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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Paulcet on November 11, 2011, 03:10:17 PM

Title: My winter project
Post by: Paulcet on November 11, 2011, 03:10:17 PM
Let me start by saying that I ride year-round.  So I have never intended to have a "winter project". 

I rode up to the next town to visit my wife where she works.  About 65 mph, easy ride, about 45 miles.

On the return, I was in a hurry - about 75 mph (Any many thanks to the State Trooper who decided NOT to pull me over!)

I jump off the bike when I got home to go pick up kids and saw this:

(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af315/paulcet/2011-11-11_16-23-37_705.jpg)

And this:

(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af315/paulcet/2011-11-11_16-29-08_161.jpg)

The source is:

(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af315/paulcet/2011-11-11_16-29-59_377.jpg)

That leak at the front of the base gasket has been there for quite a while, very slight.  Didn't notice until well after it got knocked over in a parking lot.  Guess it let go within the last few miles on my way home.  No oil on my pants or boots. No film on the parts to the rear of the engine.

So I'm ordering base, head and exhaust gaskets.  What else am I missing?
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: BaltimoreGS on November 11, 2011, 04:10:37 PM
There are 4 o-rings on the head gasket you should replace (#9 on the microfiche).  They allow oil pressure in the top end.   :thumb:

-Jessie

Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: Paulcet on November 21, 2011, 05:32:44 PM
Thanks Jessie.

Parts are on order, and I have started taking it apart. 

I peeked at the intake valves:

Left
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af315/paulcet/2011-11-21_18-15-55_971.jpg)

Right
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af315/paulcet/2011-11-21_18-15-01_377.jpg)

Looking for opinions on replacing valve guide seals.  I'm REALLY hoping the guides are ok, as I don't want to spend another $80!

Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: ghostrider_23 on November 21, 2011, 06:08:16 PM
Not to alarm you but is that a crack on the right side in the second picture or maybe just a strange angle?
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: Paulcet on November 21, 2011, 06:15:12 PM
 Casting marks, see corresponding mark on the other side.
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: KlaXon on November 22, 2011, 04:04:33 AM
What changes you did to the bike? Like exhausts, air filters, jets..? From the second picture i see that you running very lean
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: Paulcet on November 22, 2011, 09:19:09 PM
Quote from: KlaXon on November 22, 2011, 04:04:33 AM
What changes you did to the bike? Like exhausts, air filters, jets..? From the second picture i see that you running very lean
In addition to what's in my sig line, 40 pilots, 142.5 mains, 2 washers, 3.5 turns.

The intake side of the plugs looks a little white, the other side looks fine.  The exhaust valves look white.  The LED "flash" on my camera is adding to the extreme whiteness.  In googling "white exhaust valve", there are a lot of speculations on lean conditions, but no concrete answers.  In fact, some people have other indicators of rich mixture and still have white exhaust valves.
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: Paulcet on February 03, 2012, 03:15:49 PM
http://youtu.be/6YgWIVAj8X4

It Lives!

Started on the first try, runs great!   :woohoo:
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: tt_four on February 03, 2012, 05:04:15 PM
Quote from: Paulcet on February 03, 2012, 03:15:49 PM
http://youtu.be/6YgWIVAj8X4

It Lives!

Started on the first try, runs great!   :woohoo:

very satisfying when a bike starts after a project like that. It's one of the few projects that you can spend weeks on and have absolutely no idea if it's gonna work until you put it all together and hit the starter. it's not like when you try to make a table and as you're going you look at it and think "ooh shaZam! this thing is gonna be so crooked" and can just fix it right then, haha. very stressful.
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: BaltimoreGS on February 03, 2012, 06:05:01 PM
Congratulations man, enjoy riding it!   :thumb:

-Jessie
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: Tombstones81 on February 03, 2012, 06:30:25 PM
Quote from: tt_four on February 03, 2012, 05:04:15 PM
Quote from: Paulcet on February 03, 2012, 03:15:49 PM
http://youtu.be/6YgWIVAj8X4

It Lives!

Started on the first try, runs great!   :woohoo:

very satisfying when a bike starts after a project like that. It's one of the few projects that you can spend weeks on and have absolutely no idea if it's gonna work until you put it all together and hit the starter. it's not like when you try to make a table and as you're going you look at it and think "ooh shaZam! this thing is gonna be so crooked" and can just fix it right then, haha. very stressful.

yep, same with mine.
first click it started.
a Very nice feeling after too much BS!  :thumb:
Title: Re: My winter project
Post by: tt_four on February 03, 2012, 08:38:48 PM
Quote from: Tombstones81 on February 03, 2012, 06:30:25 PM

yep, same with mine.
first click it started.
a Very nice feeling after too much BS!  :thumb:

The one time I really enjoy an electric start. Nothing like standing there trying to kickstart a bike for 15 minutes, not knowing if it's ever gonna fire up, and by the time it does you're too tired to even ride it anymore haha