78 GS1000 Left for Dead

[busa1300]

In print... Even if it's just a couple pics

June 2017 CMM... 

 

thanks again for for all the interest from you guys out there 

[busa1300]

Once a year (for the past three years) the town shuts down Main Street from regular traffic, and allows everyone to cruise, just like the old days (town shut down cruising for good in 1986...)

A reason to get out and see old faces and remember those crazy days of street racing (1978/1985 for me)

And just like those old days it was me and my GS1000.....and always a girl on the back .....My wife takes care of that spot these days

[busa1300]

I sold my GT750 a month ago, and felt sad when I saw it leave in the back of the pickup.... But I sold it for a good cause...(RG500)

As I looked around in the garage, my neglected GS1000SZ looked like it should go somewhere where it could be used more as well. So I figured I would wash it (first time with a power washer in about 15 years) and get it running again. After getting it all clean and took it out for a 10 mile ride about.... I had to park it and really think if I wanted to really say goodbye to it....

 

It runs too good, and really needs nothing...I realized I could probably never sell my high school dream bike. (I graduated in 1981)...I've owned it since 1986, so no point in saying goodbye....its lasted longer than any relationship/job/residence....

 

...but it at least it's clean now....

[gsx]

Did the 1000 s get cv carbs your way instead of slides ?

Very nice Kat btw

Edited October 20, 2017 by gsx

[stockcar]

Yank spec ones did 

[busa1300]

Yea....we got standard carbs 

Racing rules allowed carb changes here, and most people ended up swapping CV's for 33 smoothbores

[Pete750ET]

Great build thread, looks great and the wire wheels are awesome.

[Locomotion]

Great build, so whens the Windjammer going back on

[busa1300]

5 hours ago, Locomotion said:

Great build, so whens the Windjammer going back on

The winner of the auction at my estate sale will get to make that choice....

[busa1300]

Brought home another Suzuki that was left in storage for years....

Need to go through the wiring and it should light right off... 

Build date shows 2/80

 

Edited April 10, 2018 by busa1300

[NotStock]

On 2016-12-16 at 9:34 PM, busa1300 said:

Once the engine was out, I wanted to soda blast it and get it back to fresh aluminum. Repaint the top end. Then pull all the covers and polish them back up like new, and check the bottom and top end before I put everything back on with new bolts

 

I didn't want to repost the picture, but you did a beautiful job on soda blasting the motor!!

Would you be able to post some info on how you blast a motor without pulling it apart? I have been wanting to do this for a long time but I have never seen a good post describing the process. I finally have a compressor with the balls to run a blaster and I have a motor with a crappy paint job just begging for the treatment! Would love to see some pics or a description of how you go about it and get such good results. 

Thanks!!

[busa1300]

Sent you a PM on the blasting process 

[CockneyRick]

Read this for 1st time & mightily impressed (even the anal parts)  

When i got mine i was split between original or updated? 

Think i shouda gone the other way 

[Swiss Toni]

10 hours ago, busa1300 said:

Sent you a PM on the blasting process 

Can't you post it here? We want to see it too! 

[busa1300]

9 hours ago, Swiss Toni said:

Can't you post it here? We want to see it too! 

OK...

The soda blaster I used was this version here

https://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-portable-soda-blaster-60801.html

All I really did to prep the engine was to block off the exhaust ports out of the head, and plug up the intake ports....also the crankcase breather 

It works pretty slow so it's easy to control where your blasting....the main thing is to make sure the engine is totally sealed up. After your done blasting wash off with water and and blowdry with air compressor....thats it....paint should stick great as the surface is as spotless as it can get.

It will not take off oxidation like aquablasting....but it's hard to do aquablasting in your own driveway

I'm going to be soda blasting the frame/swingarm/suspension linkage/wheels/rotors on my RZV500R project in a week or two....could take a video if in no hurry.

[Swiss Toni]

Nice one! But, the rate the soda comes out of the gun, 40lb 'ain't gonna last long. 

[busa1300]

First ride of the year on the GS....first day in over 6 months that the temp made it to 80 degrees....
6 months of winter has been enough.....time to get into the sunshine.
Fired up first push of the button near instantly :rock:

[busa1300]

Time to dial in the GS better. Had carbs set so it would run, but never fine tuned them. Put in a bigger baffle for my header also, as the standard baffle is pretty small. Putting new plugs in and oil change this weekend, then I can see where to step up the fuel.

[Wolf]

On 12/17/2016 at 3:34 AM, busa1300 said:

Once the engine was out, I wanted to soda blast it and get it back to fresh aluminum. Repaint the top end. Then pull all the covers and polish them back up like new, and check the bottom and top end before I put everything back on with new bolts

 

Where do you get gaskets and other bits for her ?

[busa1300]

Almost all the gaskets/seals/cables and so on came from Suzuki. Surprisingly, there are quite a few part numbers that still work off the microfiche. Bolts came from Eblag, as did the entire front end and rear wheel. Some parts came from auctions.yahoo.co.jp, good prices but high shipping. Took about 6 months or more of collecting parts before I really ever started to tear into it much.

[busa1300]

Pulled carbs again, this time to get #1 cylinder to work better. It seemed to be running richer than the other 3. Finally decided to take all the old choke parts out and put new parts in, in case there was a weak spring or the seal at the bottom of the plunger was no longer sealing. Also put in bigger pilot jets #25, in place of the 17.5....made a big difference. Next step is move needle up one more notch just to see how it feels. Runs extremely well at very low RPMs now, but I think midrange could use just a bit more. 

[busa1300]

Pulled carbs again.

This time to move needles, and go up one main jet size. Feels a little stronger now and still pulls great from low RPMs. Have a dyno run scheduled for my RS250, and I think I will take the GS1000 along too. Get a good baseline on it to see if I’m close enough to finally leave it alone.....and just ride it.

[busa1300]

Bike is now up for sale.....

Time to move on to my other GS1000

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/mcy/d/1978-suzuki-gs1000-left-for/6675034428.html

Edited August 19, 2018 by busa1300

[Zweihammer]

I wish I was in any kind of position to take advantage of this. I always thought this was one of the tidiest GS thousands in existence. I’m sure it’ll find a great home.

Cheers, Zweihammer 

[busa1300]

Wanted to double check compression just to make sure engine is still in top condition. It’s a question when it comes to getting a bike tuned just right. Bike is still putting out over 150psi in each cylinder...!!! 

Still planning on getting this in to a dyno, but I’ve been trying to work a deal on another bike. So the dyno time has been pushed back until I have that figured out.