Naths first build!!!! 79 gs850

[nath_44]

thanks pete!
im out in the shed atm doing rear brakes. the solo should be awsome when its done!!!

as with the engine im really happy the way it turned out! and i even keep polishing when i get bored and it just keeps gettin better!

[pete]

thanks pete!
im out in the shed atm doing rear brakes. the solo should be awsome when its done!!!

as with the engine im really happy the way it turned out! and i even keep polishing when i get bored and it just keeps gettin better!

Good stuff!

It's too bloody hot to get in the garage for me at the moment... wanna do some finishing touches to the 450 but I just can't bring myself to get in there even late at night like I have been...

[nath_44]

just finished the brakes, nice and tidy, new pads, works really well!!!

im in melbourne and the weather is crazy atm. freezing cold this week,(20 degrees top) and last week was all 30 to 35 degrees all week, now crazy rain and storms!

pete, never too hot to go play in the shed!!!!!

also on a quick note i pulled the switch for the front brakes out coz they wernt working and all these bits fell out.
one of the wires in there had fallen off so ive re-soldered the wires but now dont know how the switch goes back together. any ideas???

thanks for watchin my thred mate!

[ged]

Hi Nath looking good, re your front brake problem you must go over to this site (BikeCliff's Website) has everything you need. Has got the your front brake switch overhaul with pics.

Also what is the name of the chemical you used on the motor to clean it so well.

[ged]

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Sorry forgot to add the link to Bikecliffs site, its a legend.

[pete]

+1 on what Ged said... BassCliff's site has pretty much all your answers

Mate that weather's nuts... but you're in Melbourne, four seasons in one day right? I think they wrote a song about that

I like Melbourne though... haha

I don't like it when I walk to/from the train station before 8am and I'm sweating...

[nath_44]

hey thanks guys ill have a look at basscliff site now.

as for the engine, degreaser the **** outa that thing till its as clean as u can get it.

then used paint stripper to get the old clear off. took 3 goes because the clear is from factory and is over 30 years old. once paint stripper starts working use old paint brush to aggitate(in fins ect)

then just a strong,undiluted mix of aluminium cleaner, scrub really well with toothbrush and leave on for 24hours then spray again with aluminium cleaner wait 30mins and hose off.

all products were just off the shelf stuff. hope yours comes up nice if ya do it!!! let me no if my theorys work for ya.

i'll get product names for you too tomora night if ya want them!

[nath_44]

more progress

just got the solo seat bolted on and the foam cut for the seat. have to wrap the seat foam in vinal before it gets bolted to the fibre glass so thats tomorra night.

new mirrors came in today too so bolted them up, really happy with them!

painted my spark plug caps red, like the break in colours it gives. eventually running a red pinstripe round the outside of rims and maybe some custom pinstripe down the tank( flames or some kind of tribal or mabe hot rod pinstripeing)

keep ya posted!!!!!

[pete]

Do you have a more side on shot at all? Looks like that tail will blend in nicely with the tank shape...

[nath_44]

thanks pete!!!

i'll try do some bogging tomorra night and get ya a more side on veiw.

that seat will be the death of me but every minute i spend on it looks more and more worth it!

post some pics tomorra! night!

[pete]

Good stuff! I hear ya on the seat... I spent countless hours shaping my tail piece with metal rod bent to shape, wire mesh over the top to set the fibreglass on, then fibreglassing, body filler, and putty before being happy enough to paint it. Shaping the foam for the seat was another adventure as well...

[nath_44]

boggy seat!!!

had a play in the shed tonight. double bogged the seat and gave it a rasp back to smooth out.

i was a little careful when fiberglassing so my glass was nearly the shape i needed. so should only need one more coat of bog to clean it up then a lot of sanding to get that thing smooth as a baby's bum!!!!

next is to sort out the rear tail lights and indicators. need new indicator control unit too

post up the results in the next couple of days.

also cant decide on the other color to go with the matt black. i have noticed that some of the other builds are going with the matt(or satin)black and red, which is what i was gonna do. might try make mine unique!

the bike was originally blue so maybe blue? or orange? ideas welcome!

watch this space!!!!!!!!!!

nath

[pete]

had a play in the shed tonight. double bogged the seat and gave it a rasp back to smooth out.

i was a little careful when fiberglassing so my glass was nearly the shape i needed. so should only need one more coat of bog to clean it up then a lot of sanding to get that thing smooth as a baby's bum!!!!

next is to sort out the rear tail lights and indicators. need new indicator control unit too

post up the results in the next couple of days.

also cant decide on the other color to go with the matt black. i have noticed that some of the other builds are going with the matt(or satin)black and red, which is what i was gonna do. might try make mine unique!

the bike was originally blue so maybe blue? or orange? ideas welcome!

watch this space!!!!!!!!!!

nath

Alright! That seat is starting to take shape

What sort of bog are you using? I made the mistake of trying putty first and my tail piece looked like the blob the next morning... ended up sanding it all back and starting again with fibreglass reinforced body filler (two or three layers with sanding from memory) then another layer of the non-reinforced body filler to smooth it all. Geez that was a nightmare, but only because it was my first fibreglassing since a kid and because I used the putty to start with.

Satin black is definitely getting a bit over done these days... I still like a real paint job personally... there's a blue on the real early Zuk's that's nice, I think maybe the first GS750's came in that colour?

[nath_44]

thanx pete!

yeah to do the seat i used blow foam as the start, not wire and rod. so i got the shape i wanted pretty quick. then layed the fibreglass over that nice and evenly. so i should only need one more coat of the non-reenforced (same as 1st coat)
this is my very first attempt at any kind of motorbike rebuild/custom. everything im doing, apart from the mechanic and painting bits, ive not done before. its so much fun!

as for the paint, ive been airbrushing for about a year on and off now and wanted something simple. always like the matt black and red. and didnt wanna go to outrages with this bike.

at the end of the day i do have alot of paint(mate is a panel beater, i get the leftovers) so its no stress to give her another lick if i dont like it!!!

thanx for the feedback!!! appreciated!
nath

[pete]

thanx pete!

yeah to do the seat i used blow foam as the start, not wire and rod. so i got the shape i wanted pretty quick. then layed the fibreglass over that nice and evenly. so i should only need one more coat of the non-reenforced (same as 1st coat)
this is my very first attempt at any kind of motorbike rebuild/custom. everything im doing, apart from the mechanic and painting bits, ive not done before. its so much fun!

as for the paint, ive been airbrushing for about a year on and off now and wanted something simple. always like the matt black and red. and didnt wanna go to outrages with this bike.

at the end of the day i do have alot of paint(mate is a panel beater, i get the leftovers) so its no stress to give her another lick if i dont like it!!!

thanx for the feedback!!! appreciated!
nath

Ok cool, I only had two layers of fibreglass down for the tail piece as it's not a structural item like the seat, so I figured the reinforced stuff would be the safe bet. For your work the non reinforced stuff should be just fine I would think

My 450 was my first time as well, rebuilt her from the ground up after nothing previous except oil/filter changes and spark plug gaps... it was a learning experience! And a barrel of fun for sure! That's why I tackled pretty much everything myself and the only things I got done for me were getting the valves faced and cylinders honed, getting Tranzac to make the exhaust, getting the tyres fitted, and getting the seat upholstered... everything else is all my work which is really satisfying including the 2K paint job, although I have to give huge credit to the guys on here who gave me tons of advice on how to get it looking good I had huge amounts of help from heaps of guys on here and also from John82q who lives just down the road who was able to machine up a spacer so the Dynatek ignition would work as well...

Keep it up Nath, keen to see how she goes!