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GS 550L Gets a make over

  • Thread starter Thread starter Redneck
  • Start date Start date
Okay I did not update because, I forgot that Adam had duty yesterday. Since he has been an instrumental part of this build I wanted to wait for him. He gets off this morning. After he gets home and unwinds a bit we are going to take her on her trial run. I did however go over and get the newly powder coated side covers put on.

IMG_0526.jpg

IMG_0527.jpg


I also took the time to go over every nut and bolt I could reach and make sure it was snug. Made sure the side covers were on secure so I don't lose them going down the road. Attached the license plate. Checked the chain tension.

Beside if Adam was not there who was going to video the ride.:D

Paul
 
Well went over this morning got the bike ready for her trial run, and low and behold #1 and #3 carbs are leaking out the overflow tubes. I have already redone the floats once. #2 and #4 have quit leaking, but looks like we will be taking the carbs off again on Monday and readjusting the floats again. Then as we were topping off the brake fluid and bleeding off the brakes, the master cylinder seal gives out and all brake fluid begins to run out the bottom of the cylinder. We did not let this deter the first run. I did not take her out on the road like I wanted to instead I ran her up and down the drive way, you will see he has a long drive way. Well here are the pictures. Video of me going and then of me coming back.

Front view of the bike
IMG_0538.jpg


Side view of the bike with the Parade Sub in the background. We also are refurbishing the sub.
IMG_0537.jpg


A little better view of the bike
IMG_0535.jpg


And now the video of me going in my high water flanel lined pants (Hey they keep me warm)


And then me returning.


Master cylinder rebuild kit is on its way should have it on Tuesday, and should have the carbs sorted by then. We will take more video then when we can take a bit of a longer ride.

But I am so happy just to ride it up and down the driveway. It felt good and responded good to the throttle. I am stoked. If we get all the bugs worked out this week we are thinking of a two hour ride around the roads in and around town, next weekend. Should be a good way to find out all the problems if there are any left by then.

Paul


Paul
Paul

Paul
 
Awesome news Paul! Glad to see you got her up and down the driveway despite the little setbacks :D

Bet you can't wait to get that master cylinder kit in...
 
Awesome Paul, I really am so happy for you, don't sweat the little problems, there is not a rebuild on this earth that does not have them, if those two little issues are your only problems, you have done very well.
may she bring you many happy and safe hours on the road.
 
WOO HOO!!!

The powder coat came out great!

What's with the submarine? That a model, or a remote-control deal? That thing is HUGE.
 
Submarine is a scale model of US attack submarine we use in parades for Public Relations. Not remote its actually welded to the trailer at one point. We have to and finish welding it at the other two points. Paint it and clear coat it.

Paul
 
Way to go Paul.....glad to see it's running and under it's own power, that is a good thing...

A couple of small items left, and you'll be riding off into the sunset before you know it...

Ride Safe....

Cheers
 
Well we strippe off the carbs yesterday reset the floats on #1 and #3. Then buttoned her all up and put em back on. We ran it for a few minutes and then went and worked on the Sub restoration while we waited to see what happened. Nothing woo hoo problem solved, well lets add more gas to the tank to make sure. So we put in about a gallon of gas. No leaks. We go back to working on Sub. Come back in 45 minutes later no leaky.. woo hoo. So we go ahead and take off the rear master cylinder for the brakes, going to go ahead and strip it down in preparation for the rebuild kit that is suppose to be in today. While we are working on brake cylinder we here a splash .... #2 carb is now leaking. I must have done something to it while I had the covers off. I had all four off so that we could look at the different float heights. It was apparent that 1 and 3 were definetly different. Well we crimped off the fuel line with forceps to make sure no more fuel got to the carbs and are going to pull them again today after we put the brakes back together. Only pulling off the #2 cover today. Wish me luck.

Paul
 
Maybe you mentioned it previously, but I didn't see it. What bars are those?
 
Those are custom designed specailly made just for this bike....okay they are actually the original L Bars that come with the bike...with some modification. I took them and put them in a vice and bent them out so they did not sweep back so bad and give an uncomfortable ride. I must say I really do like them on the short ride up and down the drive way. I can't wait to give it a longer ride and see how they feel. That and how they feel going down the highway.

Paul
 
Interesting. I don't think I've seen another thread where someone did that with their L bars. How did you make sure they are equally bent? Did you have to switch cable lengths?
 
Bend your bars!

Bend your bars!

I did something similar with my L bars. With the bars on the bike, my dad and I took a long thick prybar (like 4') and inserted it below the bars in between the mounts to the triple tree (wrap the bar with a cloth or something to not scratch the paint there). Then we took another long solid bar and stuck it in the end of the handlebars all the way up to the first bend. Then we applied multiple heavy doses of grunting to bend them up and out.

Because of the flex, you have to bend them a little bit past where you actually want them. If you have them off the bike, the vice would definitely be the way to go.

To get them even we just tried to get the front wheel as straight as possible and then measure from the end of the bars to the ground and then also to the back of the seat (and some eyeballing). If you are off 1/4" you will never ever notice the difference while riding. Your own arms are probably not within 1/4" of each other.

Bend them, then sit on the bike and repeat until it feels good. You can also change the angle of the upright section of the bars by loosening the mount clamps and finding a good position; I set mine so it was pretty much vertical. This made my riding position just slightly forward of upright and perfectly comfortable.

I have to say, it was the best single thing I ever did to this bike and it cost me nothing (I didn't even need new cables or brake lines). The improvement in handling, stability and long term comfort were like night and day.

(I swear I heard the bike itself thank me too. I think the L's were always mad at the factory for equipping them with the Worst Handlebars Known to Man. :rolleyes:)
 
I placed the lower portion of the bars in an industrial 12" vice. I used a cheater bar that had just a slightly larger inside diameter than the L bars outside diameter. Push it all the way up to the bend and then pulled. Eyeballed it at first when I thought it was good I laid them on the floor and did angle measurements on each side to determine if they were even. It really was not too difficult. There is some slight uneven to it but you really have to be looking for it to find it. Then I powder coated them black. They are very comfortable.

Well did her first real trial run today. She ran like a dream, the throttle is responsive all the way up and down from 8K. It was great to ride. The modified L bars felt great. The only downside to today was I have to go ahead rebuild the front master cylinder now, and #2 carb is still leaking. I also need to fix the front brake switch it is not working and therefore will not pass inspection.

I believe now that the problem with the #2 Carb is there is probably a crack in the float. It takes about two hours before the carb starts overflowing. This tells me that the float is slowly filling with fluid and then sinks and allows more gas into the carb. I plan on changing that tomorrow. I have a couple of spare floats sitting down in the garage.

Man it was great to be riding again. I wanted to jut take off and go for a long haul run but until I get it inspected I can't afford the ticket if I get stopped.

Paul
 
Redneck said:
I placed the lower portion of the bars in an industrial 12" vice. I used a cheater bar that had just a slightly larger inside diameter than the L bars outside diameter. Push it all the way up to the bend and then pulled. Eyeballed it at first when I thought it was good I laid them on the floor and did angle measurements on each side to determine if they were even. It really was not too difficult. There is some slight uneven to it but you really have to be looking for it to find it. Then I powder coated them black. They are very comfortable.

Well did her first real trial run today. She ran like a dream, the throttle is responsive all the way up and down from 8K. It was great to ride. The modified L bars felt great. The only downside to today was I have to go ahead rebuild the front master cylinder now, and #2 carb is still leaking. I also need to fix the front brake switch it is not working and therefore will not pass inspection.

I believe now that the problem with the #2 Carb is there is probably a crack in the float. It takes about two hours before the carb starts overflowing. This tells me that the float is slowly filling with fluid and then sinks and allows more gas into the carb. I plan on changing that tomorrow. I have a couple of spare floats sitting down in the garage.

Man it was great to be riding again. I wanted to jut take off and go for a long haul run but until I get it inspected I can't afford the ticket if I get stopped.

Paul
Click to expand...

Excellent stuff Paul! Glad to hear she's running again :D

Those last things should be easy fixes so you should have her inspected in no time at all!
 
Carbuerator Chaos....... I am beginning to hate my Carbs. I knew we had an issue with #2 Carb believe it to be the float is no longer sealed and is filling with gas over time. I go over to Adam's to fix all the other small stuff we found when i took her on her test ride and before we even open up his Garage, I smell gas. We open the door and gas is puddled all over the floor. I am so glad I was patient and decided to wait and get the Sprocket cover powder coated. Now it is leaking out #2 and #1 I am frustrated. I am going to set the floats on ultral high and look into getting a new petcock.

Do you have to have the gas off on the old VM carbs or should the floats be stopping the gas from over flowing I am confused?

Paul
 
Redneck said:
Carbuerator Chaos....... I am beginning to hate my Carbs. I knew we had an issue with #2 Carb believe it to be the float is no longer sealed and is filling with gas over time. I go over to Adam's to fix all the other small stuff we found when i took her on her test ride and before we even open up his Garage, I smell gas. We open the door and gas is puddled all over the floor. I am so glad I was patient and decided to wait and get the Sprocket cover powder coated. Now it is leaking out #2 and #1 I am frustrated. I am going to set the floats on ultral high and look into getting a new petcock.

Do you have to have the gas off on the old VM carbs or should the floats be stopping the gas from over flowing I am confused?

Paul
Click to expand...

Paul, do the VM carbs have float valves like my CV carbs do? Maybe they're a bit dodgy and not holding the fuel back like they should?
 
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