Bought a 1990 GS500 off Ebay. Picked it up Friday. I knew it didn't run, but that never stopped me before. Didn't get a chance to really check things over till yesterday.

This bike has had a hard life. Was laid down on the right side. Outer cover is gone. Inner looks to be cracked. One of the threaded bosses is broke out. The pickup is trashed. It does have a V&H advancer.

The head light has seen better days. Gauges too. Although I thin they will be servicable. Drag bar has to go. Plus it's bent.

V&H pipe that is dented like the bike hit a curb or bottomed out. The can is painted grey.

But all that stuff is minor considering what I found in the engine. The left spark plug was out, so I decided to roll it thru by hand. ( No battery ) Anyway, the right side had some compression. The left side, NADA!!

Pulled the head and cylinder tonight. Just a little bit of RUST in the left cylinder and the rings are stuck. Well that explains that. Wish I had a digital camera.

Decided to see how well the valves were sealing. Put some old gas in the chambers. Not too bad, but leaking some.

So hopefully, I won't ask too many stupid questions about GS500's. Been awhile since i've had an engine apart this far.

I just hope the bike is as fun as it looks like it will be when I get it back together.  

How much did you pay for it? I'm sure a lot of people here will be willing to help you out.  

475. Probably too much. I'm sure i'll be needing it.  Went to school to work on Aircraft and worked on Helicopters in the service. But that was quite awhile ago. Have a pretty good selection of tools, along with a South Bend lathe.

You've come to the right place. I just bought mine a couple of weeks ago and the guys have already helped me tremendously. And you'll have a blast on the GS500 when you get it back to going.

Derek

Oh well ... you didn't think it was going to be good did ya ... In any case, Rashad here had a set of inner cases he was talking to me about ... you should try to contact him.
Cool.
Srinath.

"You've come to the right place. "

Yes I did. Found the site before I decided to bid on it. First time buying a "complete?" bike on Ebay. Might have to rethink that one.  :lol:

No, I didn't expect it to be perfect, just a little better shape than it was. I'll get it up and running.

Yea people sell on ebay for a reason ... I entirely stay away from selling, sometimes I end up buying and always regret it. Even new stuff from stores or warehouses ... Used crap ... forget it. But those wiley co's were ebay purchase and I was happy and so were others that bought off ebay ... so I guess occasionally good deals are possible.
Cool.
Srinath.

Been pretty lucky with buying parts. Had one bad deal with a wheel for my Triumph project. Lousy picture, and I was tired of looking for a wheel for the bike.

Welcome to the club Zilla. I too bought an ebay bike. Mine was $416. It's condition was similar to yours except for the plugs were not removed. Here is my thread of the not-finished project.

I am going a little farther than just getting it running. Not quite museum quality is fine with me, but some things just cannot be overlooked.

Pick our collective brains and don't be bashful to post needed parts. Most GStwinners are very affordable when listed here. Now when it comes to ebay, the gloves come off.  :lol:

I too bought one from Jetswing last week. Was disappointed to find out, its not as screwed up as I thought ... doesn't need powder coating, and almost everyhting is there in boxes ... He started parting it out and I interrupted him.
Cool.
Srinath.

Hello Zilla,

Welcome.  I saw that you have a South Bend lathe.  When I noticed that I checked your profile and saw that you are a machinist.  Man, I am envious of you.  Ever since I was a young man I have dreamed of owning and knowing how to operate machine tools.

I graduated from a parochial, college prep high school in 1971.  I had no business in that school.  I was not college bound and I went into the US Air Force right after high school.  That long ago the public high school still offered shop classes and we also had a vocational school in our district.   That Is where I belonged!

Around the block from where I live I have noticed that a man has a lathe and a milling machine in his garage.  As it turns out this man is the grandfather of a young man I work with.  I want to introduce myself and check out the possibility of watching him do some work on his machines.  I don't know if this is a good idea.  Zilla, how would you take it if a neighbor introduced himself to you and wanted to watch you working with your machines while you were out in the garage?  I'm just curious to see if you would think that would be a pain in the butt?  Maybe an unwanted intrusion?

Well, good luck to you.


Bob

Quote from: starwaltWelcome to the club Zilla. I too bought an ebay bike. Mine was $416. It's condition was similar to yours except for the plugs were not removed. Here is my thread of the not-finished project.

I am going a little farther than just getting it running. Not quite museum quality is fine with me, but some things just cannot be overlooked.

Pick our collective brains and don't be bashful to post needed parts. Most GStwinners are very affordable when listed here. Now when it comes to ebay, the gloves come off.  :lol:

I intend to get the bike in shape, but I have a list of things a mile long to do on it. Once it's up and going and all the things I need to take care of are done, then i'll probably take it down to the frame and repaint it and the bodywork.

Quote from: rcepluchHello Zilla,

Welcome.  I saw that you have a South Bend lathe.  When I noticed that I checked your profile and saw that you are a machinist.  Man, I am envious of you.  Ever since I was a young man I have dreamed of owning and knowing how to operate machine tools.

I graduated from a parochial, college prep high school in 1971.  I had no business in that school.  I was not college bound and I went into the US Air Force right after high school.  That long ago the public high school still offered shop classes and we also had a vocational school in our district.   That Is where I belonged!

Around the block from where I live I have noticed that a man has a lathe and a milling machine in his garage.  As it turns out this man is the grandfather of a young man I work with.  I want to introduce myself and check out the possibility of watching him do some work on his machines.  I don't know if this is a good idea.  Zilla, how would you take it if a neighbor introduced himself to you and wanted to watch you working with your machines while you were out in the garage?  I'm just curious to see if you would think that would be a pain in the butt?  Maybe an unwanted intrusion?

Well, good luck to you.


Bob

Thanks for the invite. I do come from a mechanical family, I guess. My Dad was a Union Sheet metal worker and welder for almost forty years. His four brothers are all mechanics.

I've been working as a machinist for 12 years now. Most of my experience is with CNC lathes and grinders. But I have no formal machinist training. I had a little experience with manual machines, but I am still learning a lot everyday on the South Bend. I may be picking up a mill soon as well. Depends if I can find a different shop.

I currently rent a barn that has a wood floor and it makes using the lathe a pain sometimes. I know it won't hold a mill.

As for your question, I wouldn't hesitate to ask. I personally wouldn't mind. In fact I wish more people would take an interest in the skilled trades. Especially younger people.

Here's the bike I bought.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4530591314&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Measured the cylinders the other day. Other than where the water sat in the left side, the bores were in spec. Almost at the low side of spec. So I decided to try to hone the the left side out. Not going to happen, about to the service limit and I can still feel where the water sat. It was worth a shot though.

Have to find a shop to bore them.

The valves look like I can lap them and be ok there.

Sure getting a steep learning curve on the GS500.

Got the head apart today. Well that gets to go the machine shop. Exhausts are pretty bad.
I had honed the cylinders and bought new rings from MRCycles. Thinking I will have it bored and go oversize on the pistons.

Sure learning alot about GS500's, but i'm not complaining. YET!!!!      

Cool, yes you're gonna love the little bugger when you get it running. Fun little scooter. I love my GS and this forum too.

C.......

Got it all back together and running. Doesn't sound too bad. But I took the wheels off and decided to check out the calipers. They were in pretty bad shape. No pitting, but it took quite a bit of cleaning. have to order seals and will probably put braided brake lines on it. Along with tires, chain, sprockets, etc, etc. Not that i'm complaining. Keeping me out of trouble.

Although my 17 year old son told me he wants to find a bike. He lives with me part time, so I told him if he get's his rear in gear and helps me finish the GS, I told him i'd let him have it. He hasn't come up to the shop with me yet. So, I guess we'll see.

Thanks for the update; nice to know you're still making progress. If your son doesn't want the GS, feel free to adopt me...