Replacing or fixing the engine?

[dubbadan]

I recently became the proud owner of a 1992 GS500E. I was so keen to get the bike (as well as naive and gullible) that I didn't think to question the fact that a 16 year old bike had only done 47,000 km. I just thought I was getting a good deal. I have since had the carbs rebuilt, and am now discovering an ugly rattle coming from the engine on idle.

Having seen a fairly new engine advertised by a motorcycle wrecker ($900 AU), my question for experienced GS owners is this: would a new engine bolt straight into my old frame?

Also, are standardised engine rebuild kits available for the (inexperienced) home mechanic? I would like the challenge of fixing it up myself...

Dan from Down Under.

[bobthebiker]

Yes, a newer engine should bolt right into your frame, but before you go doing that, pinpoint where the rattle on your motor is coming from, front/rear, top/middle/bottom  right/left side, etc  and we can go from there determining how to proceed.  it might just be a simple case of something minor needing adjustment, or something of that nature.

[fred]

Have you determined for sure the engine actually needs to be rebuilt? You could just have a super loose valve or something easy like that... Also, any GS 500 engine should bolt into your frame with no problems. If the engine is from 2000 or later you'll have a couple of small modifications to make, but they should be quite straightforward and easily found with a search...

[dubbadan]

ok cool. i'll try to pinpoint the rattle first...

thanks.

[Tang]

i ahve the ssame rattling sound =(

[Beelzeboss]

Remember at the wreckers you are paying top dollar for parts.
I bought an entire '07 GS500F with 9,500km on it from an auction for $1000. Given, the front end was completely rooted, but the engine looks to be in perfect condition. That way you get a heap more spare parts, or parts to sell and get some money back.

If you DO decide to go to an auction, I recommend these two:
http://www.pickles.com.au/
http://manheimfowles.com.au/

[ohgood]

Remember at the wreckers you are paying top dollar for parts.
I bought an entire '07 GS500F with 9,500km on it from an auction for $1000. Given, the front end was completely rooted, but the engine looks to be in perfect condition. That way you get a heap more spare parts, or parts to sell and get some money back.

If you DO decide to go to an auction, I recommend these two:
http://www.pickles.com.au/
http://manheimfowles.com.au/

2nd on the price, it's too much (around $600 usd from my calculator), and it's being ADVERTISED, which means there isn't anyone beating down their door to buy it.

if it's out of the bike, it's also an unknown, being that you can't hear it run.

unknowns prices drop to just a  shade above free in my book. why ? because i can still get scrap prices if it's DOA, and that's the ONLY reason i'd pay a dime.

by the way, the gs engines make a whole lot of fun little noises. some sound like a slight knock, but are really cam float. mine's made a nice assortment of clappity noises for 27,000 miles.

[natedawg120]

Yeah also if it is just a ticking at idle and no unhealthy noise is head under load you might just have some normal cam sideplay ticking coming from the head.  It can sound obnoxious but doesn't harm anything.

[dgyver]

I recently became the proud owner of a 1992 GS500E. I was so keen to get the bike (as well as naive and gullible) that I didn't think to question the fact that a 16 year old bike had only done 47,000 km. I just thought I was getting a good deal. I have since had the carbs rebuilt, and am now discovering an ugly rattle coming from the engine on idle.

Having seen a fairly new engine advertised by a motorcycle wrecker ($900 AU), my question for experienced GS owners is this: would a new engine bolt straight into my old frame?

Also, are standardised engine rebuild kits available for the (inexperienced) home mechanic? I would like the challenge of fixing it up myself...

Dan from Down Under.

All years GS500's will bolt in... but... 04+ have a different electrical system (parts can be swapped from previous years) and 05+ do not have the mounting hole in the head for the tach drive. The hole is plugged in the 04, not sure if the cam still has the worm gear for the drive though. 

04+ will have the oil cooler, so mounts would be needed on 89-02/3 frames.