Bling for my Jessie

[Guest]

Hi everybody,

I just spent the day working on my GS850GT, affectionately known as "Jessie". I needed to do a valve check and oil change. Since I had to take the crash bars off to get a wrench on the crankshaft, I thought it would be a good time to put on the bolt kit I ordered a couple of weeks ago.



No, I didn't take the cases off. I just replaced them one at a time, finding the matching bolt for each screw I removed. I also put on the chrome valve cover end caps.



I think she's starting to look pretty spiffy. Now I've just got to spend some time polishing up some side covers.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[80GS1000]

Nice. Those allen head bolts are about 100x easier to get on/off the bike compared to the ultra-soft stock phillips head screws.

Are you using a RealGasket for your cam cover gasket? If so, how'd you like it?

PS - not sure if you noticed, but there appears to be an oil leak in the camchain tensioner area...

[BassCliff]

Nice. Those allen head bolts are about 100x easier to get on/off the bike compared to the ultra-soft stock phillips head screws.

Thank you Mr. 80GS1000. I had to get a 5mm driver to work with the new bolts. But it's a lot easier.

Are you using a RealGasket for your cam cover gasket? If so, how'd you like it?

It works great. This one is on its third check. It's sure feels funny leaving bolts that loose. I use a thread sealer (the white stuff) to help keep them from backing out.

PS - not sure if you noticed, but there appears to be an oil leak in the camchain tensioner area...

Yeah, I've noticed. There may be a very slight leak. That picture makes it look worse than it is because I can't get in that part of the engine to clean it up. The rest of the case looks good. The previous owner never cleaned it up, and I've made some not-too-serious attempts. A lot of that mess also comes from the breather. The hose tends to work its way off the breather and spews vapors all over. One of these days I'll get a new hose.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

When I get around to taking off the carbs, I'll also fix up the tensioner.

[Matchless]

Mr BassCliff,
Those make a major difference, they look better and are easier to remove and install. Do your self a favour and buy a set of allen key T-handles, they are a pleasure to use with those bolts, unless you already have it.
I am replacing nearly every bolt with stainless steel and stainless washers, Using allen heads where I can, but ramping hex heads up to 13mm from the old 12 mm. This keeps my spanners on average 10, 13 & 17 and a small set of allen keys in the tool bag.

Looks good!

[Suzuki_Don]

Hi Cliff. Did you send your cam end covers out to be chromed or did you buy them off the shelf already chromed. If so where.

[BassCliff]

Hi Cliff. Did you send your cam end covers out to be chromed or did you buy them off the shelf already chromed. If so where.

Hi Mr. Suzuki_Don,

I bought a good used set off ebay, $23 shipped. I wonder how much it would cost to get my old set chromed? Or maybe I'll just invest the elbow grease and polish the aluminum. The new bolt kit had screws for the end caps and for the starter cover. Pretty cool.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[psyguy]

cliff! are you missing an engine mounting bolt






i know, i know, you took the pic before puting the crash bars back on

.

[mcloud]

cliff! are you missing an engine mounting bolt






i know, i know, you took the pic before puting the crash bars back on

.

And you have no oil in crankcase...









I know, I know, you took the pic before putting new oil in

[BassCliff]

Wow, can't put a thing past you guys.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[simon kuether]

Did you put a nice smear of antisieze on your bolts old mate?They just keep getting prettier.Maybe I'm a bit weird (well OK,I am a bit weird)but I reckon these old girls have personalities and they all love a bit of BLING.Cheers,Simon.

[BassCliff]

Did you put a nice smear of antisieze on your bolts old mate?They just keep getting prettier.

Hi Mr. simon kuether,

I used some white thread sealer on all the case bolts and valve cover bolts. I didn't want to use loc-tite, but wanted a little something to guard against them vibrating loose. We'll see how it works.

I used anti-seize on my spark plugs when I pulled them out to clean and re-gap.

I'd swear that after the valve check (changed 2 shims), oil change, adding new case bolts and chrome valve end caps, checked the air filter and re-sealed the airbox, and a little clean up, she runs much better. A little TLC goes a long way.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[rudy]

Ooooo!! Anti-seize on the sparkies, bad! It turns to glue with the heat after a while. I have a CB650 engine that had them anti-seized in, the threaded part of one snapped off in the head! The other three felt like there were gonna snap off too.

I know lots of people do it, and that's what my high school shop teacher taught us to do as well, but you can run into trouble. If you pull your plugs every month or so (should do it during an oil change just because) you should have no troubles with plugs sticking in without anti-seize.

That bling looks pretty sweet though. Will look even nicer with those cases all polished up nice.

[Flaggo60]

Where does one buy a set of replacement Allen head bolts or do you just pull the originals one by one and measure?

Cheers,
Ted

[Baatfam]

Where does one buy a set of replacement Allen head bolts or do you just pull the originals one by one and measure?

Cheers,
Ted

E-bay....lots of sellers...

[BassCliff]

Where does one buy a set of replacement Allen head bolts or do you just pull the originals one by one and measure?

Cheers,
Ted

I bought the set from Z1 Enterprises. They've got sets for many different models and years. And yes, you have to pull out the old bolts one at a time and compare carefully. But they match up nicely. You won't have any trouble figuring out which bolt goes where if you do them one at a time.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff