What is this part?

[Texas Don]

And just as importantly, what is it's purpose. I found 2 of them wedged in the top fins of the head. The parts drawing says there should be 18 of them. It is part #19 in the drawing. In case the attached link won't work, it is the head drawing of a 79 GS1000EN. The part is called out as a pad, rubber, 18 required.
Thanks,
Don

http://www.babbittsonline.com/suzuki-motorcycle-parts#AssemblyPartsSearch|model_yETiaVufpbpNl0s1uyWkmQ==|assembly_5*/1WdosNr334Hsu51xiIA==|brand_IVeMOe7I0PI7aWnbBrLzXA==

[recycled64]

I believe those are designed to deaden engine noise, cylinder fins act like 'sound radiators', and the little rubbers 'cubes' help to mute that a bit.

[Texas Don]

That makes sense. Thanks for the prompt, courteous and informative reply.
Don

[azr]

does anyone know if you can use some other type of material other than buying OEM? I'm missing a ton of them.

[Flyboy]

I don't see why not, all it does is stop the fins from resonating, kina like putting your hand over a guitar string to quiet it.

Any block of rubber, slit it as required for the fins, knock in GENTLY with plastic mallet or similar and you should be good to go.

Personally I don't see how much difference they make, mine have been missing for years, unless you are building true to spec OEM collectors piece.

[Nessism]

I bought a bunch of those silly little rubber blocks because I was trying to restore the bike to look OE but the replacement pieces are gray, not black. If you guys come up with a decent looking replacement material that's black, please let me know.

[Rover]

I read somewhere that they are to stop the wind(noise) from whistling through the fins. Don't know about that but seems plausible.

[Texas Don]

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to flesh this topic out. I won't be adding them to my bike. I'm not doing a period restoration so these didn't make the parts budget cut.

[JEEPRUSTY]

I bought a bunch of those silly little rubber blocks because I was trying to restore the bike to look OE but the replacement pieces are gray, not black. If you guys come up with a decent looking replacement material that's black, please let me know.

the little biscuit looking ones would need moulding but surely the flat pieces could be cut from some hard rubber stock.

I always thought the were a vibration damping device.

[Agemax]

you really dont need them. you will notice no difference without them. so many people, including me! just bin them

[kirkn]

Oh, man, I'll disagree on the "you won't notice them".

At least, in my only experience with vs. without them which was on a 2-stroke Hodaka 250 resurrection I did. Without 'em, the fins rung so badly, it was like a million little hammers tapping on ringing metal. With 'em - no little hammers at all. In fact, with the rubber blocks out, you could tap the fins with the edge of a wrench and they would each and every fin riiiinnnnnngggggg like a tuning fork. But, once I put the blocks back in place (and there were 40 or 50 of 'em all around) that same tap would just produce a dull clack.

Admittedly, 2-strokes and 4-strokes may be completely different in their noises, but it sure made a believer outta me!

Just my two cents.

Kirk

[JEEPRUSTY]

Oh, man, I'll disagree on the "you won't notice them".

At least, in my only experience with vs. without them which was on a 2-stroke Hodaka 250 resurrection I did. Without 'em, the fins rung so badly, it was like a million little hammers tapping on ringing metal. With 'em - no little hammers at all.

Admittedly, 2-strokes and 4-strokes may be completely different in their noises, but it sure made a believer outta me!

Just my two cents.

Kirk

Many people suffer from hearing loss and would not notice hat is likely a high frequency sound

do it for the neighbourhood dogs if no one else.

[bwringer]

Experiences with your Combat Wombat aside, tap the fins of a GS (gently!) and they don't ring.

So leave the little rubber biscuits out. They don't make a bit of difference. All they do is quickly shrivel up and fall out. Some can even wedge themselves somewhere else inconvenient, like right next to a spark plug.

[7981GS]

As Suzuki only made 2-strokes prior to 1976, they probably were used to installing them to eliminate some of the ringing sound associated with 2-strokes.
When did Suzuki STOP using them in the GS's?
Perhaps kirkn has a valid point, eh?

Daniel