My '78 GS750 ..

[OzJavelin]

Earlier this year I purchased a '78 GS750 to keep my '79 GS550 company. Complete running bike, but run down. Paint was junk, exhausts junk, etc. I've been sidetracked with other projects over the year, but did attempt a colour change .. which failed:

I really like the orange, but the paint bleed thru when the clearcoat was applied

In disgust, I just primer-sealed the panels and painted it original black with a set of '77 stripes. I'll NEVER put decals on again .. arrgghh!!

I've fitted a set of Dunstall-replica mufflers (cheap), and am currently having a hard time with the front forks, but I'm hoping it will be back on the road in a few weeks!

 

[John Mellencamp]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/replace_fork_seals/index.html

Yes the front seals can be very hard to remove so I used the jack and car method . Infact they were in so good it made my car move and I still had to pry the seals when they refused to come all the way out .

 

[Guest]

That's a good start Oz!

 

[OzJavelin]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/replace_fork_seals/index.html

Yes the front seals can be very hard to remove so I used the jack and car method . Infact they were in so good it made my car move and I still had to pry the seals when they refused to come all the way out .

Got them out .. problem was there is a second lip seal underneath the normal oil seal what I don't have and now need to find. Hopefully not from overseas ..

 

[Guest]

Shame about the orange - looks great. Where'd you get the decals with that scheme? And do you know why the orange bled through? (i'd really like a look like that for my bike).

Stock paint looks pretty good too though. I can't decide which way to go with my 750.

 

[OzJavelin]

Shame about the orange - looks great. Where'd you get the decals with that scheme? And do you know why the orange bled through? (i'd really like a look like that for my bike).

Stock paint looks pretty good too though. I can't decide which way to go with my 750.

The orange scheme I painted up myself. I saw a Japan-only stripe version on the 750 I wanted decals for but couldn't get, so just painted a simplified version myself. The white in that scheme (white painted first, then black, then orange) bleed thru the orange when the clearcoat was applied. Probably combination of sh!te paint, not dry, too much thinners in clearcoat, etc ..

The original black might keep the restorers happy ..

 

[Guest]

The orange scheme I painted up myself. I saw a Japan-only stripe version on the 750 I wanted decals for but couldn't get, so just painted a simplified version myself. The white in that scheme (white painted first, then black, then orange) bleed thru the orange when the clearcoat was applied. Probably combination of sh!te paint, not dry, too much thinners in clearcoat, etc ..

That sucks.

 

[OzJavelin]

This is that scheme:

 

[OzJavelin]

Finally got the forks back together and everything except the seat back on the GS.

Hooked up the battery, turned the key and nothing .. no lights, no horn, no start no nothing. Check the voltage of the battery, checked all the joiner blocks around the engine still nothing. Then rememebered I'd changed the headlight bucket, so checked all the wires in there. Started wiggling them about and the lights would flash on and off. Eventually traced it back to the block joining to the ignition barrel .. the primary power feed wire had broken off and was just touching. All fixed and the GS fired up first go and idled nicely!

Sounds like I have an exhaust leak on the RHS, but other than that I'm wrapped it was so easy to get going again.

(Oh .. of course the petcock leaked for about 2hours end eventually stopped of it's own accord)

Will get photos soon ..

 

[Guest]

Good on ya. Definfitely post some pics.

I had the same thing happen on my old GSX250 with a broken connection at the ignition barrel. Corroded and broken connections drive ya nuts on these bikes (amongst everything else), but very sweet once they're sorted.

 

[OzJavelin]

Got 70mm rain on the weekend so haven't been outside, so here are some poor phone photos inside the shed:

Only think really left is a proper clean and do SOMETHING with the exhaust headers and the chrome which is all tarnished ..

 

[Bad Kaw]

Nice "pair" you have there!

 

[Guest]

Do you have to move the bike every time you want a beer ?

Nice ride you've got there (both of them) , old mate . You'll love the 750 . I recently bought one in the States . I found it to be very capable for two up touring , and also very eager through the twisties . Good ride , that .
If you've got points , I'd lose them . Mine let me down , and they're a pain in the arse .

You're braver than me even attempting to do your own paint . Would you do it again ? Not me . I'd rather pay someone else to screw it up .
Enjoy the ride .
Here's mine , if you wanted a red one .....................

Cheers , Simon .

 

[OzJavelin]

Fortunately (unfortunately) I don't drink (alcohol) so the fridge is only turned on once-a-year for Christmas. Reminds me I better open the doors again. Thre reason why it's all so crowed is that the rest of the shed has a '70 Plymouth Fury 'vert, '69 AMC Javelin, '74 AMC Javelin, '82 Z650, '78 GS550,'94 ZR550 and a ride-on lawmower all jammed in there!

As for the painting, the bikes I'm buying are typically cheap, so I don't spend a lot of money on them. Maybe once I've ridden them and determined that I like them THEN I'll pull them apart again and fix up properly with a professional paintjob, etc. I'm new to biking, so I don't really know what I want yet ..

Love the red GS! I'd love wires on mine (maybe one day). If you are so inclined, can you PM me with details of how you imported yours and an rough total cost?

 

[Leigh]

Nice work, Oz.
That shed of yours sounds like a place i could stand slack jawed for a day.

I'd love a set of wires too.
But I've seen the prices.

 

[Guest]

Wish I had a shed.

Here's my workshop:

 

[OzJavelin]

Wish I had a shed.

Here's my workshop:

Don't need a shed .. yours is finished! Great looking GS!!!

 

[Guest]

It's not imported yet . It still lives in the states . I'll bring it home one day , but for now ....................
I'm told it'll cost about 2 grand . The bike cost $1800 (US) .

Cheers , Simon .

 

[Guest]

Don't need a shed .. yours is finished! Great looking GS!!!

Hey thanks, but I don't know if I'd call her finished... (Neighbours think I'm insane with the amount of hours I've spent out the front working on the bike - synching the carbs at 11pm didn't help either ).

She's running and handling pretty well, but there's a dent in the tank on the other side from when I got knocked off 4 or 5 mths ago and the paintworks always been a bit DIY looking anyway. So I'll be gearing up for a paintjob soon.

 

[NoH2Oh]

'69 AMC Javelin, '74 AMC Javelin....

Maybe post some pics when you can? Love AMC muscle...