1978 GS400: my first bike, my first bike project.

[wedoo2]

Just a quick update. Got the pallets torn down into their constituent boards today, gonna start piecing together a workbench in the morning. Got a couple of sheets of high-density fiberboard from work to use as the top surface, and I'm thinking about painting a nice big Suzuki S on the top. Red on white, or red on black?

Anyone know of a good paint for wood that will hold up to some abuse?

Hello Captain. Nice to watch a 400 being rebuilt as that was one of my first loves. Why I like the GSs. As for your workbench you can use an good oil based paint or stain for that. Remember that you are gonna trash it in time anyway so I wouldn't go nuts on the top of it. Brake fluid and carb cleaner will eat away your nice finish.

I use The Works for tank cleanup, but take off the petcock first. Let it sit all night then see what you think. I spray some Marvels in it afterwards to avoid flash rust, then clean it out with gas. Still probably a good idea to use the POR or something like it.

I wouldn't plan on this whole thing being real cheap. Subscribed.

[pete]

I just used left over house paint on my workbench... it's copped a hiding since then, drill holes, knife cuts, grease, oil, mostly it's still painted...

[wedoo2]

I hear that Pete. At least he needs to get off the floor.

[pete]

True! A workbench is very handy... I ended up with a U shaped one in my very cramped space...





The Peugeot now sits further forward with the bike behind it for easier access.

If only I kept it that tidy all the time...

[GSXR7ED]

Work Area

^^That's a decent lookin' work area; I'm impressed. Man, you got a lot of screwdrivers' and 2 different size handle scissors. I see you also have a bench light...it must be cooler working at night? (Also see a fan and just realized your location)

You got it goin' on in that little dungeon of yours...I like it!

All the best with your rebuild.





Ed

[pete]

Cheers Ed, a bit cramped with the car there and everything but very functional and useful. Fortunately the 450's rebuild is done, probably should update my sig given it's been done for over a year...

I've got those two desk lamps there because the only light in the garage is a flouro which is in the centre of the roof and just casts shadows all over the work bench, and mostly I only get time to do stuff at night, so they come in very handy. And yeah, even at night in summer it still gets quite warm so that fan comes in very handy.

Just tryin' to give Cap'n Trips some inspiration here

[Captain_Trips]

Cheers Ed, a bit cramped with the car there and everything but very functional and useful. Fortunately the 450's rebuild is done, probably should update my sig given it's been done for over a year...

I've got those two desk lamps there because the only light in the garage is a flouro which is in the centre of the roof and just casts shadows all over the work bench, and mostly I only get time to do stuff at night, so they come in very handy. And yeah, even at night in summer it still gets quite warm so that fan comes in very handy.

Just tryin' to give Cap'n Trips some inspiration here

I'm actually planning on one or two lights on the bench, made out of old road cones. Gonna tear the guts out of a lamp with an adjustable arm, and pop it into the cone.

[Captain_Trips]

Made a little more progress on the workbench. This is turning into a carpentry thread here. I'm pretty far removed from the New Yankee Workshop, though.


Here are my final piles. On the right is the "boards that survived my salvage attempt" and on the left is "brand new firewood". The complete pallet will become one half of the top of the bench.


And you can see the other half here. I cobbled that "pallet" together with salvaged boards, and I'm thinking that size is plenty big enough for my needs. So I'll chop down the big one to match, connect them, and add the high-density fiberboard for a smoother surface. Then the legs, maybe a shelf underneath, and some paint on top.

I'll probably butt them up against the brown bench on the left, to give me even more room to spread things out.

[Captain_Trips]

Oh, and in bike-related news, the rear tire has a date code ending in 03. So that will indeed need replaced. Can't imagine how old the front is, so it's going too.

Anyone know what size I should replace them with? The rear said 3.50R18, I believe, but the Shinkos I've seen have numbers in the 100-250 range.

[pete]

Good stuff, nothing wrong with a bit of carpentry in a rebuild thread

In my rebuild thread, you will see Monty Python and thumb injuries... haha

As for tyre sizes, what are the rim sizes? I'm not familiar with the size of the 400 rims.

My rims are both 18", 1.6" width on the front and 1.85" on the rear.

I quite safely run a 100/90-18 up front and a 4.10-18 on the rear. A 110/90-18 on the rear will also be just fine. My stock sizes are a 3.00-18 up front and 3.50-18 on the rear. Most people run a 90/90-18 up front but I had to go slightly different due to running dual sports.