GS850 Starter Replacement

[93Bandit]

Well I finally got my truck starter replaced so I was able to start tinkering on the bikes again. I took the starter from my 81 and put in the 83 and she fired right up! It was 28 degrees so I only rode it around the block a bit. Seemed like it ran better than before I did the valve adjustment, but without getting it up to temp and on the open road I won't know for sure. The valve train was definitely quieter than before. It clattered like non other when it was warm before I adjusted the valves.

After looking closer at the 81, it's way too rough to try to restore on the budget my wife gave me. And I don't want to hack up my 83 trying to adapt the saddle bags to it. So I think I'm going to take the fairing and saddle bags off the 81 and try to fix the wiring and get it running. I bought that various wire gauge and length spool set from Harbor Freight and may end up making my own harness for the essentials. Just depends on the overall quality of the wiring which I won't know until I start tearing into it. I've got a buddy who want's to get into bikes so I might work out a deal with him on the 81.

But right now it's too dang cold in the garage to be messing around out there. I need to get a space heater!

I will keep this updated as I make progress, but it will be slow!

[93Bandit]

Hello gentlemen, it's been a long winter! I can't wait to ride again. I haven't made any progress since my last update. It's been too cold in the garage and I've had a lot of personal things going on. It's supposed to warm up soon so I plan on replacing the carb to head boots with the new ones that came with my 81, change the fluids, and hopefully it'll warm up enough to go for the first ride! I will be sure to update when those things have been accomplished.

[Steve]

... I’ve used the air box and carbs from an 81 L and 82 G interchangeably when the L was being restored from the frame up but the chrome covers and box shape differences were aesthetically different enough when on the G that I cleaned the other set up and switched it back. ...

Just to illustrate this point, here is an '82/'83 airbox on an '81 G.



The same style airbox looks a LOT better on an '82 L.



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[93Bandit]

Thanks for the comparison, Steve!


I don't know how many of you guys are following my Cafe build thread, but I finally got around to disassembling my old starter. The brushes were crumbled into nothing and the commutator worn. I'll post some pictures here later. If any of you have seen the pictures, do you think it's rebuildable, or should I just get a new starter?

[Steve]

I have refurbished a couple like that. If you don't have a lathe (I don't, either ), stick the armature in a large drill, spin it and file the commutator smooth. Install new brushes and bearings, assemble, use.

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[93Bandit]

I'll give it a shot then. I don't have a lathe but I do have a drill press, and I've used it as a lathe in the past. It works pretty well.

Before I put too much time and money into it, I'd like to make sure the windings are still good. Does anyone know the winding resistance spec?

[Steve]

Before I put too much time and money into it, I'd like to make sure the windings are still good. Does anyone know the winding resistance spec?

I don't know any specs, but it will be low. The most important thing is that they are all the same.

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[gsrick]

Seemed like it ran better than before I did the valve adjustment, but without getting it up to temp and on the open road I won't know for sure. The valve train was definitely quieter than before. It clattered like non other when it was warm before I adjusted the valves.

I know this is an old post, but this doesn't sound right to me. These bikes don't have hydraulic lifters, so when the valves are bad(tight) it gets quiet. We loosen them up back into spec with thinner shims which increases the clearance and makes them noisy. Much like the sound of a sewing machine. In other words, quiet is bad, somewhat noisy is good. Unless everything was way too loose, which wouldn't happen under normal wear, but may happen if someone has adjusted them improperly. Did you have to loosen them or tighten them?

[93Bandit]

I know this is an old post, but this doesn't sound right to me. These bikes don't have hydraulic lifters, so when the valves are bad(tight) it gets quiet. We loosen them up back into spec with thinner shims which increases the clearance and makes them noisy. Much like the sound of a sewing machine. In other words, quiet is bad, somewhat noisy is good. Unless everything was way too loose, which wouldn't happen under normal wear, but may happen if someone has adjusted them improperly. Did you have to loosen them or tighten them?

I don't recall what thread I put the details in, but all valve clearances were between .006-8" before I adjusted them. With thicker shims, they are all now within the factory .001-3" except for one which I could only get to .000" or .004 so I left it at .004". I did not see any abnormal wear on the cam lobes or shims, so I suspect someone adjusted them incorrectly in the past. The bike still has valve train noise, it's just not as loud as before.