GS500 camshaft bearings/caps

[nikolai_01]

Opened my gs500's head cover to change the gasket and I found out that the camshaft bearings/caps are broken, 2 of them on the right side of the bike, B and D. My gs is 2001/K1, e-04/non-USA model, I'm from Europe, Bulgaria, any idea where to find those brand new? I found a full set of used ones on the internet, but outside of my country. USA is not an option because most of the sites doesn't ship parts to here and it gets very expensive. It's also an option if somebody sells those in Europe

Photos

https://ibb.co/cCyxZrs
https://ibb.co/DrM2kqv
https://ibb.co/w79RDjm

[sledge]

They are not available as individual parts. The caps are line bored with the heads to ensure a perfect alignment. If you start mixing and matching you may have issues with ovality, alignment and clearances. Heads without matched caps and caps without matched heads are pretty much useless.

[nikolai_01]

What are the differences between the black and silver engine and overall are there any differences between silver engines at all? From past and from future? I found black engine for parts and I won't change the whole head just for the caps, but will part it out. Another guy changed only the caps and successfully runs his bike for 5-6 years, I might have some luck too.

[Sporty]

Sledge is correct.   

Now if desperate,  you could try some used caps and see if the cam are tight, if they lock up or maybe turn freely enough to give it a shot.  There is zero chance that it will be correct. If they fit so there is a little extra clearance, you might get by... too much clearance and it can cause low oil pressure.

[sledge]

Another guy changed only the caps and successfully runs his bike for 5-6 years,

But how many people changed the caps and DIDNT successfully run their bike for 5-6 years?




Its your bike......Its your call 

[nikolai_01]

Another guy changed only the caps and successfully runs his bike for 5-6 years,

But how many people changed the caps and DIDNT successfully run their bike for 5-6 years?




Its your bike......Its your call 

You are right! I thought I won't find a cheap head, but found one gs for parts and the guy will give me the whole head with camshafts, just missing 2 valves for 60$

[herennow]

Hi Nikolai,

Can you post a picture of what you mean "broken" .

I changed a later black head for my original silver head where the moron DPO had broken off 3 of the exhaust studs and then buggered the head up trying to repair it....

At the time I played with the cam caps (long story. the head shop that overhauled the head screwed up the top of the cam journals FFUUU^%&^$^$&%$&^CKers) 

And with a bit of playing with plastigage and engineers blue I found the caps to all be OK on one head, The cams are high precision and seeing as the both journals are on the same piece of aluminium to match this precision piece (unlike the cams on my triumphs that are line bored two different engine case halves on each side - a nightmare) I would say that the work is VERY similar between heads.If you use a different cap and it turns easily by hand with no binding, you are good to go. EXCEPT for the plastigage test. If the journals are too worn and you have too much clearance, you will lose oil pressure.

But I would suggest to just change the head.Easy peasy

[nikolai_01]

I mean this....

[nikolai_01]

Update. After some stressful nights, finally my GS started and runs better than before, at least idling and up to 4k rpm (at the beggining i will ride it like its brand new, on lower RPMs, just to make sure everything is fine). I swapped out only the caps from another head, measured tappet clearance, checked the camshaft clearance and everything was fine. So i got luck with this one, but we will see when the summer comes back, hope i don't have problems.