Cylinder Head Rubber Pads

[Guest]

My 1978 gs750 engine is ready for paint, then reassembly. I tore the top end apart for a rebuild. I am getting ready to order all the gaskets and o-rings that I need, and came across these Cylinder Head Rubber Pads.


It says I need 18 of them. I do not remember seeing these when I removed the Head. Can anyone tell me what they are, where they go, and do I need to replace them, or can I use my old ones if they are in good shape (once I find them )?

Thanks!

[7981GS]

Not necessary.
They are sound deadeners left over from Suzuki's ring, ding, ding days of 2-stroke engines.

Eric

[sedelen]

Actually those little rubber pads are a press fit in between the vertical cooling fins, I guess for vibration isolation. Don't see too many bikes with a complete set, but see alot of bikes without them. If you're a purest you'll probaby want them though.
$1.59 each at Boulevard Suzuki.

http://www.boulevardsuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=94630&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1977&fveh=2133

If you look real closely around the vertical fins in between the 3 and 4 spark plug you can see them (barely) in-between the vertical fins ('79 GS1000E).

[snyderman]

Thanks Eric,

I thought maybe they were the pads between the fins on the head. Good news anyway, it saves me $27.00!

[Nessism]

Thanks Eric,

I thought maybe they were the pads between the fins on the head. Good news anyway, it saves me $27.00!

That's exactly what they are.

Suzuki superseded the original black pieces with gray. I ordered some in an attempt to replicate the original look on my first S, but was disappointed when the parts arrived - never installed them. Wonder if I could dye them in some concentrated Ritt dye?

[rustybronco]

Suzuki superseded the original black pieces with gray.

You just saved me from ordering something I wouldn't use either. I guess I'll have to find some sort of substitute material to use in place of them.

[sedelen]

The GS1100E uses a similar item for the horizontal cooling fins. They're all attached as a string, and they're black, I have a couple of new sets and was thinking of cutting them to size for my 1000.
Wished I had time to take a pic of them (none on E-bay) before I rush off to work, anyway here's my bike that shows two on the head.

[rustybronco]

You could always buy slightly used ones off Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS1000-GS1100-GS850-GS750-GS550-GS450-GS400-GS250-cylinder-head-fin-pads-/300696435016?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4602e77948&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/81-SUZUKI-GS1000-GS-1000-CYLINDER-HEAD-DAMPERS-DAMPENERS-/110814197867?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19cd0a786b&vxp=mtr

[Homie]

The GS1100E uses a similar item for the horizontal cooling fins. Here's my bike that shows two on the head.

With his 1100E, Steve is like a guy with a "trophy wife" - he just can't show her off enough and I never get tired of checking her out! Absolutely gorgeous!

[7981GS]

With his 1100E, Steve is like a guy with a "trophy wife" - he just can't show her off enough and I never get tired of checking her out! Absolutely gorgeous!

Agreed!!!
Don't be stingy with those pic's of your bikes!

Eric

[chuck hahn]

Youll notice that they are wedge shaped at on end..wedges apply outward force..like splitting wood. I insert them all in between the fins finger snug and then give each a gentle tap to kinda stick them in.. I dont know that one could actually snap a fin with one, but maybe i just think outside the box too much.

[sedelen]

Here's a picture of some seriously used ones I found on e-bay.
Not something I'd put on my bike though, but it'll give you and idea
of what the shape is anyway.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS1000-GS1100-GS850-GS750-GS550-GS450-GS400-GS250-cylinder-head-fin-pads-/300696435016?hash=item4602e77948&item=300696435016&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

[chuck hahn]

If they werent all cracked, a simple rubbing on some 800 will spiffy used ones up very nicely.

[sedelen]

If they werent all cracked, a simple rubbing on some 800 will spiffy used ones up very nicely.

I couldn't see much use for those things anyway, maybe they were there to help keep from breaking a fin, otherwise to cushion the vibration, don't know if they did any good, all I see is something there that obstructs the cooling air flow. Wonder how many I'm missing? Haven't bothered to even look. Need to pull the new GS1100E ones out and see if they'll possibly fit, then all I would need to do is cut them to the right length. I think they could work.

[TheCafeKid]

That's exactly what they are.

Suzuki superseded the original black pieces with gray. I ordered some in an attempt to replicate the original look on my first S, but was disappointed when the parts arrived - never installed them. Wonder if I could dye them in some concentrated Ritt dye?

Use rubberized bumper spray paint. I have used that on all the black plastic peices in the past (handle bar pads, "glove" box liners) looks pretty good. Anymore on plastic I use a heat gun to bring the dye back to the surface. Which works really well. But since those are rubber they'll probably look perfect with that stuff.