My "New" 1982 GS650GL: 6k Miles, Trying to Assess Priorities

[2BRacing]

While I'm waiting for an answer on the front shaft oil drain plug (and I really want to drain that now, because I almost never change oil cold, but this time I'll be able to wrap the whole exhaust pipe in a garbage bag to protect it from oil) I'd like to hear about the folks on this site who rebuild carbs. Who are the two or three best, and roughly how much do they charge? I really don't know if I'm still up to doing that sort of work, now. My hands shake a bit and my memory is going along with my close eyesight. I had a few carbs apart (and even back together!) when I was much younger, but now I'd be safer mailing them off to an expert.

The front shaft oil drain plug is the large one (21 mm spanner) marked with yellow arrow in your photo.

GS650-FrntShaftDrainPlug.jpg

The design of the 650 shaft drive is different to that of the larger engine capacity models, because the 650 does not have a separate secondary drive oil supply of SAE 90 oil like the larger engine capacity models. The 650 secondary drive oil supply is part of the normal engine oil supply.

You will note that the drain bolt is located much higher up than the sump drain bolt. Therefore not a lot of oil will come out of the shaft drain bolt, as most oil will have drained to the sump.

Look in the "GS Parts and Services" forum for members who do carb cleaning. Members "Steve" and "Chef1366" provide carb cleaning service. Not sure how much they charge.

[Leftie]

Re: Drain Plug & Carbs

The front shaft oil drain plug is the large one (21 mm spanner) marked with yellow arrow in your photo.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46045[/ATTACH]

The design of the 650 shaft drive is different to that of the larger engine capacity models, because the 650 does not have a separate secondary drive oil supply of SAE 90 oil like the larger engine capacity models. The 650 secondary drive oil supply is part of the normal engine oil supply.

You will note that the drain bolt is located much higher up than the sump drain bolt. Therefore not a lot of oil will come out of the shaft drain bolt, as most oil will have drained to the sump.

Look in the "GS Parts and Services" forum for members who do carb cleaning. Members "Steve" and "Chef1366" provide carb cleaning service. Not sure how much they charge.

Thanks! I was pretty sure that was the drain bolt, but the manual I have shows a different setup (smaller bolt at 45 degree angle) and I wanted to be sure. I also downloaded the GS650G service manual last night, and that shows the right bolt, but the photo is terrible. I understand about the shared sump, but want to get as much oil out as possible, since I'm being told it will definitely be contaminated with gas. Since I'm doing it cold, I'll wrap that whole exhaust pipe in plastic, and let the oil drain for at least half an hour, from both holes. I'll also pour some fresh oil through the open sump, since I got a 5 quart jug of Valvoline Premium 10W-40.

Thanks for the info on carb rebuilders.

The Fram motorcycle oil filters, BTW, seem to be made in India. The overall quality isn't terrible, and they bag the filter, but the metal part was remarkably scuffed looking, as if they reused a casing from a Reject bin, with a new filter element. I'm using the Chinese-made K&N filter, which at least looks the same as the old ones - good.

[Leftie]

I got sidetracked for a few days after finding out that the VIN has a typo in it - a "C" in place of the "G" on the plate. Now I have to have a police officer inspect the bike, look at the plate, title and bike, and write a note to the DMV saying they are all the same vehicle. I could strangle the seller, who apparently got a replacement title with faulty and incomplete info. Two wasted hours at the DMV...

Anyway, I picked up a jug of Rotella "T" oil, and have ordered the 16 bolt cam cover gaskets. I also have a new feeler gauge set and shim removal tool. I'm trying to decide if I'm also ordering the half-moon end seals. Sometime in the next few days I'll drain all the oil. If it reeks of gas, I'll put in the Valvoline oil and the Fram filter, start and run the bike a few minutes, then drain and refill again, using the K&N filter and Rotella oil. IF the oil in it now seems ok, I'll use the Rotella oil and K&N filter and do just one drain and fill. I'm putting the gas tank on hold until Fall. I'll install the new petcock, and watch the fuel filter closely. As for the carbs, the listing says "professionally rebuilt" so I'll wait until the valves are done, then take the bike for a real ride, and see how the carbs really are. I may have just been feeling 'Early 80s Cold-Bloodedness' on the one short ride I took.