1980 gs550e

[Guest]

Hi from NJ. Just picked up above mentioned bike tonight. Looking forward to getting this bike going. Crash bar came right off, sissy bar will be off tomorrow because I ran out of time. Other than that, I may fix a dented in the tank and Polish it up, or possibly paint it. I am not sure yet. Also going to get some drag bars and change the signals. Other than that, that's about all I will do.
Bike is in decent shape. Only issue is no starter button or spark. I am hoping it is just a bad switch, so I will start with bypassing and using the key. Hopefully that is the no spark issue.

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[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site.
Maintenance first, cosmetics second is a great way to keep a 35 year old bike on the road.
Most of the fix-its you will need are here. http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/
Nice to see a stock exhaust.

[dorkburger]

Welcome from a fellow NJ guy. Good advice from Steve, especially with summer upon us. Good luck.

[MasterG2]

Thanks guys. Looking forward to digging into this bike, just been crazy at work ever since I got it. I have had about an hour of free time after work and family time with the kids.
Turns out I have power to kill switch, and it is working. Starter button has power. I am going to now focus on safety switches. Hopefully just a bad one that can be fixed easily.
Other than that, just going over the bike and seeing what I am missing. Few misc. bolts are missing which is no big deal. I have a rear turn signal not working, but other than that, all electrical works fine. Clutch won't disengage, but the bike was sitting for quite some time, so I am guessing either rust on the plate or may need an adjustment. Once I get her cranking over, that will be next.
Supposedly the carbs were rebuilt and synced, but I will find out soon enough.
Again, looking forward to a little free time to tinker on it. Hoping to get her on the road for July.

[hikermikem]

Turns out I have power to kill switch, and it is working. Starter button has power. I am going to now focus on safety switches. Hopefully just a bad one that can be fixed easily.

The clutch lever has a safety switch so you have to pull the lever to get the starter to spin... although it's a good idea and keeps you from inadvertently staring the bike in gear, lots of us have bypassed that safety switch.

Follow the 2 wires from under the clutch lever into the headlight bucket and simply disconnect them from the harness, then reconnect the harness leads back together. Switch bypassed...

Valve clearance adjustment should be high on your list too...

Good luck with your new bike - lots of great advice can be found here.

[MasterG2]

Thanks for the info! I saw the 2 wires from the clutch lever, but haven't had the time to pull them out. Hoping this weekend to have some time. I wasn't sure if there were any other safety switches on that bike. I know Hondas have kickstand switches, but found no wires on this one nor was anything in the diagram.
So off that switch will go. Hopefully I can get her to spin and spark.
Thanks for the info on valve clearance. That will be the next step. I will check the book for proper clearance, thinking has to be somewhere in the .003-.005 range?
I am in the need for a chain as this one on this bike is dry as a bone

The clutch lever has a safety switch so you have to pull the lever to get the starter to spin... although it's a good idea and keeps you from inadvertently staring the bike in gear, lots of us have bypassed that safety switch.

Follow the 2 wires from under the clutch lever into the headlight bucket and simply disconnect them from the harness, then reconnect the harness leads back together. Switch bypassed...

Valve clearance adjustment should be high on your list too...

Good luck with your new bike - lots of great advice can be found here.

[MasterG2]

Finally had some time to work on the bike. Buddy of mine came over as well as another set of eyes and pointed out the most obvious issue. It is very important to ground the solenoid... needless to say, bike started right up. Fuel was dumping from the carb bowls. Whoever had the bike last thought silicone seals over dried out gaskets. Pulled bowls, needles are stuck. Going to order gaskets and needles from jetrus.
Next step is ridding the bike of the stock air box and put pod filters on, or just some UNI foams. I just need to research jets at that point.

[tkent02]

Send me the old airbox please?

[MasterG2]

Sure, I jut want to make sure I can get the correct jets for whatever filters I get and I would be more than happy to send you what I have. I will try to do some homework tomorrow.

Send me the old airbox please?

[Steve]

Thanks for the info on valve clearance. That will be the next step. I will check the book for proper clearance, thinking has to be somewhere in the .003-.005 range?

If you want to think in inches, the clearance is more like 0.001-0.003", although some of us will go as large as 0.004".

Many of the purists here will INSIST that you use metric, because that is what was specified by Suzuki, so that is 0.03-0.08mm.

Be careful mixing up the two measurements. Notice that both of them have a measurement with a "3", but one is maximum, the other is minimum and there are a different amount of zeroes between the decimal point and the 3.

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