Gs1100 GL (8 valve) cylinder head fitment

[usernamehere]

This has been the valve adjustment from hell...Over a year ago I tried taking off the valve cover of my recently purchased 1982 GS1100GL Model D for it's first ever valve adjustment (it has less than 8,000 miles). Several broken bolts later and I'm replacing the cylinder head.

I bought a GS1100 8 valve cylinder head off ebay recently that I thought would work. It fits all the engine studs, but it is missing a bolt that goes from the cylinder to the cylinder head.

See: https://i.imgur.com/53YKMSf.jpg

Also the cam guide doesn't quite fit all the way down inside it. It may be a bit shorter that what came with my bike.

See https://i.imgur.com/jtA5ljr.jpg

What does the cylinder head I bought go to? I've looked over several years on partzilla and I can't find an 8 valve cylinder head that doesn't have a hole for that bolt.

 

[Redman]

I dont have full answer about the head, but maybe I have a related piece of info that may or my not hve any effect on this.

WHen you say "Model D", do you mean the model year code D...? If so that would be an 1983 (not the 82 you stated, which is a Z)

 

[Steve]

I have a question before I answer some of yours. :-k

... my recently purchased 1982 GS1100GL Model D ...

Which one do you have, an '82 or a "Model D"? I ask because the "Model D" is an '83.
Quick way to answer: is your engine silver or black?

Now to your head: to get back to a head that does not have that center bolt, you have to get to a '79 1000. I don't know what the differences are between the 1000 and 1100, but the '79 1000 was not a shafty. Probably does not make any difference in this case, though. If it is, indeed, a 1000 head, it might be just a bit shorter, which would account for your cam guide seeming to be a bit too big.

Actually, after looking at the cross-reference chart, I am somewhat surprised to find that the same part number (12271-45040) was used in EVERY GS from the '77 GS400 through the '86 GS1150E and on to the '06 GS500, EXCEPT any of the 550s and 650s.

That would lead me to believe that you don't quite have it seated in the notch in the bottom. If you have the cam chain kinked a bit at the bottom, the guide won't drop into the notch.

.

 

[Charlie G]

It appears you have the wrong head for your engine. Both of my 1100g engines have heads which will engage the hole in question.

Note

 

[jsandidge]

I have encountered some similar differences with my 82 850L. On every parts fiche I look at, some parts are listed twice. Once for model D, and once for model Z. This is all under the fiche for an 82 which is considered a model Z. I have the later model D head and valve cover which has an extra bolt at the cam chain tunnel. I know because I received the wrong gasket the first time. Suzuki made some mid-year changes, and is listing them this way on the fiche. So, some 82's (model Z) use some 83 (model D) parts. Yes, even with a silver engine.

 

[Steve]

Yes, on the 850s, they changed mid-year on the '82 model year. I have seen some parts fiche list the engine serial number for the changeover.

The other largest, most-visible difference between the '82 and '83 GS bikes of any size is that the '83s came with a black engine. A previous owner might have done something to change that. I have seen some '83s that were stripped back to silver, and all three of our GSes (all pre-'83) have black engines, courtesy of a handy spray can. :encouragement:

.

 

[usernamehere]

Well the manufacture date stamped on with the VIN is 82. I guess that could make it an 83.

 

[usernamehere]

Black engine. I was thinking it was an 82 because the vin says manufactured in 82.

However, I just ran the vin through a decoder and I got 1983 GS1100 GL.

 

[Steve]

Well the manufacture date stamped on with the VIN is 82. I guess that could make it an 83.

Suzuki started assembling the '83 bikes as early as September, 1982, possibly even a few in August. Take another look at the stamped date, what month does it show?

Also, in the corner just below that, you will find the serial number. There should be a letter after that, is it a "Z" or a "D"?

Black engine. I was thinking it was an 82 because the vin says manufactured in 82.

However, I just ran the vin through a decoder and I got 1983 GS1100 GL.

Again, look at the MONTH of assembly and at the letter at the end of the serial number, which is the model year code.

As mentioned previously in post #6, the black engine is a strong clue, but is hardly definitive. :encouragement:

.

 

[Guest]

I'm kinda blown away by the fact that all this was result of a valve adjust attempt gone bad (broken cover bolts??). That's gotta sour your grapes, friend. Were you ever able to free the cover from the original head or did you toss towel?

 

[Big T]

The head is a 78 1000 one

The cam chain guide will go down when the head is installed

I'd return that head, if possible, and fix the original one