GS550 Engine Year Based on Engine Number?

[F451]

Hey guys, can anyone help me ID the year my GS550 engine is from? I checked online all over the place and could not figure it out.

Engine number stamp is: GS550-239217

Thanks, Ed

[rphillips]

Sorry, Not a clue, but welcome and good luck.. Wondering do you have just the eng., no bike??

[Nessism]

Does it have a kick start? The early engines, up through the 1979 model year had those. After, electric start and larger intake ports, for the CV carbs.

[F451]

Sorry, Not a clue, but welcome and good luck.. Wondering do you have just the eng., no bike??

Thanks, I have only the engine, which is installed in "The World's Saddest 1982 Katana 1000" (officially certified and verified saddest - by me).

It's a long story (I will create another thread on the Katana once I get started working on it), but basically bought the Kat, the 550 engine was in it. The original Kat 1000cc engine is long gone, I have a '83 GS1100 engine I will be installing in the Kat.

Just want to know what year the GS550 engine is so when I sell it I'll have that basic info. Hopefully I will get it started, will see, won't be spending too much time on it.

[F451]

Does it have a kick start? The early engines, up through the 1979 model year had those. After, electric start and larger intake ports, for the CV carbs.

Hi, thanks. No electric start, looks like CV carbs, so sounds like '80 or later. Here's a pic of it still in the Kat:

IMG_6058e.jpg

[Nessism]

I'm amazed. Are you sure it's a 550 engine? It looks kind of big.

[Rob S.]

I have a '83 GS1100 engine I will be installing in the Kat.

I approve! And trust me, Kat won't be sad any longer once she's got that 16 valve 11 in her.

Wait, the donor engine's not from a shafty, is it? 'Cause that would make Kat (and me) very sad.

[F451]

I'm amazed. Are you sure it's a 550 engine? It looks kind of big.

Yes, definitely a 550:

IMG_3057e.jpg

I approve! And trust me, Kat won't be sad any longer once she's got that 16 valve 11 in her.

Wait, the donor engine's not from a shafty, is it? 'Cause that would make Kat (and me) very sad.

Thanks and no, the donor engine isn't a shaftie! No offense to shafties btw, Lol.

[rphillips]

Just a little looking, it appears "80" and "81" were the only 2 yrs without kick starter and 2 V pr. cyl "82" went to 4 V..

[F451]

Just a little looking, it appears "80" and "81" were the only 2 yrs without kick starter and 2 V pr. cyl "82" went to 4 V..

Thanks! I was wondering about whether or not there were 4v 550's, saved me a bit of internet searching as I'm not very familiar with them. 80 - 81 is close enough for putting up a for sale ad. Now just need to find some time to see if it has spark and if I can get it to light off with some starter fluid.