Best place to buy a carb rebuild kit (GS550L)?

[TheWhiteBuffalo]

Hi guys!

I have a 1980 GS550L that needs the carbs overhauled.

Can anyone recommend the best source for a complete rebuild kit? My concerns are that there may be some differences between manufacturers, and I would like to buy a kit that my fellow GS riders recommend.

I searched around the forum using the search function, but I did not see any threads with any strong recommendations. Thanks in advance!

[kparkfan]

you really dont need a complete rebuild kit. the stuff that comes in the rebuild kits arent as good as the stuff in the carbs now. the only thing you really need to replace are the o-rings and maybe the gaskets. you can get the o-rngs from cycleorings.com and the guy is a member of this board.

[TheWhiteBuffalo]

That sounds like great advice, and I will order the kit.

My mechanic is letting me order this kit, but I am confused as to which specific kit I will need. I plan on ordering the O-ring and bolt kit. If I may ask, can anyone tell me what the proper kit is for my bike? Do I need the "CV" or "VM" kit? I guess I will buy the intake boot kit and the fastener sets to be on the safe side.


Sorry for the "dumb" question, I am just confused on which carburetors I have on my bike and the code associated with them. Huge thanks in advance!

[mike_of_bbg]

+1

cycleorings.com has the o-rings you need for a rebuild, plus you can get your intake boot o-rings and stainless steel bolts there. The only parts he can't get you for a garden variety rebuild are bowl gaskets and pilot jet plugs, which you could pick up at z1enterprises.com (some just reuse the old gaskets as they're usually in OK shape for that).

The parts in the rebuild kits are reputed to not be machined as precisely as the OEM parts. And they really don't wear; they just get varnish build up, which is what the dip is for. If you have leaky needle valves and seats it's considered best to get OEM parts for replacement - spendy though they are (~$30/carb).

[mike_of_bbg]

My mechanic is letting me order this kit, but I am confused as to which specific kit I will need. I plan on ordering the O-ring and bolt kit. If I may ask, can anyone tell me what the proper kit is for my bike? Do I need the "CV" or "VM" kit? I guess I will buy the intake boot kit and the fastener sets to be on the safe side.

If your bike is truly a 1980, then it should have CV carbs. The GSR home page has a link to the CV rebuild series with pics; compare that with the carbs on your bike. Another big tip-off is that the petcock vacuum will be off carb #2 on 4-cylinder CVs; it's #3 on VMs, IIRC. Have a look at that rebuild series and consider that you'll save a lot doing the rebuild yourself. It's all laid out for you in there, and you'll know the job is being done right.

While you're at cycleorings.com ordering everything I'd get a pair of idle screw washers, BTW. They're very small and easy to lose (ask me how I know!).

http://www.thegsresources.com/gs_carbrebuild.htm

[TheWhiteBuffalo]

Thanks guys! This forum is awesome!

I am off to order everything I need.

[Steve]

Another big tip-off is that the petcock vacuum will be off carb #2 on 4-cylinder CVs; it's #3 on VMs, IIRC.

Yes, very true, but you need to make sure that you know which one is #1.

Too many times, a new guy will look back at the front of the engine and say, "1, 2, 3, 4", numering them from throttle hand side to clutch hand side. WRONG!!!

The cylinders are properly numbered from clutch hand side to throttle hand side, or LEFT to RIGHT.

Of course, you also have to know that any reference made to a direction on a bike is from the rider's viewpoint when seated on the bike.

.

[ikantbreave]

Yes, very true, but you need to make sure that you know which one is #1.

Too many times, a new guy will look back at the front of the engine and say, "1, 2, 3, 4", numering them from throttle hand side to clutch hand side. WRONG!!!

The cylinders are properly numbered from clutch hand side to throttle hand side, or LEFT to RIGHT.

Of course, you also have to know that any reference made to a direction on a bike is from the rider's viewpoint when seated on the bike.

.

Thanks Steve!! As that new guy I didn't know this and would have saved myself a headache trying to explain which carb I broke. This should be in bold italics printed somewhere on the bike, preferably like on the gauges so I can see it.

Brion

[twr1776]

#3 Today, 08:16 PM TheWhiteBuffalo My mechanic is letting me order this kit, but I am confused as to which specific kit I will need. I plan on ordering the O-ring and bolt kit. If I may ask, can anyone tell me what the proper kit is for my bike? Do I need the "CV" or "VM" kit? I guess I will buy the intake boot kit and the fastener sets to be on the safe side.

Is your mechanic familiar with these carbs? Just a heads up, there are lots of stories of bikes getting worked on by someone not familiar with these carbs and doing a lousy job.

[TheWhiteBuffalo]

Honestly, I don't know if he is or not. I am now living near Fredericksburg, VA and the options are pretty darn slim as far as motorcycle mechanics go. Obviously, major repairs shops won't touch older bikes, so I am left with few options.

This mechanic advertised on craigslist and he "seemed" like he knew what he was doing just from my chatting with him. With my luck, this will be a horror story in the making. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope.

[Nessism]

I strongly suggest you do the carbs yourself. Most mechanics won't take the time necessary to do the job right. There are countless stories around here from people suffering botched mechanic work.

In either case one thing to be careful of is when driving out the float pin; the float post next to the nail head on the pin needs to be supported or the post can snap off. It's not hard to do, just requires a special technique. Print off the carb rebuild tutorial on the GSR homepage and use it for reference.

[twr1776]

Today, 07:57 AM TheWhiteBuffalo

Honestly, I don't know if he is or not. I am now living near Fredericksburg, VA and the options are pretty darn slim as far as motorcycle mechanics go. Obviously, major repairs shops won't touch older bikes, so I am left with few options.

This mechanic advertised on craigslist and he "seemed" like he knew what he was doing just from my chatting with him. With my luck, this will be a horror story in the making. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope.

I also would be a bit "skeptical" of a Craigslist mechanic even if he did sound like he knew what he was doing. If your do not want to do them yourself check the Parts & Services section here. Chef does carb cleaning and I would trust him much more than someone I found on Craigslist.

How much was the person you found going to charge and were they going to soak them overnight or turn them around in a day. I would be very suspicious of a one day turn around time, they really should be dipped overnight for a proper cleaning.