8
81GS750
Guest
I guess I should probably do a build page. I'm not too good about taking pictures, as I usually get caught up in the work and forget, but I'll try my best.
I'm starting with a 1981 GS750E that I found in a hay barn near Luckenbach TX about 5 years ago. The bike only showed 1143 mi on the clock and most all the parts were there. The PO had given it a Krylon black paint job and all the turn signals and tail light lens were broken.
Once I got it home, I pulled the right side cover and checked to see if the engine was still free. I was able to turn it over about 3 full revolutions and everything felt good! Next thing I did was strip every part off the bike and start the cleaning process. Bearings, cables, brakes, tires, carbs, forks and other tid bits got replaces or rebuilt along with custom candy blue paint. I fired the bike up for first time and heard an awful grinding noise and I shut it down right away. I ended up having to change jobs and move so the bike got put in storage at a friends house for the next 4 years. During that time, someone moved it out to make room and never put it back inside, so it sat in the weather for 2 of those 4 years.
That brings us to current day. About a month ago, I got the old GS and moved it into my workshop. Time to start from square one again!
I didn't really have a vision for the bike, until I stumbled upon the forums here at GSR. After looking at the members bikes, I decided that a GSXR suspension swap was the way to go. With the help of the members here I knew what to look for and found a 1993 GSX-R front end, brake system, and both wheels! Getting the front on was a snap, with the help of makenzie71 the swingarm will be modified to accept the 5.5 rear wheel.
Now to address that grinding noise I heard when I started it a few years ago. I should have paid closer attention back then to the fact that the tach drive gear was broken around the threaded part and the flat key that slips into the cable was broken. I removed the valve cover (that was a PIA, another story) and found that the worm gear on the exhaust camshaft was chewed up really bad. Fished around with a magnet under the cam and pulled up some chunks of the gear. Thanks to GSR member blowerbike, I should have some 1100 cams in the next day or so! I ended up dropping the oil pan and everything looked nice and clean. Even ran the oil through a fine paint strainer and no more metal was found, so I think I dodged a bullet there.
While waiting for the cams, I have replaced all the electrical connectors that looked to be in bad shape, added relays for the coils, horn, headlamp, headlamp kill when start, and a 12v accessory plug. More info I found here since becoming a GSR member.
Last night I made some templates for the GSXR rear sets and will run them down to the machine shop Monday to get cut out.
Since the factory headlamp mounting hardware was missing I was at a loss. Should I try to track down all the components, or go aftermarket? I found this for cheap, and figured I'd give it a try.
As soon as the headlight assy comes in and I track down a front fender it will be time for paint. I'm open for suggestions.
Currently thinking about something like the paint scheme on Kochic's bike or Agemax's GS.
-Randy
I'm starting with a 1981 GS750E that I found in a hay barn near Luckenbach TX about 5 years ago. The bike only showed 1143 mi on the clock and most all the parts were there. The PO had given it a Krylon black paint job and all the turn signals and tail light lens were broken.
Once I got it home, I pulled the right side cover and checked to see if the engine was still free. I was able to turn it over about 3 full revolutions and everything felt good! Next thing I did was strip every part off the bike and start the cleaning process. Bearings, cables, brakes, tires, carbs, forks and other tid bits got replaces or rebuilt along with custom candy blue paint. I fired the bike up for first time and heard an awful grinding noise and I shut it down right away. I ended up having to change jobs and move so the bike got put in storage at a friends house for the next 4 years. During that time, someone moved it out to make room and never put it back inside, so it sat in the weather for 2 of those 4 years.
That brings us to current day. About a month ago, I got the old GS and moved it into my workshop. Time to start from square one again!
I didn't really have a vision for the bike, until I stumbled upon the forums here at GSR. After looking at the members bikes, I decided that a GSXR suspension swap was the way to go. With the help of the members here I knew what to look for and found a 1993 GSX-R front end, brake system, and both wheels! Getting the front on was a snap, with the help of makenzie71 the swingarm will be modified to accept the 5.5 rear wheel.
Now to address that grinding noise I heard when I started it a few years ago. I should have paid closer attention back then to the fact that the tach drive gear was broken around the threaded part and the flat key that slips into the cable was broken. I removed the valve cover (that was a PIA, another story) and found that the worm gear on the exhaust camshaft was chewed up really bad. Fished around with a magnet under the cam and pulled up some chunks of the gear. Thanks to GSR member blowerbike, I should have some 1100 cams in the next day or so! I ended up dropping the oil pan and everything looked nice and clean. Even ran the oil through a fine paint strainer and no more metal was found, so I think I dodged a bullet there.
While waiting for the cams, I have replaced all the electrical connectors that looked to be in bad shape, added relays for the coils, horn, headlamp, headlamp kill when start, and a 12v accessory plug. More info I found here since becoming a GSR member.
Last night I made some templates for the GSXR rear sets and will run them down to the machine shop Monday to get cut out.
Since the factory headlamp mounting hardware was missing I was at a loss. Should I try to track down all the components, or go aftermarket? I found this for cheap, and figured I'd give it a try.
As soon as the headlight assy comes in and I track down a front fender it will be time for paint. I'm open for suggestions.
Currently thinking about something like the paint scheme on Kochic's bike or Agemax's GS.-Randy
ray:
