• 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.

1978 gs1000

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1978
  • Start date Start date
1

1978

Guest
Hello! This is my first post to this forum. At the start of the summer, I bought a 1978 GS1000 that I am currently working on and will be rebuilding as a cafe racer type bike.
I paid $250. The bike has been sitting for about ten years and it has just over 19000 miles. My plan is to see if I can get it running, then strip it down, clean it thoroughly, paint it, and start working on the wheels, suspension, and cosmetic aspects of the bike.

Some photos:
http://f.cl.ly/items/0e3L2U3V2a1R0A170V41/10441055_834332119912825_7407616250917882665_n.jpg
http://f.cl.ly/items/0p2I1L0N0j00402f1b1v/10356216_834332116579492_3739896065793141454_n.jpg
http://f.cl.ly/items/0A181T3x0X020f012c1R/10457847_834332123246158_5768173182902539066_n.jpg

When I first brought it home, I immediately did an oil change and bought new spark plugs and a battery. The tank is completely rusted on the inside and is missing a petcock, so I ran a line to a bottle to temporarily test the engine. It turned over but did not start. So next I began working on the carburetors. These were completely ruined. The choke and slides were both stuck. The insides of 3/4 carbs was crumbling away. I bought a better set of used Mikuni VM26ss carbs online. I spent the past week or so cleaning them with carb cleaner and a toothbrush. I also bought new rubber intake boots and air filters. I got the wrong size filters so I am exchanging them now.

A photo of the old carburetors:
http://f.cl.ly/items/0F392p3a0s0r2b2I3W04/10552641_834332126579491_2877152954275428798_n.jpg

Today, I reinstalled the carburetors and ran a temporary gas line into the carbs (also I did this without air filters). I put a tiny bit of gasoline into the pistons to help it start. I was able to start the bike by opening the choke all the way, giving it a little throttle, and using the starter motor. Unfortunately, the bike did not idle. I thought I should try again but this time hold the throttle open a bit more (could have just adjusted the throttle screw), however, when I attempted to start it again, there was a "pop" noise from the left side of the bike. I could hear the starter motor begin to slow down a bit as well. I didn't want to try starting it any more. Do any of you have any idea what this might be? I think it could be a diaphragm in the far left carb. Should I try to start the bike again, even though the starter motor is beginning to sound kind of bad?

A video of me starting the bike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjRg70OwGmU&feature=youtu.be

Thanks guys! I will post updates every once in a while when I get new parts or make progress on the bike. I am super excited to be working on this and also to be a part of this community :)
 

Attachments

  • 10441055_834332119912825_7407616250917882665_n.jpg
    10441055_834332119912825_7407616250917882665_n.jpg
    86.9 KB · Views: 0
It started and that is a good thing. Have you adjusted the valves yet?
 
WOW..I can't believe you got that bike running. A true testament to how durable these engines are, and obviously your determination. The pop noise was probably just the bike backfiring through a carb as it's not running well, has no air filter on ect... If you think it sounded at all 'metal like' don't start it but if not I'd start it up and let it get a bit warm then do a compression test on each cylinder. The numbers will tell you lots about the condition of the top end.
 
Absolutely azr! Rock solid engine. And thanks! :) Definitely was not a metal like sound at all. Thanks for the advice! I will see if I can get a gauge from a friend. I do think the compression is very low.
 
Well if the compression is suspected low it might be from the valves not being adjusted. Like another member mentioned, you might want to do those first and then do the compression. Lots of engines and have numbers of 90 or below, do the valve shims and up to 120 or above..
 
No air box, a 4 to 1 installed and no idea what jetting is in the carbs. You might want to record the numbers before you get too far into the process.
 
Thanks azr and rustybronco. I figured that it couldn't hurt to tear the engine mostly down to clean the pistons, the heads, etc. I am going to start that soon. When I put it back together I will adjust the valves. @rustybronco, the bike had stock air box and jetting. I'll definitely check out the #'s. Thanks!!
 
Welcome....looks like you've got a fair bit of work ahead of you...Good luck.
Where in NJ are you?
 
Thanks! Certainly do have a lot of work ahead haha. Upper Saddle River, in north bergen county although I'm going to school in Hoboken. You in NJ?
 
Ah a bit south! Well when I get the bike going and go for a ride I will let you know! :)
 
Time for another update!

Time for another update!

Hello everyone. I got a part in so I figured it is about time for another update. Lately I've been focusing on the carburetors. My plan is to make them perfect, or as close as possible, and adjust the valves on the engine and clean it a little and hopefully it will start and idle.

The part that I got in this past week is the #1 Carb body for these Mikuni VM26SS carbs (I think that's what they are). I bought it from SpyderCycleWorks on eBay. I HIGHLY recommend them. The part came in looking like it just came out of the factory. Here's a picture of the old one and the new one side by side:

carb2.jpg


I also started stripping down the carbs completely. I want to buy all new gaskets, a few rebuild kits, and a stage 3 jet kit because I am using K&N type pod air filters and an upgraded exhaust.

carb1.jpg

carb3.jpg


The final step to prepare the carbs is to clean them!! How do you guys recommend I clean my carbs? I've been soaking and spraying them with carb and parts cleaner but it definitely does not get them looking really good. I think ultrasonic or soda blasting would be the way to go, but those aren't so easily available to me. What do you think?
 
Last edited:
Did you already clean them per the tutorial?

Scrubbing, soda blasting,vapor blasting to clean the exterior
 
I basically just hit them with carb and parts cleaner and scrubbed with rags and toothbrushes. That seemed to work very well to get rid of the large chunks, but a lot still remains
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ukjules
Starter motor needs a tap to work recently
Replies
18
Views
251
ukjules
ukjules
SamLack99
1982 GS570T - 1/4 Throttle Onwards Flat Spot
Replies
4
Views
103
SamLack99
SamLack99
G
1982 GS1000 Z US Version
Replies
10
Views
212
slayer61
slayer61
SamLack99
[1982 GS750T] Pilot Screw Adjustment and Vacuum Sync Confusion...
Replies
10
Views
208
rphillips
R
Deegz
‘78 GS1000 Wiring issue
Replies
10
Views
225
mustangflyr!
mustangflyr!
Back
Top