82 GS1100E Mr Turbo Rebuild

[oldGSfan]

Edit/update: Took to a local upholsterer and he said the material is too thin, it will tear again etc. Pretty ornery sort of dude, I appreciated his honesty but he just kept saying the same stuff over and over, and I heard him the first time.

Yeah I will have it done, it's too good to leave to a hack like me. I got it today, it's really good other than that split, like new, made my day opening that box.

That seat is a good score. Mine split in the same spot.Two things I never do are body paint and upholstery except dirt bikes that's because everyone will know I did it myself. So I vote professional upholster.

[Rob S.]

So I vote professional upholster.

I concur. Mine was reupholstered, I'm sure, but looks exactly like all the pics I've ever seen from 1982.

[chris]

That seat is a good score. Mine split in the same spot.Two things I never do are body paint and upholstery except dirt bikes that's because everyone will know I did it myself. So I vote professional upholster.

[oldGSfan]

I'm far from an expert but sharing what I read up on. The original carb with the Mr Turbo or American Turbo Pak (it's confusing) kits was a late 70's HD Keihin 38mm which seems to be universally hated by HD folks, FWIW. The guy that raced mine used a S&S Super B for Bonneville, and I read they are good for all out open throttle but not so street friendly. All signs pointed me to the Mikuni HSR (42 in my case) so I got one since both the Keihin and S&S needed rebuilding and didn't look so good overall with stuck butterfly and hacked up or missing choke, etc. Right now may be too early to judge but it's idling fine and starts right up with a couple twists for the accelerator pump and a bit of choke when cold.

I think the Rajay is a robust turbo but now there are better choices. Plus there is the draw through vs. blow through choice. Gaskets and rebuilding are scarce and expensive. I read that it is slow to spool and will come on with a major bang. Will see. I am too old to go nuts on a turbo bike, it's just a cool thing to have and restore, ride here and there.

I am fascinated with building a turbo setup like the Mr. Turbo kits. I can select a turbo and build all of the parts. The part I know nothing about is the carburetor. What carburetor does this kit use, and does it work well for a street ridden bike that doesn't get whooped on a lot?

[Longitudinal]

I am fascinated with building a turbo setup like the Mr. Turbo kits. I can select a turbo and build all of the parts. The part I know nothing about is the carburetor. What carburetor does this kit use, and does it work well for a street ridden bike that doesn't get whooped on a lot?

[oldGSfan]

Thanks for the tip Steve, I appreciate it. Filtering down and it looks like about $80 for those that meet this criteria, which is fine.

Really happy right now as I scored a stock seat for $40 (20 for the seat, $20 for shipping) and it looks fine except of course the standard seam split in front. I think my shortened seat may have a market for someone, it's nice, just too low for me at 6'3". I think every single GS1100E seat split at the front and will look at what the best fix is. Maybe just have it done professionally.

You have to be VERY careful with the eBay ads.

Far too many of them advertise an R/R as "Replaces" or "Fits" or "For" the particular vehicle. You can include Polaris RZR and SeaDoo in your search. The quickest way to weed out the fakes is to limit your search to "US only" and "used only". Once you thin out the selections, look for pictures in the ad that actually show the "SH775" on the back fin.

Let me know if you need any help looking for the genuine thing.

.

[Steve]

Thanks - I see some with wide ranging prices on eBay down into the mid 20's range for Polaris, which rings a bell from reading the forum articles.

You have to be VERY careful with the eBay ads.

Far too many of them advertise an R/R as "Replaces" or "Fits" or "For" the particular vehicle. You can include Polaris RZR and SeaDoo in your search. The quickest way to weed out the fakes is to limit your search to "US only" and "used only". Once you thin out the selections, look for pictures in the ad that actually show the "SH775" on the back fin.

Let me know if you need any help looking for the genuine thing.

.

[oldGSfan]

Thanks - I see some with wide ranging prices on eBay down into the mid 20's range for Polaris, which rings a bell from reading the forum articles. I'll do some research and make it right, at present just want it tuned and running even if just a patch for the time being. I have 4 bikes now, getting ridiculous. I will go through the electrics again with a fine tooth comb - clean contacts with proper stuff, etc.

I was the same way. I bought my 850L with ~23k miles and now has nearly 30k. I never had an issue for those miles on the original charging system. One day in preparation for a long trip, I checked charging voltage. It was over 15V! I ordered a used SH775 and it works great now. Fortunately I did this before it left me stranded or cooked my stator. I highly recommend you do the same, even if it's not going to get many miles.

I tend to be very frugal and wanted to keep running the OEM regrec but after making the conversion, I've decided it's much cheaper and easier to do before getting stranded than afterwards. I intend on doing the conversion on my other GSs, regardless of condition.

[93Bandit]

I know this area is a weakness, though I owned 2 previous GSs and never had any problems. I just hope it gets it out the door and back home, then I will consider upgrading.

I was the same way. I bought my 850L with ~23k miles and now has nearly 30k. I never had an issue for those miles on the original charging system. One day in preparation for a long trip, I checked charging voltage. It was over 15V! I ordered a used SH775 and it works great now. Fortunately I did this before it left me stranded or cooked my stator. I highly recommend you do the same, even if it's not going to get many miles.

I tend to be very frugal and wanted to keep running the OEM regrec but after making the conversion, I've decided it's much cheaper and easier to do before getting stranded than afterwards. I intend on doing the conversion on my other GSs, regardless of condition.

[oldGSfan]

No, it's stock, low mileage (only when raced...) but old. I have a spare and today I gave that for the shop to try, will see how it works out for the near term anyway - I know this area is a weakness, though I owned 2 previous GSs and never had any problems. I just hope it gets it out the door and back home, then I will consider upgrading.

It was good to hear it fire up and idle nicely, and see the care and knowledge being applied, however slowly.

Did you do the SH775 conversion on the bike? I can't remember and I'm a bit too lazy at the moment to look back through the build to find out.

If not, that's definitely something you should do. That's likely your over charging issue.

[93Bandit]

Did you do the SH775 conversion on the bike? I can't remember and I'm a bit too lazy at the moment to look back through the build to find out.

If not, that's definitely something you should do. That's likely your over charging issue.

[steve murdoch]

Good to hear it is getting closer to the finish line/timing lights.

[oldGSfan]

Well it's been a very long time waiting but I got a call from the tuner and he has it idling well now, and he's ready to tune the main jets, but it's throwing out too much voltage. Something wrong with the reg/rec or maybe just bad grounding. I have a spare one and will bring it to him tomorrow morning. I have been busy on the '73 CB750 restoration and a '94 XT350 that I got for my son, and I have my Ducati Multistrada to ride, but it's been tough waiting two months for the GS. It should be done this week as long as the charging system is sorted.

[bull958]

Any news on this? The suspence is killing me.

[oldGSfan]

Those were not the good old days, tire wise. So funny to think of going cross country with a wad of cash (I had no credit card), no cell phone, a tent and some basic tools. I made several 3 or 4 day crossings, pitching tent by the car or bike headlight, whichever it may be. Ah, youth!

Not to turn this into a CB750 thread (sure miss the GS!) but I had a go at the cylinder base gasket today. I looked for the Permatex remover, but think the old stuff is banned in CA now. Not sure I trust the new 'foaming' formula to the tune of $10, so I tried some good quality paint stripper I had (still the old formula, strong stuff), laid it on and had a 2 hour beer break/nap. The brittle old gasket softened up really well. Most just peeled off clean in large chunks. I used a ~3/8 wide woodworker's carving knife, perfect for the job as long as you are gentle and keep it perfectly flat. For the small areas that are still stuck I shaved down and re-applied the gel to finish up tomorrow.

In the '70's and '80's, I used to change rear tires on my CB350 and Z1 myself. I was always getting flats, so I'd use a couple of large plier handles, and frequently 'walk' (or jump up & down) around the tire as the wheel lay on my driveway. And I'd rarely have a matching (front & rear) set. Or get the tire on the first try without damaging the tube. "Give me a tire and 3 tubes."

But I insisted that a "set" of Pirelli Sport Demons be installed on my 11EZ. I just wished they didn't have to come from different parts of the country. Why couldn't my mechanic have just told me the front and rear were a match made in heaven, and they had always been together from the moment they were born?