'79 GS 425E - First build

[midnight_marauder]

Slow, slow progress. I think i have done all that i can to the carbs. Basicaly the chambers are ****ed. This stuff is caked on solid. Can't even get it off with a knife! There are small signs of erosion, which wouldn't be helping trying to clean them. So i think i'll box up whatever is salvegable and get a new set. Or as close to new as i can.

Just been whittling away. Cleaning rust from here and there when ever i have some spare time. Busy with school, selling my car and other aspects of life. And in between all that crap, my computer shat itself! So i can't upload photos for the mean time. Which is a shame because i actually wanted to show you guys just how far i got with the carbs.

Hopefully before christmas i'll be able to get some money together and invest a little in hardware for this thing. Instead of cleaning products. But how often do we say that?

About it being offroad. I basically want to be able to tour with this thing, but take it out some places that look a whole lot more fun then the tared road. Planning on driving her up the east coast as far as the daintree. Got some friends who live up there. I'm sure they'll be pretty impressed with her when shes done.

Pete those tires look beautiful. I'd love to hear how they ride! I have the exact same wheels as you. They are nice. But i was thinking, partly for safety's sake and partly for looks. That i would change them out to spoked wheels. If i came down on the current ones a bit hard there is every chance that they might crack. I'd rather be riding something that can be easily and relatively quickly fixed. But i am going to hang on to the wheels i have now. I'm sure there is a future build coming up.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Unfortunately, my carbs would be of no use right now. However, i can rebuild them for you. My carbs look similar to yours lol. Does anyone know if the 1980 gs450's bs34 carb will work on this gs425?

[midnight_marauder]

Its all good! The previous owner must have had the same work ethics as my gs's previous owner did. None at all! Haha. Good luck with the rebuild. And about it fitting to a 425. With all the research that i have done it looks like it would fit. In fact a lot of the parts from the 400's and 450's are supposedly interchangable with the 425.

[pete]

At least you're getting somewhere! Bit of a bummer about the state of the carbs and the computer, but it's nothing money can't fix right?

Hopefully you do actually get to buy some bits and pieces before Christmas.

As for the tyres, before you get your spoked wheels have a look around at what tyres are available and get spoked rims to suit the popular sizes.

You'll most likely find your choice of tyres increases exponentially with a 19" front and 16" rear... of course a 21" front opens up the world but they're a little impractical on a GS unless you replace the whole front end and jack up the rear...

The key with the 450 carbs fitting will be the spacing between the ports and the diameter...

[midnight_marauder]

Thanks for all the advice pete concerning the wheels. That is something i hadn't even thought about yet. Its always good to have someone who is willing to spill their brains with out having to push to much .

Had a go at cleaning the camshafts his morning. Hmm. I've got one good lobe out of the four that exist. But not to worry. There is a guy on ebay selling reclaimed parts. He has the two i need and i can pick em up for under $100 for both with postage. Which is a big blessing. I looked them up brand new. $135 each! Now that may not seem like much in one hit. But once you consider how much this thing cost me in the beggining and then add up all the little things. Its great to be able to save when ever i can.

*caugh*tightarse*caugh*

Other then that it seems a little more straight forward with the rest of the major components. **** i just jinxed myself. The piston heads and everything associated all seem in good order. Took them out and had a look today. A little once over with a rag and everything will be shiny again. Thank god. I was dreading that those components were going to be a huge oney pit. Just need to replace a few nuts and bolts.

I really need to start ordering new gaskets and o rings...

[pete]

Thanks for all the advice pete concerning the wheels. That is something i hadn't even thought about yet. Its always good to have someone who is willing to spill their brains with out having to push to much .

Had a go at cleaning the camshafts his morning. Hmm. I've got one good lobe out of the four that exist. But not to worry. There is a guy on ebay selling reclaimed parts. He has the two i need and i can pick em up for under $100 for both with postage. Which is a big blessing. I looked them up brand new. $135 each! Now that may not seem like much in one hit. But once you consider how much this thing cost me in the beggining and then add up all the little things. Its great to be able to save when ever i can.

*caugh*tightarse*caugh*

Other then that it seems a little more straight forward with the rest of the major components. **** i just jinxed myself. The piston heads and everything associated all seem in good order. Took them out and had a look today. A little once over with a rag and everything will be shiny again. Thank god. I was dreading that those components were going to be a huge oney pit. Just need to replace a few nuts and bolts.

I really need to start ordering new gaskets and o rings...

Mate no probs at all, I could just yammer on for hours until your ears bleed

Nice find on the camshafts! And don't worry, I know exactly what you mean about the $$$. No need to spend a fortune unless you have no choice I reckon. Some things I looked around for the cheaper alternative, but some I just said bugger it and forked out... like my pipe... I had to pay for my pipe... I would not have been happy with anything else...

Glad to hear your head's sounding like it's in good shape too.

Do yourself a favour and measure the cylinders properly. If they're bordering on being to large, probably best to look at going to the next ring size up for the pistons so you can be sure you'll get good compression.

It's also worth while checking those valves properly and maybe get them faced if they're looking a little ugly. I got mine done for about $10 or $20 from a cylinder head place and they also bead blasted them for the same price to get all the old carbon off. Well worth it.

[midnight_marauder]

Well. The previous owner told me that he had the cylinders bored out in the early part of the 90's in preperation for a rebuild that never happened. So everything is actually looking pretty good to the naked eye. Although i should probably take them in to have them cleaned and checked professionaly any way. There is a reason why there are professionals in this world. And if it is as cost affective as you say then why the hell not. He also threw in some new piston rings still in the packets. Not to sure why he got them because the rings currently in place on the piston heads dont look as if that have any wear on them what so ever. But like you say, probably needs slightly bigger rings for greater compression.

I also need to befriend the guy who owns the motorbike graveyard around the corner. Dunno why i havent already? You would love it. He has this old house on a corner that has been converted into a shop front. Its one of those places that is so full of everything that when you walk in you dont know where the service desk is. And if you think the front of the shop is a wonderous sight. His property out the back is twice the length of the shop! And it is filled with more then you could ever think of. Frame after frame after tank after tank after engine block after engine block. I think he pieces these things together out the back and sells them out the front as fully operational beasts. Its incredible.

[pete]

Well. The previous owner told me that he had the cylinders bored out in the early part of the 90's in preperation for a rebuild that never happened. So everything is actually looking pretty good to the naked eye. Although i should probably take them in to have them cleaned and checked professionaly any way. There is a reason why there are professionals in this world. And if it is as cost affective as you say then why the hell not. He also threw in some new piston rings still in the packets. Not to sure why he got them because the rings currently in place on the piston heads dont look as if that have any wear on them what so ever. But like you say, probably needs slightly bigger rings for greater compression.

Well that price was just for valve facing, it cost me another $30 to get the cylinders honed

However I don't think that work like getting them bored out etc. will be too expensive. If you get them to re-cut valve seats and things like that then that's when it starts adding up, but it can still be worth it depending on how much work you need done.

Have a look at the part number for the rings and do a reverse lookup on the part # at Alpha Sports or something, that should tell you whether they're standard size or one or two sizes up.

I also need to befriend the guy who owns the motorbike graveyard around the corner. Dunno why i havent already? You would love it. He has this old house on a corner that has been converted into a shop front. Its one of those places that is so full of everything that when you walk in you dont know where the service desk is. And if you think the front of the shop is a wonderous sight. His property out the back is twice the length of the shop! And it is filled with more then you could ever think of. Frame after frame after tank after tank after engine block after engine block. I think he pieces these things together out the back and sells them out the front as fully operational beasts. Its incredible.

You should definitely do that!

About the only wrecker left in Brissie here has very little early stuff left now unless it's specifically collectable/valuable... all his general '80's stuff is pretty much gone...