Reviving an old beast... where to start ??

[hikermikem]

I've just aquired an '82 GS850GL, with 7300 mi.

The bike has been stored in a garage its entire life, and has not run for the past 15 years !! :shock:

Suffice to say, this baby is in extremely good condition - the seat is in showroom condition, absolutely no rips, tears, or rust on the pan. Of course, the bike is very dirty, but with some elbow grease it will shine up nicely.

I've ripped the carbs off & have begun rebuilding them (see current thread concerning float pin removal). I should've taken a couple of pics showing the carb guts inside the float bowls! Holy crap - what a mess!! The rubber plugs had completly dissolved into a sticky, gooey black paste that's covering the main jets & needle valves.

The top end of the carbs however were quite clean. I easily drilled out the mixture screw plugs & the mixture screws turned right out!!

Anyway... what do you guys recommend regarding turning this engine over for the first time in 15 years? I cranked it over by hand & it felt VERY easy - maybe a little too easy. I reasoned the rings were dry & little to no compression was being built up in the cylinders. I was thinking of performing a compression check after squirting some oil through the plugs holes.

Are there any protocols as to the proper way to revive a long sleeping beast?

Thanks,

mike

[seuadr]

I've just aquired an '82 GS850GL, with 7300 mi.

The bike has been stored in a garage its entire life, and has not run for the past 15 years !! :shock:

Suffice to say, this baby is in extremely good condition - the seat is in showroom condition, absolutely no rips, tears, or rust on the pan. Of course, the bike is very dirty, but with some elbow grease it will shine up nicely.

I've ripped the carbs off & have begun rebuilding them (see current thread concerning float pin removal). I should've taken a couple of pics showing the carb guts inside the float bowls! Holy crap - what a mess!! The rubber plugs had completly dissolved into a sticky, gooey black paste that's covering the main jets & needle valves.

The top end of the carbs however were quite clean. I easily drilled out the mixture screw plugs & the mixture screws turned right out!!

Anyway... what do you guys recommend regarding turning this engine over for the first time in 15 years? I cranked it over by hand & it felt VERY easy - maybe a little too easy. I reasoned the rings were dry & little to no compression was being built up in the cylinders. I was thinking of performing a compression check after squirting some oil through the plugs holes.

Are there any protocols as to the proper way to revive a long sleeping beast?

Thanks,

mike

i would definitally pop the plugs and put some marvel mystery oil in each cylinder and let that sit for a few days, then perhaps turn it over by hand with the plugs out slowly. if you remove the right hand engine cover, there is a 19mm bolt that will rotated the motor so long as the plugs are out.

and of course, change the oil ASAP

[rustybronco]

I've just aquired an '82 GS850GL, with 7300 mi.

Anyway... what do you guys recommend regarding turning this engine over for the first time in 15 years? I cranked it over by hand & it felt VERY easy - maybe a little too easy. I reasoned the rings were dry & little to no compression was being built up in the cylinders. I was thinking of performing a compression check after squirting some oil through the plugs holes.

Are there any protocols as to the proper way to revive a long sleeping beast?

Start at the front tire and end at the rear tire.
fluids changed, connections inspected/cleaned, bulbs, switches for operation, clean and wax (it's good for the soul). everything needs to be looked at.

rings could be stuck so a compression test is in order.

[Nessism]

I brought back four different GS’s that sat for between 10 – 28 years without use. My philosophy is to do as much work as possible up front so you KNOW things are squared away. If you just sit back and wait for the bike to misbehave before you do any work, the bike will break down on regular intervals.

Standard list of items needing attention:
-Carb rebuild with new O-rings throughout
-Carb boot O-rings, and boots as well if they are hard and/or cracked
-Air filter – old foam crumbles after a while
-Valve adjustment (good luck with that old gasket)
-Brake system tear down to remove chunkies (flushing is not good enough to properly clean the system) – and don’t forget to lubricate the sliding pins
-Clean all electrical grounds
-Run dedicated ground from R/R to battery
-Grease steering head and swingarm bearings (typically not critical to do right away)
-Engine oil and filter
-New tires – including new tubes or valve stems.

Wouldn’t hurt to dump a little Marvel’s Mystery Oil in the cylinders, but since the engine turns over easily as you said, probably isn’t necessary either.

I also have a tub filled with Evapo-Rust goop - throw rusted parts in for a couple of days and they will come out clean. Very useful when restoring an old bike.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[mortation]

I've just aquired an '82 GS850GL, with 7300 mi.

The bike has been stored in a garage its entire life, and has not run for the past 15 years !! :shock:

Suffice to say, this baby is in extremely good condition - the seat is in showroom condition, absolutely no rips, tears, or rust on the pan. Of course, the bike is very dirty, but with some elbow grease it will shine up nicely.

I've ripped the carbs off & have begun rebuilding them (see current thread concerning float pin removal). I should've taken a couple of pics showing the carb guts inside the float bowls! Holy crap - what a mess!! The rubber plugs had completly dissolved into a sticky, gooey black paste that's covering the main jets & needle valves.

The top end of the carbs however were quite clean. I easily drilled out the mixture screw plugs & the mixture screws turned right out!!

Anyway... what do you guys recommend regarding turning this engine over for the first time in 15 years? I cranked it over by hand & it felt VERY easy - maybe a little too easy. I reasoned the rings were dry & little to no compression was being built up in the cylinders. I was thinking of performing a compression check after squirting some oil through the plugs holes.

Are there any protocols as to the proper way to revive a long sleeping beast?

Thanks,

mike

Dude I HATE you!!! Where did you find that???? You are so lucky!!

Anywho on to your question I would change the oil(s), plugs, check the compression, put in fresh gas, charge the battery and hit start

Provided of course compression checked out lol.

Get bored bring it on over

[rustybronco]

I brought back four different GS’s that sat for between 10 – 28 years without use. My philosophy is to do as much work as possible up front so you KNOW things are squared away. If you just sit back and wait for the bike to misbehave before you do any work, the bike will break down on regular intervals.

What he said, especially the part on the brakes.
clean the master cylinders, lines, calipers, slides... if it doesn't stop, you may not be around to tell us how much you like your new purchase.

[flyingace]

Congrats - you are a lucky guy.

Get a new battery first of all. Then make sure everything turns - engine, trans, shaft drive, diff - before you try to start it. Fill up all the fluids (the MM oil is a good idea), remove the plugs, prime the carbs and try turning it over. This gets oil everywhere without the strain of compression and primes the carb passages. Check the plugs for spark while you're at it.

If you have spark, put the plugs back, choke it and crank it over. Should start, right?

I'm not of the philosophy that you should overhaul stuff just because it sits a long time. With those low miles, nothing internal should be worn out. Just replace whatever rubber is bad and go for it. See what's broken before you fix it.

[hikermikem]

Thanks guys, lots of good thoughts & philosophy's to ponder...

I am excited about getting this going!! It will look sooooo.... sweet once it's cleaned up proper.

It also has a Lockhart oil cooler installed, was that a stock item??

Also, I'm considering puting "low end" pods on instead of the wrestling with the airbox again. Do you think it will affect the carb jetting, or will the stock jets work?? Again, not going to use K&N pods, thinking of those Emgo ones with the nice shinny chrome ends!!

[hikermikem]

Dude I HATE you!!! Where did you find that???? You are so lucky!!

I saw it on craigslist (Colchester, CT) and was the first to call... I showed up with a truck & some cash & before I knew it, I had me another project!

I think I like working on bikes almost better than riding them...


Hmmmmmmm... NOT !

[rustybronco]

It also has a Lockhart oil cooler installed, was that a stock item??

Also, I'm considering puting "low end" pods on instead of the wrestling with the airbox again. Do you think it will affect the carb jetting, or will the stock jets work?? Again, not going to use K&N pods, thinking of those Emgo ones with the nice shinny chrome ends!!

1. No
2. Unless you like to re-jet, don't do it.

[Billyboy]

Mike, Bronco's right. Pods will make you rejet.
IF you're going to do it, consider you'll likely want to do the 4-1, and pods, and a DJ stage 3.

Consider the costs and frustration.

On my GS750T project, I'm keeping it stock if I can help it. Exhaust is toast.:?

[rustybronco]

Your 850 with the stock air cleaner will be just fine if it is running correctly, unless you are a horse power freak, then re-jet, pods, exhaust, suspension mods ... or go find a 1100-1150!

[hikermikem]

OK then, stock all the way.

Now to get it running!

[mortation]

I saw it on craigslist (Colchester, CT) and was the first to call... I showed up with a truck & some cash & before I knew it, I had me another project!

I think I like working on bikes almost better than riding them...


Hmmmmmmm... NOT !

I soooo must have been asleep at the wheel that day! I check CL almost every day. Congrats on the score you are gonna love that bike. If you do go pods/jets/pipes let me know and I may be interested in buying your OEM pipes.

Once you get her on the road hit me up and we can go for a ride!

[hikermikem]

pic of my new project bike...

In case you're interested, here's a pic of the '82 GS850GL I just picked up; carbs are apart & soaking in Berrymans at the moment.

The odometer shows 7328 mi & it hasn't run in 15 yrs.