Hi Jack, Buddha, Adidas and other helpful friends,
It is time for me to do some basic maintenance that I've put off for a bit.
I am getting ready to clean my carbs -- clogged small jets can be ignored no longer.
I also want to freshen the black exterior of my stock exhaust.
I'm also considering replacing the PITA stock petcock (I replaced it with a new one once already) with a 2004 Honda CR250X petcock to remove the vacuum and fuel starvation issues.
Here's why I'm asking for your advice:

On the exhaust refinishing, some posters on the site say to remove, wire brush and repaint with stove paint.
Others say to clean thoroughly and use black stove paste or wax and then refinish with that periodically as needed.

I've done the paint approach before.
What would you do? Do any of you use the stove paste and are you happy with it?

On the petcock issue ... have any of you done the replacement route with the Honda petcock?
Are you happy with it?
We used to have a well-illustrated guide on the site for how to do the replacement with the Honda petcock but I can't find it anymore.
Is it a hassle to do this mod?
What did you do to block off the vacuum line after ditching the stock GS500 petcock?

Thanks folks, for you advice.

Best wishes,
Trwhouse

Sub'd

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Here is a link with the Petcock mod, and discussion regarding the petcocks throughout the thread ... My guess is you don't want Adidas to ring  in on the Petcock issue if you want to do it... Most
of the established members are against that mod or don't see the point, but I see you have at least valid reasons for its consideration.
http://www.gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58895

- Bboy

Trwhouse, I see you are from PA.....where about exactly? If you're west of Pittsburgh (or like to travel), I can sandblast your exhaust for you.

I used this stuff on mine. Its worked out pretty well and I didn't do any prep work aside from making sure everything was clean. Best part is if you get a scuff, just spray a little more on and it blends right in. The rest of the can is going to be used on the GS's headers soon.



I bought this particular can from home depot.

I still swear by gas grill paint.  It held up for years.  http://gstwin.com/vanceandhines.htm#repaint

Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm near Lancaster, no where near Pittsburgh, but thanks for the offer on the blasting. 

Best wishes,
Trwhouse

Quote from: Trwhouse on May 07, 2013, 11:43:39 AM
Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm near Lancaster, no where near Pittsburgh, but thanks for the offer on the blasting. 

Best wishes,
Trwhouse

Hey I'm from Marietta! Howdy neighbor!

Here is the link to the original how-to by ben2go:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56352.msg639781#msg639781

I also did this mod and I love it.  No more worries about fuel stavation due to the vacuum crap or fuel leaking through the diaphragm while the bike is off (Just remember to turn it it off in case your needle valve stick!).  I have the stock airbox, so I had to add a spacer between the petcock and the frame mount.  I just used a piece of wood and it works well.  With more time and resources I would have fabbed something nicer out of aluminum.  I also had to file just a tiny bit of the lever off to clear the frame (very small amount).  None of that is necessary if you have the lunchbox filter as ben2go does.  The on and reserve lines are in a different spot, so you'll have to switch the lines for length.  I capped off the vacuum port with the same type of cap and clip used to cap the sync ports on the top of the carbs.  Here is a link to pics from my project.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59113.msg683867#msg683867

Hope that helps.

Thanks for finding that, bombsquad.
I couldn't find it anywhere.
Best wishes,
Trwhouse

You could try what twisted did. Get all the rust off with steel wool and wire brush and coat with wd40. Then fire it up. It is smoky but your headers look factory fresh and add to it with a bit more steel wool and wd40 keeps em shiny.

Yep...fast... easy...looks great....and lasts...

Cookie

Quote from: adidasguy on May 07, 2013, 01:15:07 PM

I'm thinking of doing red tape on my black and silver e. But I'm not a true expert.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/631994415/Exhaust_Heat_Tape.html?s=p

sounds cool... but honest question.... why?..... i mean... cosmetic? ... performance altering? .. just because? ... all of the above?

i've seen it on cars etc .. mainly used for lowering heat radiation in engine bays etc ... i've thought of this kinda thing on the bike... but i dunno... i mean really i dunno!!... i seek enlightenment!! 

Exhaust wrap as a performance gain on a bike is kind of....."iffy". Don't get me wrong, I've used it before and will use it again. I like it because you can't burn your boots or anything on it. The worst part about the stuff is that it rusts your exhaust underneath.

I've heard the red tape quickly becomes pink.

Quote from: Big Rich on May 08, 2013, 06:23:50 PM
Exhaust wrap as a performance gain on a bike is kind of....."iffy". Don't get me wrong, I've used it before and will use it again. I like it because you can't burn your boots or anything on it. The worst part about the stuff is that it rusts your exhaust underneath.

mmmm thats what i was thinking in the background ... exposed pipes on a bike... wet weather .. even though the wrap is hot and should evap the water.. theres always gonna be a little bit trapped or not evap at the end of a wet ride...

Quote from: bombsquad83 on May 08, 2013, 06:37:59 PM
I've heard the red tape quickly becomes pink.

pink silver and black could still work!! 

however .. http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/flameproof/       ..... comes in several color options... including RED

Yeah... I never did go through with the red tape. I just thought it would look good.