ShowBizWolf's 1998 GS500E

[ShowBizWolf]

I will make sure to do that!

Just finished fixing the broken links in my thread

I still want to do the hugger thread for sure... and maybe then the Projects and Pics thread... but we'll see. My eyes are tired :exhausted:

[the_63]

I used carb cleaner and a scraper. But I would suggest used scotch bright instead of the scraper.

Good job on the project showbiz 

Chris

[tobyd]

How do you keep the engine looking brand new?! Its practically a mirror finish

Looks awesome - thanks for fixing the picture links, going to thieve the battery tray fix you did!

Are there any surprises lurking in redoing the gauge pods?

[ShowBizWolf]

Thanks Toby!!! Even though my GS was pretty banged up when I got it, the engine didn't require too much to clean up. I used a lot of q-tips and rags and brake cleaner to get off old dirt and now I just keep it washed. It does still have some scratches here and there though, not gonna lie!

The gauge pods... you mean replacing the black plastic cover thingy?

[tobyd]

That's them, I don't know if they are called pods or houses or what? Do they just come free after pulling the acorn nuts and tacho + speedo cables or do the numbers fall out and the whole thing goes south?? Could you just sub in '12v' LEDs too?

[ShowBizWolf]

Honestly I am not sure about what all bulbs can be substituted in. I just made sure to order the equivalent to a 194. I originally ordered 194's for the gauges and 74's for the indicators (oil, high beam and neutral) but found out that the 74's are way too small. I believe (from what I've gathered over the years) that in the newer GS's, they switched to a 74 bulb. Just for the indicators though. IIRC the gauges are 194 for all years.

Also when I was ordering them, I originally got ones that didn't have a good enough (for me) light output direction (120 degrees). Meaning, I put some bulbs in the gauges and it didn't throw light downwards enough to fully light up the trip meter (you could barely see it). It also could have had to do with the fact that they were only 2 lumens lol. I had to do more reading and ended up getting the bulbs in the links on my first page. I just had a look back at the listing and it says they "create a 220 degree viewing angle" and they are also 9 lumens, instead of just 2.

I'm trying to think back to when I replaced that housing. I do remember buying new rubber gaskets too, for around the gauges 'cuz mine were all chewed up for some reason. That housing should indeed come off if you undo the 4 acorn nuts and 3 small phillips screws that hold it on. My bike was missing those 3 smaller screws and I just recently replaced them. Unplug the sockets for the 4 indicators and I can't remember if you hafta pull the tach and speedo cables out... but from what I can remember, that's all there is to it.

[ShowBizWolf]

I think somewhere along the way I mentioned putting this different windscreen on... idk. I bought it 5 years ago back when I bought the nose fairing and never go to put it on because of how I originally had the nose mounted.

At first I didn't like it, thought it was too flashy but I've gotten a lot of compliments on it and it is kinda growing on me. Think I like it more than the clear one. Ugh, can't wait to get that front fender half on.

[89gS500_Kirk]

Always looking good, VERY clean

[tobyd]

Quite like that purpley screen

[yamahonkawazuki]

ive always had a box of single endge razor blades for this purpose. brand new ones worked wonders.
Aaron

[ShowBizWolf]

Thanks everybody!!

[ShowBizWolf]

Need to take some pics soon...

Bike is apart... tank, seat, plastics off... air filter out, plugs out. Oil filter out, oil pan off and clean... old gasket peeled off beautifully thank the Lord! Oil filter cover is nice and clean too.

Had gas in one of the cylinders, glad I pulled the plugs. I have no idea how old they are... thinking of replacing them with iridium ones. Also, my bike has the ones that have the 9 in the part number... DPR9EA-9... which according to the manual is for high temperatures... dunno who put those in but I'll go with those again.

Wiped out the air box and put the new drain hose on. Felt good to get rid of the old one that was worn through! I will note that even though I ordered an OEM hose, it did not come with the fancy slotted end thingy on it. Had to re-use the one I had. Wonder why it's not listed as a separate part

Removed the side cover early this morning after getting home from work. That gasket did not come quietly lol... it's gonna take some patience and work to get it totally cleaned off. Also saw that I'm missing that orange epoxy on 4 of the 6 magnets. Thought it was gonna be Goats but after searching and reading further (and checking my magnets) they are all secure and intact. No cracks either, again, thank God. Resurrected a zombie thread to ask about possibly replacing the epoxy but was advised to just leave it alone.

Got my R6 shock in the mail today right before work! Looks NICE, can't wait to install it.

Stopped at Home Depot before work as well and got 3 M6 stainless acorn nuts and a stud for my oil filter cover. Someone in my bike's past must have ruined a stud and replaced it with an allen head bolt.

[ShowBizWolf]

Ok here are some pics.

In the background you can see the seats out of my Spirit (along with the 'Busa fender that really is ready for primer but I keep nit-picking about it)... Making my own covers for those seats is next on my never ending to-do list.....




Cleaned the oil filter cover with just a toothbrush and brake cleaner. The oil pan was a bit tougher... used engine degreaser, LA's Awesome, the long bristled end of a grunge brush and a bit of a brillo pad. Not too bad for things that people don't normally see right away..!


New stuff... woot toot

[peteGS]

Nice work as always ShowBiz! I must remove my sump cover one day... fast approaching 70,000km's since the rebuild so I probably should take a peak and give it a clean.

Keen to see that front Busa guard done and on 

[cbrfxr67]

sweet

[89gS500_Kirk]

Will that shock bolt right up or will you have to modify the mounts?

[ShowBizWolf]

It did indeed bolt on with no problems. My Dad and I got the shock installed on Sunday along with switching a few outlets in my house and cleaning off the old gasket from the side cover

As it says in various other threads and places around the forum (check out the wiki section about shocks if you haven't already seen it!), I too now can confirm that it works perfectly with the R6's lower bolt, nut and sleeve/spacer. I didn't have to grind anything off of my swing arm either, which is a huge plus! When reading up on this shock in the past, I saw that some people did have to and some people didn't so I had no idea which way mine was gonna go.

I did take a few pictures and will be working more on the bike today so hopefully an update with pics is in the near future!

[ShowBizWolf]

Pops helping by using a scotchbrite pad (thanks 63!) to remove the old gasket from the side cover. Gasket remover (Permatex) did absolutely nothing. (haha and yes that's a Hamm's he's drinking in that cozy )


While he was doing that I was working on cleaning up under the bike a bit while the oil pan is off and then I started taking out the airbox so we could install the shock next.

Before he arrived at my house that day, I removed the oil screen and cleaned it. I was amazed at how much more oil came out just by removing the screen. I've also been amazed at how much oil doesn't actually come out when just pulling the drain plug and changing the filter....

Anyway, here's a pic of the cleaned up screen and all the bigger bits of epoxy it was holding for me.


Here's the side cover all cleaned up.


And then the side of the engine, ready for the new gasket. None of the magnets are chipped, cracked or the least bit wiggly thank God.


Cleaned up a bit in here as well.


And here.


Both covers back on!!! And you can see the shock a bit in this picture too.


Cleaned up around where the oil filter and cover go.


OEM filter and o-ring in place, cover back on, replaced a missing stud and bought new stainless acorn nuts. Was super careful to not over-tighten since I've seen so many stories about that going badly.


Next to do is clean up all the places the airbox exposed before putting it back in and also clean up under the bike more before I put the new gasket and the oil pan back on. Looking into getting a magnetic drain plug even though I've read they aren't really super necessary.

[cbrfxr67]

You do such clean work Show.  Really good stuff!  Your review on the difference the shock makes is hopefully coming soon!!

[ajensen]

What a clean motor! I feel inspired to clean mine up.