1st post from newbie bike mechanic lady from Sydney Au's

[skilledhansgirl]

Hi Everyone,

I thought it most appropriate to introduce myself in my 1st post.

I am a 40 something 28yrs established motorcycle mechanic lady from Sydney Au's.
I am no stranger to bike forums world wide so I kind of know the rules & common sense factors in respect for others.

I admit I am not that passionate about bikes having fixed the things for a living most of my life. I get to ride all kinds of exotic bikes during the course of my work in my own business.

Myself I actually own a well used flogged to death old GS500E with believe it or not 97,000 kilometers on the clock. Indeed it looks like a piece of crap & I am kind of proud of how well worn & ugly it is 

I was intending to wait until the odd reading made it to the ton 100,000 ks before pulling it down for a rebuild & resto but alas no dice. Last week I hear a tell tale knock from a small end gudgeon bearing. Everyone I know say's I should just shoot the poor ol beast but it has served me too well for such a contemptuous course of action.

Maybe a whole heap of cheap engine parts or a decent whole motor might be on the cards ? Perhaps I will see what you friendly folks on here may know of in the way of cheap parts so as my ratty old GS can live on,

Kind regards to all, skilledhansgirl 

[yamahonkawazuki]

welcome  not sure what the cost for shipping an engine to your location would be. swaps are EASY ( by swaps i mean rmeove old gs engine, install better gs engine) well hell if youre bored, pull the engine down,  exposing the crankcase, and see if you can replace any offending bearings. might buy you some time? . Am not sure what the breakers in your area would have on hand either.
Aaron

[codajastal]

Welcome from another Aussie Good to hear you are willing to fix the old bike rather than killing it off. Parts are best bought from OS as they are hellish expensive to get here on OZ unless you get lucky. There are a few parts whores here so getting parts are not the problem. Postage cost is usually the issue

[skilledhansgirl]

Hi Thanks for your advise.

I should point out though that I am certainly not board  I have a very busy motorcycle repair shop that keeps me hell busy 60hrs + per week.

Fixing my old GS is not any kind of challenge at all to me it is an absolute peice of cake to work on compared to most bikes I fix daily.

I have fixed everything from current superbikes to all many of old obscure vintage machines & Euro bikes. Have been doing so for 28 years !

Parts at the right price is my main interest. Indeed so far it seems according to this forum a german company have the best prices inc shipping rates.

Breakers  / wreckers as we call them over here are criminally opomistic re their prices.

Thanks for your input & for yr welcome,

skilledhansgirl

[adidasguy]

I had a counter balancer bearing go out. It started making a clunk then one day it really went. There is a build thread "Junior's Demise" with photos and videos. Maybe that's what is wrong in your engine?

[skilledhansgirl]

Welcome from another Aussie Good to hear you are willing to fix the old bike rather than killing it off. Parts are best bought from OS as they are hellish expensive to get here on OZ unless you get lucky. There are a few parts whores here so getting parts are not the problem. Postage cost is usually the issue

Thanks for that encouraging sentiment & welcome, I know it is only an old worn out heap but it is my old pair of shoes to hussle through the traffic on to go & get parts around town on. Everyone I know is so used to see it, hell it even has notes like wash me U Buddha Loves You written into the dirt with fingers.

Ironically I am one of the most anally proficient bike mech's around re my clients bikes though   

[skilledhansgirl]

I had a counter balancer bearing go out. It started making a clunk then one day it really went. There is a build thread "Junior's Demise" with photos and videos. Maybe that's what is wrong in your engine?

Thanks for saying hi,

No prob re my diagnosis as I know what the engines issues are & have full rebuilt at least a dozen gs 500 motors for clients in the past.

I pretty much need the lot from bottom end up as the things done a huge milage.

I'll probebly give it a full engine rebuild or buy a complete motor O/S via slow but cheaper option shipping.

[codajastal]

I had a counter balancer bearing go out. It started making a clunk then one day it really went. There is a build thread "Junior's Demise" with photos and videos. Maybe that's what is wrong in your engine?

Thanks for saying hi,

No prob re my diagnosis as I know what the engines issues are & have full rebuilt at least a dozen gs 500 motors for clients in the past.

I pretty much need the lot from bottom end up as the things done a huge milage.

I'll probebly give it a full engine rebuild or buy a complete motor O/S via slow but cheaper option shipping.

Well my current GS cost me $600 and all it needed was a chain so keep that in mind when spending $$$ as they are out there and cheap if you look hard enough

[skilledhansgirl]

I had a counter balancer bearing go out. It started making a clunk then one day it really went. There is a build thread "Junior's Demise" with photos and videos. Maybe that's what is wrong in your engine?

Thanks for saying hi,

No prob re my diagnosis as I know what the engines issues are & have full rebuilt at least a dozen gs 500 motors for clients in the past.

I pretty much need the lot from bottom end up as the things done a huge milage.

I'll probebly give it a full engine rebuild or buy a complete motor O/S via slow but cheaper option shipping.

Well my current GS cost me $600 and all it needed was a chain so keep that in mind when spending $$$ as they are out there and cheap if you look hard enough

Very good point taken on board, I come accross a lot of cheap old bikes in my business. Rather this is a sentimental situation re my old thing. realistically speaking the whole bike is not even worth a few hrs of my professional time but it is my same old shoe's.

Hell even just to keep pissing off the friends who want to wash it or shoot it I have to keep it on the road LOL.

Thanks !

[Banzai]

Welcome aboard.
What part of sydney are you and your shop based in?

[codajastal]

Found this if you are interested. Quite cheap for purchase. Dunno about freight but you could ask

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/157-1992-SUZUKI-GS500E-GS-500-ENGINE-MOTOR-BOTTOM-END-/221188515307?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item337fdce5eb


Heres another

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-1989-GS500-GS500E-Engine-Block-Bare-Cases-Lower-End-89-96-/400285548004?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d32e0bde4

[peteGS]

Welcome from Brissie! I understand the sentiment thing. I bought my little 450 back in '98 when I had no money whatsoever and was flat broke, so when I couldn't maintain it properly in early 2002 and needed a car for work, I took it off the road but hung onto it and now she's all rebuilt from the frame up and running better than ever! It served me so well in the time when I first got it riding all 'round South East Qld for work that I just had to do the right thing... and boy am I glad I did!

A place up here has just advertised they will source genuine parts from the US at competitive prices, and there are good reports of them being a good place to deal with (including when I bought my stator from them).

http://www.motorcycle-parts.com.au/

One of the guys on the Kat forum has emailed them to kick off the process so we'll see how that goes.

[slipperymongoose]

Yaaaaaay another Aussie.  welcome

[Twisted]

Yaaaaaay another Aussie.  welcome

No... you mean another chick.

[slipperymongoose]

Lol.

[yamahonkawazuki]

I had a counter balancer bearing go out. It started making a clunk then one day it really went. There is a build thread "Junior's Demise" with photos and videos. Maybe that's what is wrong in your engine?

Thanks for saying hi,

No prob re my diagnosis as I know what the engines issues are & have full rebuilt at least a dozen gs 500 motors for clients in the past.

I pretty much need the lot from bottom end up as the things done a huge milage.

I'll probebly give it a full engine rebuild or buy a complete motor O/S via slow but cheaper option shipping.

Well my current GS cost me $600 and all it needed was a chain so keep that in mind when spending $$$ as they are out there and cheap if you look hard enough

Very good point taken on board, I come accross a lot of cheap old bikes in my business. Rather this is a sentimental situation re my old thing. realistically speaking the whole bike is not even worth a few hrs of my professional time but it is my same old shoe's.

Hell even just to keep pissing off the friends who want to wash it or shoot it I have to keep it on the road LOL.

Thanks !

ive had 5 gs' one ( my first 97, i caused someones relationship to fail. because i bought the wrecked bike from shop owner. did an overhaul ( they furnished parts per my request) i furnished labour. . was paid partially with another parts gs. i worked on that overhaul ( a duc paso) i kinda enjoy workjing on electrical gremlins, myself. you? what do you prefer. although tire changes are good moneymakers. icould swap a supersport tire in 15 minutes. an atv tire in less than 5. although i enjoy resurrecting bikes that people have sentimental value. ( i.e. fathers/mothers bike, etc that was passed on to them. there was this old water buffalo i worked on. which i enjoyed. alot of that i had to teach myself though. the gs i agree is like the comforatble pair of shoes/jeans. siometimes ready to retire it, but you dont want to. it would be like letting part of your history go. again welcome
Aaron