The sons new project 1980 gs850

[ged]

I purchased a couple of shims from Mic Hone thinking they would be genuine parts, but no they were aftermarket square edged shims like the ones from Precision Shims.

Anyway more problems, I was playing with the rings on a piston that felt abit tight and snap. Noooooooooooooo guess what no longer available .5mm oversize 12140-45121-050. Son is now whinging, dont want the bike anymore want a newer one. My answer was NO, get over it and wait.

Have put a request in the wanted section for anyone with any rings available.

 

[Joe H]

Hi, Just read thru your thread, what a heart breaker!
First class resto job, and great paint and decal work, all of the details where first class.
Best of luck getting on the road again, don't give up on that bike!

 

[sinkankan]

850 blessed are the rebuilders.

850 blessed are the rebuilders.

Very smart looking bike, well worth any more that you have to do to get it running sweet.
I've had some minor pricing issues with Mike Hones website, where the totals didn't add up to what was advertised. And when I complained and asked for a reason, I got a condescending email back saying "If you want the parts for free go somewhere else"
I don't care if he's got the last pair of gold plated nipple snappers on earth, I don't want to send him any business.
Picture of the wheels I did for my GS850, which by the way is going to the shop this weekend to get the gear change issue sorted out.

 

[Guest]

That's interesting... I had a look through their parts fiche yesterday and going by that they have stock of Suzuki shims (about 3 of each size I checked) so that's odd that they supplied after market... I know they're not discontinued!

Did you call or order online?

There's two other places to try for your rings... Suziparts in SA (not cheap!) http://suziparts.com.au/ and Old Gold Motorcycles in NSW http://www.oldgoldmotorcycles.com.au/

Good luck mate!

 

[ged]

Hi, Just read thru your thread, what a heart breaker!
First class resto job, and great paint and decal work, all of the details where first class.
Best of luck getting on the road again, don't give up on that bike!

No I havent given up, son will get over it.

Very smart looking bike, well worth any more that you have to do to get it running sweet.
I've had some minor pricing issues with Mike Hones website, where the totals didn't add up to what was advertised. And when I complained and asked for a reason, I got a condescending email back saying "If you want the parts for free go somewhere else"
I don't care if he's got the last pair of gold plated nipple snappers on earth, I don't want to send him any business.
Picture of the wheels I did for my GS850, which by the way is going to the shop this weekend to get the gear change issue sorted out.

Thanks, Touch wood havent had any issues with Mic Hone except for the shims. Your wheels and bike looks great, whats the issue with the gear change?

That's interesting... I had a look through their parts fiche yesterday and going by that they have stock of Suzuki shims (about 3 of each size I checked) so that's odd that they supplied after market... I know they're not discontinued!

Did you call or order online?

There's two other places to try for your rings... Suziparts in SA (not cheap!) http://suziparts.com.au/ and Old Gold Motorcycles in NSW http://www.oldgoldmotorcycles.com.au/

Good luck mate!

Pete I ordered online through Mic Hone from the parts list thinking I was going to get original suzuki shims but instead got the aftermarket ones. I didnt call, just thought maybe the original ones are no longer available.

I just bought the last set of oversize rings in the world from www.classicsuzukiparts.nl looks like about $100 shipped here. Going to try and go back to original size, barrels, pistons and rings down the track.

 

[Guest]

I need to get some shims ordered for my next service so I'll give them a call next week and see what they have to say...

 

[sinkankan]

No I havent given up, son will get over it.



Thanks, Touch wood havent had any issues with Mic Hone except for the shims. Your wheels and bike looks great, whats the issue with the gear change?



Pete I ordered online through Mic Hone from the parts list thinking I was going to get original suzuki shims but instead got the aftermarket ones. I didnt call, just thought maybe the original ones are no longer available.

I just bought the last set of oversize rings in the world from www.classicsuzukiparts.nl looks like about $100 shipped here. Going to try and go back to original size, barrels, pistons and rings down the track.

The bike's had a new set,of clutch plates, clutch cable, cam throw out springs, clutch bearings though out, and all's fine with the changing when I have cover off, bolt it all back on and it will only change from neutral to second, and sometimes third.
Something is jamming it up, and because I have no hair left,mit's going to the Suzuki dealer/mechanic tomorrow.
Fingers crossed it's something little.

 

[Chuck78]

if you really can't find any rings of that size or get custom made, you could just find another set of 850 cylinders which are plentiful on eBay for as cheap as 35 bucks up to $75-125, and a used set of stock pistons and new standard rings, or the GS750 " big bore" offering from wiseco - 69mm 10.25:1 844cc pistons, which happens to be basically just a performance oriented piston the same size as the stock 850's. the extra bump in compression ratio from 8.7:1 or so up to 10.25 would be the equivalent of adding quite a bit of displacement, i.e. good increase in power.

A 42000 mile set of GS 650 cylinders that I got from the junkyard still have the cross hatching marks from the factory hone job, with almost no detectable where as measured by the machine shop when I had my 850 jugs bored to 920. with buying a used set, you just have to find a seller that seems like you can trust and has great judgement & description on inspecting the cylinders for you. Some people just throw a total crap up on there for sale "as is."

 

[ged]

if you really can't find any rings of that size or get custom made, you could just find another set of 850 cylinders which are plentiful on eBay for as cheap as 35 bucks up to $75-125, and a used set of stock pistons and new standard rings, or the GS750 " big bore" offering from wiseco - 69mm 10.25:1 844cc pistons, which happens to be basically just a performance oriented piston the same size as the stock 850's. the extra bump in compression ratio from 8.7:1 or so up to 10.25 would be the equivalent of adding quite a bit of displacement, i.e. good increase in power.

A 42000 mile set of GS 650 cylinders that I got from the junkyard still have the cross hatching marks from the factory hone job, with almost no detectable where as measured by the machine shop when I had my 850 jugs bored to 920. with buying a used set, you just have to find a seller that seems like you can trust and has great judgement & description on inspecting the cylinders for you. Some people just throw a total crap up on there for sale "as is."

Yep Chuck78 thats what I did I searched for the rings and found 1 set .5mm oversize in the Netherlands. $100 AUS including postage to me. I just had to do it. Next time I will do what you suggest and get the standard barrels and go from there. Ok son went for a ride and once again broke down. Could not start the bike when he wanted to come home. I said, "What did you do" Son " I replaced the screws on the right hand switch block they were a little bit longer but they screwed down no worries."

 

[Guest]

Really nice looking bike! Shows high quality of your work. Bummer on the rings, don't understand why they are so rare, even on such an old bike. I have only seen one cracked shim, (Suzuki factory shim) which occurred when the owner got the cam timing wrong. Crunch time. Looks like you are very close to a completed job by now. Congrats! Ray

 

[Chris G]

Credit to you both on the restore, the bike looks A1, just doing a catch up on the thread couldn't believe the issue with the shim gutted, most folk might have given up at that point, well done.

 

[Guest]

Aaaah oooops! Nothing like a too long screw to ruin your day... oh wait that sounds wrong! Ha!

So Greg, September 6th is the next big ride and every Saturday morning the Katana boys head out for a short ride usually to Mt Mee or so... when do we get to see this beauty?