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Sometimes, not knowing is better than knowing...
I was out in the garage yesterday, trying to fit the new pipe I got from Terry (didn't fit - that's another story).
Since the old girl has been sitting, I decided to warm her up a bit before trying to swap the pipes - she's down with a few minor problems, so I was really just wanting to hear how the new pipe would sound. Knowing I'd developed an oil cooler leak, I thought I'd disconnect the leaky banjo and clean it up a bit, in hopes that it was just a little debris keeping it from sealing. Cleaned it, snugged it back together, and tried to get the bike started. After a few minutes of cranking, a little choke, and a touch of gas in the air box (
), she fired up and settled into a high idle. After a second or two, oil started seeping out of the cooler fitting again, so I snugged it up a bit more, which didn't seem to have any effect on the leak.
After running the bike a bit to make sure fuel was flowing (bowls had dried from sitting), I killed the bike and let it cool so I could change the pipes. After about 2 hours worth of cussing and trying to coax the new pipes into fitting, I threw the old ones back on, and attempted to find the source of the oil cooler leak again. I gave the banjo bolt another 1/8 turn, and fired the bike up. This produced a larger leak. I shut the bike off, and cleaned up the fitting so I could try to see where it was leaking. Fired the bike up again, and found the leak.
It wasn't a leaky bajo fitting. Wasn't leaking from the bolt or the line. It's actually got a crack in the threaded fitting (where the fixed "nut" tapers into the threads). I wouldn't have noticed it had I not been bent over with my face inches from the cooler as I was cranking the bike. So, one more part added to my winter wish list - new oil cooler.
And the pipe - for future reference, in case anyone ever gets asked, a header from a 1983 GS750S (Katana) will NOT fit a 1983 GS750ED/ESD. I'm sure this holds true for all 1983 and up 750E's and 700E's. The downtubes aren't long enough to clear the oil pan. After looking at a few pictures, it seems that the Kat motor sat a little higher in the frame. And the only info I can find claims that the 16V motor was not used for the Kat bikes until the Gen3 Katanas (1985+).
This might be a manufacturer-specific problem, and not a model compatability problem, but I'd think that all manufacturers would make their pipes to fit as closely to the frame as possible to improve ground clearance ("drag" pipes excepted).
I could have this pipe tweaked at a metal shop, but will probably re-sell it to a Kat owner looking for a pipe - I just can't bear to alter a 20 year old NOS pipe, knowing how hard pipes are to find for older GS bikes (especially 1983 and up 750E's!!!!). I'm actually thinking of fitting a factory 4-2-1 from an early 90's GSXR-1100.
But I'm rambling. Of course, no questions, just me venting again...
P.S. Thanks for sending the pipe, Terry. Even though it won't fit, I really do appreciate your offering it to me.
-Q!
I was out in the garage yesterday, trying to fit the new pipe I got from Terry (didn't fit - that's another story).
Since the old girl has been sitting, I decided to warm her up a bit before trying to swap the pipes - she's down with a few minor problems, so I was really just wanting to hear how the new pipe would sound. Knowing I'd developed an oil cooler leak, I thought I'd disconnect the leaky banjo and clean it up a bit, in hopes that it was just a little debris keeping it from sealing. Cleaned it, snugged it back together, and tried to get the bike started. After a few minutes of cranking, a little choke, and a touch of gas in the air box (
), she fired up and settled into a high idle. After a second or two, oil started seeping out of the cooler fitting again, so I snugged it up a bit more, which didn't seem to have any effect on the leak. After running the bike a bit to make sure fuel was flowing (bowls had dried from sitting), I killed the bike and let it cool so I could change the pipes. After about 2 hours worth of cussing and trying to coax the new pipes into fitting, I threw the old ones back on, and attempted to find the source of the oil cooler leak again. I gave the banjo bolt another 1/8 turn, and fired the bike up. This produced a larger leak. I shut the bike off, and cleaned up the fitting so I could try to see where it was leaking. Fired the bike up again, and found the leak.
It wasn't a leaky bajo fitting. Wasn't leaking from the bolt or the line. It's actually got a crack in the threaded fitting (where the fixed "nut" tapers into the threads). I wouldn't have noticed it had I not been bent over with my face inches from the cooler as I was cranking the bike. So, one more part added to my winter wish list - new oil cooler.
And the pipe - for future reference, in case anyone ever gets asked, a header from a 1983 GS750S (Katana) will NOT fit a 1983 GS750ED/ESD. I'm sure this holds true for all 1983 and up 750E's and 700E's. The downtubes aren't long enough to clear the oil pan. After looking at a few pictures, it seems that the Kat motor sat a little higher in the frame. And the only info I can find claims that the 16V motor was not used for the Kat bikes until the Gen3 Katanas (1985+).
This might be a manufacturer-specific problem, and not a model compatability problem, but I'd think that all manufacturers would make their pipes to fit as closely to the frame as possible to improve ground clearance ("drag" pipes excepted).
I could have this pipe tweaked at a metal shop, but will probably re-sell it to a Kat owner looking for a pipe - I just can't bear to alter a 20 year old NOS pipe, knowing how hard pipes are to find for older GS bikes (especially 1983 and up 750E's!!!!). I'm actually thinking of fitting a factory 4-2-1 from an early 90's GSXR-1100.
But I'm rambling. Of course, no questions, just me venting again...
P.S. Thanks for sending the pipe, Terry. Even though it won't fit, I really do appreciate your offering it to me.
-Q!
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