Any Suzukimatic pros out there?

[dkruitz]

re: '82 GS450GA semi-automatic shaft drive

We've gotten the bike running so it starts right up but needs to have the choke on for a couple minutes (60 degree weather) but that's not the problem.

We took it for a mini drive up and down the street and the bike makes a klunking noise that seems to come from the trans area. Not all the time, but enough to make us not want to drive it. Just won a Suzuki manual off of ebay for this and hope it will help. ANY ideas? Gears that we can see through the oil fill hole look crisp. Could it be a slipping torque converter? We put in fresh oil.

Also, when do you measure the oil level in the site gauge? Do you do it on the side stand or center stand, running or not?

[posplayr]

GS450GA User's manual

At first I thought this was a real newbe question but after I looked there really is such a think. If you go top this site and scroll down on teh left side you will find the 450GA listed, go to that page and the look near the bottom there is a hyperlink to the users manual. Qualoity iis not that great but there might be some help there.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GS-series/

actually here is the link....

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/manuals/GS450GA_owners_manual.pdf

Good Luck

Posplayr

[dkruitz]

Thanks, I've found the owners manual before - it's going to take a little more than that I fear. That's why we're so happy to have the service manual on it's way!
:-D

[SqDancerLynn1]

Measure the oil with both wheels on the ground & the bike upright. MAKE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT OIL NO synthetic. Good old fashion dino oil

[Steve]

I know the SuzukiMatics exist, but don't know much about them. Is there something special about the automatics that prevents them from using synthetic oil?

I know that bikes with a wet clutch (like the rest of the GS series) don't like oils that are rated "Energy Conserving", but you can get synthetics without that rating.

.

[dkruitz]

Yep, good old fashioned 10W40, the cheapest Autozone carried - at least initially - we thought we'd give it a change after a little use and heat to try to flush stuff out. No clutch, but it does have a torque converter.

Measure the oil with both wheels on the ground & the bike upright. MAKE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT OIL NO synthetic. Good old fashion dino oil

[dkruitz]

I was looking at an online diagram of the trans, and it has a shift dog (not sure if the term applies here, but with outboards it gets you from forward to reverse) I'm suspecting the ears on the dog may be worn (pun intended I suppose). If someone had been tentative about shifting it can cause wear on the outboards - I'm guessing same for the motorcycles.
Good news is we found parts online - just have to open ours up first to see what's going on with it. Never opened a trans before... 8-[

[trippivot]

what is the chain and sprockets like??

or is the noise there when bike is stationary?

on the centerstand or jack stands you can tell if sticky chain links are making your noise.

[Steve]

what is the chain and sprockets like??

Interestingly enough, the only chain and sprockets are for the cams. :shock:

Yup, that little 450 twin is shaft-drive. \\/

.

[dkruitz]

Yes, and we're probably going to pull the rear wheel and check the shaft to make sure it's not slipping or such. I'm finding out this is an rare beast (not necessarily valuable though) :-D

Interestingly enough, the only chain and sprockets are for the cams. :shock:

Yup, that little 450 twin is shaft-drive. \\/

.

[dkruitz]

what is the chain and sprockets like??

or is the noise there when bike is stationary?

on the centerstand or jack stands you can tell if sticky chain links are making your noise.

It's actually a shaft drive bike. Doesn't appear to make the noise while on the center stand, only under load while driving.

here are photos: http://www.elginoutboard.com/jonsbike

[psyguy]

i love that curved "suzuki" tank amblem on the left side :-D

[dkruitz]

Amazingly it's not broken just bent - trying to figure out if we should try straightening it for fear of it snapping.

[Calvin Blackmore]

Is the part not available OEM from Bike Bandit or others?

[posplayr]

Those emblems are pretty malleable

In fact I have bought some NOS emblems and they are flat requiring bending to fit the tank curve. I'm sure you could straighten the emblem more than it is now if not get it completely back to original (less any gouges).

It is also not the end of the world if it does break as they can either be purchased New or used on flea bay. I have at least a couple of spares in a box.

Posplayr