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    Once Every 5 Years? - Maintenance

    I do the regular maintenance on the bike ('82 850 G) like oil changes, plugs, brake pads, valve adjustment etc, and ride about 6,000 miles per year. When I got the bike about 5 years ago, it underwent all the delayed maintenance items we go through to get a GS roadworthy -

    Carb intake tubes and o-rings
    Exhaust downtube header gaskets
    NGK spark plug caps
    Tachometer seals
    Cam chain tensioner seals
    New petcock
    Honda R/R replacement (Duanage)
    Fuel lines
    Front fork rebuild
    Caliper, master cylinder rebuilds
    Stainless brake lines

    The question is, what should be done again after 5 years? My guess is new carb intake o-rings, NGK spark plug caps (just because they're so cheap), fuel lines and new fork oil. And also loosen, then re-tighten the exhaust header bolts, just to make sure the anti-seize is still working.

    Whats your take on this? This is a minor winter project, but want to cover everything I can.

    Thanks,
    DPage

    #2
    Your list looks good

    I'd add a brake fluid change

    Swing arm and steering head, just to make sure they're snug
    1978 GS 1000 (since new)
    1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
    1978 GS 1000 (parts)
    1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
    1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
    1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)
    2007 DRz 400S
    1999 ATK 490ES
    1994 DR 350SES

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      #3
      Originally posted by Big T View Post
      Your list looks good

      I'd add a brake fluid change

      Swing arm and steering head, just to make sure they're snug
      while in them, grease both. use good high grade grease. believe me, you want to do that.

      Comment


        #4
        Well, let see...brake fluid, fork oil, grease or replace the wheel bearings, grease the swing arm and steering head bearings if you have never done it before, plus all the normal type maintenance like a valve adjustment. I wouldn't mess with the intake boot O-rings or fuel line as long as you used OE level parts.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

        Comment


          #5
          Happy new year Dave!
          Brake fluid, fork oil, transmission oils. That's all I would do.
          Swingarm and head bearings are easier to do when doing a forkseal or replacing sprockets....
          There is no real reason to do any more at your mileage in my opinion unless you're riding in the rain or cleaning with a pressure washer.
          Wheel bearings are well sealed these days, you can check those on your tyre schedule, they should go at least one set of rubber!
          Fuel lines and brake lines should last longer than five years, as should plug caps.
          1980 GS1000G - Sold
          1978 GS1000E - Finished!
          1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
          1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
          2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
          1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
          2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

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          Comment


            #6
            Personally, I'd at least squeeze and inspect the fuel/vacuum lines and make sure they're still in nice shape.

            Definitely flush the brake lines with new brake fluid -- every two years would be better for this, actually.

            And replacing the fork oil is a great idea. Again, every two years might be better. If it looks really icky coming out after five years, replace it more often.

            No need to bother with the spark plug caps, I think. (You ARE using dielectric grease, right?) And wheel bearings are as-needed -- inspect at every tire change, replace every other tire change if you're paranoid, but they don't go bad just sitting there.

            No need to disturb the exhaust gaskets, but I do crack the exhaust header bolts loose and re-tighten every six months or so and re-coat with anti-seize every year or two.

            Since it's a shaftie, the swingarm bearings are a much more robust design (tapered roller bearings) than the wimpy needle bearings found in chain drive bikes. Make sure they're greased and adjusted correctly, but there's little need to re-pack them on any regular basis. Do it once and don't worry about it again for a couple of decades.

            I'd also add to your list greasing the rear brake pedal pivot. Lubing the cables is probably part of your normal maintenance, but I'll mention it.

            But overall, I think the most critical thing to do every five years or so is go through every electrical connector in the wiring harness, disconnect it, clean it up as needed, spritz each connector and all the switches with a good electrical contact cleaner/lube spray (like DeOxit) and reassemble with dielectric grease where appropriate. And, of course inspect all the wiring closely and repair any problems you find along the way. This will eliminate the single biggest cause of GS problems. I do this once every two years, or whenever I have the parts exposed for some other reason.
            Last edited by bwringer; 12-30-2010, 08:25 PM.
            1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
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            Comment


              #7
              Thank for the info guys. I replace the brake fluid and gearbox oils every spring, and the wheel bearing were changed at 30K miles, so we're covered there. Hadn't thought about greasing the steering stem and swingarm - maybe I'll fool around with those, although the Clymer manual makes both seem like kind of a major job. And yes, I should have gone through the wiring harness 5 years ago, so I certainly need it now. It has acted up during rain a few times. I have a 5 oz can of DeOxit and DeOxit Gold now, so that will be done this spring too. Happy New Year!

              Comment


                #8
                Oh, man, how did this thread go so long without someone mentioning the hub splines in the rear wheel. ... ?

                Yah, 82 850G.

                THat is not every 5 years, that is at least every time the rear wheel is off fo a tire change. Should also inspect it upon getting the bike if PO had not gave you a status report on the, or even if he did. DO a search on rear hub. (on microfische is called a joint assembly, but that is the only place you will ever hear it called that). Maybe evebody conciders that about the same as maintianing the tires.



                .
                Last edited by Redman; 01-02-2011, 05:58 PM.
                http://webpages.charter.net/ddvrnr/GS850_1100_Emblems.jpg
                Had 850G for 14 years. Now have GK since 2005.
                GK at IndyMotoGP Suzuki Display... ... GK on GSResources Page ... ... Euro Trash Ego Machine .. ..3 mo'cykls.... update 2 mocykl


                https://imgur.com/YTMtgq4

                Comment


                  #9
                  A fair question, Redman. Some of the early '82, '83 "G's" have a goldish colored rear spline that are soft and wear out quickly. They should be replaced with the older "black" spline or the newer "silver" spline - both are made of harder steel and basically last forever. I replaced my gold one with a silver spline a few years ago, and use Honda Moly 60 lubricant on the spline every time the rear tire is changed.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by DPage View Post
                    A fair question, Redman. Some of the early '82, '83 "G's" have a goldish colored rear spline that are soft and wear out quickly. They should be replaced with the older "black" spline or the newer "silver" spline - both are made of harder steel and basically last forever. I replaced my gold one with a silver spline a few years ago, and use Honda Moly 60 lubricant on the spline every time the rear tire is changed.
                    Okay.
                    Good.
                    Then you are well familiar with all that.

                    .
                    http://webpages.charter.net/ddvrnr/GS850_1100_Emblems.jpg
                    Had 850G for 14 years. Now have GK since 2005.
                    GK at IndyMotoGP Suzuki Display... ... GK on GSResources Page ... ... Euro Trash Ego Machine .. ..3 mo'cykls.... update 2 mocykl


                    https://imgur.com/YTMtgq4

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