'78 GS750E story

[Guest]

...not a big overhaul project but when I got it last month it was only running on #2 and #3 and needed some TLC cosmetically. It could barely get out of it's own way until warmed up, and even then it was a bit lethargic. Thinking electrical at first because #1 and 4 weren't getting warm at all, I pullled the plugs to test spark. Well, a healthy spark on those then sent me down the carb troubleshooting path. I pulled the carbs and cleaned. Pilots for 1 and 4 were pretty clogged. While the carbs were off, I removed the intakes and found pretty flattened and cracked o-rings. New set from RobertBarr and put everything back together and synched the carbs. Also, did the valve adjustment as 6 of 8 shims needed swapping. Had to clean and adjust the old points too. Runs much better now with #4 heating right up but #1 still no go. Now it's a 3 cyl bike! Thinking that I didn't clean the carbs well enough and expecting to pull them down again, I decided to pull the plugs and look at them again. #2,3 and 4 were a nice tan color but #1 was wet and didn't look carboned at all. I replaced that spark plug with a spare. Fired it up and presto, all 4 cyl's heated right up. Not sure what I did but I must have swapped out an original plug for an old nfg spare. But anyway, went for a 10 mile test ride and now have a new 4 cyl bike. Still not the roll on power of my past GS1100Es, but I'm happy for now. Here's a pic taken a few days ago and it's ready for some use......and did a 40 mile loop Sunday. Not a powerhouse, but still lots of fun.

[TheCafeKid]

She looks GREAT Steve! Congrats! You gotta wind those babies out to five or six grand before they really start making power..

[Ghostgs1]

That's a beautiful bike. Sounds like you are well on your way with it. Good luck, Ray

[davidduarte]

sweet looking machine! congrats!

[tas850g]

Nice job Steve, wouldn't expect anything less from you. Were do you find these bikes? New Hampshire Picker! Good for you.

[Octain]

It cleaned up nicely.

Plug in the drimal with little wire brushes for the little nut and bolt tidbits.
Works great!

[lurch12_2000]

A little stop on my 40 mile commute (sometimes it gets longer on the bike?) to work today to gather perspective. I've had the thing wound up to 7-8k to get some more juice, but I'm a little spoiled with my old GS1100E bikes for roll on without downshifting. Maybe, I'll go at it some other time with the Dremel to spruce it up, but putting road time on it now instead of garage time! I noticed that I forgot to put the side covers back on....shame....

[Crescentius]

Nice bike! I've got exactly the same thing (same color even!) sitting outside my apartment right now, been wrenching on her a while, and have achieved four cylinders also (finally!), but still need to look at the valves and timing chain, and get some tools so I can tune the carbs I just rebuilt. Nice to see the lady on the road .

Out of curiosity, did you have very rusty pipes on yours? My headers have quite a bit of pitting and the retainers (on the heads) are mostly rust. Tried a few products which didn't really help, was j/w what can be done about that, if anything.

[koolaid_kid]

Very nice. My first GS was a 78 (in the faster red color). And no, compared to the monster 1100E, it is not as powerful. But still nice.