• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Just purchased a non-running 1987 GS450L and have my stupid question of the day......

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Hi All, just purchased my first Suzuki, according to the PO it was running great until it sat for 6 months ;). Anyway, I took the seat off to remove the carbs and here is my first stupid question of the day.......Air Inlets.jpg
This can't be the best or most efficient way for the air intake?!!! Is there a mod for the airbox to improve air intake? I searched and can't seem to find any other than those pertaining to pods. Thanks
 
That looks stock. I'd leave it alone and work on maintenance. Check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature for some things to look out for.
 
I think that you'll find that the airflow is perfect, because an engineer designed and tested it.

More airflow will lead to carb issues
 
With stock air box, jetting is simple. Go to changing things & it can get to be a real PITbutt. Feel lucky it's all there & complete. How good are you at listening? Really good advice here, from folks that have been there & done that. Congrats on your first GS & Welcome aboard.
 
Well, the carbs are off and sitting in the dunk tank. I am a retired aerospace engineer and not exactly a newbie to wrenching old bikes. Just never picked up a Suzuki until now. The bike only has 5600 miles but was very poorly maintained. PO said the shop did a carb and Master Cylinder rebuilt before it sat. The tach is not working and the PO was told the clutch is going out when he went to pick up the bike. Anyway, he parked it and was afraid to ride it.
 
DesertKyorugi said:
Well, the carbs are off and sitting in the dunk tank. I am a retired aerospace engineer and not exactly a newbie to wrenching old bikes. Just never picked up a Suzuki until now. The bike only has 5600 miles but was very poorly maintained. PO said the shop did a carb and Master Cylinder rebuilt before it sat. The tach is not working and the PO was told the clutch is going out when he went to pick up the bike. Anyway, he parked it and was afraid to ride it.
Click to expand...

What about the tach is not working? Could be ...
a. years of accumulated gunk inside the tach itself is gumming up the needle. Shoot some WD40 or PB blaster inside might loosen it up. Made mine better, although not yet 100%
b. broken cable
c. the gear inside the engine that drives the tach from the forward camshaft is fried

A and B are cheap/easy to fix. C requires more work and $.
 
sacruickshank said:
A and B are cheap/easy to fix. C requires more work and $.
Click to expand...
Yeah, "C" might take a bit more work and "$", but we're only talking about 15-20 minutes and relatively little money. I doubt the gear is stripped, but it's less than $30. I would, however recommend replacing the seals in the tach drive, they are less than $10.

I would put my money on a new cable, but only after verifying that it is properly seated in the back of the tach.

Concerning the air intake: yes, that IS the best way. :encouragement:
Unless you plan on chopping the bike up into some other "look", leave it the way it is, you will be MUCH happier in the long run.

.
 
Clutch was going out with 5600 mi. on a 450? That's very strange. Clutch hub rattling is normal for GS's. If it is slipping, could be cable too tight, or has a super slick oil or a "Slick 50" type oil additive in it. Clutch hubs were a problem for GS1000 & GS1100's, but never on a 450. Good luck.
 
Replacing the tach gear might be a 15-20 minute job, if the gaskets aren't petrified to the valve cover or cylinder head. If they are, it's a several hour job to get the surfaces clean again.

I had that exact gear partially stripped on a past project.
 
The "gaskets" involved are between the tach drive sleeve and the cylinder head, it does not matter what condition the cover gasket is in.
dunno.gif


Yeah, some tach drives are in the cover, but not the OP's.

.
 
I would expect the clutch problem to be worn springs.... replace all for brand new stock or half (3) for aftermarket such as EBC. There are 6. If you replace all with aftermarket the pull is really heavy plus it's not necessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top