I am proof...YOU CAN DO IT!

[ryonker]

I know I am not totally out of the woods; but I just finished my first valve clearance adjustment successfully!

Ok, so May 15th, before I bought my GS, I knew little about motorcycles and mechanics in general.

Then everything changed after I bought my 79 GS750L.

I am a TOTAL novice; but with the help of a few friends and the GSers on this forum coaching me, here is what I have been able to do so far:

1. Changed oil
2. Changed plugs
3. Changed rear tire (my part was taking it off and putting it on)
4. Thoroughly cleaned and re-lubed chain
5. Adjusted chain tension
6. Coil relay modification (went from 9 to 12 volts at the coils)
7. Changed handlebars
8. Put on new throttle cables
9. Cleaned carbs---all new O rings
10. Synced carbs (bench and manometer)
11. New O-rings for intake boots
12. Put on new petcock
13. Adjusted valve clearances (all were tighter than spec!)

Bike runs great!

So, if I can do this, so CAN YOU!

Just ask a lot of questions, go slow and try to have fun.

Now it's time to ride:-)

Rick

[lurch12_2000]

Nice to hear success stories.

[BassCliff]

Nice work!

<sniff> I love happy endings! :-)


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[robertbarr]

1. Changed oil
2. Changed plugs
3. Changed rear tire (my part was taking it off and putting it on)
4. Thoroughly cleaned and re-lubed chain
5. Adjusted chain tension
6. Coil relay modification (went from 9 to 12 volts at the coils)
7. Changed handlebars
8. Put on new throttle cables
9. Cleaned carbs---all new O rings
10. Synced carbs (bench and manometer)
11. New O-rings for intake boots
12. Put on new petcock
13. Adjusted valve clearances (all were tighter than spec!)

Bike runs great!

Congratulations!

So many new owners anymore just skip those first 13 steps and go straight to adding pod filters instead. The next three months are spent asking inane questions about <fill in malady-of-the-day> until the threads on all the adjustment screws are shot, and then they ultimately conclude that these GS bikes are just temperamental junk anyway.

After a while they aren't heard from anymore; I suspect they slink away and find another brand of bike to ruin.

[TheCafeKid]

Congrats!! I too have gleaned much knowlege and freinds from this forum. Tis a great place! I feel confident in repairing just about anything on my GSs now, rebuilding top ends included Havent split the cases yet, but I have a motor that is waiting for me to learn on!

Soooooo....how does it run after the work?

[ryonker]

I'll be taking it out tonight or tomorrow. I will let you know!

Rick

[Dave8338]

Way ta go, Rick...Well, I guess you won't be needing my help with the valves! AHHHH but you did mention a ride this summer...Keep me posted and congrats on the DIY 750...knew you could!

[SteveL-J]

Well done Rick!
This is most definitely the best place to ask questions and get answers, on not only our great bikes.

[Narcoleptic_Snowman]

Funny...

Wow... This is almost exactly what I've done with almost exactly the same dates... Creepy lol. I too bought a 79 gs750L near the beginning of may and I have done all of the same stuff in the same order. Except for changing my rear tire, and adjusting my valves. Good stuff though! I've been riding my bike like a mad man, have you? I hope so... there's too much fun to be had on these old machines.

[n1elkyfan]

Way to go. Its good to hear another success story