My old GS resurrected... Build/question/wtb thread [pics & video]

[Agno]

Yep... good eye. The Triumph is the bike I bought after selling the GS. Serendipity has brought it back to me just when my girl needed a beater to learn on.

[Agno]

So the front is re-assembled but there seems to be an issue. The top plate of the triple (89 clip-on) seems to have play in it. Not a ton, but enough that I can skew the plate a few millimeters toward the front or rear of the bike by pushing or pulling on the bars. I torqued the two bolts that sandwich the whole unit together pretty tight. I know that the whole setup is rubber mounted but this much movement feels questionable. Did I just never notice this before?

[Agno]

I am very close to test starting the bike. The exhaust was removed and painted and new gaskets and fasteners were used. The carbs were partially disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. Before re-assembly a set of jets from the Buddha replaced the old ones.

A K&N lunchbox has replaced the factory intake and a breather filter now caps the end of the crankcase breather tube.

I received a new Shorai Lithium Iron battery in the mail today and this thing is unbelievable. I chose it based on it extreme lightweight and as a recommendation from DeCosse who's posts about motorcycle electronics have helped me again and again.

Here is where I need some advice:
I have not started this thing up yet. I am hoping to use a temporary fuel source for this next step instead of using the tank. I am anticipating needing to fiddle with things to get it started and running right. It seems like taking the tank off repeatedly would be a pain the rear. Anything I should know before I make a mess? Anything to watch out for aside from lighting myself ablaze?

[Agno]

Seems awful lonely in here...

F'it, I'm posting anyway!  SHE'S ALIVE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZpBdWpqs4

[Agno]

In the video posted above there are a couple of audible "ticks" or bursts that seem to come randomly. I started it again today and the sound was much more frequent. After running it for a moment or two, I realized that the sound also resulted in a corresponding vibration in the air cleaner. When I slipped the K&N lunchbox off I could see what was causing the sound. Every so often a burst of unspent air/fuel mixture gets blown backwards through the carb and into the air cleaner. This was causing the loud hiss-like popping that is in the video.

Is this a valve issue or maybe a timing issue of some sort? Anyone had anything like this happen to them?

[hawaiianGS]

Can't answer the question for you, but it's great to see her running again! Keep the updates coming.

[Agno]

Finally got the plumbing for the fuel system figured out. Which means that I could take her out for a little put-put.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhflSW3B2ps

Nice to get the tires rolling again.

Still haven't figured out the misfire problem. It's only the left cylinder that is having this issue. I swapped plugs but the results are the same. Keep getting these randomly timed hiss-pop type misfires. At low rpm it will cause the motor to stumble enough to stall it out.

Any ideas here guys? Maybe a sticky valve?

[steezin_and_wheezin]

hell yeah! glad to see it up and rolling! i get the same pop and hiss on rare occasions, but haven't found the problem yet.

on a side note, have you checked the valve clearances yet?

[Agno]

on a side note, have you checked the valve clearances yet?

Not yet. But I am next in line to receive the west coast kit. I sure hope that makes a difference.

[Agno]

Got a few parts in the mail. Don't you friggen LOVE that.

Got some new aluminum tubing to replace the old bent ones in the clip-ons.


Also got a set of .85 Sonic Springs. Thinking about taking my forks apart gives me butterflies.

[EdChen]

Random question about the aluminum tube stock for the '89 clipons, I have the same setup, complete with the bent stock steel bars. I was thinking about just buying aluminum stock like you and cutting lengths as needed.

Have you put them on yet? How does the .12" wall thickness feel? Any additional harshness due to the stiffer metal?

(somehow your post touched on a bunch of stuff I've been wondering about)

Which Shorai lithium battery did you get? Any issues starting?

Thanks!

[adidasguy]

FYI: Older KAT bars are compatible with the GS clip-ons. I've got extra OEM GS500 bars on the shelf. Got in some KAT bars & top plates just for giggles. Bars are compatible. Who would have thought that? Top plate not quite. So I've got a complete Kat triple & assorted top plates if anyone ever wants them.

Taking the older forks apart is so much easier than I thought. make the tool. use a 19" paint roller or piece of PVC to press the new seals in. 1/2 hour tops per fork once you've done one to know how to do it.

(I found 4 sets of forks on the shelf. How did I end up with so many? Then I found 4 or 5 sets of carbs. 20 sets of tail plastics. 3 non-needed lead/acid batteries, 4 triples with good bearings. I'm a worse parts whore than I thought  )

This is the battery I use:
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/LFX14L2-BS12.html
(Photo BEFORE battery box stuffed with the supplied sticky back foam.)

[EdChen]

Thanks for the info!

Any reason you went with the 14Ah "heavy duty" battery vs one of the smaller 9Ah or 12Ah batteries?

And, any chance you want to part with some of those spare bars you have laying around? You know, I just want to help you with your parts whoring issue...

[knowles]

Looks good, you can just plug in the new ignition behind the headlight to see if it runs. All the locks at least on the older gs can be forced with a screw driver. I didn't see this til too late. sorry.

[Agno]

Update time! It has been a while since my last post.

Random question about the aluminum tube stock for the '89 clipons, I have the same setup, complete with the bent stock steel bars. I was thinking about just buying aluminum stock like you and cutting lengths as needed.

Have you put them on yet? How does the .12" wall thickness feel? Any additional harshness due to the stiffer metal?

(somehow your post touched on a bunch of stuff I've been wondering about)

Which Shorai lithium battery did you get? Any issues starting?

Thanks!

I don't think the Bar stiffness has been impacted by using the .12 thick bars. At least not in a noticeable way. That being said, I hadn't put any real seat time in on the older ones before replacing them.

As far as the battery goes, I can't say enough good things. The thing is extremely light. 1.75lbs to be exact. My old one weighed in at 8lbs. Has not given me a weak crank yet and I tend to abuse my batteries. I even used it to jump start my car when the battery was drained from an interior light that had been left on! I was amazed! I don't remember why I used the 14ah over the other options but I seem to remember that there was a good reason. Hope that helped.


My parts collection has slowly grown.





I also have a set of Bridgestone bt-003rs' and a set of Sonic .85kg springs that need to be put to use.

So anyway, this is what the bike looks like after adding the mirrors, pegs, and bar-ends.




And this is a rough photo-chop of what I had in mind for the paint work. Keep in mind that this is just a sketch and I'll probably take the lazy way out and paint it a solid color. Any input is appreciated.

[cbrfxr67]

Very Nice!  I vote yes!

[codajastal]

Very Nice

[vasama]

Question: What is this headlight cover? I like it. Where can one find it?

[xunedeinx]

Shes looking very nice compared to the first pic.

Looks like a nice candidate for an i4 swap... 

[Agno]

The windscreen is from a Buell Blast.