82 GS1100E Mr Turbo Rebuild

[Rob S.]

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?

[oldGSfan]

Yeah so I'll have a mix. Both fronts (GS and CB) will be the MKII. The availability on AM26's was really sketchy lately, I'm guessing production was changing over. I normally ran Metzelers on my big 4's but all the reviews say the Avon's are great, and the price is reasonable.

[Nessism]

Ooo, you got the new version Roadrider! Nice!

[oldGSfan]

Bike being jetted, still! Waiting 5 weeks. At least I have my Multistrada to ride and a '73 CB750K project to keep me busy. I got a new front and decent rear (rear was free) and laced them with new spokes, polished the hubs etc. Mounting the 3.25x19 Avon AM26 was a 'challenge'. Mountain bike knee pads, large clamps, tire irons, valve stem puller, sweat and beer, and I got it mounted. Tube type are much harder, I'm finding. First time I mounted tires was on the EPM wheels on the GS and it was pretty easy, comparatively. Anyway front done, and when (if?) I get the GS back I will take the too large 110/90-18 off and use on the rear of the CB, as I've bought a 100/90-18 for the GS. It all worked out. I might have wanted fatter in rear of CB but it's actually pretty close to stock so that'll be fine.

The CB will be 'sunrise orange flake' with the pinstripes and black panel. That will be a challenge but House of Kolor sells the paint and I think I can manage it, I've painted a lot.

[oldGSfan]

Yeah that's him. I needed some special retaining tab washers for the sprocket on the EPM wheel, and he had extras he bought in Italy directly from Magni, hard to find here.

Is it Tony from VSB? Regardless, talked to them last year about their gorgeous Katana at a bike show in Toronto.
They are doing some work on a CBX for a guy i know. Can't wait to see how that turns out.

[steve murdoch]

It's mickey_cohen_motorsports. I warned ya - bit of a kook.

Another guy that helped me out over the phone and Email about the EPM wheels, from Ontario Canada, is vsbmoto. He does great work, is focused in on big late 70s and 80's superbikes. ELRs, Cooleys, total eye candy and to a very high standard. Really nice guy.

Is it Tony from VSB? Regardless, talked to them last year about their gorgeous Katana at a bike show in Toronto.
They are doing some work on a CBX for a guy i know. Can't wait to see how that turns out.

[oldGSfan]

It's mickey_cohen_motorsports. I warned ya - bit of a kook.

Another guy that helped me out over the phone and Email about the EPM wheels, from Ontario Canada, is vsbmoto. He does great work, is focused in on big late 70s and 80's superbikes. ELRs, Cooleys, total eye candy and to a very high standard. Really nice guy.

What's the tuners IG name? I love that picture.

[oldGSfan]

On the Willys forum (oldwillysforum.com) and elsewhere there are threads about pronunciation - Will-eez or Will-is. Evidently the right one is the latter but it sounds a bit precious to my ears and is outside normal speak, right or wrong.

I can use solvent in the tub but it's easier to have jars of each type, and not have to drain, clean, etc. For big parts that won't work but small stuff it's better. Glass or metal container transmits the ultrasonic waves fine but plastic doesn't, it absorbs.

Thanks for not typing Willys as possessive with apostophre! It warms my heart to think I may be the last person alive to think its not named for or pronounced like some tool named Willie.
bike looks grand btw. cant use solvent in cleaner?

[dorkburger]

What's the tuners IG name? I love that picture.

[Cipher]

Well I got the ultrasonic cleaner and it is plenty big and seems to work, makes a racket and the fluid gets hot and dirty (mmmm) at least. I am trying it out on the S&S Super B carb which has a stuck butterfly and may be a pile of junk, so no real loss to experiment on it. I also have the original HD Keihin that came with the Mr. Turbo kit which many seem to loathe. I'll try that next.

There are as many opinions on what cleaner to use as beer or oil. Simple Green, Pine Sol, Gunk, etc. Because I am 'frugal' I buy the 'LA's Awesome orange cleaner for a buck, so I'm trying that, diluted. They make another cleaner that is yellowish, I think it is stronger, plus some stuff in a blue bottle which is carpet spotter. Honestly all of them decrease really well but may not be good on aluminum. From videos the Mean Green and Simple Green leave a brighter aluminum finish. My S&S is quite darkened with age, and it's not really cutting through that, but a little scotch brite on it brings a nice shine. It would be great to have some substance clean and shine but that seems almost too much to ask for!

I'm being lazy about it right now and mainly evaluating my purchase, as I had to tear apart my Willys dash today and silence the radio's alternator whine, which was like building a ship in a bottle with my amp, radio, and HVAC controls all jammed into a space behind the steering wheel. Anyway, to quote Thomas Dolby... Science!

Thanks for not typing Willys as possessive with apostophre! It warms my heart to think I may be the last person alive to think its not named for or pronounced like some tool named Willie.
bike looks grand btw. cant use solvent in cleaner?

[oldGSfan]

Dang it's been nearly 4 weeks, tuner had to order parts but now he's posting on Instagram that he's into it, so it won't be long, hope it goes OK. He posted some glamour shots on his Instagram, this one I like:

[oldGSfan]

Well I got the ultrasonic cleaner and it is plenty big and seems to work, makes a racket and the fluid gets hot and dirty (mmmm) at least. I am trying it out on the S&S Super B carb which has a stuck butterfly and may be a pile of junk, so no real loss to experiment on it. I also have the original HD Keihin that came with the Mr. Turbo kit which many seem to loathe. I'll try that next.

There are as many opinions on what cleaner to use as beer or oil. Simple Green, Pine Sol, Gunk, etc. Because I am 'frugal' I buy the 'LA's Awesome orange cleaner for a buck, so I'm trying that, diluted. They make another cleaner that is yellowish, I think it is stronger, plus some stuff in a blue bottle which is carpet spotter. Honestly all of them decrease really well but may not be good on aluminum. From videos the Mean Green and Simple Green leave a brighter aluminum finish. My S&S is quite darkened with age, and it's not really cutting through that, but a little scotch brite on it brings a nice shine. It would be great to have some substance clean and shine but that seems almost too much to ask for!

I'm being lazy about it right now and mainly evaluating my purchase, as I had to tear apart my Willys dash today and silence the radio's alternator whine, which was like building a ship in a bottle with my amp, radio, and HVAC controls all jammed into a space behind the steering wheel. Anyway, to quote Thomas Dolby... Science!

[oldGSfan]

I see a couple on eBay but the sellers can't seem to find the time to wipe the seat down with some cleaner and show the real condition. Pretty pathetic really. Everything I have ever sold has been as good as I can make it look - many times I have second thoughts about selling an item after I detail it fastidiously . I guess time is money but what I find is most people just don't give a rat's.

50 years ago they were called "personal massagers" in catalogs.

Sorry you're having difficulty getting a stock seat. So many custom seats, like yours, began as stock seats. Too bad we can't reverse engineer it (you know what I mean). Can we?

[oldGSfan]

It already shipped and will be here tomorrow, Fedex from a couple of cities over. It may be junk, Amazon reviews are all over the map for what looks like the same unit, but many seem quite satisfied. I found a large Olympus 'endosonic ultrasonic' medical device cleaner on Craigslist for $40 which is a screaming deal, but the guy left the ad up long after he sold it. I see them used for 500 to 1K so I missed out. I'll give update after I get it and try it out.

The website looks legitimate, you'll have to let us know how it goes!

The frugal life costs more than it should sometimes. But I love a good deal!

[93Bandit]

Bike still at the tuners, I'm anxious to get it back but good things take time I guess. In the meantime, for another project (my two free GL1100 Goldwings) I bought a 15L ultrasonic cleaner for $170 from Kaiezen (link). I hope it's not a scam or takes 3 months to get here, but I checked the site out as best I could and seems legit. I figured the bigger the better! It looks just like the ones I see on Amazon and eBay for around $330. Hope my frugal nature doesn't burn me this time like it has so many times in the past

The website looks legitimate, you'll have to let us know how it goes!

The frugal life costs more than it should sometimes. But I love a good deal!