How to part the cylinder head from the cylinders - stuck gasket - 1980 gs550e

[ukjules]

Bike still going fine - 400 miles down the line.
The power difference is staggering - Never thought by doing a full upper engine overhaul
could make such a massive difference. - I had played around with carb sync, timing ...... and previously had
never got it to tickover correctly. It is now sweet.

Now need another project bike to sort out.
I want a 1980's ish GS750 or a 1980's ish GSX 250 (my second ever bike) needing attention.

[ukjules]

Just an update on this one since top end rebuild. 1500 miles and all ok. Just in case people wondered
if my bike was now on the side of a ditch.

- re athena gaskets and shim ground down to 1.9mm from stock shim.

Bike still running the best I have known since top end rebuild. Superb performance still.

- No oil leaks from gaskets
- New (cut in half) exhaust circular clamp things) work perfectly (thanks for that one !)

Issues:
Have not been able to turn my wrist round past 7000 revs.
Thats good enough for a cruise along the A39 to Lynmouth ! (uk)
any other bike I can but not on this one that is worth too much !

[ukjules]

Just an update - on this.

Athena gaskets (base and head) still fine and no issues with my ground down shim (yes i know i should not have done it)
(remember however that i prepared the surfaces very very well)
That valve lapping and valve seals transformed the bike.

Anyway when i get another bike reliable (within a month) i will start a project on this 550 to
tear down and powder coat frame etc.

Still need a standard seat for it ?

[fastbysuzuki]

Question:
Thinking ahead - where can I get pistons and rings ? cheaply in the uk ?
I am thinking only if I have got a cylinder that has been rebored ! I have standard pistons in.
I am enquiring - but it might be oversize 0.5 or 1.0 ? (I think the pistons are coming with it so ill know anyway)
Just want to be ready for the worst case scenario, I am sure it has not been rebored.[/QUOTE]

IMD pistons have been selling rings complete set (four Pistons) £99-99 on eBay (standard fit only) they have been in business 25 years
i have just got a set they seem good quality Suzuki Oem here in uk £52 per piston and Suzuki uk say there is only two sets in uk one in Europe and the fourth would have to be ordered fom Japan.

[ukjules]

Goodness this thread has opened again -- reminds me of me sledgehammering ....... I must not go there.

anyway ill let another answer on the pistons and rings as i dont know where to get them cheaply but
seriously would like to know myself.

[tkent02]

I have a lot of 550 heads, pistons and cylinders.