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Random Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter surveywaters
  • Start date Start date
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surveywaters

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Hey guys, my names Jon. I've got an '82 GS850gl in the shop. It's a friends basket case. I have everything together and it's running great now, but I have a few random questions. First, the center stand rests on the left muffler, is this normal or is there a stop missing? Second, is there a way to grease the swingarm without removing it? Finally, what pressure is typically run in the forks?

Thanks
 
There is usually a rubber stop that hits a pad on the pipe. Or maybe your pipe is bent up a bit. I don't remember seeing any grease fittings on the swingarm pivots, so disassembly might be required. I'm not sure about yours but most of the forks that require air don't take too much. 8-10psi? someone will tell me I'm full of crap I'm sure.
 
The pipes on this bike appear to be JC Whitney replacements. The center stand has no rubber on this bike and it is wearing retty bad on the pipe. A pic of the rubber or a bit more info would be great.

Thanks
 
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. surveywaters,

If you've got a custom exhaust you may have to come up with a custom solution. Have a look at the center stand and go to the hardware/auto store and get a rubber bushing that will keep stuff from banging around. I've used bushings like this on my side stand. You may have to find something a little larger for the center stand.

shock-bushings.jpg


We tend to do all of our own maintenance around here because dealerships and bike shops that do good work on these old machines are very few and far between. With the information below you too can be a DIY'er. :)

If you are here you probably have a 30 year old motorcycle that needs about 20 years worth of maintenance. You'll find all kinds of helpful tips, procedures, manuals, diagrams, "how-to" guides, etc, in the links below. Let's get started.

Let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'. :D

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.
big_hi.gif


If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....
hat1.gif


Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. This is what NOT to do: Top 10 Newbie Mistakes. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

carpet.jpg


Please Click Here For Your Mega-Welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike! :D

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Thanks for the bushing tip, no problem with that melting?
 
Hi,

surveywaters said:
Thanks for the bushing tip, no problem with that melting?
Click to expand...

I've never noticed them melting and making a sticky, gooey mess or anything. They will eventually wear out but they're cheap. I just replace them once in a while, ever couple of years or so.

What you really need for the center stand is #7 in the parts fiche picture below:

46.gif


Part# 09321-10001. I think they are still available for a couple of bucks. If your new mufflers get in the way then you may have to come up with another solution.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Thanks a bunch. I don't see a hole there,surely that doesn't just stick on, that seems kind of iffy for a quality vintage Jap.
 
You might be able to work some grease into them while assembled, but I believe you'd need to remove the swingarm to grease the bearings properly. Not as horrible a project as it sounds, actually.

Make SURE you find the appropriate section in the manual and follow these instructions carefully to set the bearing preload and position the swingarm correctly.
 
surveywaters said:
Thanks a bunch. I don't see a hole there,surely that doesn't just stick on, that seems kind of iffy for a quality vintage Jap.
Click to expand...

The hole for the rubber cushion would be part of the stock exhaust -- the cushion mounts to the exhaust, not the stand.

You mentioned it has an aftermarket exhaust, so no hole. Some aftermarket exhausts required removing the centerstand.

You'll need to improvise something else, perhaps by attaching a rubber bushing to the centerstand, assuming this is the part of the centerstand that hits the exhaust first.
 
Thanks guys, I think I've got the cushion figured out, I put 4psi in the forks and they feel about right, maybe a little stiff. The swingarm I think I'll put off a month or so. Now I took it for it's first ride in about twenty years yesterday. Runs great, accellerates nicely, just the slightest noticeable lack of power until about 3500rpm, and pops a fair bit while engine braking. This is a 1982 GS850gl, I set the pilot screw 2.25 turns out, anyone know the factory setting? I looked through the pilot setting thread but couldn't find this model, I saw the '80 but I think it's different.
 
Hi,

There is not really a "factory setting" as these screws were set very lean at the factory and then capped so that us mere mortals couldn't mess with them and violate EPA mandates. Your setting is close but all screws might not have to be set the same.

These are "idle mixture screws", "pilot screws" in the manual, and NOT 'air screws' or 'fuel screws'. Use the "Highest Idle Method" to set them. See:

Plug Chop and
Idle Mixture Adjust Methods
(by Mr. koolaid_kid,Mr. tkent02, Mr. psyguy)

Another way of setting them is to start with the screws too far out, too much idle mixture, and slowly turn them in until you hear the engine speed just start to decrease. Then turn it back out 1/8th turn. Do one cylinder at a time.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Last edited:
Maddevill said:
There is usually a rubber stop that hits a pad on the pipe. Or maybe your pipe is bent up a bit. I don't remember seeing any grease fittings on the swingarm pivots, so disassembly might be required. I'm not sure about yours but most of the forks that require air don't take too much. 8-10psi? someone will tell me I'm full of crap I'm sure.
Click to expand...
OK, "you're full of crap", but your information is quite accurate. :D :p

.
 
Thanks BassCliff, I have not done this on a four cylinder before. The method seems straight forward and precise. I'll get it right just as soon as I fix the #2 carb which decided to prop open all night losing about a gallon of gas and hydro-locking the cylinder. Time to pull the dang carbs, again, break it down and see what's up, as well as change my brand new $30's worth of oil that is now likely contaminated.
 
surveywaters said:
Thanks BassCliff, I have not done this on a four cylinder before. The method seems straight forward and precise. I'll get it right just as soon as I fix the #2 carb which decided to prop open all night losing about a gallon of gas and hydro-locking the cylinder. Time to pull the dang carbs, again, break it down and see what's up, as well as change my brand new $30's worth of oil that is now likely contaminated.
Click to expand...

surveywaters said:
And see why the petcock isn't closing.....
Click to expand...

Both issues have the same cause - mung in the petcock. It's getting into the carbs and propping the float needles open.

As with every revived GS, you need a new petcock. :D

And no, the rebuild kits usually don't work.
 
What is it on the petcock that is going bad if it isn't a bad o-ring for diaphram. The rest is cast. Also, is there really enough pressure from the tank to break the seal at the float valve? Many motorcycles merely have an on/off and I have never had a problem leaving one on in the parking lot.
 
It looks like 2 out of four of my needle valves are not sealing properly, probably some cheap Chinese parts.
 
surveywaters said:
What is it on the petcock that is going bad if it isn't a bad o-ring for diaphram. The rest is cast. Also, is there really enough pressure from the tank to break the seal at the float valve? Many motorcycles merely have an on/off and I have never had a problem leaving one on in the parking lot.
Click to expand...

surveywaters said:
It looks like 2 out of four of my needle valves are not sealing properly, probably some cheap Chinese parts.
Click to expand...



Many before you have been down the path of petcock denial... :rolleyes:

All the rubber bits inside the petcock can go bad and evidently are bad on your bike. Plus, the cast metal body of the petcock very often corrodes and becomes unusable. The rebuild kits are expensive, shoddy junk, so replacement is the safest option.

I prefer not to take chances with a valve that controls the flow of a highly flammable substance a few inches from the ol' twig-n-berries... :eek:



Even if they're in perfect condition (in your case, they may or may not be fine but they are likely dirty with corrosion from the bad petcock and thus not able to close), the float needle valves on a GS are not designed to keep gas in the tank indefinitely. Hence the automatic vacuum petcock. If you changed to a manual petcock, you'd still need to shut it off every time you walked away from the bike.

YMMV, but there have been many reports of GS riders who left their petcocks on "Prime" and returned the following morning to a crankcase full of gas.

Yes, there are some other brands of bikes that use rubber-tipped float needles that seal a bit better in the parking lot, and thus it may be relatively safe to leave a manual petcock on for the day. But on a GS, even a perfectly functioning float and needle valve can and will seep.
 
Hi,

surveywaters said:
Thanks a bunch. I don't see a hole there,surely that doesn't just stick on, that seems kind of iffy for a quality vintage Jap.
Click to expand...

On my bike, and I suspect yours too, that cushion (#7 in the parts fiche picture above) is installed on the bottom of the frame near the left rear passenger foot peg. Hopefully there is proper clearance with your aftermarket exhaust. Most aftermarket 4-n-1 exhausts are on the right side.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Thanks for that Bass. I was studying the stand last night and couldn't figure it out. The exhaust on this bike is not too far off of stock. It is a pair of megaphones, much like factory, welded on to the Y's that were part of the stock system.
 
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