Here are a couple of pictures of my chain.

Before cleaning...


After cleaning...


Today I got a couple of packages in the mail, one with a replacement clutch lever.  The other with some new mirrors, which I was able to get installed at lunch.

Before...


After...



Not bad for $25. Got them on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200601766117 (radical-cycle was the seller).

shawn

Quote from: shawn on May 23, 2011, 03:42:08 PM
Here are a couple of pictures of my chain.

Before cleaning...


After cleaning...

nice what did you use?  i gotta start doing this.

Just Kerosene and an old toothbrush. But, I just heard their is a special brush that would make it a lot easier (basically four brushes in one).

I have a video of the first half hour, but I need to convert it.

Make sure you put fresh lube on afterwards

shawn

Damn! that nice and clean from Kerosene?
Looks like I know what I will be doing this weekend thanks
as mine is quite filthy as well.

Note the angle in the chain links just left of where the leave the sprocket. (The one with the Make in Japan behind it on the rim)
It should not be at an angle. It should be straight. That link is binding up.
Just see the link at the far left edge of the picture also has an angle where it should be straight.
Trey's chain was doing that. It was not maintained by the PO and all the o-rings dried out. When I cleaned and lubed the chain, they swelled up making some links stiff.

Put bike on center stand. With pliers, (or your fingers) grab each link one at a time and see if they move freely. If they don't, you need a new chain. Trey was making strange periodic grinding sounds which didn't happen until I cleaned and lubed up his chain. We examined it and found some links would hardly move even when grabbing adjacent links with pliers! Like they were frozen in place. O-rings swelled up so much that links were not moving. That can be dangerous and make the chain break or damage the sprockets.

The other clue was as rotating the rear tire, the chain would get tight then loose then tight then loose. I marked one link with a marker and noticed it was when that link was always in the same place. Doing that ruled out alignment, bearings or bent sprockets. I also heard an odd click or snap with each complete rotation of the chain. Probably when a frozen link was going on or off of the front sprocket (since the chain must bend then straighten out the most at the front sprocket).

^^ thanks, main reason I plan to clean mine.
To see if theres any reason at all to replace it.

well and just to have it clean too haha

Quote from: adidasguy on May 23, 2011, 05:13:23 PM
Note the angle in the chain links just left of where the leave the sprocket. (The one with the Make in Japan behind it on the rim)
It should not be at an angle. It should be straight. That link is binding up.
Just see the link at the far left edge of the picture also has an angle where it should be straight.
Trey's chain was doing that. It was not maintained by the PO and all the o-rings dried out. When I cleaned and lubed the chain, they swelled up making some links stiff.

Put bike on center stand. With pliers, (or your fingers) grab each link one at a time and see if they move freely. If they don't, you need a new chain. Trey was making strange periodic grinding sounds which didn't happen until I cleaned and lubed up his chain. We examined it and found some links would hardly move even when grabbing adjacent links with pliers! Like they were frozen in place. O-rings swelled up so much that links were not moving. That can be dangerous and make the chain break or damage the sprockets.

The other clue was as rotating the rear tire, the chain would get tight then loose then tight then loose. I marked one link with a marker and noticed it was when that link was always in the same place. Doing that ruled out alignment, bearings or bent sprockets. I also heard an odd click or snap with each complete rotation of the chain. Probably when a frozen link was going on or off of the front sprocket (since the chain must bend then straighten out the most at the front sprocket).

Yeah, I did see that. Also the rust bugs me. So I figured I would replace the chain in the near future. Probably the same time I swap the tires from my parts bike (almost new Battleax).

We will see.

Now I also have some frame sliders to install Thanks for shipping them so quickly.

shawn

Treat her real pretty like and gave her a nice bubble bath and then i rubbed in some body polish  ..

Got a new rear tire fitted - Pirelli Sport Demon 140 to replace the old Sport Demon 130. 17,000km on the old rear. Would have got a few more clicks out of it if I hadn't relegated the GS to commuting duties and forced all the wear into the middle of the tire. But still, not bad wear.



Michael

Cleaned and adjusted Flick's carbs he still isn't running right

Mary

Cleaned and lubed the chain, topped off the oil, aimed the headlight, and mounted new tires front and rear (all at my parent's house in Oak Harbor). Riding up to Bellingham, I swerved and braked mid left turn at the same time in a bit of a panic (forgot my MSF training) to avoid a fawn, hit the curb at about a 20* angle, which flopped me and the bike over onto our right sides and rotated us so that we were looking at what was behind us when we were upright. Deer made it out unscathed. I broke off the right front turn signal (have a replacement in the parts box), my bars are bent, the brake lever and brake master cylinder are scuffed up, the tachometer gauge housing is rashed up, my ignition cover is cracked and the emblem is gone. Levers were bent when I got the bike though, lol.
The right leg of my overpants is full of holes/abrasions from my hip to my ankle, my gloves are both scuffed up, as is my nicer jacket (BMG Montana), and my tailbag has a few holes and abrasions now too. Oh yeah, my exhaust can got whacked pretty hard by the curb too. Still ticking though, went another 30 miles, and made sure everything was still straight.

In case anyone is wondering, I am looking for some parts now too, so feel free to shoot me a PM if you've got something you think may help.

Quote from: k.rollin on May 30, 2011, 09:45:50 PM
Cleaned and lubed the chain, topped off the oil, aimed the headlight, and mounted new tires front and rear (all at my parent's house in Oak Harbor). Riding up to Bellingham, I swerved and braked mid left turn at the same time in a bit of a panic (forgot my MSF training) to avoid a fawn, hit the curb at about a 20* angle, which flopped me and the bike over onto our right sides and rotated us so that we were looking at what was behind us when we were upright. Deer made it out unscathed. I broke off the right front turn signal (have a replacement in the parts box), my bars are bent, the brake lever and brake master cylinder are scuffed up, the tachometer gauge housing is rashed up, my ignition cover is cracked and the emblem is gone. Levers were bent when I got the bike though, lol.
The right leg of my overpants is full of holes/abrasions from my hip to my ankle, my gloves are both scuffed up, as is my nicer jacket (BMG Montana), and my tailbag has a few holes and abrasions now too. Oh yeah, my exhaust can got whacked pretty hard by the curb too. Still ticking though, went another 30 miles, and made sure everything was still straight.

In case anyone is wondering, I am looking for some parts now too, so feel free to shoot me a PM if you've got something you think may help.

Didn't you just fix your bike up from a recent drop?

Quote from: Twisted on May 31, 2011, 12:02:22 AM

Quote from: k.rollin on May 30, 2011, 09:45:50 PM
Cleaned and lubed the chain, topped off the oil, aimed the headlight, and mounted new tires front and rear (all at my parent's house in Oak Harbor). Riding up to Bellingham, I swerved and braked mid left turn at the same time in a bit of a panic (forgot my MSF training) to avoid a fawn, hit the curb at about a 20* angle, which flopped me and the bike over onto our right sides and rotated us so that we were looking at what was behind us when we were upright. Deer made it out unscathed. I broke off the right front turn signal (have a replacement in the parts box), my bars are bent, the brake lever and brake master cylinder are scuffed up, the tachometer gauge housing is rashed up, my ignition cover is cracked and the emblem is gone. Levers were bent when I got the bike though, lol.
The right leg of my overpants is full of holes/abrasions from my hip to my ankle, my gloves are both scuffed up, as is my nicer jacket (BMG Montana), and my tailbag has a few holes and abrasions now too. Oh yeah, my exhaust can got whacked pretty hard by the curb too. Still ticking though, went another 30 miles, and made sure everything was still straight.

In case anyone is wondering, I am looking for some parts now too, so feel free to shoot me a PM if you've got something you think may help.

Didn't you just fix your bike up from a recent drop?

Had a low speed fall back in February that caused a bit of an electrical headache. Haven't had the best luck with this bike, but I still enjoy it.

I sold it to another beginner...he was pretty happy about the bike "just what I was looking for..."...nice guy...I performed an oil change for him to show how easy it was...would have cleaned and lubed the chain but I forgot to bring the lube (had the kerosene and toothbrush... )

I gave him my Clymer manual and the service history on the bike...went through the start up procedure...but forgot to show him the preload adjuster and the idle adjuster...oh well, I'm sure he'll figure it out...of course I told him that GSTwin.com was the only site he needed for GS500 info...and told him to sign up at Albertamoto.com as well, so that I can still visit my old bike... 

Later.

Not gonna leave us, are ya? Just cause you don't have a GS anymore doesn't mean GS doesn't flow in your veins.

Michael

Got my tank painted and checked valve clearances. i went for a ride yesterday and the bike felt great. purring like a kitten

Started last week with valve check, new plugs, new air filter; followed next day with new chain, 15T front sprocket, oil change; and next day with front caliper and brake pads.  Took holiday off and did rear pads yesterday.  Today I ride.  Have new 140/70 Roadrider in locker to get put on yet, front 120/70 is good for this year, and then it gets it's annual trip to the car wash.

Took delivery of a full set of Gimbel fairings and rearsets.  Adjusted valve clearances. Started installing fairings.

Quote from: mister on June 01, 2011, 03:57:16 AM
Not gonna leave us, are ya? Just cause you don't have a GS anymore doesn't mean GS doesn't flow in your veins.

Michael

Nope...you can't get rid of me that easy...besides, there may be a GS in my future...my 12yo will want to ride and what better bike to learn on??  (maybe I should have kept my Clymer manual...  ) she isn't into cruisers, she likes the sport bikes...maybe there will be an updated replacement for the GS500 soon...

Feels kinda weird not having the GS500 in the driveway though... 

Later.

I think breaking my achilles tendon was less painful than installing the Raask sets on Trey.
Instructions are only a blurry picture. (Raask is Swedish - so does Ikea make rear sets? I bet they'd have easy to follow instructions  )
Then, putting the Gimbel on Junior last year was equally painful with no instructions but I did have help from Centuryghost so there was a shoulder to cry on.
Brake lever has too much travel so I'll have to farkle that to raise the pedal up a little. Maybe re-drill the hole for the linkage closer to the pivot point for a more responsive feel. Brake switch - well, I did get it to work and sort of fit in there. Shifter lever seems too close to the peg compared to Gimbel. Also Gimbel is better machining. Though I do like the position of the Raask pegs - not quite as extreme as Gimbel.

One difference: the levers (pedals) on Gimbel are 1/2" farther from the peg than stock or Raask. I like that in the shifter - more room for the toe of the shoe to fit in there.

Would I do it again? Well, at least I now know how to install Gimbel and Raask. Do I like the Raask? Ask in a couple weeks after I ride for a while. I can return Trey to stock or put on the extra Gimbel set I have.

Bike cave not finished, but all the new lights in the carport lets me work at night as if it were high noon. So bright, I was out there at 1:30AM and didn't realize what time it was.