So I guess getting my bike running is going to take a little more work than I originally thought so I figured I'd start this thread to talk about it. The 81 GS550T in my signature was given to me by the "wonderful" PO for a few reasons. First, his apartment complex was threatening to tow it away as they didn't want it around anymore; I don't know the whole story to that but whatever. Secondly, when I looked at the bike the first time, he didn't have a battery handy and didn't have the carbs in place as they were getting cleaned by his friend. So I agreed to come back a few days later. When I did, he found the battery and the carbs were in place but we couldn't get it to start. At that time, I noticed the choke cable was connected to the area the throttle cable should have been and the throttle cable was hanging free. After blaming it on the guy who supposedly "cleaned his carbs", he assured me it had only been sitting for four or five months and it would start up with no issues. I was already aware that I would need to replace the right handle switch and throttle handle as well as the rectifier. Due to the problems with the apartment complex, he let me take the bike with the understanding I would pay him $300 by the end of the following week. The next day, I contacted an individual highly recommended in town with the idea that I would have him fix the throttle cable and then I would proceed on to the rest. He proceeded to check out the bike and suddenly decided to check one bowl on the carbs - rust in it. So much for being cleaned. Then, this mechanic did the cold compression which I discussed in my intro. So I decided to try giving the bike back to the PO but was told to keep it and the kid signed the title over to me free and clear.
So after some hemming and hawing about how I would do this, I started on my adventure of fixing things. I replaced the right handle switch with your all's help (THANK YOU) when I had problems fitting it onto the handle bars. Fortunately, Cdnoel was kind enough to come over to my place and help show me how to clean the carbs this past Monday. The first one went well but we ran into an issue today with the second one. It seems that somehow the posts holding the float assembly are busted. Whenever and however it happened, the PO must have tried to fix it by wiring one side together but didn't do anything to the other. Cdnoel is willing to try and fix that for me so we'll see how that goes. Secondly, the two and three carbs are so corroded we highly doubt anyone actually tried to clean them. Hopefully, I'll be able to clean them up okay without damaging anything but with Cd's help I think I'll do fine.
Today, before starting on the carbs though, Cd tested my spark plug wires for me. Unfortunately, I now have to find two new boots as the old ones are toast. Hopefully, they won't be too expensive and I'll get them next week. But it's starting to make me wonder just how much the PO really knew about taking care of a bike he supposedly had since he was a kid (he was probably 20 or 21 when I met him in March). Especially since we found the chain to be fairly loose tonight and managed to loosen up the petcock the other day with some carb cleaner and WD40 (it had to be turned by a wrench).
I'll post other pictures later once we get to running but I will definitely say this will be an adventure and one that I am already learning alot. I wonder what else I will find from here on and am looking forward to the challenge. However, hopefully I won't ever make the same mistakes this kid did.
So after some hemming and hawing about how I would do this, I started on my adventure of fixing things. I replaced the right handle switch with your all's help (THANK YOU) when I had problems fitting it onto the handle bars. Fortunately, Cdnoel was kind enough to come over to my place and help show me how to clean the carbs this past Monday. The first one went well but we ran into an issue today with the second one. It seems that somehow the posts holding the float assembly are busted. Whenever and however it happened, the PO must have tried to fix it by wiring one side together but didn't do anything to the other. Cdnoel is willing to try and fix that for me so we'll see how that goes. Secondly, the two and three carbs are so corroded we highly doubt anyone actually tried to clean them. Hopefully, I'll be able to clean them up okay without damaging anything but with Cd's help I think I'll do fine.
Today, before starting on the carbs though, Cd tested my spark plug wires for me. Unfortunately, I now have to find two new boots as the old ones are toast. Hopefully, they won't be too expensive and I'll get them next week. But it's starting to make me wonder just how much the PO really knew about taking care of a bike he supposedly had since he was a kid (he was probably 20 or 21 when I met him in March). Especially since we found the chain to be fairly loose tonight and managed to loosen up the petcock the other day with some carb cleaner and WD40 (it had to be turned by a wrench).
I'll post other pictures later once we get to running but I will definitely say this will be an adventure and one that I am already learning alot. I wonder what else I will find from here on and am looking forward to the challenge. However, hopefully I won't ever make the same mistakes this kid did.
