850 starter

[Speedy7722]

I recently acquired a 1979 gs850g, but it is missing a starter motor among various other things. Could anyone tell me what years and models of suzuki starters would be interchangeable? I found a used one on ebay for a good price off of an 82 but did not know if it would work.

Thanks

[kdo58]

It will work

[Speedy7722]

Ok cool, just incase could you give me an idea of what else would be compatible?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

The easiest, but somewhat incomplete, way to see what parts are compatible is to cross-reference part numbers on one of the online parts fiches. A few vendors have that utility available. You'll find the information on my little website.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[BIG_brother]

Mitsuba sm-8210

[Steve]

I recently acquired a 1979 gs850g, but it is missing a starter motor among various other things. Could anyone tell me what years and models of suzuki starters would be interchangeable? I found a used one on ebay for a good price off of an 82 but did not know if it would work.

Thanks

Most things will interchange, but a few will not. Specifically, the head, valve cover and carbs are different. The valves, shims, springs, etc. inside the head are all the same, just the actual head is different. The crankcase for your '79 includes a kick starter, none of the others have one. However, the '80 andn '81 bikes have the hump at the back of the clutch cover, so the cases might be the same. The '82 and up models don't have the hump, so the cases and the clutch cover are different.

Your '79 has points, all the others have electronic ignition. Starting some time during the '82 model year, the advance mechanism for the ignition moved from a mechanical deivce on the end of the crank to electronc gadgetry inside the ignitor.

The brake calipers and disks on your '79 are different. The rear caliper changed again in '82.

The turn signal auto-cancel system is different for your '79. Better system started in '80, no, they are not interchangeable.

Minor things like instruments: I think your bike has a 140 mph speedo, newer ones had 85 mph units. You can swap them if you want, but yours is in a larger outer shell, which continued through '81 on the standard models. The "L" models had different gauges starting with the '80 model, but that's when the "L" started, too.

The "L" models had different forks (and triple trees), fenders, frames, seat, handlebars, tanks and side covers. Few of them are compatible.

Wheels changed in '82, but are compatible.

Yeah, they are identical, but different.

.

[bwringer]

As far as starters, there's a LOT of cross-compatibility in GS models.

If you're ordering starter parts to attempt a rebuild or to replace brushes, pull it out of the bike first to see what's actually in there.

Starters in any given bike may be Mitsuba or Denso -- they're interchangable. I've never noticed that one brand is any better or worse than another -- after 30 years, the starter's history of abuse is more relevant than its pedigree.


Anyway, start with the lists at Stocker's Starters:

http://www.stockers.com

Here's the list for a 1982 GS850G/GL (randomly chosen 850 -- any GS850 starter will fit any other GS850 engine, even though Stocker's doesn't have a listing for the 1979 GS850G for some reason):

1980-1982 GS550
1981-1982 GS650E
1980-1983 GS750E
1980-1983 GS850G
1980-1982 GS1000
1980-1984 GS1100

1980-1982 GS550
1981-1982 GS650E
1980-1983 GS750E
1980-1983 GS850G
1980-1982 GS1000
1980-1984 GS1100


If you dig into the Suzuki fiches, there are a few more more models with this style of starter that will interchange.