anyone?

[rustybronco]

So the question is, are you selling it, parting it or looking in the mirror?

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Well, I guess it depends on what happens when I get it back from this charlatan. If I can ride it home, down to the garage in Hingham, i'll take a look at it, snap some pics and get it up on the site here and see if we can't figure out what to do with it.

I had the seat professionally restored, I installed a stage 3 jet kit with pods, and cleaned a very nice looking set of carbs, so there are good parts to be had if I can't get it up and running.

[SAN]

shop wows

Not to stir more trouble.Was the plug damaged. also drop oil pan, they may have dropped some thing in eng to cause this.hall it home.dont run just dissasemble. video would show what you find with out him trying to say you took apart damaged it, then took pictures to get out of paying.good luck. SAN

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Well, got the word. 200 bucks in parts, no labor, which is fair, i guess. however, the #1 piston won't fire - he thinks it's a bent valve, and it's still riding bad. I'm going to try to drive it home on Friday. I think i'm going to call it a loss and sell it. Lurch_12_2000 has a great 83 1100 that I would love to just be able to drive off.

EDIT: Anyone who believes they can help me get it running, I'll pay your expenses to get down here and show me the ropes, plus whatever hourly fee your time is worth.

[Johnny K]

Hey whats up Jimmy? Long time no write or hear man. I put my bike away for the winter (cleaned the frame, pipe and loaded the end of the pipe and carbs with WD-40 and stabil-ed it all) I am planning on adjusting the valves next spring and making sure everything is up to par with my bike and am probably going to sell it because I am afraid to say that I have sort of lost interest in my bike in all. My third pipe has no color to it at all and the other pipes have that blueish/purple color. I am thinking after everything else I have done that it has to be the valves. But I am going to tackle that next spring when I have the tools to do that. Alot of my buddies and I have dirtbikes that I have been paying more attention to. Everything on my bike is going to be running next to perfect and then will sell it. It's going to be a knot in my stomach to sell it after the frustration and countless amounts of time I cursed while doing the top-end and making everything fit with basically all new parts. The knot will come first about the price for which I will sell it, because all the time and money I have put into it and then another knot for letting it go. I dunno, that's my thoughts anyways. I was suggesting that I could take a look at it, but am definitely not saying I can fix it only because it sounds like over my head. But would offer to take a look at it for no charge at all if ya want.

[chef1366]

Bent valves? Did someone put the cam chain on out of time?

[Jimmy Hoffa]

I don't know...I'm so dumb when it comes to this stuff. I can learn, though - and i might get smart real fast. I've got the original service manual for this year's model, too. Johnny if you are able to come look at it, that'd be awesome. I'm going to try to get it from Malden down to Hingham if I can. If it'll get there on the back roads, let's try to meet up there and take a look at it.

If I can't, then maybe we can work something else out.

[knotzilla]

The shops around me don't like working on older bikes. I have always worked on my bike and you decide to keep it you better learn how to repair yours too, Ted

[Dave8338]

Well, got the word. 200 bucks in parts, no labor, which is fair, i guess. however, the #1 piston won't fire - he thinks it's a bent valve, and it's still riding bad. I'm going to try to drive it home on Friday. I think i'm going to call it a loss and sell it. Lurch_12_2000 has a great 83 1100 that I would love to just be able to drive off.

EDIT: Anyone who believes they can help me get it running, I'll pay your expenses to get down here and show me the ropes, plus whatever hourly fee your time is worth.

How about adjusted valves? Open it up and grab a feeler gauge (beer if needed) and have at the valves.

HEY STEVE: Ya'z heading out on another adventure...trailer in tow?

If you don't have to ride it home, I wouldn't. You never know what it might be. Your short hop home may be just what it needs, to send it over the edge...
On the other hand, I'm thinking a CORRECTLY cleaned and bench synched set of carbs, a little package from Robert Barr, and you you'll have solved "that" problem.

Check the valves and shim where needed, get it running (remember to PRIME the bowls) because it will run and worry about the fine tuning and spit shine later...

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Yeah, I kind of have to ride it home. I'll try to figure it out from there. I'll probably trailer it down to the garage where it can live for the winter.

[Suzuki mad]

If you want to strip it down and find out its not too bad and we can talk you through it.

Do you have a good Suzuki workshop manual for the 850?

A set of spanners and 1/4 or 3/8th drive socket set? (don't forget that I'm English so my terms may seem a little funny)
A torq wrench that starts at 10 foot lbs?

Get it on the centre stand and with enough room around it to work plus enough cloths to lay out the parts that come off her.

Once your done then come back to here and people can talk you through it. If not PM me and I will talk you through it.

Suzuki mad

[LeeGS550E]

Reading your first description of the problem, it doesn't seem like there's any good indication of this 'bent valve.' I think the repair shop yahoo is just acting like the sky is falling because he can't figure it out. I would do the previously mentioned compression test if I were you. I'm guessing your problem is not nearly as bad as the guy is saying.

[mcloud]

Sue them bast...

Hi Jimmy,

Mine's a '79, 85 000 km, contact breaker ignition, compression out of wack, oil leaks here and there, starter won't turn, clutch is slipping...
But... starts on the 3rd kick when cold, love the little bugger.
This bike is build like a tank.
Bring yours home, get a Hayne's service manual and we'll help you walk through it.

No sweat..

[jimfj]

Some one should post a thread containing "Dealer Nightmare Stories"

I bought a GS550E from a dealership that only carries Suzuki. They said it needed all 8 valves replaced. I paid next to nothing for it and its in damn close to perfect shape. I threw a compression tester on all 4 and they were 130 cold!. Carb clean and it runs like a top!. It needed nothing else.

The kicker on this is that the head mechanic owns a Wes Cooley replica 1000S and about 4 other GS bikes. I wonder where he takes his stuff to get it wrenched on.

I am no expert and will never claim to be, but with everyone here and a manual and maybe some adult beverages you can get it figured out.

Good Luck, you'll get it.

Jim

[alke46]

When I bought my '79 GS 1000 this summer, it ran like a raped ape albeit a bit rich. This with 5 of the 8 valve clearances out of spec.
Like the others are saying here, a good carb dipping and some minor adjustments here and there, it will run as it should.
Good luck and keep us all posted. We will all help when we can.