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Well...today's the day.

Larry D

Larry D

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
I have an '81 GS750L. Pushed it in the garage on July 10th. So far, I've done all the basics suggested on this site. Carb dip with new o rings, set float heights, new oem petcock, por-15 the tank, valve adjustment, new spark plugs, new fuel and vacuum lines, new intake boots, new rear air filter box, replaced all bullet connectors with spades, oil change and new filter, new gaskets all around and last night put on new 4-2 Mac exhaust with new crush gaskets and yes, I still need the crazy, hard to find used, that nobody has, side covers.

So.........today's the day. And here's my question.

I was talking with a friend of a friend and was telling him my tale of GS resurrection and the impending startup. He said that I should do the initial startup with the plugs removed to evacuate the combustion pressure. I didn't continue the conversation, because I thought the guy was messing with me. Granted I've never been a motor guy, until I started working on the bike, but is this something that should or can be done, or was he yanking my chain?
How the blazes would you start a bike with the plugs removed anyway?

Thanks to all, keep your fingers crossed and I'll post results in the morning.
I say the morning because I'm either having a few beers to drown my sorrows or to hopefully celebrate a successful startup.:)
 
Who knows what the guy meant. I can see cranking it without the plugs in to get the cylinder walls lubed but combustion gasses? As long as the oil pump is functioning properly you're not going to do any harm in just firing it up.
 
I dont know exactly what he is referring to but here is what I do. Take the plugs out of the bike and turn the kill switch off. You don't want the plugs to spark at this time. Turn the engine over with the plugs out until the red oil pressure lamp on the dash goes out. What this does is tell you that the oil pump is working and will prevent the engine from starting dry with no oil pressure. Most people won't hassle with this but they should!! It just gives me peace of mind that when it does fire I know there is already oil on the main and rod bearings. Hope this helped!!
 
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lrburke said:
I dont know exactly what he is referring to but here is what I do. Take the plugs out of the bike and turn the kill switch off. You don't want the plugs to spark at this time. Turn the engine over with the plugs out until the red oil pressure lamp on the dash goes out. What this does is tell you that the oil pump is working and will prevent the engine from starting dry with no oil pressure. Most people won't hassle with this but they should!! It just gives me peace of mind that when it does fire I know there is already oil on the main and rod bearings. Hope this helped!!
Click to expand...

Yup...that's what I do...
 
lrburke said:
Take the plugs out of the bike and turn the kill switch off. You don't want the plugs to spark at this time. Turn the engine over with the plugs out until the red oil pressure lamp on the dash goes out.
Click to expand...

Who knows what he meant. I think the guy's a little unstable anyway.

I'll do this prestart routine, however. Thanks guys!!:)
 
good luck with it. i myself am getting ready to test my bike out.
 
errorcauser said:
This groups sure helped me..So here you go Larry D... Jump on these like a duck on a june bug !

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981...012QQitemZ220275773419QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

You can change the emblems, or just leave them for now. At least the sides will be covered and looking nice.
Click to expand...
Just wait to bid on them in the last few seconds. Bid the most you're willing to pay then hope for the best. If you're not going to be able to watch the end of the auction use a sniping service. No point in getting into a bidding war.
 
errorcauser said:
This groups sure helped me..So here you go Larry D... Jump on these like a duck on a june bug !

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981...012QQitemZ220275773419QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

You can change the emblems, or just leave them for now. At least the sides will be covered and looking nice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the the link, but, mine's a 750. Don't think they'll fit. For some reason these side covers are very difficult to find used. I can get new ones from Suzuki for $45 apiece.:eek: Finding them here or another site for less is obviously preferred.
 
Larry D said:
Thanks for the the link, but, mine's a 750. Don't think they'll fit. For some reason these side covers are very difficult to find used. I can get new ones from Suzuki for $45 apiece.:eek: Finding them here or another site for less is obviously preferred.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Was just trying to help you out. Let us know how the start-up goes.
 
If the bike has sat for any length of time it is likely the cylinder walls are dry and the piston rings could be stuck. Starting the bike up could break a ring or even gouge the wall. First you should turn it over by hand and maybe that was what buddy was getting at.

Take out plugs and shoot a little fogging oil in each cyclinder. Remove right hand engine cover, locate big nut and attach wrench of correct size (19mm???). With bike in neutral turn by hand. If free you are good to go as per previous posted instructions. If any resistence felt, dont force it. Shoot in some penetrating fluid ( Marvel Mystery oil is a fovourite) and allow it to sit for a day or two. Try again. Repeat as necessary.

You have changed oil and filter and a good technique for an internal cleaning of oil passages etc is to dump in 1/3 to 1/2 a can of Seafoam. Run the bike for at least 100 mile or so drain and refill. Lots of crud and crap will flow out.

Good luck with it & pics please.

Cheers,
Spyug
 
Since you already adjusted the valves there shouldn't be any worry about the engine turning over. Just my opinion but if the bike was mine I'd just fire the darn thing up. I've brought four different GS's back from long term storage and I didn't do anything fancy on any of them in terms of oiling the cylinders.

Good luck.
 
Do not forget the important fact that as you are cranking, you are still pulling fuel into the combustion chamber and too much will wash down the cylinder walls lowering compression; extreme cases.

Chances are, if this is the first time you are firing, the bike will crank enough before it fires to sufficiently get everything lubed.

On modern F/I cars, you simply pull the fuel pump relay/fuel pump fuse if you are priming the pump on a reman. Ol carb'd cars you would run a special driver attached to your drill in order to prime the pump and not pull fuel into the cylinders. Reinstall the Dist. on # 1 and set the base on that bad doggy after she fires.

If you're really nervous, drain the bowls, pull the vacuum line off the pet cock and crank the bike. It is irrelevant whether or not you have spark, if there isn't any fuel to ignite, an electrical arc won't ignite just air 21% O2, after all it isn't 100 percent oxygen.
 
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spyug said:
If the bike has sat for any length of time it is likely the cylinder walls are dry and the piston rings could be stuck. Starting the bike up could break a ring or even gouge the wall. First you should turn it over by hand and maybe that was what buddy was getting at.

Take out plugs and shoot a little fogging oil in each cyclinder. Remove right hand engine cover, locate big nut and attach wrench of correct size (19mm???). With bike in neutral turn by hand. If free you are good to go as per previous posted instructions. If any resistence felt, dont force it. Shoot in some penetrating fluid ( Marvel Mystery oil is a fovourite) and allow it to sit for a day or two. Try again. Repeat as necessary.

You have changed oil and filter and a good technique for an internal cleaning of oil passages etc is to dump in 1/3 to 1/2 a can of Seafoam. Run the bike for at least 100 mile or so drain and refill. Lots of crud and crap will flow out.

Good luck with it & pics please.

Cheers,
Spyug
Click to expand...

You must have a lot of humidity up North to be siezing rings to walls. If he's already adj. valves, those rings are ready to rock and roll.
 
Nessism said:
Since you already adjusted the valves there shouldn't be any worry about the engine turning over. Just my opinion but if the bike was mine I'd just fire the darn thing up. I've brought four different GS's back from long term storage and I didn't do anything fancy on any of them in terms of oiling the cylinders.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Ditto...and if a compression test was run, the cylinders should already have a coating of oil on them.

Hit the start switch and with a little luck, it will fire so fast that you'll have to wonder if you should have prepped it in some other fashion! :D
 
Anticipation!!

Anticipation!!

I feel like a kid at Christmas!
I have done a valve adjustment and the engine turned over easily. I heard air "poofing" out of the spark plug holes (I guess) so, I don't think it's frozen up. That was about 3 weeks ago.
Overall it was in good shape when I bought it. Looked as if it was stored inside, seat is beautiful and not much rust anywhere. It has been down on the left side at some point. Although it looks to be at low speed, just some scuffs on the stator cover and turn signals. I think it also tore up the stock exhaust and the po replaced it with a 4-1. Which, I believe started the bike on it's downhill slide to me. It was never rejetted and I don't think it ever ran right again.....until tonight !!!

I've never tried to post a video before but, I'm planning on posting a video on youtube. So stay tuned......:)
 
Dave8338 said:
Hit the start switch and with a little luck, it will fire so fast that you'll have to wonder if you should have prepped it in some other fashion! :D
Click to expand...

That's always been my experience with rebuilds and whatnot -- tap the starter button and VROOOOOOOMMMMMMM...

It's a GS. It wants to start.
 
bwringer said:
That's always been my experience with rebuilds and whatnot -- tap the starter button and VROOOOOOOMMMMMMM...

It's a GS. It wants to start.
Click to expand...

Well, that makes two of us because I want it to start too!
How does it go again Brian? VROOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!
I'm keeping positive thoughts and itching to get OUTTA HERE!!!:)
 
Just put the petcock on prime for a minute or two before you try starting and if all is well it will fire right up.
 
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