crzydood17 suggested that we have a thread about how our POs messed up our bike, so here goes.
So far my PO put a 180 rear tire on a 3.5" rim, never cleaned the chain, and overtorqued the sprocket nuts so badly I rounded off two of them removing them.
How in the h377 did that tire not rub the chain and get a hole in it?I am running a heavily modified Bandit 600 4.5 inch wheel and GS sprocket carrier, with a 160-60-17 tire, and I have to stay on top of my chain tension or mine rubs the tire.
It was pinched so far in that it somehow cleared the chain by about 1/8 inch. Tire was so rounded that it was riding on about an inch of tread on the middle of the tire. Swapped that off about a week after I got it.
Quote from: ryott52 on June 17, 2011, 09:10:58 PM
It was pinched so far in that it somehow cleared the chain by about 1/8 inch. Tire was so rounded that it was riding on about an inch of tread on the middle of the tire. Swapped that off about a week after I got it.
Glad to hear you did.That was a wreck waiting to happen.Most 180's are rated for a 5 to 6 inch wheel.
Some of the worst I've gotten: when I bought my old CL175 there were no air filters on it. And the guy selling it was telling me how great it runs. "Just the other day my nephew was riding it up and down those piles of dirt on the other side of the field". Thanks buddy.
The last GR650 I bought had mud in the float bowls, sand on TOP of the diaphragms, choke slide busted off the carb, and an honest to goodness wooden stick inside the oil pan. I think the PO was actually trying to kill the bike.
thats taking a idea and running with it...
my PO never did any maintainance, Never adjusted the chain or valves, Never cleaned the chain, Wrecked the bike and repainted it over the old paint and stickers with cheap thin paint, in the process lost a few bolts to the tail section, Changed the oil so rarely that the filter melted and less than 1.25 quarts of oil left... And he was a duck when selling it to me... told me 1200 bux, sold my truck for 1600 to cover all expenses then changed his mind to 1500...
The original PO of my bike was a woman who hardly rode it for 12 years, but seemed to drop it a lot. I have a dent in the tank and a bent clutch lever. I just bought it from someone who bought it off of her and it seems like a sound bike. But I'm guessing she never serviced it in any way. But that might be a good thing. The most annoying things she did to it were all cosmetic... a banana yellow seat on a purple bike and then stupid cute little decals, like a frog on the tank staring up at me. I can't wait to take that thing off if I can figure out how to do it without damaging the paint.
Quote from: Erika on June 18, 2011, 09:03:01 AM
The original PO of my bike was a woman who hardly rode it for 12 years, but seemed to drop it a lot. I have a dent in the tank and a bent clutch lever. I just bought it from someone who bought it off of her and it seems like a sound bike. But I'm guessing she never serviced it in any way. But that might be a good thing. The most annoying things she did to it were all cosmetic... a banana yellow seat on a purple bike and then stupid cute little decals, like a frog on the tank staring up at me. I can't wait to take that thing off if I can figure out how to do it without damaging the paint.
Use you're hair dryer to soften the adhesive and slowly peel off the sticker/decal.I use rubbing alcohol or WD-40 on a rag to remove the sticky residue.I have another original seat, private message me if you're interested and we can work something out.
I feel like the current owner of my GS hates me a little right now. I put a bit of work into the bike before I sold it. Had new tires, a new gas tank, fresh inspection, brake pads were good, fresh oil, fresh brake fluid, carb cleaned, new grips, valves adjusted. The bike never gave me any real problems in the 7-8 years I owned it, although me and Heather probably only put 2k miles on it max, I wouldn't be surprised if it was only 1000. A friend of a friend bought it, started riding it all the time, putting some miles on it, highway, in the rain, wherever, and all of a sudden it sounds like it has electrical problems and something is wrong with the motor. They pulled the motor from the frame and I guess are gonna have to put some work into it.
I guess that's some of the risk in buying a bike that's 20 years old. At least I know it ran well when I gave it to him, but you still feel bad. That's why I prefer selling things to people I don't know. Once it's gone, it's gone.
the PO of my 2004 gs500 snapped off two of the oil filter studs then put in normal boltsd, tigthened them up so tight that when i tried to undo them they both snapped flush to the casing.. fun times i had drilling those out and retapping. Also he messed around with the carbs and switched the mid and main jets around and lost a spring on the slide. then he didnt send the log book off.
My PO:
Obviously hadn't changed the oil in years. It was black, the worst looking i've ever seen oil.
Oil was so low it was below the bottom of the dipstick It didnt even show up!
Probably swapped the chain for a useless one (Stretched soo much)
Chain on the bike had a clip-link. The link snapped on me after 2 months and locked up the engine doing 50mph @ 7krpm.
Rear sprocket had lots of rounded off teeth and was in need of replacement
Front disc was at 4mm thickness. Lowest limit to be legal here is 6mm..
Front pads were basically shot.
Front brake level was missing the adjuster and wobbled a lot.
Alternator was DEAD. He must have charged the battery the night before cuz it lasted a week..
Only one rear tail light bulb worked
High beam didnt work.
Handlebars are a little bent but he said: "Ive never dropped it"
The heated grips were set up so they would work even if the bike were off. Great way to drain the battery..
Exhaust was rusted through next to the rear bracket.
Front tyre was OLD and cracked, went to a shop and they said they'd NEVER seen the make before but it looked like a race tyre! Also they said it was dangerously cracked and low tread: "Dont go over 60mph" was their advice. I had hit 100mph the day previous.
Both front fork seals were just starting to leak.
Rear shock linkage had so much slack in it the wheel moved up and down an inch before the shock moved at all.
Oh, and the steering head bearings were getting sticky and rough.
He said he looked after it.
Yet somehow it passed it MoT (Yearly inspection) with no problems or advisories a month or so before i got it..
Oh, and it had 35000miles on the clock, i paid £500 and rode it 150miles home.
I usually don't start swearing at PO until I open the carbs, b/c I can see the rest when I buy it. In the case of current GS: bent levers, screwy turn signals, sawed-off exhaust, rotor cover smacked so many times only sticker holding it together.
Carb: Missing upper o-rings. Snapped pilot head top. Carbs full of Kreem / leaking gas into bottom end (started this when I looked at it). Drilled out air-screw covers, one screwed in all the way, other out 3 turns. Plus side ran really poorly, which got figured into the price).
These are starter bikes... they are all going to show evidence of poor maintanance and abuse.
My OP built my bike from a bare frame and parts, so it was missing little parts and had the usual problems when I bought it. Didn't have exhaust gaskets, passenger footpegs, the metal bar that connects the choke to the carbs was missing a clip, didn't have reflectors, the fuel petcock didn't function except on prime, and was missing the centerstand. Engine ran great though, but it's sometimes tricky to find the right parts if they are not interchangeable through the years (replacing my brake pads will be fun). :cookoo:
My PO left it outside 24/7 without a cover or anything... I am still working at replacing rusted screws and cleaning up random rusty parts...
Quote from: numus on June 20, 2011, 10:06:22 AM
My PO left it outside 24/7 without a cover or anything... I am still working at replacing rusted screws and cleaning up random rusty parts...
I assume everything is bad when I am told its all great. If I get a specific list of what is bad I say OK the rest is likely OK.
My favorite is when people assume I am a clueless Injun so they say whatever they think I'll buy. Yea like rare bike, or even better race bike ... Needless to say I dont buy from clowns like these.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on June 20, 2011, 10:32:26 AM
Quote from: numus on June 20, 2011, 10:06:22 AM
My PO left it outside 24/7 without a cover or anything... I am still working at replacing rusted screws and cleaning up random rusty parts...
I assume everything is bad when I am told its all great. If I get a specific list of what is bad I say OK the rest is likely OK.
My favorite is when people assume I am a clueless Injun so they say whatever they think I'll buy. Yea like rare bike, or even better race bike ... Needless to say I dont buy from clowns like these.
Cool.
Buddha.
????
Bought it cause I got a great deal on it.. Just finding more and more rust the further i start going into it (removed the tank and sanded it down and found rust under the paint... got it all out and bondo'd what I had to.
Quote from: ben2go on June 18, 2011, 10:07:00 AM
Use you're hair dryer to soften the adhesive and slowly peel off the sticker/decal.I use rubbing alcohol or WD-40 on a rag to remove the sticky residue.I have another original seat, private message me if you're interested and we can work something out.
Hey thanks, but I already Ebayed a seat. I just discovered this site since I bought my GS500e last week. Now I know where I'll come first in the future.
Sorry didn't mean to quote your post ... in my previous post :D
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: numus on June 20, 2011, 10:47:37 AM
Quote from: The Buddha on June 20, 2011, 10:32:26 AM
Quote from: numus on June 20, 2011, 10:06:22 AM
My PO left it outside 24/7 without a cover or anything... I am still working at replacing rusted screws and cleaning up random rusty parts...
I assume everything is bad when I am told its all great. If I get a specific list of what is bad I say OK the rest is likely OK.
My favorite is when people assume I am a clueless Injun so they say whatever they think I'll buy. Yea like rare bike, or even better race bike ... Needless to say I dont buy from clowns like these.
Cool.
Buddha.
????
Bought it cause I got a great deal on it.. Just finding more and more rust the further i start going into it (removed the tank and sanded it down and found rust under the paint... got it all out and bondo'd what I had to.
Quote from: Erika on June 20, 2011, 10:58:21 AM
Quote from: ben2go on June 18, 2011, 10:07:00 AM
Use you're hair dryer to soften the adhesive and slowly peel off the sticker/decal.I use rubbing alcohol or WD-40 on a rag to remove the sticky residue.I have another original seat, private message me if you're interested and we can work something out.
Hey thanks, but I already Ebayed a seat. I just discovered this site since I bought my GS500e last week. Now I know where I'll come first in the future.
You're welcome.
The PO of my bike replaced the fork oil, the air filter, and the spark plugs as well as installed new tires. He had just finished changing the oil when I showed up to pay for it.
Then again, it was low on fuel so I guess he sucks... :icon_rolleyes:
Hm, my PO bought the bike in November, rode it 30 miles and parked it, midlife crisis, he decided it was uncomfortable and bought a harley.
Let his 10yo daughter try to move it off the porch, she dropped it, scratched up my fairings and put a small crack in one, alone with a tank ding.
Tank got some scratches from the kids playing on it.
Front wheel original, and dry rotter, has since been replaces. Rear wheel is some cheap bias-ply shaZam! that needs to be replaced.
Rear disk is gouged, idk how, but for now it still works.
Chain was so loose it was rubbing the center stand
Bulbs were burnt out, battery was dying, and he only had 1 key, a copy of the original.
I bought her for 1500, saved her, fixed her up, and now shes happy with her new front tire, master cylinder, handles, carb tune, tightened chain, 20w fork oil, and new LED rear light.
I think the front springs will put a smile on her face.
-justin
My PO did all kinds of crazy stuff, too. Removed the forks an cobbled some katana something or other on there, put on a tank and tail from two different bikes, slapped in a GSXR shock on the custom fabbed shock mount, put on RADIAL tires... And left me with a about a half-gallon of gas - Creep!
Yeah, POs suck :icon_twisted:
Quote from: Paulcet on June 20, 2011, 09:40:40 PM
My PO did all kinds of crazy stuff, too. Removed the forks an cobbled some katana something or other on there, put on a tank and tail from two different bikes, slapped in a GSXR shock on the custom fabbed shock mount, put on RADIAL tires... And left me with a about a half-gallon of gas - Creep!
Yeah, POs suck :icon_twisted:
Dont forget those Kermit the frog bug eyes now.
Just to get back @ him you should sell those cheap. That'll show him ...
Cool.
Nuddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on June 21, 2011, 05:33:41 AM
Quote from: Paulcet on June 20, 2011, 09:40:40 PM
My PO did all kinds of crazy stuff, too. Removed the forks an cobbled some katana something or other on there, put on a tank and tail from two different bikes, slapped in a GSXR shock on the custom fabbed shock mount, put on RADIAL tires... And left me with a about a half-gallon of gas - Creep!
Yeah, POs suck :icon_twisted:
Dont forget those Kermit the frog bug eyes now.
Just to get back @ him you should sell those cheap. That'll show him ...
Cool.
Nuddha.
Man, that PO did you BAD. Ill take it off your hands for my stockers...
Quote from: The Buddha on June 21, 2011, 05:33:41 AM
Quote from: Paulcet on June 20, 2011, 09:40:40 PM
My PO did all kinds of crazy stuff, too. Removed the forks an cobbled some katana something or other on there, put on a tank and tail from two different bikes, slapped in a GSXR shock on the custom fabbed shock mount, put on RADIAL tires... And left me with a about a half-gallon of gas - Creep!
Yeah, POs suck :icon_twisted:
Dont forget those Kermit the frog bug eyes now.
Just to get back @ him you should sell those cheap. That'll show him ...
Cool.
Nuddha.
right on nuddha
My PO sold the bike to me half worn chains n sprockets covered in a thick layer of crap, never bled the brakes, oil hadn't been changed in nearly 18 months, no fuel, bald tyres, no owners book, no tool kit, stickers on the rear fairing all crazed up and nearly worn off, and rust pits on the forks. But luckily I brought her back and now she purrs and sits so nice on the road. And planning on new forks, and properly re painting and stickering the rear faring.
Quote from: Paulcet on June 20, 2011, 09:40:40 PM
My PO did all kinds of crazy stuff, too. Removed the forks an cobbled some katana something or other on there, put on a tank and tail from two different bikes, slapped in a GSXR shock on the custom fabbed shock mount, put on RADIAL tires... And left me with a about a half-gallon of gas - Creep!
Yeah, POs suck :icon_twisted:
HAHA. And I worked on that bike just before Dgyver sold it to you.
Quote from: XealotX on June 20, 2011, 04:00:56 PM
The PO of my bike replaced the fork oil, the air filter, and the spark plugs as well as installed new tires. He had just finished changing the oil when I showed up to pay for it.
Then again, it was low on fuel so I guess he sucks... :icon_rolleyes:
LOL.
And who in their sane mind would put a 180 on a 3.5 rim. I see liability/lawsuit issues for any businese that did this.
My PO changed the battery and did not reinstall the drain hose so some of the acid leaked out and corroded the crossmember under the battery which i didnt find till later after i took the battery out one time
Quote from: seamax on June 22, 2011, 10:02:16 AM
Quote from: XealotX on June 20, 2011, 04:00:56 PM
The PO of my bike replaced the fork oil, the air filter, and the spark plugs as well as installed new tires. He had just finished changing the oil when I showed up to pay for it.
Then again, it was low on fuel so I guess he sucks... :icon_rolleyes:
LOL.
And who in their sane mind would put a 180 on a 3.5 rim. I see liability/lawsuit issues for any businese that did this.
I think the dude did it himself, he had a pretty nice garage with a tire press and everything. That's also why I suspected an impact driver for the sprocket nuts.
I'll talk here about my Idiot friend and his bike and its PO.
First off he buys a convereted vulcan 750 bagger from this co worker of his for 1000 bucks that he makes payments on. Whenever he says "payments" to me, I get stiffed, but well, he pays that guy or atleast he said he did ... OK.
The bloody thing doesn't run to start with, so in the dead of winter I fix its carbs. That he paid for for once. He says he'll clean the rust out of the tank ... then does such a lousy job using my acid and my lawn to dump the acid in, I decide to do it myself, and it gets dark and its in winter (like mid feb) . Here we are just getting rust out, not por15, I refuse to do it in cold weather and I say that if he keeps it filled up he would get a few months before whe have to POR15 it.
Then we notice there seems to be an oil leak from the right side, then it lights the oil light @ idle, and it makes a knocking sound @ take off and it has no choke cable.
I tell him he needs to fix all these ... and the guy goes yea yea ... and apparently on a ride to myrtle beach (300 mile r/t) he keep putting oil in it.
Then it doesn't start one day ... he brings it over and I say yea tank is rusty again
Then he decides to POR15 it. When I take off the tank I see the vacuum line is loose. I decide to drain the carbs and find it quite clean, not black and grainy like a clogged carb will be. I tell him your carb is likely not clogged, but this tank should be treated. So I por15 it. Then he had a headlight tha tdidn't work, I pull it and find out somethign is lookse somewhere inside the fariing it has. Nothing in the headlight is bad. I put it back and it works, but a day later it dies. I did it free anyway so he cant complain. But I notice the plastic pressure bypass radiator drain screw is missing ... that was what it was spewing ... not oil. Great dude has 3 extra qt's and still got oil light ... we get the radiator bolt bought and fitted and filled up and it starts ... great, he rides away ... and promptly in 3 days seizes the motor. I ask him if the oil light was on when riding ... he says no idea. The bloody thing had a bad oil pump, and he wasn't bothered by it, me mentioning it only brought on ... meeeeeh its running fine now ... or "just get it running".
BTW He's still not paid me for work done POR15' the tank.
Cool.
Buddha.
I gotta say Flick was in Tip Top shape when I got him. Was another girl that owned my guy!
Mary