what did you wrench on today??

[Guest]

Oh, nearly forgot I did a bit of wrenching myself today!

Got out for a nice ride with John and his son over Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious and when I got back my odo read 95203km's which means 937km's since the rebuild

Sump plug and oil filter out while she was still warm and now I'm just waiting for the oil filter valve cover gasket to arrive so I can get her oiled up again, do some valve clearance checks, replace that crap Athena valve cover gasket, and give everything a good once over.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Hi Pete, thanks for the kind words about the shine mate. Yeah, the calipers are a bit sad so along with the side and centre stand, airbox plates and cowl frame they are off to be satin black powder-coated later this year then it will be a bit more presentable in the company of your 450E Project.

Its a specification issue with the springs not oil, it still uses 15W fork oil with a couple of extra ml above the 227ml to compensate for the internal mods to the anti-dive units.

Good to see the ride with John went well and no problems for the 450. I know what you mean about gaskets, some work and some don't which is why I just pay the extra now and get genuine and know they work. Speaking of oil I need to change the engine oil and filter before the 5th. I'll have an update on the braking and handling once the spring issue has been sorted, cheers.

 

[Guest]

Hi Pete, thanks for the kind words about the shine mate. Yeah, the calipers are a bit sad so along with the side and centre stand, airbox plates and cowl frame they are off to be satin black powder-coated later this year then it will be a bit more presentable in the company of your 450E Project.

Its a specification issue with the springs not oil, it still uses 15W fork oil with a couple of extra ml above the 227ml to compensate for the internal mods to the anti-dive units.

Good to see the ride with John went well and no problems for the 450. I know what you mean about gaskets, some work and some don't which is why I just pay the extra now and get genuine and know they work. Speaking of oil I need to change the engine oil and filter before the 5th. I'll have an update on the braking and handling once the spring issue has been sorted, cheers.

Good stuff! Hopefully the springs are all good and you can get them in with no dramas.

As for the caliper... don't look too closely at mine! I'll give you a tip... do the powder coating like you're planning, don't use 3M caliper paint... it's crap. I know my prep was good and I baked it just like the can said, but it's just not as good a finish as I'd hoped... oh well you live and learn right? Just like the gasket

Looking forward to the update!

 

[jhillier449]

I started checking the charging problem on my 81 1000GL yesterday. Getting some resistance values between my stator and chassis ground, got to do ac voltage test today. Also checked gear oil levels, the engine side was down enough to cause concern, jeez the PO could have not checked it in ages. Luckily I have spares if needed. One thing I have learned, most of these old bikes have not been maintained as they should have and just because it looks good don't necessarily mean the internals are good.

 

[jhillier449]

Checked stator voltages, 70 volts at 4000 RPM. So I changed the regulator/rectifier and got the charging voltage up to 13.5, got to clean the connections now. The bike would not turn over very well, had to use 2 batteries so I swapped out the starter with a spare, works great now. You can change out the starter without removing the carbs by the way. Let your fingers do the walking.

New project: 1981 GS1000GL.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

The fork springs are a goer so they are now fitted and the front end is complete. Front end work done over the last couple of weeks: new wheel bearings, replaced front brake discs, rebuilt/modified anti-dive units to deactivate them and improve brake feel and stiffen the front end. Flushed out the front brake system. Fork inner tubes re-chromed, new custom made heavier gauge fork springs fitted, replaced the fork damper rod assembly and the friction slides, new fork seals and oil. Flushed out the throttle and clutch cable and re-lubed them, cleaned the throttle hand grip tube and clip-on and re-lubed. Throttle is now super smooth and slams shut when released. Carbie linkages,springs and rods lubed.

Now if it will only stop raining which is causing local road closures due to flooding, I want to get out and test the new set-up!

 

[downsy]

Real Nice !!!

 

[chuck hahn]

Just a little work on a set of VM26s.....I will snap a few better ones of the carb bodies from outside in natural lighting. They actually are a nice shiney silver.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/006ilfr.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/259/001xil.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/004tpn.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/440/005pea.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/440/003nnf.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/002bzo.jpg/

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Thanks downsy, I just hope the roads are open and its a dry day for the 5th, cheers mate.

 

[Guest]

The fork springs are a goer so they are now fitted and the front end is complete. Front end work done over the last couple of weeks: new wheel bearings, replaced front brake discs, rebuilt/modified anti-dive units to deactivate them and improve brake feel and stiffen the front end. Flushed out the front brake system. Fork inner tubes re-chromed, new custom made heavier gauge fork springs fitted, replaced the fork damper rod assembly and the friction slides, new fork seals and oil. Flushed out the throttle and clutch cable and re-lubed them, cleaned the throttle hand grip tube and clip-on and re-lubed. Throttle is now super smooth and slams shut when released. Carbie linkages,springs and rods lubed.

Now if it will only stop raining which is causing local road closures due to flooding, I want to get out and test the new set-up!

Good news Glen! Glad you got her together again ready to roll... but yeah pity about the weather! They reckon the rain and showers will ease a bit tomorrow before coming in again Friday/Saturday, so hopefully you'll get able to get her out for at least a short run.

Just a little work on a set of VM26s.....I will snap a few better ones of the carb bodies from outside in natural lighting. They actually are a nice shiney silver.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/006ilfr.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/259/001xil.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/004tpn.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/440/005pea.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/440/003nnf.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/002bzo.jpg/

They look pretty good Chuck, but I'm so glad I only have two carbs... there's far too many parts there for my liking!

Thanks downsy, I just hope the roads are open and its a dry day for the 5th, cheers mate.

+1... I really hope all is good as I'm really looking forward to this run. Mind you I did put dual sports on the 450

 

[Guest]

And I got the 1000km service completed on the 450 tonight with the exception of a compression test. Don't think my wife will be real impressed with cranking her over at 10:30pm...

All is good, and the dodgy Athena valve cover gasket is now in the bin in favour of a genuine one.

Now to get a break in the weather for a test run like yourself Glen!

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

And I got the 1000km service completed on the 450 tonight with the exception of a compression test. Don't think my wife will be real impressed with cranking her over at 10:30pm...

All is good, and the dodgy Athena valve cover gasket is now in the bin in favour of a genuine one.

Now to get a break in the weather for a test run like yourself Glen!

Come on Pete a 10:30 pm compression test should be fine, baw ha ha ha. Yeah, maybe it was a good call to wait out for that one. Sounds like you are just about good to go for the 5th so lets hope the weather lifts by the next week and everyone can make it for the run, cheers.

 

[Guest]

Come on Pete a 10:30 pm compression test should be fine, baw ha ha ha. Yeah, maybe it was a good call to wait out for that one. Sounds like you are just about good to go for the 5th so lets hope the weather lifts by the next week and everyone can make it for the run, cheers.

Hahahaha yeah that'd go down like a lead balloon!

Bit of sun today by the looks so we should both be able to get out for a test run

Providing all is good after the test run and I'm not spewing oil somewhere I'm all good to go for the 5th

I wonder how Leigh, Simon, and Vossy are getting on down at the Island today?

 

[cowboyup3371]

Put the forks back together this afternoon

 

[Sadsak]

My project of the week was cleaning up and zeroing-$) one of my spare instrument sets. I don't think I'll do that again. Just too much trouble.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Managed to have a quick blat to see how the new front end is performing, WOW! I had to check to see if it was my bike I was riding, the improvement in braking and handling is amazing! No more spongy brake lever feel with the anti-dive now by-passed, the new heavy gauge fork springs have eliminated the excessive fork compression it suffered with the old tired springs. Cornering is now crisp and sweet and the braking is firm with plenty of feedback and pulls up dead straight. The fork spring pre-load cap is on the 2nd softest setting for now and its doing pretty good so far. Some fine tuning with oil weight and pre-load setting should have it perfect soon, cheers.

 

[Guest]

Managed to have a quick blat to see how the new front end is performing, WOW! I had to check to see if it was my bike I was riding, the improvement in braking and handling is amazing! No more spongy brake lever feel with the anti-dive now by-passed, the new heavy gauge fork springs have eliminated the excessive fork compression it suffered with the old tired springs. Cornering is now crisp and sweet and the braking is firm with plenty of feedback and pulls up dead straight. The fork spring pre-load cap is on the 2nd softest setting for now and its doing pretty good so far. Some fine tuning with oil weight and pre-load setting should have it perfect soon, cheers.

Awesome Glen, glad to hear you had a win!

I also got out for a quick one today and got to do my newly found test route of 36km and so far no oil leaking out the valve cover

Tacho is much improved with the new cable but not perfect... I think an Acewell is in my future...

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

So Pete, where does your 36km Test Route take you?

 

[Guest]

So Pete, where does your 36km Test Route take you?

That takes me on a bit of Bunya Rd, Jinker Track, Old Northern Rd, Everton Crossing Rd, back down Bunya Rd, then back home... a nice little suburban run with some fun corners and a potentially flooded little wooden bridge and weir to boot It was very close the other day...

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Hi Pete, yeah a nice set of roads for a ride. I am hoping B.O.M. has it together and in a pile for next week. They have forecast the rain to lift by next Friday so with a few "positive waves" and some luck maybe our Sunday can be salvaged.