that ooops I spilt gas all over my cheap paint job look. So I called it a night and decided to practice guitar all night.

Today I am going over to Adam's and zip tying wire, installing spark plugs and fuel lines, attaching the gas tank and hopefully firing up the old beast and hearing her roar. Wish me luck.

Paul

Aaaargh bugger Paul! Did it strip it right back or just marks in it? If there's just marks in it then at least it won't start rusting from the outside and you can fix it up later.

Good luck with the firing!

 

[Redneck]

There is life

There is life

She lives... if ever so briefly. Well my signature says it all. Rookie in training. Well I made another critical rookie mistake. I forgot to order anew gasket for the Petcock. So I tried to use the old one just to be able to get her to run. So I installed the fuel sender and the petcock. Put in some clear vinyl tubing for a fuel line. Got it all hooked up, tank installed. We add the gas (petrol for you down under and british members) and the petcock begins to leak like a siv. Gas was raining down all over the place. I almost wanted to cry. So I have to go and see if my local bike shop happens to have any gaskets on hand if not I will have to order one.

The good new though. I was bound and determined to get her started. So we used the little bottle that come with the mighty vac brake bleeding kit and filled it full of gas and hooked it to my fuel line. We begin to fill the carbs. After a refill of the mighty vac bottle we begin to see gas back up in the tube. Then the fuel line begins to leak all over the place. So tomorrow I am also going to get some honest to god fuel line when I make my order.

So Adam looks at me and says well you have gas in the carbs, so I turn on the choke, flip her to run, and push the start button......... She fires right to life and idles beautifully for 10 whole seconds till all the fuel is gone from the bowls. I was so stoked. Then so bummed to realize that more than likely I will have to order the petcock gaskets and wait another week or so before I can actually get her up and running. I am so bummed.

Pete- The tank is not so bad after cleaning it up immediately it did not look so bad, Adam actually had to look hard to find it. So we are going to try and buff it out and see if some turtle wax or macguires will bring back the shine. Well I will let you guys know what I find out tomorrow.

Paul

 

[DannyMotor]

Congrats on getting her to crank Paul! Like GateKeeper said.... hopefully those of us in mid to near-finished project will have the same outcome!

A whole fleet of Suzy GS 4-bangers brought back from the brink!

 

[Good Times]

Good job Redneck! It started, it counts!

 

[Flyboy]

No video, it didn't happen
Congratulations Paul, its been a long road, don't be too bummed, you a heck of a lt further down the track than I am, it will be a year before Jennifer's pistons sqeeze any air/fuel mixture.
Can't wait to see a vid of you taking her up and down the road for he first time, I am really happy for you.

 

[Redneck]

Thanks guys I do appreciate it and there will be video when there is a full fledged gas tank on her or something that holds enough fuel to keep her running long enough for a decent video.

Paul

 

[Good Times]

...plus I do have a new bike on order...

I hope it isn't coming via USPS!!!!!

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[7981GS]

Z1 Enterprises stocks all of the different petcock gaskets/O-rings and they are just around the corner from you.
You could have the parts in one day.
I was surprised to find out that I didn't have the valve cover gasket for the GK in stock Monday evening.
I ordered valve cover gaskets from them on Tuesday and they were here on Thursday!

Eric

 

[Redneck]

SCORE!!!!! Local dealer had the gaskets in house. But today has been set aside for family day other than going by the bike shop. We have to go pick up supplies for the little helpers Diaromah(sp?) and then we will be boiling and painting eggs this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow afternoon after all the Easter festivities are done I am going to run over to Adam's and we are going to give it another shot.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Awesome stuff Paul, so glad to hear it ran! If only briefly...

Hopefully a good cut and polish will fix your tank and she'll be just like she should

 

[Redneck]

Okay Easter Afternoon my faithful companion and fellow motorcycle enthusiast Adam. Finally got the tank to quit leaking we got a fuel hose between the tank and the motor. Then we added gas and started it....



There is firing away with some issues.....



We fixed the issue with #4 Spark not firing, had to clip back the coil wire and re-attach the spark plug cap on good wire. The gas leak from the carbs fixed it self when everthing warmed up.

As for the idleing, with choke only issue and number four exhaust never got hot meaning that the cylinder was was not firing, we finally discovered what the problem might be. I am missing the air fuel mixture screw.... . How this happened I don't know. I know it was in when I put them back together... the second time. But I think I may have found it when I got back home. So my young timers has kicked in again. I don't know how we missed that, but we did going to try and get over there this after noon screw it in and see if things start working right. Geesh this whole learning process is painful. I also have to pick up the aluminum plate for the battery cover I have to fab tonight. As you can see in video the battery was not secured and niether is the fuse box. I have piece of aluminum I am going to attach to the front of the battery box which will keep the battery in and give me a place to attach the fuse box. I will get pictures when it is complete. Now I have to say thank you to my little Princess for her help with all the smilies on this post. :twistedevil:

Paul:twistedevil:

 

[Guest]

It's gotta be great to hear her run regardless of the issues Paul! Good work

The way you're running between places to work on her at the moment it's no wonder you're missing the odd bit here and there. Hopefully once she's back totally in your care that can all calm down.

 

[Redneck]

Yes the running back and forth has been totally annoying. But when i am over there it is all business and things do get done where at home, everyone knows I love my little one, but the little helper often becomes more of a distraction and things don't always get done.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Yes the running back and forth has been totally annoying. But when i am over there it is all business and things do get done where at home, everyone knows I love my little one, but the little helper often becomes more of a distraction and things don't always get done.

Paul

Yeah that makes sense... for me I have the same issue when trying to work from home on the odd occassion, I typically end up being distracted with home stuff and don't get enough work done...

 

[Redneck]

Its Alive

Its Alive

SHE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is currently running on all 4 cylinders. Not sure why it was clogged but I took the bowl off the bottom of the number four carb. Removed the main jet, pilot bleed jet, and pilot fuel mix screw. Took a Air hose blew out the jets to make sure nothing was clogging them and then took the air hose and some tubing and blew out all the carb ports on #4. Now all 4 cyclinders are firing. Just have to get the carbs are roughly tuned and she will be good to go.

Anyone have any advice for putting on the master link for the oring chain. It is a pean type so we are going to attach the chain the put a big hammer beind the link and use a ball pean to pean down the edges to hold it together. Is this the normal way of doing things?

Paul

 

[qisteve]

Thanks guys I do appreciate it and there will be video when there is a full fledged gas tank on her or something that holds enough fuel to keep her running long enough for a decent video.

Paul

I saved an old plastic lawn mower gas tank for carb tuning my GS650. I bungee it above the carbs (after the factory tank is out of the way) on top of the frame. The fuel hose is just long enough to reach the plastic tank and I can easily access all of the carb screws. When I'm done I quickly flip the plastic tank on its side to keep it from spilling and reinstall the factory tank. Works for me!

 

[Redneck]

Thanks gisteve. I got my petcock orings and my tank now holds gas. I also put a board across the frame and just turn my tank sideways and I can get at the carbs it was just by the time we got everything running right we had run out of what little gas we had. I will fill up the gas can tomorrow and hopefully will get it all tweaked in on Sunday. I have family stuff and Navy stuff going on for the next three nights.

Paul

 

[cowboyup3371]

Congratulations Paul

 

[Redneck]

Thanks Cowboy it is a wonderful feeling. I have to make the plate to hold in the battery and mount the fuse box, hook up the chain and I will be riding. Unfortunately as I stated earlier life for the next three days is going to prevent that from happening by the weekend.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Awesome Paul! Glad she's running on all four

I used a chain breaker in conjunction with the clip on type master link tool to get my master linked peened over.

I wouldn't recommend doing it that way and would use a ball peen hammer etc. if you can.