Katana GSX 600 swap question

[Sci85]

I'm thinking of putting a 1988 katana air/oil cooled motor into my 1982 GS550M. As it relates to electrics, will I be able to use the 600's stator wiring as is and just hook it up to my stock harness?

Will I be able to use my igniter or will I need to find one from a katana donor? What about the coils? Should my stock coils work?

Lastly, anything else I should be aware of electrically when doing a swap like this?

Thanks,
Sci85

[Steve]

Obviously, you are assuming that the engine will physically fit. Let's continue with that assumption, I have no information that will confirm or deny.

..., will I be able to use the 600's stator wiring as is and just hook it up to my stock harness?

Most likely, yes.

Will I be able to use my igniter or will I need to find one from a katana donor?

There were two basic differences in ignitors. Earlier ones used a mechanical advance on the crank, later ones had the advance built in to the ignitor. The design changed with some '82 models, not sure if your 550 was included. If the Katana ignitor had the advance built in (and you use one), you will have to disable the mechanical advance on the crank.

What about the coils? Should my stock coils work?

Coils should be just fine.

Lastly, anything else I should be aware of electrically when doing a swap like this?

Not sure it it was related to the location of the advance, but some pickup coils had three wires in the harness, others had four. Verify that before going through a lot of effort.

I think the only other electrical items related to the engine would be the oil pressure sensor and the gear position indicator. Both are pretty standard items, should not be much problem to adapt.

.

[koolaid_kid]

Assuming that the advance is in the igniter for both engines, I would wonder how an 82 advance curve would suit an 88 Katana 600.
Is there no way you can get the igniter as well?
Case in point: on my GPz I installed an igniter from a GPz900 because the advance curve was better suited to my engine. It runs on either igniter, just better on the 900 igniter.
On all other points Steve has it covered, as usual.

[78gs750e]

The katana engine does not have a stator it has a alternator, personaly I would use the coils from the katana, there have been swaps done like this before. I would do a search both on here and on google you might find info to help with the project. I would get the wiring harness and a diagram from the katana also so it would be easy to swap, having the right connectors etc to swap into your harness.

[Sci85]

Ok this at least gets me thinking. I don't have the katana bike just the engine so no harness or other parts but I'm sure I can get them. I see a lot of 80's/90's katana's on CL and ebay. And I'm pretty sure it will fit into the 550 frame. Physically, the 550 is bigger than the 600. The good part is that the 600 makes approx 50% more HP than the 550 so if I can make it work without too much expense I think it will be worthwhile but the electronics always confuse me.

I will try and get an igniter from a Katana. And 78gs750e is right. The engine has a big honkin alternator. Not familiar with it so I'm sure I will need you guys' help to get that wired into the system.

Steve, how do I tell if my 550M has the advance on the crank or the igniter?

Thanks again guys.

[Steve]

And 78gs750e is right. The engine has a big honkin alternator.

I'll bet it's just a little one.

Nicer than a stator setup, for sure, but if you want a "big honkin" alternator, look at the one on my Wing.

Something has to be able to run the capuccino machine.

.

[78gs750e]

yes size wise it should fit into the frame but I would be willing to bet the motor mount plates will need to be made custom. There is a bike on here in the project section that installed a oil cooled motor into a gs that would give you a play by play for the swap. As far as the electronics go you could run the whole katana harness and controls and only mod the taillight wiring. Something else to think about the katana has a electronic tach and no spot for the older cable drive. If you made some brackets I'm sure you could make 600 or 750 katana gadges work. I have a mostly stock 89 katana 750 and it will run with my brothers 83 gs1100 so it will def be a rocket after you get done.

[dark7068]

hows your swap going? Im just swapping in my 85EF motor Into my 82 Katana this weekend. just have to wire up mine and turn the key

[Sci85]

That's awesome. Sounds like a pretty easy swap. I've got much more work to do on my end. Gathering all the parts, inspecting the 600 motor. Found that a few of the exhaust cam lobes are not in great shape. No idea what happened there so I'm trying to determine if I need a new exhaust cam or ? Here's a pic of one of the cam lobes...


Should be starting on pulling the 550 out of the frame in the next day or two. I've been procrastinating because it hasn't been that long since I finished the original rebuild and I'm having trouble bringing myself to do it haha.

For the electrical guru's. I still have the tiny little regulator that came stock on the '82 550. I'm assuming that it will not work work or handle the GSX's alternator correct?

[78gs750e]

I would say yes the 550 regulator will not work. My 89 750 Katana is doing the same thing with the cams I wonder if it is a common problem?

[Sci85]

Good question. If not for the pitting, I would have chalked it up to something getting into the valve area. But the streaking and pitting is not something I have seen on a cam before. But then again I haven't seen nearly as many as some of the folks on this board.

[Ace07]

Hey guys, I was wanting to do a swap just like this one on my 1980 GS550T. How did the project turn out? Was it hard to mount the engine?

[Ace07]

Hey Sci sorry about the stupid question. I see you were one of the guys who replied to my post on another thread. I am still interested in this project. Would you be will to give some more detail on what you did on this project before you pulled the plug? I know it will be alot of work, but what else am I going to do this winter? ha