So I got a 2004 GS 500F for free and I'm tearing it down.  My question is: Should I rebuild the engine or just replace gaskets etc???  I can figure the rebuild out but wanted some information from you guys.  It did run and has about 28K miles on the bike.  Thanks in advance.

WElcome!  Need pics! 

Was it running bad?  Just wondering if you're doing it for the heck of it or it needed it?

 Sound's like trouble to me.
And welcome
Johno

Pics to follow.  I wanted a project and probably a hybrid between cafe and scrambler.  I was tearing it down to paint anyway but curious if I should rebuild it or just replace gaskets. 

Personally I wouldn't screw with it unless it needed it.

I think it may need it and I don't want to complete the restore and find out later that it needs it. Pulling the motor tomorrow to start cleaning then go from there. Is there a manual for the rebuild for the engines and carbs.

Ok so I had a local shop quote me on replacing all the gaskets. He said 400 just for parts. So I'm looking around 800 when I'm done. He said the tranny was leaking too. Should I fix this one cause it was leaking but he said the bottom end and pistons all looked good. I can get a working used one for that money. Your thoughts?

400 for gaskets?  hory crap.  I'd get on ronayers and see how much they are and do it myself. 

That is what I though too. Never done it before but worth a try.

Personally I love working on stuff.  That's how it starts, doing it yourself, learning how to do it and fixing your own bike.  Now it's zen time, working on whatever is next and figuring it out.  What all 'gaskets' are you planning on doing?

Looks like 195.00 for a gasket kit but does that include everything I need for engine and transmission?  I went to the ronayers website.

Ordered the Haynes repair manual and just going to try this myself.   

If I was you, I wouldn't pull the head and barrel off just to change the gaskets unless it's necessary. Just change the side covers, oil pan and such.
It you do pull the barrel off, the rings need to go back in exactly as they came out. That's easily done by marking the ring gaps on the pistons with a sharpie the minute you take the barrel off. The reason the rings need to go back in the same place is because there is every chance the rings have worn unevenly, and if you just stick the barrel back on with the rings at a different angle as to what they were when you took them out you will have shaZam! compression. It just leads to another set of problems. Ideally you would just replace the rings while the engine is stripped down.
Not to mention what joy you may find with the head and valves. Just try to get the machine running first.
Do a compression test ,clean the carbs and tank and get the engine running first to see where it is at.

+1 what crackin said

Well I went to get the motor today and he actually had the head off and said that I owed him 85.00 just for looking at it.  I did not tell him to pull it apart.  I just wanted a quote to look it over and replace the gaskets.  I told him that I could get a gasket kit for around 190 bucks and do it myself.  He said "let me quote the gaskets again".  To his defense, he is mostly a harley mechanic.  I told him I could not be much passed 500.00 total and thats just so I dont have to worry about messing something up.  I can do the carbs and everything forward (I hope).  He is a really nice guy but I wish I would have gotten it running first instead of stripping the bike down to bare bones.  I have it down to the frame now so I'm at the mercy of him putting it back together.  I'm still being optimistic that I can get it put back together for around 500.00 and have a solid motor.

He said everything on the motor looked good except for the chain guard that was on the inside.  I'm sure thats expensive so I told him if it was not too bad, to leave it alone.

How did it end up?


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