78' GS550 project.

[brslk]

Great project!..nice looking shop to boot!

Thank you sir.
I wish it was a shop but it's just my 2 car detached garage.
It gets knocked down this spring and will be replaced with a 3 car.
Maybe then I might be able to park my truck inside.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

Your place is so clean, it almost looks like you didn't do anything.... I am jealous

I like beer, but not so much in the winter, more during the summer, but generally I like my Crown Royal, goes good anytime, even when wrenching in the cool garage during the winter months....and a nice cigar at the end of the evening....


Hey Bruce....I just noticed, you need to paint your mobile engine stand and your bike table green,,,,,,to match the rest of your decor............

Haha. I actually considered painting them both green to match the rest. What can I say. I like the old industrial green look.
Besides, It matches the green of the furnace that was there when I moved in.
The wife won't let me paint the inside of the house flat hospital green though. She's kinda funny that way...

When I'm in the house I'm a vodka guy... not so much for the rye but a nice bourbon now and then is good.

Bruce.

The trick to having a clean garage is to clean up BEFORE you take the pictures.

 

[GateKeeper]

I once had a clean garage, that was until I started my rebuild......it will be clean once again after I have finished my rebuild, now I just tidy up a bit.....

 

[brslk]

I once had a clean garage, that was until I started my rebuild......it will be clean once again after I have finished my rebuild, now I just tidy up a bit.....

To be honest, My garage wasn't that organized until I started hanging out on a forum called the garagejournal.

If you have never seen the site I highly recommend it. (If you have weeks to spare reading and looking at pics of awesome garages and projects)
If you do go there, my name is the same there (brslk)

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

I had too much stuff to do today so I didn't get to spend much time on the bike but in keeping with my plan on doing at least something everyday I did this.
Before

After

(2 beer night^)

I also decided to check out the carbs.
I was shocked at how clean the internals are even though the exteriors are filthy.

I stopped at Canadian tire today to get some stuff for the house and decided, what the heck! I need another grinder (I hate changing disks mid job) and they were on sale for $20 again.

If I buy any more I will have to make a new rack to hold them.

Tomorrow I am going to start on the wheels or the frame.
I really just need to pull the trigger and start cutting off tabs on the frame so I can get it coated.

Bruce.

 

[GateKeeper]

I stopped at Canadian tire today to get some stuff for the house and decided, what the heck! I need another grinder (I hate changing disks mid job) and they were on sale for $20 again.

Bruce.

Too funny there Bruce.....I picked up one of those yesterday as well.....

I didn't have one at the house, never had a need for one, but for 20 bucks, I just couldn't pass it up.....

and that sprocket came out looking really good....

 

[Erki]

one can never have too many grinders.

 

[brslk]

one can never have too many grinders.

My thoughts exactly!
1 with a wire wheel, 1 with a grinding disk, 1 with a zip wheel, 1 with a flap disk, 1 with a "sanding" disk.

I want a couple more though. 1 with a wire cup and 1 with a fine flap disk.

My wife thinks I'm nuts for having 20 hammers but she kinda understands the grinder thing.

I'm sure I will eventually end up with about 10 grinders and still want more.
Probably get another 10 hammers...lol.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

Too funny there Bruce.....I picked up one of those yesterday as well.....

I didn't have one at the house, never had a need for one, but for 20 bucks, I just couldn't pass it up.....

and that sprocket came out looking really good....

Thanks GK. I was going to buy both sprockets and chain new but once I cleaned up the sprockets, they looked to be in pretty good shape. No bent teeth and minimal wear. Not so sure about the chain though. I'll have to give it a good cleaning.

I use my grinder(s) more than almost any other tool I have in the garage.
Be careful though... you might end up buying ten of them.
A grinder with a wire wheel on it is a wonderful thing when restoring bikes.

Bruce.

 

[platinum2]

you guys might want to check out harbor freight those grinders are great i got mine for 9.99!!, i have 2 now 1 i used the crap out of it it still works good, also they have a lot of tools that will get the job done, for less money, for those that aren't to proud to use them that is, im in the real world, i cant spend 90 on a single ratchet you know, just ridiculous , i do love those high dollar tools but there too pricy

 

[GateKeeper]

^^^^^

Harbor Freight and Canada don't mix well.....

We instead have Princess Auto, which has the cheap tools, and not just in price, then we have Canadian Tire, a bit more in price, but typically a better quality as well

 

[brslk]

^^^^^

Harbor Freight and Canada don't mix well.....

We instead have Princess Auto, which has the cheap tools, and not just in price, then we have Canadian Tire, a bit more in price, but typically a better quality as well

I'm pretty certain that Harbor Freight and Princess Auto are the same company. They usually have the same suppliers and sell the same products.

I usually buy from PA if it is something I won't use often. Canadian tire as GK said is a better quality but still somewhat inexpensive.

This summer the wife and I were in Oregon and I was looking at the Harbor Freight roller tool box on sale for $149. I would have bought it but the SUV was full of the wife's suitcases.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

you guys might want to check out harbor freight those grinders are great i got mine for 9.99!!, i have 2 now 1 i used the crap out of it it still works good, also they have a lot of tools that will get the job done, for less money, for those that aren't to proud to use them that is, im in the real world, i cant spend 90 on a single ratchet you know, just ridiculous , i do love those high dollar tools but there too pricy

I hear you about not being too proud to use cheap tools. I will use whatever works for the job for the best price.
I would love to have a garage full of snap on stuff but cannot afford it and don't see the need.

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

Went to Canadian tire today to buy some evapo rust.
I have heard good things about it so I thought I would give it a try (seeing as how I have sooooo many rusty parts and fasteners.)
I tried the Canadian tire near my house but they didn't have it even though the website said they had it in stock.
I had to go to one a little further away and they had 1 liter of it for $9.99.
I poured it in a jar and threw my shift linkage in there to test it out.
I also poured some in a bowl and threw some nuts from the rear sprocket in there.

With the help of this and a touch up gun I haven't used in ages I started to paint the pods (not sure if I will reuse them but I will see how well they clean up)

I think sometime this week I will take the wheels to the coin car wash with some aluminum cleaner to see how clean I can get them before polishing.(they look a LOT better in the photo than in real life.)

Gee... then I hardly have and cleaning up to do to parts...

A short night in the garage... a two beer night.

Tons to do but at least I finally feel like I am moving forward.

The parts soaking are pretty rusty so I'm gonna let them soak overnight and see how they look tomorrow.

Bruce.

 

[GateKeeper]

Good progress there Bruce...

Just wondering, why not just put the bits and pieces, like the nuts and bolts up to the wire brush, it will be a much faster way of cleaning them up...

I think almost every part of my bike was up against the wire brush, be it the one on the hand drill or on the electric table top one, I actually did a whole bunch of small screws, and such tonight as well, made short time of the work.

 

[brslk]

Good progress there Bruce...

Just wondering, why not just put the bits and pieces, like the nuts and bolts up to the wire brush, it will be a much faster way of cleaning them up...

I think almost every part of my bike was up against the wire brush, be it the one on the hand drill or on the electric table top one, I actually did a whole bunch of small screws, and such tonight as well, made short time of the work.

I could do that but the only wire brushes I have are pretty course and would remove too much metal.

I really should buy a couple of those fine brass wire wheels.

I have just seen so many pics of how well this evapo rust works that I had to try it.

You're probably right though. I should just use a finer wire wheel.

Bruce.

 

[Redneck]

In all honesty bruce I would just go through and start replacing nuts and bolts. If you are going to have lots of shiny parts anyway exchange them all for stainless steel bolts and nuts, help put the rusting problems to bed. I will admit to having much garage cleanliness envy and air compressor envy. Man that thing looks like it could run anything short of a pneumatic jack hammer.

Paul

 

[brslk]

True enough Paul.

I am still planning on replacing most of the nuts and bolts with new stainless ones but that seems like a daunting process. I would have to do it a few at a time to make sure I keep the ones that go in a certain place together.

If I could just gather all the nuts and bolts and take them to a fastener place and get all new ones at once that would be great but then It would be like putting together a jig saw puzzle.

I think I will replace all critical fasteners with stainless and try to reuse the old ones cleaned up for the minor stuff.

I've done a bit of research and found that you can get specific stainless kits for certain areas of the bike (ie engine, carbs etc...) but this bike seems to be a bit of everything. and a lot of it can't be had for a 78'.


And ya... the air compressor is a bit of overkill but I used to paint cars for a living and still do some painting and plan on more of it.

Besides, the compressor was on sale for $550. A deal I couldn't pass up.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.(at least that is what I tell my wife)

Bruce.

 

[brslk]

Well, I haven't had much of a chance to do anything to the bike the last few days. Had to find a place nearby to rent while our house is being built.
Placed an ad in the community news letter and the first day it was published I got a call at 8:30 am from a guy with a house for rent 2 blocks away. Went and checked it out and it is perfect! Even has a double garage (not heated though).
We can move in March 1st.

Anyway... on to tonight's adventure!
I decided I was gonna start rebuilding the carbs. I have rebuilt auto carbs before but never bike carbs.

For those of you that think my garage is too neat, here!

As filthy as the carbs are on the outside

The more I tear into the insides I am amazed how clean the insides are.

Didn't get too far as I had to soak the bottom bowl screws before I loosen them. I'd hate to strip or snap them.

I also noticed my helmet is getting a little dusty from lack of use...

At least I got something done. I drank 3 beer.

The carbs will be cleaned painted and polished by Sunday evening.
The wife is going out on Friday so I have the entire evening to myself.

Bruce.

 

[GateKeeper]

5 gallon bucket, a liter of Pine Sol, add to bucket, put add water, and drop the carbs into the bucket, let soak for 24 hours or more, a small scrub brush, and the outsides will look like new as well.

remove diaphragms if you have any, the rest is safe....

unless you have a better product to use

and rinse with hot water

mine are here - http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1530313&postcount=41

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