78 GS550 build

[tswirl]

Cowboy,
Thanks for the advice, I really have very little idea what I'm doing. I have taken the breather cover off and the gasket was shredded, took the camshaft cover off and saw that it was clean inside but also had a worn gasket, and took out the combustion chamber and pistons. The valves and tappets are untouched inside the cylinder head - but they do have a lot of black crud built up on the faces.

I drilled the frame last summer successfully (the new swingarm can be seen on the bike in my pictures - its aluminum instead of tubular steel). I still have to get the lower bearing work done but it's good to know that someone else has done it already!

 

[cowboyup3371]

Please stop everything you are doing and read up on stuff. Then I'd put the word out here asking for help from the many members that live in your area. Some of them might be willing to come over and lend a hand if need be.

 

[tswirl]

I found an engine with 6000 miles on it so I've decided to use that instead of the one I've been working on - which has 35,000 miles. New engine has been delivered but I'm busy working on another project at the moment.

My new plan is to get the frame ready, including wiring and brakes and tackle the engine last. This way I get to know the bike some more, and once I have the engine in good shape there all I have to do is drop it in. The setup I will be using is a little unique, I am using a 1981 gs1100 fork and swing arm on the 1978 gs550 frame. The reason I am using the gs1100 parts is so I have two disc brakes up front and one in back instead of the 550's single disc and rear drum.

This is going to be a pretty long term project because I'm in school and have a pretty limited budget - not to mention that I'm also working on a 1984 Toyota pickup daily driver.

If there is anyone in the Seattle area who is willing to share their knowledge or resources (websites, scrapyards, etc...) that would be awesome. One of the biggest problems I have is that since I bought this bike not running, I have no idea how some parts are supposed to function or whether or not they are working properly. I really don't want to give up on this project but no matter what I try to do, it doesn't seem to be making any progress.

Thanks

[edit: I'll put pics up this weekend]

 

[Big T]

One of the biggest problems I have is that since I bought this bike not running, I have no idea how some parts are supposed to function or whether or not they are working properly. I really don't want to give up on this project but no matter what I try to do, it doesn't seem to be making any progress.

Thanks

[edit: I'll put pics up this weekend]

That's because you're in the running for the Newbie Mistakes of the year award

Have you read thru BassCliff's site?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196338

Check the Top Newbie Mistakes

No where do I see where you've adjusted the valves, taken a compression reading or cleaned your carbs properly

It sounds like you tore part a perfectly good motor because you rush to judgement (which is questionable)

 

[tswirl]

You're absolutely right - I am explicitly a newbie. The main reason I got the new engine is because I wanted to have a reference of how the engine systems should work. The old engine could be resurrected once I gain the expertise and tools to do so properly. The reason I took it apart in the first place was to replace the gaskets and see the condition of the engine internals.

I have dipped and rebuilt the carbs with new o-rings from cycleorings.com and gaskets. I will buy new jets also because one of the many po's chopped the exhaust and put pods on and tossed the stock jets. Last summer I had the engine running (poorly, very poorly). I have not taken a compression reading or adjusted the valves.

I have learned a lot since I first joined last year and I am cautiously moving forwards with the project. Like I said, I want to get the frame and suspension components on and working first. Then I will wire the bike (the part I am most comfortable with) and finally drop the motor back in after I have done all of the necessary adjusting/testing to it.

I made the huge mistake last year and earlier this summer of trying to make this a budget project, when it could never succeed that way. This time around I will be careful to use quality products and buy the necessary equipment/tooling.

This is the newbie mistake I want to avoid most of all, "10) Buying a 30 year old motorcycle because it was cheap without any mechanical knowledge and no interest in learning. Paying a shop to work on your 30 year old motorcycle is not advised unless you have lots of money to spend and know for a fact that they are trustworthy."

I fell hard for the first part but I will finish this project, and I don't want to give up and take it to a shop to do so.