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Buying a bike that has sat around for a few years AND passed through the hands of a couple of owners whilst a non-runner is clearly a risky business but educational ...
Was it abandoned because of a newer/faster bike coming along?
Was it parked up because several small jobs needed doing?
Or was there a mega-problem that is waiting to be revealed ?
My circa-1983 GS850GZ is at that stage where I don't yet know ...
I have cleaned out the mucky fuel tank and blocked/stuck tap.
Decided to check out the electrics first.
I've rebuilt the indicator/horn/dip switch. That was fun - with tiny springs appearing from within plus one tiny ball bearing.
Cleaned all the contacts, reassembled correctly at the second attempt.
(Don't attempt it unless you are patient, have good eyesight and are good at assembling very small components.)
Put battery on and took spark plugs out. (Sprayed WD40 down bores the previous day)
Switched on, have now got a complete set of lights and motor turned over.
Decided today to take carbs off completely and clean out stale fuel residue.
Lots of muck left behind in float chamber and main jets. Cleaning out with cellulose thinners.
BUT ... noticed that two wires, yellow and red, were melted together just above the central white plastic plug near the fuse box. Am 99% sure these are 2 of the 4 wires connected to the regulator/rectifier. Also noticed 15amp main fuse had been replaced with a 30amp. Not a good sign.
Autopsy time.
Is this a clear sign that the stator has died (or only the reg/rect itself) and is this the reason the GS was laid up several years ago ?
Was it abandoned because of a newer/faster bike coming along?
Was it parked up because several small jobs needed doing?
Or was there a mega-problem that is waiting to be revealed ?
My circa-1983 GS850GZ is at that stage where I don't yet know ...
I have cleaned out the mucky fuel tank and blocked/stuck tap.
Decided to check out the electrics first.
I've rebuilt the indicator/horn/dip switch. That was fun - with tiny springs appearing from within plus one tiny ball bearing.
Cleaned all the contacts, reassembled correctly at the second attempt.
(Don't attempt it unless you are patient, have good eyesight and are good at assembling very small components.)
Put battery on and took spark plugs out. (Sprayed WD40 down bores the previous day)
Switched on, have now got a complete set of lights and motor turned over.
Decided today to take carbs off completely and clean out stale fuel residue.
Lots of muck left behind in float chamber and main jets. Cleaning out with cellulose thinners.
BUT ... noticed that two wires, yellow and red, were melted together just above the central white plastic plug near the fuse box. Am 99% sure these are 2 of the 4 wires connected to the regulator/rectifier. Also noticed 15amp main fuse had been replaced with a 30amp. Not a good sign.
Autopsy time.
Is this a clear sign that the stator has died (or only the reg/rect itself) and is this the reason the GS was laid up several years ago ?
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