Love at first sight '79 GS850

[Otter]

Hello TGSR! I picked up my first GS from a local guy on Craigslist for $900. It runs, but not well. Can tell its been sitting for more than a few years possibly, but it's got potential! I've just been going down the list of things to do to it, clean the carbs, new fluids, inspecting the electrics, the basics. Just finished rebuilding the front MC, was packed full of hard dried brown gunk (yuck).

Ordered new carb O-rings from cycleorings, so just waiting on those to get in so I can move onto that project.
Was missing the cushions for the front of the gas tank so ordered those.
Appears someone tried (and failed) to cut the baffles out of the left side exhaust so that'll get fixed soon too.

The information on here has already been super helpful and Im looking forward to getting this baby back on the road!

 

[chuck hahn]

Bookmark this and use it often..scroll down the right side and youll see the VM CARB REBUILD tutorial. Click on all the links on each side and familiarise yourself with whats all there..it wll take a while to peruse it all.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

 

[chuck hahn]

You wont find a setting for the pilot jets ( screws on the bottom ) in any of the charts..so heres the answer. 3/4 to 7/8 out from gently seated. I like my bikes just ever so rich so I go the 7/8 myself. Side Mixture screws are what you use to fine tune the crabs to each cylinders liking. Set them at about 2 out as the starting point. This may be a little lean so once all the valves and carb synching are done youll turn the side screws IN to RICHEN the mixture and OUT to LEAN the mixture. Leave the bottom ones alone once set.

See the STICKY at the top of the carb forum marked CARB OEM SPECS PER FACTORY MANUALS and find your bike.

And heres an excellent chart as well.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/carbspec_float_height.html

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome aboard, Otter.
Hopefully you can repair the exhaust. The stock ones are getting harder to find.

 

[twotimeGSr]

Welcome! Nice looking bike. Looks like you have newer front brakes.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Same as what I payed for my 1100G.
Just another thing on your list, the drive axle. Seems to be taken for granted and gets neglected. Read up on that too.