1978 GS1000 Complete Engine Overhaul With Mods

[RacingJake]

Well me and my Harley bud's could ride up there and drink his beer and chase his women and when the cops show up we can have a block party \\/ \\/ \\/ That should get his attention or your parts back.

Road trip......

[Hoomgar]

I'm afraid I am goint to have to pull the bike out of there. Problem with that is I'll lose money if I do. Plus I'll lose my dyna and all support. Getting his help on running bikes is not an issue.

He has his phone off the hook again. That means he is busy again. Just so everyone knows. The problem here is this:

- I can't make him work.
- I can't do what needs done myself.
- If I do get help and do it myself I'll have no dyno to finish with.
- I don't have time to do it myself.
- I don't have any more money to throw at it, I already paid him.

These are the issues. Thus, it sits...

[wrench]

I'm afraid I am goint to have to pull the bike out of there. Problem with that is I'll lose money if I do. Plus I'll lose my dyna and all support. Getting his help on running bikes is not an issue.

He has his phone off the hook again. That means he is busy again. Just so everyone knows. The problem here is this:

- I can't make him work.
- I can't do what needs done myself.
- If I do get help and do it myself I'll have no dyno to finish with.
- I don't have time to do it myself.
- I don't have any more money to throw at it, I already paid him.

These are the issues. Thus, it sits...

That sucks man

How much time do you think it would take him to finish your bike up?

[Billyboy]

If you already paid him, then he's bound to do the work!

[Jethro]

If you already paid him, then he's bound to do the work!

Not unless there is a written contract, signed by each parties or (which would be even better) a receipt by the vendor.

Do you have a receipt Mark?

[Hoomgar]

That sucks man

How much time do you think it would take him to finish your bike up?

1 day!

[wrench]

1 day!

Thats ALL :shock:

[Hoomgar]

Not unless there is a written contract, signed by each parties or (which would be even better) a receipt by the vendor.

Do you have a receipt Mark?

For everything! Keep in mind, this individual is a 25 year friend and I have yet to nail him for this hard. It is time. I hate this, I don't like ruffling feathers but I am seriously ready to kick some @ss and trust me it wont be pretty. I just want my stuff back. I haven't been posting in here because I am full of venom about this right now. I have been leaving messages on his phone every other day now for 3 weeks. I was away all last week on vaca and now that I am back I am thinking it may be time to learn to do this stuff myself. To hell with the dyno, tune it myself and see what I get. I don't need no stinkin numbers.

This engine should scream and it deserves to. This bike has been my most faithful companion from 1992 until 2003 and does not deserve to be ignored like this. It has been 95% complete for over a year now and I am about to flip.

I was so aggravated about this and another bike related issue I am having that I almost got arrested in Ocean City last week. Some young buck thought it would be funny to step on my daughters boogie board and grind it into the side walk instead of stepping over or around it while we were loading the car to go back to camp. I just about tore his head off and his buddies took off running and called the police. My nephew (about 1/3 larger than me yet) held me off so there was no physical contact made but needless to say I have been shamed by my females and still am not living it down. I was thinking about these bikes right before it happened and was getting pretty miffed when he came along. So yes, it is starting to affect me in other areas of my life and I need to get it back.

Sorry for the long post guys. Just felt that you people (my Internet GS friends) deserved some sort of update since you woke this up.

I promise you I wont make this mistake ever again.

[Hoomgar]

Thats ALL :shock:

Despite this crap he is putting me through John the guy is absolute genius with these old bikes. He could easily do what needs done in an afternoon if he would just commit to it. I'm going to pop in on him and have a talk since he wont return my calls. My last message to him was that I wanted the bike crated up so I can pick it up and he hasn't responded to that either.

[robinjo]

I was wondering about this thread a little while ago but decided not to post and just see what happened with the situation. What I am confused about is why this guy would do this, I would want to have customers bikes out of my shop as soon as reasonably possible instead of taking up floor space.

[first timer]

sorry to dig up negative vibes, but at least now you sound like you know what your plan is. Also i'm sure you could find another shop to help you get it all dialed in, there has to be some so other shops in near by towns, you just need to start askin around, is there a local drag strip or race track you can go hang out at and see what some of the guys there know, maybe go to some hot rod hang out as well. i bet the guy does good work but it is not worth the stress you are putting yourself though, see if you can some how get some of you money back like, maybe talking reason to him and see if he will give you some new tires or sumtin. that way he doesn't have to cough up the money you gave him and instead can give away some stuff he had already that is still good to have. that way he doesn't total lose out. did you pay a lot for his services? going rate here is about $55 to $65 an hour here so you do the math. Maybe he doesn't think he was paid enough for the work needed to be done, there for he just stone walls you. have you asked him about that? any ways hoomie i'm off to have a beer and i will toast it to your bike's future compleation.

-ryan

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Don't know what to say Mark. I just hope it works out soon.
I've been around this kind of "delay" over the years but never to this extent. I used to work in a shop as I was growing up and I've heard every excuse...on both sides, why a job isn't completed in a timely manner. But with you paid up and the amount of delay involved, I can only think something happened that he didn't plan on, like damage to your part(s).
I sure can't say that's what it is but why in the world would a mechanic put you off like this? If you paid him, it's now a job that he needs to take care of, same as any other paying customer. I just can't imagine what his reason is, other than hiding something.
PS: There's one other reason I just thought of. Did you guys agree on a unrealistic low price for this work? He could think he's doing you such a favor that it's his "right" to sit on this?

[Hoomgar]

PS: There's one other reason I just thought of. Did you guys agree on a unrealistic low price for this work? He could think he's doing you such a favor that it's his "right" to sit on this?

It's not the amount Keith although this is closest to what it is I believe. It is because we are friends. Weird as that sounds the only bike projects in his shop that have been sitting there for years are all his friends bikes. All strangers or just customers get their stuff done up front. He simply needs me to blast him. This guy is a buddy of mine. We go out to eat, he gives me stuff, I give him stuff, it's been this way for over 23 years now. Unfortuneately, this is the problem. I think I will simply finish it myself now with the help of the GSR.

What is left to be done:

The head:
Finish polishing the port job.
Check for balance on a flow bench.
Seal a few pin holes.
Install the OE stainless one piece valves and lap them in. Check for seal/leaks


The engine:
Install the head.
Install the Pops Yosh stage II cams and degree.
Install the Dyna Coils.
Rebuild and install the smoothbore carbs (29 or 33?)


Finish up bike:
Bring it to life and start tuning.
Install the new air shocks.
Rebuild the front end to add dual caliper front brakes and Progressive springs.
Rebuild seat.
Paint the bike.

Lots of work here but it isn't going to go anywhere anyway it seams so I might as well nab the bike, count my losses and move on by doing what I can myself.

The plan was to have Joe help me finish the mechanicals and get it tuned right using his skills and his dyno. Then I was doing the rest myself.

There is more to be done but it is all just detail.

See anything in the list that Hoom and a the GSR can't handle?

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I suggest welding the crank and welding the clutch basket/heavier damper springs.
Don't know what I can do to help, but I'll do my best if you have questions.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Sure is strange though. :? You'd think BECAUSE he's your friend, he'd fix you up pronto. Beats the bleep outta me.