'85 GS700e restoration

[soundsource]

Her dad was stationed there. She was born in '61 and I imagine was gone before school age. From there they came back to the states for 10 years or so before being stationed at SHAPE in Belgium to be close to her Mom's family. I could have enjoyed London if people had been a bit more helpful. We took one of the double-decker tours which was supposed to last about 3 hours. Traffic was so bad that 6 hours later we got off of the bus and left for Dover. First we let the Hard Rock Cafe rape us on two sandwiches and soft drinks. Even the first evening in Rochester was more enjoyable than London.

Oh Billy that sounds like a nightmare! Most people in London are so busy keeping up with their astronomical rents that they don't have time to be friendly. I couldn't live there.

The traffic hasn't got any better I'm afraid so next time come to see us in Birmingham, England's second city, also the home of BSA motorcycles and the best motorcycle museum in the country! (Plus by the time you get here I'll hopefully be riding my 700e and onto the next GS )

[Billy Ricks]

Oh Billy that sounds like a nightmare! Most people in London are so busy keeping up with their astronomical rents that they don't have time to be friendly. I couldn't live there.

The traffic hasn't got any better I'm afraid so next time come to see us in Birmingham, England's second city, also the home of BSA motorcycles and the best motorcycle museum in the country! (Plus by the time you get here I'll hopefully be riding my 700e and onto the next GS )

I heard of the astronomical prices it cost to have a car in London as well. I did see lots of bikes there though. We drove in so that was even more of an experience. We drove right down through Trafalgar and parked near Hyde Park. I'm sure if you are prepared for the experience it could be fun. We will go back to Europe in the next few years and would like to see the real England. I did enjoy getting to watch the BBC.

[EvilEnfield]

England has gone right downhill, London in particular is a disgrace. You should do a tour, come down and visit me in Cornwall, nice people, nice scenery, Obby Oss Penglaz,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q36YZUZ7wsc

creepy stuff. You need to get out in the sticks a bit to find any real culture in England, not too far though, there's parts of deepest, darkest Devon that'll make Deliverance look like Mary Poppins.

[Billy Ricks]

England has gone right downhill, London in particular is a disgrace. You should do a tour, come down and visit me in Cornwall, nice people, nice scenery, Obby Oss Penglaz,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q36YZUZ7wsc

creepy stuff. You need to get out in the sticks a bit to find any real culture in England, not too far though, there's parts of deepest, darkest Devon that'll make Deliverance look like Mary Poppins.

That would be ideal, to meet a few of the acquaintances here. I know not to judge the country by what we experienced in London. We were totally unprepared and we found that out at the port at Calais. It just happened to be the anniversary of 9-11 and the British immigration officer thought he needed to remind us what day it was. We had no idea you're not allowed to just wing it in England. We finally had to tell him we were visiting Mildenhall where my wife was born to have him give us any slack.

[EvilEnfield]

That would be ideal, to meet a few of the acquaintances here. I know not to judge the country by what we experienced in London. We were totally unprepared and we found that out at the port at Calais. It just happened to be the anniversary of 9-11 and the British immigration officer thought he needed to remind us what day it was. We had no idea you're not allowed to just wing it in England. We finally had to tell him we were visiting Mildenhall where my wife was born to have him give us any slack.

That's where you went wrong, us Brits would've just headbutted him.

[soundsource]

Nearly there!

Spent the whole weekend rubbing bike parts down - I've been watching a lot of movies with my old sheet in my lap and bits of sandpaper everywhere!

Things are looking good though I am only now realising quite how much more sanding and polishing I have to do to get this baby finished...

This morning a few new bits arrived, including my replacement 19mm socket so I can get the swing-arm out finally:



So now I've got a bare frame to work with. Yep, the workload is only really hitting me now I've finished the strip-down. Wow, this is going to take more than a couple of weeks...



It's still good to be on the other side of the job now. Just cleaning and polishing, painting and rubbing a whole heap of stuff now and then I can start putting her back together!

I pulled off the stator case to see if I could work out why the PO had put instant gasket around the edges but couldn't find anything obvious.

The screws that hold the cable in place were a little bit chewed up so he'd definitely had a go at removing the case completely. Both screws were really stiff so I'll have to wait till later in the week when my impact-driver arrives to get these out.



And now, back to rubbing down...

[londonboards]

Been following your progress here Soundsource (are you in the music business?) and you are doing us Brits proud. Another Gold Medal over here please Mr. Coe! I am in Canterbury, Kent (always start your tour on the UK here) and have just started my own strip down but it will take me a lot longer than you. You have wasted no time at all.

I am loving it that you are tracking down some of the items that I am going to need (carb cleaner for one) and posting some great links. Thank you so much. And all the photos. I know exactly how long it takes to get them and post them. I started a blog to deal with my photos as it was my method of cataloguing the parts. Have a look here:

http://suzukigs1100.blogspot.co.uk/

My GS1100G is an North American import (I imported it myself) so I am expecting to have to ship stuff from the US but I do believe some of the parts from UK / European models will interchange.

I used to own a GS750 EF in Canada in the mid 80s which is very similar to what you have. Rode it right across Canada and back when I was in my mid 20s.

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I am cheering you on.

I think we must start a UK thread on this forum!

Greetings

Richard

P.S. Here is my forum thread: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=199361

[soundsource]

Been following your progress here Soundsource (are you in the music business?) and you are doing us Brits proud. Another Gold Medal over here please Mr. Coe! I am in Canterbury, Kent (always start your tour on the UK here) and have just started my own strip down but it will take me a lot longer than you. You have wasted no time at all.

I am loving it that you are tracking down some of the items that I am going to need (carb cleaner for one) and posting some great links. Thank you so much. And all the photos. I know exactly how long it takes to get them and post them. I started a blog to deal with my photos as it was my method of cataloguing the parts. Have a look here:

http://suzukigs1100.blogspot.co.uk/

My GS1100G is an North American import (I imported it myself) so I am expecting to have to ship stuff from the US but I do believe some of the parts from UK / European models will interchange.

I used to own a GS750 EF in Canada in the mid 80s which is very similar to what you have. Rode it right across Canada and back when I was in my mid 20s.

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I am cheering you on.

I think we must start a UK thread on this forum!

Greetings

Richard

P.S. Here is my forum thread: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=199361

Welcome londonboards! I subscribed to your rebuild thread a few days ago... I work as a sound engineer for film and TV. Would love to visit sometime! I've never been to Canterbury...

On the carb cleaner, I found something better than the link I posted: Wynn's Carb Cleaner

Our friends in the States have something called a carb dip, a tin with fluid in that you can dip your carbs and other parts into. The closest thing I can find to it is this Contractors Solvent it's not the same but hopefully it will do to clean the carbs well. The only other thing I've found which is similar but not as corrosive is just a Standard De-greaser.

This is what they have over there and what a few people seem to recommend: Gunk Carb and Parts Cleaner I just cant find a UK supplier

Yeah the photo thing, it's a bit complicated but now I'm used to it! My workflow is: Cameraphone - share to Google Drive (new version of google docs) - download via browser to computer - open and resize with paint - add to album on GSR User CP - add link to thread post using image button.

In terms of parts some things are cheaper from the States, even with shipping included! The two main sites that have been recommended to me are Z1 enterprises and cycle orings

Z1 have all kinds of parts available, including SS bolts for engine covers in sets. I've just ordered from both websites so lets see when the parts arrive!

Also I know that some GS parts are interchangeable with the newer GSXRs and the Bandits as well, not sure on your model though! Either do a search or post a new thread!

[soundsource]

Another parcel arrived this morning:



Which meant I could finally do this:



Which was a relief! They still seem fairly pliable, though the o-rings are shot (new ones on the way...).

[GateKeeper]

Which was a relief! They still seem fairly pliable, though the o-rings are shot (new ones on the way...).

hopefully you got the SS bolts to go along with the new O-rings.....

[londonboards]

Great stuff. Just don't do what I did the first time I used one (years ago) which was to set it to turn the wrong way!

Regarding you stuff about cleaners; thanks for that but I really am going to need somink that we take off the corossion as well. This is what I am up against:



Have you any experience of ultra-sonic cleaning systems and where I might find someone to do it?

Greetings from Canterbury.

[Dave8338]

Great stuff. Just don't do what I did the first time I used one (years ago) which was to set it to turn the wrong way!

Regarding you stuff about cleaners; thanks for that but I really am going to need somink that we take off the corossion as well. This is what I am up against:



Have you any experience of ultra-sonic cleaning systems and where I might find someone to do it?

Greetings from Canterbury.

OK... OK... THAT is the worst looking bowl that I have EVER seen.

[londonboards]

So . . . . new bowls then? Nah. I reckon they will come good!

[soundsource]

hopefully you got the SS bolts to go along with the new O-rings.....

Thanks GateKeeper, I ordered these and new bolts for the covers as well! Now I just need to polish them

[soundsource]

Regarding you stuff about cleaners; thanks for that but I really am going to need somink that we take off the corossion as well. This is what I am up against:

Have you any experience of ultra-sonic cleaning systems and where I might find someone to do it?

Greetings from Canterbury.

Hi londonboards, I think you'll need a combination of cleaners and elbow grease for those bowls!

In terms of ultra-sonic stuff I've seen a few kits around for a reasonable price (machine mart etc.) but no personal experience.

For rust electrolysis is a good way of effortlessly removing large amounts of rust from metal - you just need a battery charger, a few bits of metal and wire and a container big enough to dip whatever you're cleaning. You could even use this method on the frame!