78' GS550 project.

[Guest]

Funny Bruce, your exhaust ports look almost like mine...
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=185189&page=2

It wouldn't be so bad if it were not for the cost of that freaking head gasket. At $90 bucks that's just nutty.

You know, in the end I'm sure it will run fine the way it is. You could even make a leakdown checker with your compression tester if you have one and check the valves condition just to make sure.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=186558&highlight=compression+gauge

But I don't want to have to be pulling that engine out again 5k miles down the road ya know? And it sure would make painting a lot easier since I could have the head blasted or hot tanked. So, to heck with the money, I'm doing it!

Sci85

 

[GateKeeper]

I posted this in Sci85 thread, but I can do it here as well

just get this

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8270449/Misc.-Surplus/8"-Polishing/Buffing-Kit

I see you have the grinder already

the more you use sandpaper first, and get rid of as many scratches first, the better the polishing will come out.....

go up to 1000 grit if not higher, and then hit the part with the polishing wheels and compounds

 

[Guest]

Hey Bruce, I posted a reply about the exhaust ports and polishing over on my project thread...
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1561178#post1561178

Sci85

 

[Guest]

Oops, we must all be online at the same time. Just checked my thread and saw the replies haha....I'm a prolific night time poster LOL!

Sci85

 

[Guest]

Oh, one other thing. Once you polish up that first piece and step back to admire the beauty, I warn you now you will get buffitis. Heck, I got it so bad I started buffing non-moto parts haha!

Sci85

 

[brslk]

Oops, we must all be online at the same time. Just checked my thread and saw the replies haha....I'm a prolific night time poster LOL!

Sci85

Ditto. I rarely post during the day but in the evening while watching TV the laptop is always within reach.

I hear you on the buffitis thing. When I first started painting cars years ago I was painting everything in sight. Many, many friends cars got painted for the cost of the paint.

Not so much anymore.

Bruce.

 

[GateKeeper]

At work or at home, I am always on a computer, or one is always on.....

At work I have to have it on, at home, I want to.....lol

 

[brslk]

At work or at home, I am always on a computer, or one is always on.....

At work I have to have it on, at home, I want to.....lol

Ditto, not to mention the iPhone.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

Been awhile since I did anything to the bike. I've had a monster cold/flu for the last week.
I felt good enough today to go out to the garage and do a few small things.

I got the intake boots off and they are in pretty good shape. The O-rings are completely flat and at least one of them has been sucking in air and dirt.

Then it was time get those cam covers with ridiculously stripped screws off of there.
I tried the impact driver to no avail so out came the drill.

Then these.

Next was on to removing various things from the frame.
side stand and shift linkage gone!

Brake hardware gone!

Anybody know what these two tubes welded to the bottom of the swing arm are? they are on both sides.

I also had to grind a wrench a little thinner to get the starter off.

That was about all I got done before I started feeling not so good again.

I hate wasting a weekend staying in the house doing nothing.

Next weekend the engine comes out!

Bruce.

 

[Guest]

Sucks being sick no doubt. But, looks like you powered through it and at least got more done than I did today!

Sci85

 

[Erki]

not sure how my schedule will play out next weekend but might be able to slip out of the house for a couple hours if you need a hand to lift the engine out.

 

[brslk]

not sure how my schedule will play out next weekend but might be able to slip out of the house for a couple hours if you need a hand to lift the engine out.

I would definitely appreciate that if possible. I plan on building a 2'x2' table on wheels the same height as the frame on the bike table and "walking" it onto that as suggested by a few people here on the forum.
At 41 years old with a bad shoulder... the idea of lifting the engine out does not sound like a good idea.

So ya, let me know if you have some free time or not. I appreciate the offer and understand if you can't find the time.
You have my number so call or text when you know if you are free.

Bruce.

 

[Erki]

sounds good, the table idea sounds like a great one too. easy to work on the engine out of the bike without hunching over.

 

[Bandit]

If your going to rebuild the engine you might want to upgrade to the 650's top end. When I finally pull my bike apart that's what I'll do.

 

[nutsandbolts]

....So ya, let me know if you have some free time or not.
Bruce.

Let me know when you guys do this, I'll lend a hand if I can.

 

[ClineDesign]

One option that worked for me is to lay the bike on its side and lift the frame off the engine.

 

[brslk]

One option that worked for me is to lay the bike on its side and lift the frame off the engine.

Thanks for the advice ClineDesign but I have the bike up on a stand and want to remove the engine while the bike is still a roller.
I plan on removing several tabs and things from the frame while it is up there. Makes it easier on the old back.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

I went to work today but ended up coming home at 11:00 because i felt terrible. I took some NyQuil and slept on the couch with the cat till 4:00 and remembered that tomorrow is the wife's birthday .

I got up and went to the mall and got her a few things she wanted and a few I thought she might like.
She's so darn hard to shop for because she buys anything she wants for herself. (for example: 2 gifts I got her for Christmas she had bought for herself while shopping )

This is an expensive time of year for me. Christmas... her birthday... valentines day!

Anyway, While I was out shopping I stopped at PA for some castors and HD for some wood to build a 2'x2' table to walk the engine onto.

Did some figuring and measuring

Cut up a bunch of wood. ( that old workmate is one of the most used things in the garage)

I went to start to put it together, Drilled a few pilot holes and then the drill died. The charger is in the laundry room downstairs in the house and not in the garage because it is actually the wife's drill for the house. I have two in the garage that are dead and old. I keep meaning to buy myself a new one but seeing as the wife's works well, I haven't bothered.
And as you can see, there are two batteries there... both dead in the garage...

So I pulled the wife's car back in the garage and thought I would check the oil as it drips a little.

Ya... A liter and a half of oil, a couple of liters of antifreeze and a couple of liters of washer fluid and she's good to go!
I think I last checked it last spring.
This is the 17 year Honda with almost 300,000 km's that will never die. Runs like a top.

@Greg: I'll let you know when I talk to Erik about this weekend.

Anyway... enough of my rambling.

Bruce.

 

[Guest]

Wow, is there an engine in there under all that dirt? I think it's time for a Honda rebuild project haha.

 

[brslk]

Wow, is there an engine in there under all that dirt? I think it's time for a Honda rebuild project haha.

Ya, I keep meaning to clean it but it's a Honda. It never dies.
That and I need to buy a pressure washer.

But honestly, That car was bought about 200,000 kms ago and is dead reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country tomorrow.

And she paid 10,000 bucks for it at the time.

The only things I have had to do to it is a new alternator, distributor, battery, tires and brakes.

Oh, I replaced a few block heater cords as she forgets to unplug it quite often.

Bruce.