New GS1100 G Restoration Project. Rebuilding my Dad's bike

[steveb922]

all those screws,bolts and nuts i would replace with stainless rather than get them plated, but thats just me..........

Likewise. I find good stuff here - http://www.custom-fasteners.co.uk/ - but there are plenty of other options.

[Agemax]

Likewise. I find good stuff here - http://www.custom-fasteners.co.uk/ - but there are plenty of other options.

i always use these guys.......

http://www.inoxbolt.co.uk/zen/

super helpful, quite cheap and they specialize in bikes so they know what you are talking about if you ask for something specific.

[steveb922]

i always use these guys.......

http://www.inoxbolt.co.uk/zen/

super helpful, quite cheap and they specialize in bikes so they know what you are talking about if you ask for something specific.

I've also had good experience with them.

[londonboards]

Day 275 - Rear Brake Caliper Disassembly

Rear brake caliper coming apart today.

See: My GS1100G Blog - Rear Brake Caliper Disassembly

The bolts and the bleed nipple were stuck fast. More concoction: 50% thinners with 50% brake fluid. That did it.







Not very clean in here:





Got the pistons out with the air pump method.



Looks worse than it is really. They will clean up good.





Transfer passages were full of grease for some reason.





Greetings

[Agemax]

thats not grease Richard, that is congealed brake fluid.
all of that will clean up lovely, apart from a coat of paint needed.....

[londonboards]

Agemax - I bought some brake cleaner so it should all come good. I was surprised that the pistons in the rear caliper were not all rusted like the ones in the fronts:



I've had another go with the VHT painting. And this time I cooked it longer and it turned out a little more satin which is what I want. It's still got some not so nice bits in it but there was no bubbling this time. I think from now on I will try it with none of the white primer undercoat. I can take the frame and all the other powder coating bits down to the powder coaters and show them this brake bit and tell them to match the frame to it. Then the bike will all be co-ordinated to the same finish. Bingo.



Greetings

[londonboards]

Engine Cover Satin/Brush Finish

A bit more of the bike has been done. Brushed satin finish on the side cover. It looks different from different angles as the light catches it.

Here is the obligatory BEFORE:





and AFTER









Greetings

[ron bayless]

didnt look to see how old this project is, hope its new.Its amazing all that has been done.

[londonboards]

ron - thanks for that. I have been on this rebuild since August 2012 and do not expect a fully road worthy bike until summer 2014. I don't have a lot of time and I have to have everything perfect. So it will take me some time. Thanks for your encouragement. It is lonely out there in the garage doing some of these laborious tasks and I am forever grateful to those who appreciate the end result.

Greetings

[ron bayless]

well sir, I certainly do.Its craftsmanship,what you are doing.In the hustle and bustle world we live in its easier to just throw it away and buy an new one.Easier but not cheap.I would ratherhave an old GS than a bike with 3 computers, 6 cylinders,and headlightsthat bend around a curve.I cant imagine working on one of these newage bikes.The GS is like the 283 chevy with stick shift.Simple,reliable,and forever cool.

[londonboards]

ron - indeed. I find it quite disconcerting driving a car and not even knowing where the sparks plug are located on it. It was my Dad tinkering with his Triumph 650 Tiger back in the '70s that got me going. And as a comparison, I built a PC with my son a few years ago which was great but PCs are now dead. Air cooled bikes are still alive. How can you upgrade a tablet with a new graphics card? The skills he learned doing that with me aren't even of use 5 years later. I don't suppose either of my teenage boys will end up tinkering on bikes. Can't imagine what they will be doing when they are my age. My Dad's cherished GS1100 will probably be scrap again by then! I am looking for a museum to donate it to before I go!

Greetings

[Agemax]

ronB - indeed. I find it quite disconcerting driving a car and not even knowing where the sparks plug are located on it. It was my Dad tinkering with his Triumph 650 Tiger back in the '70s that got me going. And as a comparison, I built a PC with my son a few years ago which was great but PCs are now dead. Air cooled bikes are still alive. How can you upgrade a tablet with a new graphics card? The skills he learned doing that with me aren't even of use 5 years later. I don't suppose either of my teenage boys will end up tinkering on bikes. Can't imagine what they will be doing when they are my age. My Dad's cherished GS1100 will probably be scrap again by then! I am looking for a museum to donate it to before I go!

Greetings

i could make room in my living room for it !

[londonboards]

Rear Brake Caliper Paint Preparation. Now what?

I stripped the paint off:







Now what:

Do I paint or powder coat? I am sending the frame and other pieces to the the powder coaters soon. I could add these.

If I am painting what is the best paint preparation? I have had bubbling occur on my test samples when I have cured them.



Greetings

[psyguy]

in my experience powdercoating is much more resistant to brake fluid (spills) than any spraycan paint. it's also more dureable and easily hides little imperfections in the aluminium, so that's my preferred choice. in fact, finding chemicals resistant paint that's suitable for aluminium would be very hard if not impossible, i think.

your paint bubbling may have to do with using paint that's not suitable for alu, too high baking temp or too quick drying process.

if you're powdercoating, make sure to mask/plug all the holes, etc. powder is VERY hard to remove once fully dried.

[londonboards]

Day 280 Careburetor Parts Plating

I got all my carb parts back from the plater today so I need to get going on the carb rebuild (along with 100 other jobs!). Here are some before and after shots of the cadmium plating done on the parts. I like it a lot. Not too shiny.

See: My GS1100 Blog - Carb Parts Plated (nice before and after pics)









I bought some stainless screws but I'm not going to use them now.

Greetings