1981 GS450E Rebuild

[john82q]

clark rubber for the molding pete.

[landshark]

You can buy plasticoate paint at bunnings or anywhere mate, think i got some in the shed?

[pete]

clark rubber for the molding pete.

Good call John! Should've thought of them straight away...

You can buy plasticoate paint at bunnings or anywhere mate, think i got some in the shed?

Geez I'm a knob sometimes... thanks for the reminder Tim, I actually bought some from Bunnings to do my lower triple clamp cover and the chain guard...

Oh, and I did cut the brackets out last night but haven't got the photos off the camera yet, hope to finish them up tonight if I get the time.

[pete]

Rightio, as promised, pic's from last night, cutting out the brackets, drilling, rounding the edges off:



Tonight, I got them bent and a test fit done:





The brackets are potentially a little wobbly/wonky, but I think that will be vastly improved once I actually tighten things up. I won't really know how they'll go until I give it a test run. It also may be too vertical, but once again will have to wait and see.

The final thing tonight was I cut out, drilled, and rounded two mounting plates for the front to sit under the bolts. I forgot to get pic's of them individually, but here they are on the front with the hardware lightly bolted together:



So, three things left to do...

- Get some trim for the edge of the perspex.
- Get some thin rubber glued to the brackets and the mounting plates to buffer the perspex from the alu.
- Decide on a finish for the hardware... brushed or polished.

[Tim Tom]

Hey pete,

Great looking little windscreen project. Why not paint the brackets so they 'blend' a bit better with the black headlight and ears, and back of the gauges. If your dead opposed to this idea, then I would go for a brushed finish. Don't need anything shiny there.

It is looking awesome, kudos for the originality to make your own.

Cheers!

[Redneck]

Only other thing I could think of was did you use a thin gasket material between the lexan and the brackets. Lots of vibration in that area, gaskets would help keep her snug and in place.

Paul

[pete]

Hey pete,

Great looking little windscreen project. Why not paint the brackets so they 'blend' a bit better with the black headlight and ears, and back of the gauges. If your dead opposed to this idea, then I would go for a brushed finish. Don't need anything shiny there.

It is looking awesome, kudos for the originality to make your own.

Cheers!

Cheers Tim! I thought about the black... but the thought just doesn't gel this time, not sure why. I think partly it's the fact that if the brackets are wrong, it's easy enough to make more, so painting could be a wasted effort.

I reckon brushed is right though, definitly agree with you there

I still also have every intention of running an Acewell gauge up the front to sort out the dodgy bouncy speedo/tacho needles once and for all (at least they're useable for the moment), and that will get rid of the big black box, and I will likely make a bracket for that out of some 2.5mm alu. as well, so hopefully it should all work together...

Only other thing I could think of was did you use a thin gasket material between the lexan and the brackets. Lots of vibration in that area, gaskets would help keep her snug and in place.

Paul

Yup, one step ahead of ya' Paul, that's what the rubber is for But good thinkin'!

[ndaugbjerg]

Pete,
You've been most helpful so I thought I'd stick my nose in here and give you an update. My 450 is down to frame and engine. Most parts have arrived. The tank and fenders are stripped and ready to prime and paint. The fork lowers, rear brake, and front caliper and bracket are almost ready for clearcoat. I'm doing a "sidewalk" polish on all the engine covers (If you are standing on the sidewalk when I go by they will look perfect); If you are closer than that, well it's a rider. I picked up 50# of soda yesterday and the forcast was immediately changed to a week of rain; Oh well. I'm trying to document the process and have some pictures. I just need to digest BassCliff's instructions on uploading them. I really appreciate all the help and encouragement I've gotten from the forum. The Wiz has been by my house twice with bits of information and encouragement. As I've repeated before, "I want to ride". That's from a Honda commercial but that's OK.
Niels

[ndaugbjerg]

Pete,
I ment to ask if you had the ear of the administrator? I just noticed that I've gone from "Junior Member" to "Member". I don't know what the promotion criteria is, but I assume that the next step is "Senior Member". Having turned 72 the last week of February, I relly would like to forego the distinction of being labeled with this Senior nonsense. When I'm ready to throw a leg over my 450 I'd rather not think of myself in those terms. Thanks again; You guys are great
Niels

[GateKeeper]

Niels

it's based on post count, once you hit a certain number of posts you are moved to the next designation, if you want to stay at member status, don't post....LOL

and I don't know what the cut off is, number wise, an Admin will be able to tell you this, all forums are setup on how the forum owner wants it.

[Good Times]

You become a senior member when you reach 100 posts.

[pete]

Pete,
You've been most helpful so I thought I'd stick my nose in here and give you an update. My 450 is down to frame and engine. Most parts have arrived. The tank and fenders are stripped and ready to prime and paint. The fork lowers, rear brake, and front caliper and bracket are almost ready for clearcoat. I'm doing a "sidewalk" polish on all the engine covers (If you are standing on the sidewalk when I go by they will look perfect); If you are closer than that, well it's a rider. I picked up 50# of soda yesterday and the forcast was immediately changed to a week of rain; Oh well. I'm trying to document the process and have some pictures. I just need to digest BassCliff's instructions on uploading them. I really appreciate all the help and encouragement I've gotten from the forum. The Wiz has been by my house twice with bits of information and encouragement. As I've repeated before, "I want to ride". That's from a Honda commercial but that's OK.
Niels

Nice one, glad to see she's progressing well can can't wait to see a thread on how she goes together!

All it's done here recently is rain, although it's supposed to clear up this week, was ok yesterday.

With all the rain and riding her every day my polishing would be a neighbourhood polish... when you're in someone else's neighbourhood it looks good Really needs a spit and polish this weekend...

Pete,
I ment to ask if you had the ear of the administrator? I just noticed that I've gone from "Junior Member" to "Member". I don't know what the promotion criteria is, but I assume that the next step is "Senior Member". Having turned 72 the last week of February, I relly would like to forego the distinction of being labeled with this Senior nonsense. When I'm ready to throw a leg over my 450 I'd rather not think of myself in those terms. Thanks again; You guys are great
Niels

I think the guys above have answered this for you I have enough senior moments to justify the senior member status... hahaaha

And happy birthday for a week or so ago

[Syd]

Gday Pete - nice to someone else online at this hour

[pete]

Gday Pete - nice to someone else online at this hour

Haha yeah Syd... alarm goes off at 4:45 so I can have some coffee then sort things out before an early trip into work... means I get to miss the majority of peak hour there and back

[ndaugbjerg]

Thanks guys,
I guess when I get to 99 I;ll have to change my name!
Niels