Wrong carbs on new bike - Screwed??

[Guest]

So i bought a new project this weekend...

~1980 GS550E

So when purchasing the bike I noticed the carbs looked different than the ones i normally have dealt with. But it wasn't until earlier today that i realized why they look different... and i cant believe i didnt catch this when originally looking at the bike...

The P.O. apparently put different carbs and intake boots on the bike than what it came with from the factory. The carbs are in great shape, recently rebuilt. and the intake boots appear to be close to brand new.

BUT, the intake boots seem to be too small for the intake manifold (see pictures) the O-ring is not sealing a small portion of the manifold. Probably fixable by silicon gasket maker? But obviously not ideal... also there is a small portion of intake manifold in the way of the air/fuel flow between the carbs and the combustion chamber.

The bike is simply for wheeling around town, im not trying to race it, and i really dont care about having maximum power. Its going to be my "beater Bike" What i want to know is if this thing will even be rideable with these issues. So again, as long as the thing will get me from A to B without destroying something in the process, that's all i care about.

Thanks again everyone!

[jbthomp]

My 1980 Gs550E has CV carbs on it. You can get a set on ebay for about a hundred dollars if you cant make those work. I would imagine you would have a massive vacuum leak if the intake o rings are not sealing correctly. I doubt silicone would last that long at all. There is a left and a right side for those carb holders too. The vacuum port should face toward the right side on the right two and left on the left two on the bottom. Might be something to check maybe the PO bought all left or right sides????? Let me go check mine real quick and see if they can be swapped like that.

[koolaid_kid]

Those are VM carbs, which are from a 79 or earlier model.
The best fix is a 79 or earlier head, but you probably do not want to spend that much time or money.
The best alternative is to fashion an adapter. I would not run them like that, nor would I allow sealant anywhere near the intake.

[Bustedknuckles]

So all CV carbs are the same? i have a 1982 GS1100 that has CV carbs on it, theoretically i could use those if i got the correct intake boots?

[JTGS850GL]

No, all CV carbs are not the same. The ones from an 1100 will not fit. I would be willing to bet that someone on here would do a trade of CV for VM for you. Maybe a little cash +-.

[koolaid_kid]

The 1100 has 34 mm CV carbs.
The 850 has 32 mm CV carbs.
Not sure what size the 550 has.
You might find someone on this forum that would be willing to swap carb banks.
Or fashion the adapters as I mentioned previously.

[Bustedknuckles]

any tips or leads on how i would go about making an adapter for something like this?

[Bustedknuckles]

are at least the intake boots the same for 550's, 850's, and 1100's?

If so, i think i may have thought up a way to make an adapter...

[Steve]

The 1100 has 34 mm CV carbs.
The 850 has 32 mm CV carbs.
Not sure what size the 550 has.

The 550 uses BS32SS carbs, like other GSes, all the way up through the 850.

.

[GSX1000E]

I am pretty sure that I have both heads and intake manifolds around here and can come up with a good solution. PM if no one else has one for you.

[chef1366]

The GS550 used BS32SS carbs. They are the same spacing for the 550s and 650s but are different animals for the 750-850.

[Bustedknuckles]

The GS550 used BS32SS carbs. They are the same spacing for the 550s and 650s but are different animals for the 750-850.

The 550 uses BS32SS carbs, like other GSes, all the way up through the 850.

.

sooooo... will a set of carbs off of an 850 work or not?

and thanks GSX1000E but i would rather sort out the carbs than start swapping cylinder heads and manifolds. I dont think im to that point yet.

[koolaid_kid]

No, the 850 carbs will not work. You need carbs from a 550 or 650 only.

[Bustedknuckles]

well crap, some home made adapters are looking like my best option, I cant find the right carbs anywhere on Ebay, i've searched a bunch of different key words but the only ones i can find are the ones i already have. I'm also struggling to find the right intake boots. I really dont want to spend $160 on brand new ones. This bike seems to be kind of a uncommon series, i cant find a lot of parts for it... I feel like I made a bad buy. NOOO!!!!

[koolaid_kid]

These will work:
GS650 carb bank