1981 GS450E Rebuild

[pete]

Pete, what's up with that right chain adjusting bolt? a bit rusty isn't it?

Errr... yeah... I was waiting for someone to comment on that

I'll give it a run on the wire wheel if I get a chance on Sunday, don't wanna compromise my potential run around the block time if it happens though

And yeah, if I do one I'll do the other too

Pete, might I suggest filling in the letters with a contrasting color to set them off against the tank?




Perhaps a red-orange that might compliment the turn signals?



and fill the rest in with black like stock?


Daniel

Dunno Daniel, I'm sorta likin' it how it is right now, that classic unpainted "this is how we made it back then" look.

I've yet to make up the rubber knee pads for the tank, so once they're done I'll see how they look then... I'm only about 60% on leaving them how they are until I can see it in the sun properly and all together...

You started the bike didn't u Pete?

Hahaha nah not this time Scott, I'm patiently waiting until I have the seat and everything so I can try the clutch.

I'm doing everything I can to resist the urge to start her so I can keep the time she idles to a minimum before she gets a proper ride to start breaking her in

Yeah, pete, what is with that chain adjuster bolt??? tsk tsk tsk, come, come now Pete, after all that good work.....
Agreed on the tank badges, they don't work for me like that either.

I know you want to ride it so badly you can taste it, but no time to cut corners and take short cuts now, after all that stunning work you have done.

Yeah yeah Stan... patience

I'll see how those badges look once she's all together as I said to Daniel above, then I can think about if they need paint or if I should just leave them bare...

[Flyboy]

Just keeping you honest, brother, just keeping you honest....
I expect the same from you.
And on a less grumpy note, that tyre looks super wicked.....I like, a lot.

[pete]

Just keeping you honest, brother, just keeping you honest....
I expect the same from you.
And on a less grumpy note, that tyre looks super wicked.....I like, a lot.

Hahaha yeah I know it I do need to do something about them, and about the footpeg brackets too although they can wait, especially after fixing the gear shift setup!

And yup, I like that tyre too!

I think I'd like it a lot better if it wasn't so unused though... if you get my meaning

[Woodsy]

remember the tyres are gonna be waxy to start with, dont want you to drop it and end up on youtube on the maiden voyage... lol

[pete]

remember the tyres are gonna be waxy to start with, dont want you to drop it and end up on youtube on the maiden voyage... lol

Most definitely! I already got that reminder when I got them fitted

I'll be taking it easy anyway given it'll be my first ride in nearly ten years once I get her out for the shake down run...

[pete]

Well in theory I got the clutch adjusted... I say in theory because spinning the rear wheel by hand with the clutch lever pulled in is quite stiff, but I'm hoping it's simply that it needs some running to free up properly after sitting for so long.

This is the first time I've tried the clutch since the engine rebuild.

I used Ed's steps from Oldrookie's clutch issue thread:

Step 1) Turn in the cable adjusters at both the handle bar lever and where the cable goes into the case. You want maximum cable free play at the lever.

Step 2) Loosen the lock nut on the adjuster.

Step 3) Turn in adjuster until you JUST START TO FEEL resistance then back the adjuster off 1/4 turn and tighten locknut.

Step 4) Check feel at the lever. There should be some free play at the lever, but not a whole lot. If you don't know what free play is please ask.

Step 5) If necessary, tighten the cable further until you have a small amount of cable free play with the lever released, but not much. You must have lever free play or the clutch will slip.

I also thread locked the tank badge screws in place because I'm paranoid about losing them before I decide if I'm going to paint the badges or leave them be.

I really hope I get the seat back on Friday... if I don't, I'm gonna be really pushing my luck to get this on the road before Christmas...

[Leigh]

Gaffer an old pillow to the frame if the seat doesn't show up..

[pete]

Gaffer an old pillow to the frame if the seat doesn't show up..

Hahahahaha trust you

"Yes officer, I know it's not registered but it's safe and ready for a safety certificate... I just wanted extra cushioning"...

[Leigh]

You're in Queensland with the best police force money can buy.
What could possibly go wrong?

[pete]

You're in Queensland with the best police force money can buy.
What could possibly go wrong?

True! At least I'm not in Melbourne... I'd be more likely just to get shot!

[pete]

No call about the seat today... but I'm not surprised to be honest.

I did call the mobile safety certificate guy and he should be right for Tuesday if I book him in by Monday morning, so I really hope they ring me tomorrow to say the seat's ready... will call them around lunch time if I haven't heard anything...

Tonight I went in to tackle the chain adjustment and rear wheel alignment, but I shot a couple of pic's first to see if I like the tank badges the way they are or not.



I really need it in the sun to be sure, but I'm definitely leaning towards leaving them like that now, I'm really liking that raw look.

The it was chain adjustment/wheel alignment time.



Done, although I had a bit of a brain fart and adjusted the chain too tight because for some reason I thought it got looser when you put weight on it instead of tighter, so I'll revisit that next time.

[rustybronco]

Pete, love the look of the paint you used... especially on that brick

[cowboyup3371]

Nice pictures. Did you tie your rope onto something behind the back wheel when you did the alignment?

[Leigh]

So damned close now, Pete..

[7981GS]

So damned close now, Pete..

We can almost see the smile on his face!

Daniel