A newbee with a new begining

[Darkchyld]

Wow, for years I thought I was the olny one who ever bought a GSL model. Stumbled on this site site looking for some info on an 82 GS 850 L a friend found. 23 years its spent in a garage, not a mark on it. Less than than 900 miles. At least the owner had the forthought to drain the fuel tank. Wished he'd thought of the carbs. I've been able to find kits and new brass and at this moment the third carb is in the dip. The fuel lines and vent lines turned to dust long ago but those are easy finds. I'll try to put up some pics and let the group know how this works out.
I personally own an 82 GS 1100 L. Bought it new after I got out of the service. Its taken me through school, across the country and still going strong. About 38,000 miles on it. Had issues with the stator early on but got those worked out. Leaky tach cable, teflon tape and blue loctite is the fix. Even had a Vance and Hines header on it for awhile. Got older and wanted the quite purr back so I've put the stock system back on. Wouldn't trade it....

[marvinsc]

Sounds like you are Definately one of "US". Glad you found the site and hope thr Restoration goes Well. Welcome to the GSR!

[earlfor]

Welcome the fun house. :-) Glad you found your way here. This place is definitely the "mother lode" for GS wanderers. heh heh. I wish I could get lucky enough to find an old GS in a barn with 900 miles on it.

Earl

[mdole]

Welcome to the forum.

[Darkchyld]

Update on the 850L

Third carbs done and the fourths in the dip. As I understand the story my friend bought this machine new in 84 from a dealer in Pasidena CA. In fact his title states it's an 84 but the frame numbers say 82. He then rode up the coast then west through Nevada to Utah and Lake Powell where put the bike in a storage locker with his boat and "forgot" about it. The odometer has 813 miles and still has the 600 mile reminder sticker on it. I'm trying to set things up so I came show some pictures, before, during, and after. Until then if those who'd like will just PM me I'll send them to you. I'll get my kid busy on setting me up a web site. It seems there where no mice as the seat and other rubber pieces are intact but the air filter and fuel related items just turned to powder. Also the right outboard exhaust pipe is blued, I find that interesting. I think a compression check this evening is in order. I'll let you know..

[Desolation Angel]

Welcome the fun house. :-) Glad you found your way here. This place is definitely the "mother lode" for GS wanderers. heh heh. I wish I could get lucky enough to find an old GS in a barn with 900 miles on it.

Earl

I thought that described you right now? :?

[Hoomgar]

Welcome to the GSR, you'll like it here

[wrench]

Welcome to the GSR

[earlfor]

No, I'm not a wanderer, I'm just homeless. :-) :-) :-)

Earl

Welcome the fun house. :-) Glad you found your way here. This place is definitely the "mother lode" for GS wanderers. heh heh. I wish I could get lucky enough to find an old GS in a barn with 900 miles on it.

Earl

I thought that described you right now? :?

[Darkchyld]

Got all 4 carbs through the dip and back together! Need to go into town and try to find the O-rings for the cross overs. The vent T's seem really loose. If John, my friend, keeps this machine its going to see alot of back, read dirt, roads. He lives about 20 miles out in the valley. We'll have to seal those up and put filters on the vent lines.
An observation, #1 carb was by far in the worst condition. This macine spent those 20 odd years on the side stand. Took me two days with a can of Gunk carb cleaner just to get the bowl off without screwing up the floats. #4 had just a small amout of varnish in the bottom of the bowl but was other wise in good shape.
With it setting here in my shop I've noted a leak in the left brake slave cylinder on the front. I'll have to find that. Go fast bike needs stop fast brakes!
The goal for this evening is to get the carbs back on, put some oil in each cylinder and change the sludge in the crankcase and trun the engine over manually a few times. We'll get a battey this weekend, if everything else checks out and hopefully Sunday we'll get a heartbeat!

[Darkchyld]

The latest.
Things just got complicated. The carbs are done, new fuel,vent and vacuum lines. The folks at the local Checker Auto Parts were awsome help with the o-rings on the cross overs. Did a leak check and mounted them back on the bike.
Removed the petcock for the fuel tank and cleaned and checked it out. I question the diaphram on the vacuum valve, seems a little stiff. John said he'd get a new air filter element, still waiting for that. Changed the oil and took a close look at the magnet on the drain plug. Very few and very fine fileings, what I'd expect for a new motor at 800 miles. I looked for rust on the clutch basket and there wasn't any. Put smoe Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders and rotated the engine over with the rear wheel. Cleaned and gapped the plugs. Time for JUICE!
Borrowed the battery from my bike, lights came on, I've got horn, turn signals and the like. Kill switch to RUN, clutch in and hit the starter.....
NOTHING!
Physical inspection of connectors didn't show any corrirsion or loose ones. Wipped out the meter, no 12 VDC on the starter solinoid. At this point its getting late enough I bagged it for the night.
I'll wager the switch in the clutch handel is the fault. I'll need to get my kid to help me and we will chase this bug down. I want to test ride this one this weekend. Provided John shows up with an air filter of course..

[Darkchyld]

It was the switch in the clutch handel. Took it apart and polished the contacts, we have a pulse.
Did a compression check and the results interesting to say the least. Had some Marvel Mystery in the cylinders so I'd consider this a "wet" check. Cylinders 1,3, and 4 were 50 or less, #2 had 155, that I consider a good reading on a 4-stroke. Ok, put the tank on and poured some pump premimun in, full choke and hit it. Surprised it lit right off! What wasn't a surprise was the smoke, it got worse the longer the bike ran. Before the cylinder was even warm to the touch it started running rough, plugs were fouling out. After it cooled a bit I checked them, oil fouled. I don't know if its corrosion on the cylinder wall or the rings are stuck. I don't think Johns going to get what he wanted out of it if he sold it and I don't think he wants to put the kind of money into pistion and rings or even a replacment cylinder, IF I can find one...

[Darkchyld]

Update...
I'm pretty much done at ths point. Bled the brakes out and put new fluid in. The rear master cylinder "stuck" the first time I give it a good push. Had some corrosion but the cup looked to be in good shape. Split a small rod and used some emery paper wet to hone it out. John will need to watch that for any sign of leakage. It had looked like the left front slave had leaked. Again I just don't see anything now. Lever and pedals feel nice and tight.
The smokeing issue still got me. I've idled it now for over an hour total. Starts easy but eventually fouls the plugs out. Checked compression again and this time all the cylinders are right near 100. I'm afarid that the rings are rusted are just letting oil past. Don't know if I want to sign on for an overhaul.
John expects the air filter element on Wednesday and tells me he'll stop in Thursday. Once I've got that we'll run it up the mountain hard and see what happens.

[scotty]

you have spoken of one of the very few time i would let marvel mystery touch anything i own. it hasd its place but definitely NOT to be used as the msanufacturer recomends. Its just high detergent light oil. auto trans fluid i think.

[Darkchyld]

Agreed Scotty, its not a prelube but makes an excellent rust buster and its penatrative properties are better than WD-40....
And it burns away very cleanly too. Won't foul out a plug like good ole 10w-40.