1979 GS850 recall

[GS1000S]

I just recently found out there is an outstanding safety recall on my Suzuki. Appartently the were about 5900 units covered under this recall. I've owned the bike for 18 years and just recently came across this while browsing the net. A call to US Suzuki confirmed the recall but the part to fix it is long since discontinued----a driveshaft component.

Anyone had this recall done in the past to their bike or have any specifics on the particular parts that would fail? US Suzuki wasn't much help.

Pat

[49er]

I just recently found out there is an outstanding safety recall on my Suzuki. Appartently the were about 5900 units covered under this recall. I've owned the bike for 18 years and just recently came across this while browsing the net. A call to US Suzuki confirmed the recall but the part to fix it is long since discontinued----a driveshaft component.

Anyone had this recall done in the past to their bike or have any specifics on the particular parts that would fail? US Suzuki wasn't much help.

Pat

Here's a link to the recall. Makes you wonder how many 850 owners were advised of the recall.

http://www.allworldauto.com/recalls/NHTSA_79V225000_1979_SUZUKI_GS850_recall_28695.html

[salty_monk]

: THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OR MORE BOLTS WHICH TRANSMIT THE POWER FROM THE FINAL DRIVE GEAR CASE TO THE REAR WHEEL COULD BREAK IF THE RETAINING NUTS SHOULD LOOSEN AND THE MOTORCYCLE IS SUBJECTED TO SEVERE USAGE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE BROKEN PORTION OF THE BOLT COULD LODGE BETWEEN THE FINAL DRIVE GEAR CASE AND THE REAR WHEEL, CAUSING ABNORMAL NOISE, COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL AND GEAR CASE, AND POSSIBLE REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP AT LOW SPEED. Consequence Summary: Corrective Summary: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ASSEMBLY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.

[salty_monk]

Make sure your nuts are tight I think is the answer to that one...

[49er]

Make sure your nuts are tight I think is the answer to that one...

Maybe so. But why did they suggest that the dealer would replace the drive joint assy with a modified one, at no cost if you just needed to tighten the nuts? I'm picking that they had at least one failure to warrant making a recall.

[bwringer]

Tighten the bolts holding the spline in the rear wheel and use blue thread lock on them.

I've got one of these kits (no, it isn't for sale) and the instructions don't really mention what the problem was with the old ones.

I wonder if it's the studs that are screwed into the splined part. In other words, there are six stout studs that appear to be screwed into the splined part. Perhaps some early models used a different design with a locknut or something.

[lurch12_2000]

....I wonder if it's the studs that are screwed into the splined part. In other words, there are six stout studs that appear to be screwed into the splined part. Perhaps some early models used a different design with a locknut or something.

I think that some of the forum members just bought 4 of the early recalled wheel hub splines off e-bay that had this issue. Maybe they can advise on how to fix before re-using?

Here's the thread:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=145984&highlight=rear+wheel+hub+kit&page=7

and the e-bay listing...has nuts on the back that may loosen?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-S...=65%3A1|39%3A1

[rustybronco]

I think that some of the forum members just bought 4 of the early recalled wheel hub splines off e-bay that had this issue. Maybe they can advise on how to fix before re-using?

I was one of the four that purchased a hub in that E-bay deal.

I have removed two of the four studs and found evidence of red thread locker (locktite) on the removed studs.

the studs do not thread into the hub, they just go through a hole with a nut on the other end.

testing the studs by punch method for hardness and comparing the stud to a 8.8 and 9.8 grade bolt, they appear to be 8.8 grade.

no lock washers were used under the nuts from the factory and should be the reason why they used a thread locker.

the removal torque for the nuts was in the area of 58+/- foot-lbs.

I intend on tacking the nuts with a mig welder, for that extra margin of safety.

considering that your old one has been used for many years in that condition, applying a high strength thread locker (red) and torquing the nuts to 40-45? (unsure about the value as of yet) foot-lbs should work just fine. unless you ride extremely hard or are like Bwringer .

[bwringer]

Looks like that's it -- the spline unit I have does not use the nuts, so it must be the replacement part sent out for the recall:



You can just barely ssee the hexes on the back side -- these are part of the studs, not separate nuts.