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750/850 Swap Noob

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    750/850 Swap Noob

    I am gearing up to do a 750/850 swap, so there must be another N00b thread. Please, hold your applause.

    Anyway, my project started with some part number searches to see what fits. Shockingly, the main parts are easy. The first GS850 uses the same cylinder head as the 1979 GS750 (part no. 11100-45820). My 1978 has a different part no. for the cylinder head (11100-45813) but they appear to be identical, use VM26 carbs, etc.

    Other than the part no., is there any difference between the 1979 GS750 head and my 1978 GS750 head?

    The GS850 heads change after 1979, because of CV carbs, etc. The cylinder jugs (11210-45100), however, stay constant for several model years, 1979-81. So I should be able to use any cylinder jugs from those years for the project. I have been hunting parts on eBay. No one seems to offer jugs and pistons together. Since new pistons are about $70 each, I scored some used 850 pistons on eBay for about $25. They look OK and were listed as standard bore, but they'll need to be cleaned up and checked out. Fingers crossed.

    There are plenty of jugs on the Internet, erm 850 cylinder jugs, but pricing is a bit scattered. Some are $30. Others are $150. The information in the listings does nothing to explain the price gaps. Some of the expensive ones have chipped fins or blurry photos.

    $50 - Gets this, but cannot see squat in photo.

    $30 - Gets this but the photo is even worse.

    They also are weird about the bore specs. That $30 job claims a bore of 2.711. The service manual sets a range of 2.716 – 2.717. So these jugs have less wear than brand new ones?? Even the piston limit is 2.7118, so these sleeves are too narrow for over-worn pistons, according to the seller.

    Other than badly damaged fins, wildly bad mileage (came from a bike with 500,000 mi.), etc., what should I look for in the pics and details when buying jugs? I know the jugs will need to be honed, and probably won't show any cross-hatching. Are there other marks or wear that honing cannot save?

    Gaskets are another mystery. Since I am mating different jugs to cases and head, which gasket controls? In other words, although they use the same head, the head gasket for the 1979 GS750 (11141-45083) is not the same as the GS850 (11141-49002). I suppose the difference is the openings for the pistons. So should I use GS850 head and base gaskets?

    So here we go for another wild ride . . .

    #2
    Use the 850 head and base gaskets along with the odd O-rings.
    Everything else that you currently have can be used.

    Eric

    Comment


      #3
      Cool. I'll keep hunting for jugs.

      This one allegedly will work, after some Q&A with the seller. But the blurry pic and cheap price make me leery.

      Here is another one that has good pictures, but came from a bike that sat not running for ages, so I am iffy on the sleeve condition.

      Another one that looks ok, but I cannot tell if the bottom of the No. 4 sleeve is chipped.

      The higher priced jugs don't really look any better than these, and many of them have chipped fins, etc.

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        #4
        Help me sort out this eBay listing for an OEM head gasket.

        It shows a Part No. of 11141-49410 which would be correct for the 850, but the gasket in the picture doesn't have the small bolt hole in the front shown in the fiche:



        That part no. supercedes the original gasket part no. Did the new gaskets lose that bolt hole? Or is this guy mixing part nos.?

        Comment


          #5
          That gasket will pretty much only work on '78 cylinders and heads.
          In effect, it is only for the 1000 engine.
          Look for a PM headed your way...

          Eric

          Comment


            #6
            My pistons from eBay arrived. They look OK, but are pretty dirty. They are soaking in dip now to think about what they've done.

            I'll do new rings for the build and ditch the ones on these pistons. One piston has the rings really jammed in, though. Hopefully the dip will break up the gunk enough to free them.

            Found a set of jugs that look pretty solid for about $70 shipped.

            Eric hooked me up with a good source for gaskets.

            Once the jugs arrive, I'll plan out the new parts order (gaskets, rings, etc.) based on how long it will take to clean up the used parts. I also need to closely inspect these babies for any eBay hiccups (they should be standard bore . . . ).

            Comment


              #7
              The pistons cleaned up nicely. Will grab some pics later.

              The jugs are here, but they cannot seem to let go of the old base gasket. Spent ages with brass brushes, stripper and very careful razor scraping to remove it. Most of it is off, but there are a few stubborn patches that I will re-visit tonight. So far, I haven't botched the scraping and/or gouged any aluminum, so fingers crossed.

              Now I need to order gaskets and rings. Eric hooked me up on the gasket source, and I will grab some new rings from Boulevard.

              Pretty sure 12140-45121 is the part number, but I cannot tell from the different fiches which ring part nos. are standard versus the oversized ones.

              Any one know which no. is right for standard 1979 GS 850 piston rings?

              Other parts on the shopping list

              - new circlips for the piston rods
              - new exhaust seals
              - new cam chain o-ring (the rectangular one)
              - any rubber bits, o-rings, copper washers, etc. that are not included with the head or base gasket

              This also should be a good chance to ditch the exhaust bolts and replace them with studs/nuts. The bolts are M8 x 35mm (according to the part no.). What length of M8 stud works best here? How deep should the studs go into the head?



              Comment


                #8
                Cinders, I am doing one of these swaps right now. I have everything collected just need some time to start the assembly. You may need to clearance the lower cases but that is not a given.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by MisterCinders View Post
                  This also should be a good chance to ditch the exhaust bolts and replace them with studs/nuts. The bolts are M8 x 35mm (according to the part no.). What length of M8 stud works best here? How deep should the studs go into the head?
                  Depending on whether you are using the stock exhaust/flanges or after-market header, the studs should be either 45 mm or 40 mm long. IIRC.

                  Eric

                  Comment


                    #10
                    This is going to make me look closer at my bike, 1980 GS850 with VM's not CV's.....
                    -Mark
                    Boston, MA
                    Suck Squeeze Bang Blow..
                    sigpic
                    1980 GS850G with 79 carbs.....

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by rwcfrank View Post
                      Cinders, I am doing one of these swaps right now. I have everything collected just need some time to start the assembly. You may need to clearance the lower cases but that is not a given.
                      Haven't torn into it yet, but everything I have read says I'll need to dremel out about 10mm of a couple ridges in the crankcase below cylinders 1 and 4.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by MisterCinders View Post
                        Haven't torn into it yet, but everything I have read says I'll need to dremel out about 10mm of a couple ridges in the crankcase below cylinders 1 and 4.
                        Why???
                        I did this back in 1980 and required zero grinding of any kind.

                        Eric

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                          #13
                          If you get 79 jugs they will drop right in. 80 and newer require minimal grinding.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by OLDENUFF View Post
                            If you get 79 jugs they will drop right in. 80 and newer require minimal grinding.
                            How can that be? The cylinder jugs (11210-45100) are the same part for 1979 - 1981.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              When I did mine last year (80 jugs on a 79 case) I had to grind to get it to seat the last 1/4" or so. Had to grind in 2 spots on each of #1 and #4 holes. Search feature when I did the swap said in a few threads that 79 jugs will drop in and 80 and newer will not. Whether this is true or not I cannot confirm. I only know I had to grind mine. FWIW

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