81 GS550T Full Rebuild...In Ohio

[Govee]

2000 grit will not remove that orange peel. I have been wet sanding my MG and have been using 800 or 600 for orange peel. I use 1500/2000/3000 progessively to really get it smooth after the peel is sanded down. Then rubbing compound and lastley polish to get the shine back.

[nvr2old]

2000 grit will not remove that orange peel. I have been wet sanding my MG and have been using 800 or 600 for orange peel. I use 1500/2000/3000 progessively to really get it smooth after the peel is sanded down. Then rubbing compound and lastley polish to get the shine back.

Agreed. 2000 will never cut that out. At least 800 to start with. Sand and check constantly for all the shiny dimples to go away. Using a small rubber squeegee to remove the water to check the progress as you sand works great. If you have at least 3-4 coats of clear, you should be fine. The milky white product you're seeing is just the clear mixed with the water. As mentioned, that's a good thing..it's when you start seeing a milky-blue..that's a bad thing..you've sanded into the base coat.

[Nessism]

Scott, when color sanding be VERY CAREFUL to stay off the corners/edges or you will cut though the clear and hit the base. Some masking tape on said corners is recommended if you can't trust yourself. If you hit the base you will have to paint again. Not good.

I'd try 1000 grit and then progress to 2000 when almost all the orange peel is gone. Don't be afraid of leaving a little orange peel, it's much preferable to cutting though.

[tkent02]

Don't be afraid of leaving a little orange peel, it's much preferable to cutting though.

What he said. If the orange peel is almost gone it is so small that the polish will do the rest. Flat, smooth and shiny. Go to far and it will be flat and smooth.

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks Ed, Larry, and Tom. Unfortunately work and kids have gotten in the way the last couple of nights so I will try to get back at it tomorrow.

[pete]

Great to see you progressing well Scott!

Be patient and stick with the sanding. I really think I didn't sand mine enough and I think there was potential for a better finish but like you I was freaking out a little about going through the clear so I held off.

I'm still happy with it, but next time I'll know how to get it better

[cowboyup3371]

Pays to step back

The tach drive piece arrived today and after checking the brand new cable with it and verifying it had the same number of threads as the one Tom sent, I realized I was a moron. So I went by the garage, loosened the valve cover, and screwed the cable right into place without any issues.

After I tightened the valve cover back down, I realized I needed to listen to what I tell my kids - think about what you are doing. So tomorrow is the eldest's marching band competition in Toledo and I'm going to watch. I'll get back on the tank come Sunday.

[Sci85]

Man oh man is this gonna be a beaut when she's done. Can't wait myself!

[Flyboy]

Looking super sweet Scott, so did you get anything done on the tank,,,,,,we wait, we wait, we wait.......c'mon man.

[cowboyup3371]

Wish I could have Stan:

Friday night - repairing network problems but fixed the tach cable
Saturday - Band competition - Daughter's band took 3 in their class but didn't make the finals
Sunday - Fixing computer problems at home but managed to connect the right handle switch, clutch cable, and some other electrical wiring. Still need to go over the wiring diagram and cable routing though again.
Tonight - more work to do after installing a new network for a site in town - waited almost a year to say IT'S DONE FINALLY! Put them on a new T-1 circuit that was installed back in January-ish but didn't get our equipment until two weeks ago (we originally asked for it last August)

[tkent02]

You are getting distracted. We don't have enough patience for this. Did you finish sanding and polishing the paint or not?

[cowboyup3371]

We have electrical power!!!!! Got up early to go over to the garage and after plugging in the battery and headlight, I turned the key and voila we have lights. After moving two of the headlight wires around to give me both low and high beams, I saw the kill switch was set to off. I pushed it to run with the intent of seeing if I could push the button once I put oil into it (hadn't done that yet). However, the bike began trying to start on me once I did.

After shutting it off and adding oil to the bike, I disconnected the right handle switch and verified the bike would not start. I then reconnected it and began removing various parts to ensure something wasn't cutting the wire. However, I think after removing the shrink wrap and not finding a problem in the wiring that maybe my connector may have a cut or something inside allowing the green/yellow and orange/white wires to touch. I say this as once I pulled them out of the connector, I could only repeat the symptoms once I touched the terminals together.

So I'll probably order a few connectors from Cycle-Recycle II and hope it gets here early this week.

Other than that, the horn is re-attached and still sounding as tortured as before. The choke cable is finally in place and I installed the replacement tail light shipped from SuperBright LEDs. The friend whose garage I'm using also resprayed the one wheel with the scrapes after mounting the tire and we learned the Harbor Freight weights won't stick very well. I'll find some epoxy tonight to reattach them but if not I'll find someone who can re-balance them with better ones.

[cowboyup3371]

You are getting distracted. We don't have enough patience for this. Did you finish sanding and polishing the paint or not?

Yes, you are right, I am getting distracted by kids and work.

Had planned on sanding the tank today but kids need my attention as I have to take the eldest to her marching band competition here shortly. I'll try to get back over there tonight or tomorrow.

[tkent02]

I'll find some epoxy tonight to reattach them but if not I'll find someone who can re-balance them with better ones.

Epoxy? How are you going to remove them next time?

I have been using red RTV to glue them on some of the wheels, they don't come off even on dirt bikes bouncing on sharp rocks all day long. When the time comes to remove the weights the RTV just peels off.

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks Tom, I'll pick up some of that then.