GS550 transmission interchangability

[Guest]

Will a 1979 GS550 output shaft assembly (with gears) work on my 1981? Or what about an 83-85? I see a few on ebay and the leak from my output shaft is driving me crazy.

[mike_of_bbg]

I would say definitely not an 83-85 550. Alpha-sports.com has a nice partsfinder tool that will show all the models a part was used on. According to that, the part (#17 on the transmission fiche for your bike, part #24100-44810) was used on:

1977 SUZUKI GS400B - TRANSMISSION
1977 SUZUKI GS400XB - TRANSMISSION
1977 SUZUKI GS550B - TRANSMISSION
1978 SUZUKI GS400C - TRANSMISSION
1978 SUZUKI GS400XC - TRANSMISSION
1978 SUZUKI GS550C - TRANSMISSION
1978 SUZUKI GS550EC - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS425EN - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS425LN - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS425N - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS550EN - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS550LN - TRANSMISSION
1979 SUZUKI GS550N - TRANSMISSION
1980 SUZUKI GS450ET - TRANSMISSION
1980 SUZUKI GS450LT - TRANSMISSION
1980 SUZUKI GS450ST - TRANSMISSION
1980 SUZUKI GS550LT - TRANSMISSION
1980 SUZUKI GS550T & ET - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS450EX - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS450LX - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS450SX - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS450TX - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS550LX - TRANSMISSION
1981 SUZUKI GS550TX - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS450EZ - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS450LZ - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS450TXZ - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS450TZ - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS550LZ - TRANSMISSION
1982 SUZUKI GS550MZ - TRANSMISSION
1983 SUZUKI GS450ED - TRANSMISSION
1983 SUZUKI GS450LD - TRANSMISSION
1983 SUZUKI GS450TXD - TRANSMISSION

If the output shaft is leaking though, could it just be that the seal needs replacement? Or do you think the bearing is shot and a new seal would be gone in no time?

[Toasty]

Okay awesome, the one for the 79 was only 16 bucks. I already replaced the seal once but one of the previous owners decided to take out the seal with a chisel and there's a big chunk taken out of the shaft. Its right where the inner seal sits and it chewed through the new one a while back and it leaks a lot.