Stripped lower hex bolt on bottom of forks

[ukjules]

hrmmmm an impressive array of gear. fair shout.
All I can say is I like the frugal in the field fixes. This site helped me with such when on a tour of Europe when my bike broke down and I was sat in a field in a tent , near Amsterdam broken broke down. Good times and forever thankful.

I need you and your machine shop here to make my English scythe handles.

advice taken in.

cheers to G for info.
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[Suzukian]

Nah....
I have the the correct tools, and have drilled out many screw heads. And yet, I would still try a torx bit first. Fast and easy.
How much force is necessary to snap a quality torx bit, anyway?

It depends on the quality. I've had name brand ones, one the smaller sizes break off fairly easily, then you have to smash them with a punch to get them out.

 

[Suzukian]

hrmmmm an impressive array of gear. fair shout.
All I can say is I like the frugal in the field fixes. This site helped me with such when on a tour of Europe when my bike broke down and I was sat in a field in a tent , near Amsterdam broken broke down. Good times and forever thankful.

I need you and your machine shop here to make my English scythe handles.

advice taken in.

cheers to G for info.
​​​​​​
​​​​​​

You wouldn't believe the tools I carry with me in my tank bag, and in the seat storage tray. It has to be a really bad problem for me not to be able to fix it on the road. I've actually helped other bikers who stuck more than myself. When I had my sidecar, I carried a crazy amount of tools in it's trunk. The weight helped keep the sidecar down when empty.

I also belong to the Vintage Suzuki site that's located in the U.K., but you had better have thick skin to join that site, and your bike can't be an "L" model. They will rip you apart, and you can use whatever kind of language you want, and insult people there ad infinitum, but you had better be able to take it. It's a blast, but not for everyone. It is the most knowledgeable group of people on Suzuki motorcycles I've ever met. These guys do wild things to their bikes. I have purchased whole GS1150 front ends for $75 bucks from members located in the "Colonies', as you would say.

 

[rphillips]

Ripping someone because they like an "L" seem about as absurd you can get....It'd be about the same to rip somebody with a 4 valve eng., just cause you like a 2 valve better. Just plain ignorant... Think I'll just hang around here and hope those folks stay over there.

 

[Suzukian]

Ripping someone because they like an "L" seem about as absurd you can get....It'd be about the same to rip somebody with a 4 valve eng., just cause you like a 2 valve better. Just plain ignorant... Think I'll just hang around here and hope those folks stay over there.

If you want to learn how to modify you "L" engine to it's fullest potential, that forum is the place to learn. Want to learn how to make a once side swing arm for your bike, that's the forum you go to. The engines are the same. I don't think the number of valves comparison holds, but what ever floats your boat.

When I ran a Yamaha dealership, I used to customize a lot of GS850L and XS650's motorcycles with products from "Drag Specialties. Many 3" inch risers, with flat bars, and other chrome doodads that I made much profit off of. I was an official distributor for Drag Specialties and adapted many of their products to fit the "L" models, to help those riders get the look they wanted. I wasn't into it, but it wasn't about me, it was about helping them fulfill their wishes. I will take good modding advice from wherever I can get it from.

 

[rphillips]

Why I like it around here, I'm not a fan of the "L" type bikes but would offer any help I could "L" or not, just as I think anybody around here would... Never remember any ripping, other than in a joking like way. I'd hope the "L" owners would get as big of kick out of "L's"' being called "disco cruisers" or "cruising for burger bikes" as the ones that jokingly called them that. If not, I offer them an apology.

 

[Suzukian]

I knew guys who rode Harley's only because they picked up more chicks. They did too, they were chicks who just liked the look of Harleys and didn't want to go fast, but just wanted to cruise. I will help anyone I can, if I see them stuck on the road. I do the same with people in cars, though most of the time, the people around here have AAA, or the police are right on top of it. Tiny roads that can't sustain any kind of traffic jam.

 

[rphillips]

"They were chicks that liked the looks of Harleys and didn't want to go fast just cruise"??? Are you serious??? Didn't you ever talk to a "chick" that didn't mind being truthful about what they liked the Harleys? From what I've heard, the looks and slow cruising had very little to do with it.

 

[Suzukian]

Well, not sure what you're alluding too, but the forum's rules, and the general results of vibrations are well known.:smiley_simmons:

 

[ukjules]

I find in uk no Harley rider ever nods there head at a rider with a more normal bike like a superb old GS . Damned rude I find I thus never do the same now and have contempt for those odious people .when I rode round Europe however I found all bike riders of any type of bike nodded etc . I wouldn't swap my GS for 100 Harleys.
hey ho.

anyway with new bolt ordered for forks I'll be putting forks back on the weekend. I just worry about the boot head and if it's big enough .

 

[Suzukian]

Not a fan of Harleys. I know a lot of guys that own them, though I never ride with them. I go into New York a lot, and they have mandatory Helmet laws. I will not ride with anyone who is not dressed for it in any event, so that excludes people who feel it's safe to ride without a helmet.

 

[dorkburger]

I also belong to the Vintage Suzuki site that's located in the U.K., but you had better have thick skin to join that site, and your bike can't be an "L" model. They will rip you apart, and you can use whatever kind of language you want, and insult people there ad infinitum, but you had better be able to take it. It's a blast, but not for everyone. It is the most knowledgeable group of people on Suzuki motorcycles I've ever met. These guys do wild things to their bikes. I have purchased whole GS1150 front ends for $75 bucks from members located in the "Colonies', as you would say.

If you're referring to OSS, yes, it's a great site. And while foul language good natured ribbing is allowed, I have seen several people get banned when things got personal. They run a tight ship.

 

[Suzukian]

If you're referring to OSS, yes, it's a great site. And while foul language good natured ribbing is allowed, I have seen several people get banned when things got personal. They run a tight ship.

Yup, that's the site. I belong to that one, and have been treated really well. Anything of a personal nature, you are done. They know how to get close though, not for the thin skinned, and you had better know what you are talking about. That's the real main raw nerve there. If you don't, they will tear you apart. On the other hand, they are extremely helpful. These guys bash together bikes that are made of old bikes, and every bit as competitive of anything you could buy today, except they do it for a lot less money. Seeing someone fabricate and mount a Supercharger for their GS1150, or other bikes, adding Turbos, swing arms from billet aluminum, making whole custom frames, and single side swing arms, the list goes on. Many Americans on that site, and I have picked up some deals on parts that really just barely covered the shipping costs.

 

[ukjules]

Seal in, forks back . An awful job but sorted.

Allen bolt was m8?1.25.

One thing I always assumed that very small bleed screw had a rubber washer. Mine didn't and is in and doesnt seem to leak. I had to sort a stripped Philips head on that screw with the Dremel but all sorted now.

(Used 1 1/2" pipe to ram in seal)
(Notice a fork seal has gone on the gsx .... So have to do another )

Cheers again for tip !

 

[SusKatCas]

I had to sort a stripped Philips head on that screw with the Dremel but all sorted now.

Stripped Phillips head screw? You know about the JIS cross head screws on these bikes? There is a nice guy on this side of the pond that sells some sets. Or you can go to Amazon. I think that was the first key thing I learned on this site.

Cheers, Alan

https://www.amazon.com/Vessel-Megad...t=&hvlocphy=1023631&hvtargid=pla-421878978938

 

[ukjules]

yep I know of jis as you say.
I am yet to even own a jis screwdriver or ever buy any jis head screws etc.
never time ........

I didn't bother looking for another screw for the bleed on the forks. I made head into a
slotted one and hoped for the best. All ok with it and no rubber washer (there can't
have ever been one)
STOP.... JUST CHECKED THERE WAS ONE - PIC ATTACHED no 22

Mine is in with no washer, no leak but not tested on a long run.

 

[ukjules]

Need to bodgify a new washer and put on without draining oil .....

 

[ukjules]

q) I don't suppose anyone knows what that very small screw washer (for the fork drain) is made of do you?
I'm going to order a few M4 brass washers but just wondered if they were plastic.

 

[Suzukian]

Brass or Copper will work out fine. Any kind of gasket will work down there, it's just a matter if you want to reuse it. I like Copper because if you heat it up with a Propane torch, it swells up again. We did that for the Copper Gaskets on the aircraft spark plugs we used. The spark plugs were $140 each (Ouch!), and there were easily cleaned. A quick hit with a Propane Torch on the washers, and when you see the color change, you know they are ready.

 

[1978GS750E]

Brass or Copper will work out fine. Any kind of gasket will work down there, it's just a matter if you want to reuse it. I like Copper because if you heat it up with a Propane torch, it swells up again. We did that for the Copper Gaskets on the aircraft spark plugs we used. The spark plugs were $140 each (Ouch!), and there were easily cleaned. A quick hit with a Propane Torch on the washers, and when you see the color change, you know they are ready.

Good to know in case you ever want to convert your forks to an aircraft spark plug!