94 Winter dismantle, clean up, & minor customize

[Tombstones81]

was in a sour mood when I got home, so I decided to cheer myself up working on the bike before the sun went down
& yes, it really does cheer me up quite a bit 

started the bondo on the dented tank.

while that dried I figured why not do a test coat of color on my rear rim since that was ready for it.

after that, did a coat of primer on the rear plastics.

Gotta say, LOVIN this paint!!!!!!!
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Metal-Specks&153;,-Retro-Red,-11-oz--Aerosol-Duplicolor_7141554-P_N3276_T|GRP2050_____
^^  metal specks retro red, linked in a prior reply too.

never painted before other then a wall growin up hahaha
but I love this paint compared to the primer I was doing.
So much thicker made it Sooo much easier to work with without messing up badly.

Freakin STOKED right now!
Honestly did not expect it to look This dang good!
SO glad I chose this paint and I would suggest it (right now anyways) to anyone.

This was merely a test coat, but it did come out WAY better then expected.
Really helped watching video's and reading all the how to's.

my crappy phones camera does this NO justice.
it really does look 10X better in person.

Cannot wait to get to the rest now (but I will not rush it)

& I am replacing the rear tire so there was no need to tape it off.
tho yes the sides have alot of tread left, but the middle is bare. (obviously I havnt hit the twisties this season, only my first season so noty yet)



(edit)
and yes I did have plans for powdercoating the rims and frame.
but I decided to do every single bit of work with my own 2 mitts being my first bike and first time doing everything.
makes it all the much more sweeter.

[lucky4034]

Great thread   

[Tombstones81]

thanks.
I was starting to think I was writing it up badly as not many replies.

First time doing all of this so I'm trying to be as detailed as I can.

& its been a slow process.
I would be alot further then I am if I had ANY power tools or a garage.
Every single thing is pretty much done by hand (even stripping and sanding)
So what would take maybe a half hour to do with power tools, is taking me 2 hrs or greater by hand. (depending on the item being worked on)

Also work needing good ventilation has been a very slow process as I have to be outside and I have been working around the weather and outside temps.

kk updated main post to current plans.

Now to go get ready and go buy more primer as the store ran out last time I stopped. (has more in now)
Then go out back on this Sweet day.
Scrape down and sand smooth the tanks bondo, then primer.
finish the coats of primer on the plastics.
and while that dries and sets, start the paint on the frame.
then maybe a coat of paint on the plastics if its ready.

[lucky4034]

Well, keep up the good work.  Seems like you have a good project and I for one appreciate you sharing the details and your thought process and changes. 

I think the slow replies have less to do with you and more to do with it being winter and many users having put their toys away for the season. 

[Tombstones81]

Got a TON of painting done! 

UGH 5 hrs worth, im Beat!

Just the first coat on what I painted.
Also painted the stands as well... I dont think I see anything but black, so I figure the heck with it and painted em red.

Fairings have some dark spots.
I have to sand it down to get it even again and repaint em.
this time Much further away and in alot lighter coating!
they took the paint alot differently then the metal I have painted so far.

Fairings


this one looks fine atm, will check it out further tomorrow as when it was dry enough to move, I simply moved it and kept on painting.


sidestand (wasnt Fully dry so I hung it by the lil nub on the side while I kept on painting)


Tank primered
Wanted to do a color coat on that but the bondo wasnt as even or as smooth as I thought it was. (was hard to see in all directions except from the front)
gotta sand it smooth and maybe a lil more to even it out.




triple tree needed paint (overspray from PO)


center stand


First coat of black on the lovely frame 
came out VERYYYY nice!


Painted the swingarm too but when I got finished I was cleaning up and forgot to snag a pic.

& yes I went a lil nuts with the red.
about the only things I didnt plan to paint red were the stands.

Def. going to like it when I start putting it back together 
Still only halfway through with painting tho.
Only the first coat and still need to even buy the clear.

[Big Rich]

Paint looks good man. This thing is gonna be ready before spring time.......

I wouldn't worry about the comments. You're coming along just fine, so there's no "helping" comments. Wait til you do something wrong......

[Tombstones81]

thanks.
and yeah it will be at least mostly reassembled as soon as everything being painted or needing paint is fully done.
Engine and front rim will be painted last as I still have to take them to a garage to have stripped bolts removed.

Just trying to get it done asap but not do the work in a hurry.
working around the weather as it needs to be done outside.
and my nephew needs to bring his 93 Katana here now and has no room to work on it with mine apart.
even tho he has had since like May or June to work on it (not running), guess my fun is infectious.
Just not in the mood to hear his harpin about me taking up all the room.

OT tho.
came upon some cheaper clear coat that adidas referred to me.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm (17.40)

http://www.eastwood.com/spray-max-2k-high-gloss-clearcoat-aerosol.html (22.99)

was looking up something else on paint and just happen to click on the link on some random forum from my google search. 
guess I will look it up some more and see if I can find it even cheaper.
(doing everything in that clear coat, so if I can save some $, sweet!)

(edit)
nope, guess I just got lucky for once.
that was The cheapest I can find.

(edited again)
just went downstairs and took a nice look at the parts painted.
Frame came out Flawlessly!
Need to sand down all the plastics and do MUCH lighter coats at a further distance.  (was alot different then all the metal I've been painting)
all the metal pieces look Great, just need another coat and to snag a few side areas that didnt get covered equally. (very small spots tho)

Next time tho, hanging the parts from my clothes line. (so I make sure I get every nook and cranny)
didnt have a problem on a cinderblock spraying tho, just the slightly missed areas.

I'll give it until Tues or Weds (next days off) to cure and then sand the plastics down.
and then a 2nd coat of the red on everything else and light coats on the plastics & tank if its finished.
if the weather permits.

Frames 2nd coat has to wait until payday possibly tho.
Already spent a ton on material and I think im only down to a half a can of black enamel.

Then order the clear coat on Friday 

[Tombstones81]

Got a Sweet idea from my supervisor at work.

Planned, and have the paint already to repaint the engine black.
He asks if its water or air cooled, said air cooled.
said I should see how painting the ends of the fins on the upper part of the engine red.

Sweet idea and it would probably look better then all black.
a "possible" addition to that would be to paint the cap around the suzuki emblem red as well.
First the fins tho, & I have an extra cap I can test it out on and see how it looks.

we'll see.
if it doesnt look good, its not much loss or additional work at all.

[Big Rich]

If you don't like the red fins, you could just sand off the edges (or use a bastard file). Bare aluminium ends looks nice too IMO.

[Tombstones81]

If you don't like the red fins, you could just sand off the edges (or use a bastard file). Bare aluminium ends looks nice too IMO.

yeah, it depends on how it looks tho.
it will be bare metal prior to painting the ends and the rest will be repainted black first.

honestly I doubt bare metal would look good, because there is nothing in view that it will match/mesh with.
all the metal pieces minus the frame and engine are all painted red.
dunno about the lower fork tubes yet tho, they are a MESS (more PO overspray ><) and probably going black.

but, its nice out and I was just going to sit on my butt today but went downstairs to check on the stuff and got myself in the mood to work.
time to go sand down the bondo on the tank more 

(edit)
sanded down the bondo and reapplied the primer.
appears ALOT better then it was before.

now to check it out tomorrow and if its good and not raining, give it a LIGHT coat of paint.

[Tombstones81]

HELL YEAHHHH!!!!! 

Got the Tank, fairings, various metal parts, & swingarm finished with paint. (now to buy clear on Friday)

All of it came out GREAT!!!!!
Tank was so so.
only because the tank itself wasnt 100% smooth (brand new smooth) all over. (LITTLE things that couldnt be seen until Coats of paint were on it)
Paint on it came out GREAT tho, so I dont give a Funk!!

little tease of how its going to look


(edit)
looks 100X better from different angles in the light with the flakes in it.
freakin Stoked right now!

(edited again)
new addition to what im going to add.
http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id20.html
since adidas said it helps to keep things pretty clean under there.

& UGH! keep forgetting to dig thru my bin of parts for the rear grab bar and repaint that (black)

(edited again)
gave it a few hours to fully dry before checking on the parts again.
Just did and everything came out PERFECTLY!!!!
Fairings have no dark spots now, every piece I painted is totally even.

This time I just hung my parts from the clothes line.
Tank and plastics I just kept going from one to the other giving it Veryyyy light coats and built it up evenly.
by the time I went around once, the next one again was dry enough to spray but I still waited a few mins as I've read.

Now I just hope theres 2 nice enough days late next week for me to clear coat.
as I cant friggin Wait to see how this turns out fully done!

[Tombstones81]

Well, been a week since I did anything.
Was letting the paint cure while waiting for payday to buy the clear coat and now waiting on it to get here.

But, took my rim and top part of my engine to a machine shop and had the 3 stripped bolts removed finally  

$75 ugh, Just got back home with them, so its time to get back to workin

Front rim, metal around the gauge's, and rear grab bar stripped, sanded, and primer.

the hell of stripping and sanding down the motor will be dead last! hahaha

(edited)
12/6
Got the motor sanded down and ready for paint 
which was the last piece! OMG thank god!
I am NEVER sanding down through paint all by hand ever again!!

Now for the clear to get here Thurs or Fri.
then next Friday pick up the frames 2nd coat of black, and more red for the front rim.

Then I can begin reassembling and buying the needed replacement parts first.

[Tombstones81]

Got the rest of the paint I needed.
and the clear coat arrived today  http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm tnx for the referral on the clear adidas, tho I found it cheaper elsewhere.
probably because it only has a 48 hr life once its activated (cap installed on bottom) (can says 48, site says 24,.... im goin with 24)
not sure if the $22 one was different.

Now to sit here until im in a relaxed enough mood to go and get almost the rest of the painting finally finished. 
Not going to go at the clear coat in anything But a fully relaxed and patient state!!

hopefully some finished pics to show late in the morning (off tonight) or tomorrow.

(edit)
BREAK TIME!
need some fresher air, that clear coat is a Killer (even with a mask)
about 3 out of 4 coats done with the clear coat on everything but the frame, front fender, and rims.
everything is comin along Great.
rear fairings show some dark spots tho. (the multiple colors showing through the primer, color & clear.
not TOO bad tho, just looks like weird designs underneath so i dont mind.

[Tombstones81]

FINALLY!!! finished painting!!!
for the most part, still got the lower fork tubes and like 2 Little things but all the major parts are Done! 
$h!t$ lookin pretty dang sweet!
No pics yet, everything is set up all nice and neat already (hanging from the ceiling) and I am not about to touch Anything.
Pretty much got done with one piece, hung it up, and kept on goin.

I thought the color looked good by itself... WOW, 10X nicer with some clear on it.

So far everything looks flawless, minus the minor bit with the rear fairings... but thats no big deal.

So glad I paid attention to how many cans of color I used overall.
I had JUST enough clear coat to finish (5 cans)

now to hope everything stays perfect
and then starting next Friday when im off for 3 days, clean up all the nuts, bolts etc etc, lube everything needed up and begin reassembly!

and no I am not done there.
Taking it all apart was just to clean and repaint everything.
When its all back together is when I start buying replacement parts on the list, among other items slowly over the winter.

kk hope this made sense as I've been painting for I dunno how many hours.. hmm since 8:30pm and its now 2:30am
cant tell if im half out of it or not hahaha

off to walmart 

[adidasguy]

I use the vibrating cleaner to clean and polish nuts, bolts and other stuff. If you were in my area, I'd say drop all that little stuff off and I'd run it through the cleaner. Got mine from Eastwood. I think its a good investment. Removes dirt, grime and rust from parts and polishes them up really purdy - so nice you could step in manure and come out smelling like a rose.

There's a 2k spot clear and the other one. I think the spot in is 24 hours and the other 48. Price doesn't mater - same and glad you found it cheaper. I'll order from there when I need more.

[Tombstones81]

I'll just hand clean each part & regrease as I'm putting it on one part at a time.
Coleman fuel & a toothbrush.

Well, 12 hrs after finishing, I went downstairs and checked the parts out.
Dry enough to handle, but im not going to, just leaving them hang til next friday.

Mood is on cloud 99! even more then last night!
Parts came out GREATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
I'll take some pics with my nephews Iphone when he wakes up as they will be better quality.

& btw im in such a good mood because all of this is a first time for me.
& anything I try to fix or work on usually ends badly.
So when things go good, it kicks my mood Way up there!

Engine I simply painted all black again, including the valve cover.
After almost 6 hrs of painting nonstop, I was done monkeying around.

Since that will be the first piece to go back into the frame, tonight I'll put the top part of the engine back together.

kk waiting on my nephew to wake up before gettin some pics.

(edit)
didnt get the chance to use his phone to get better pics.
Just got a few with mine tho, but not all.

Put the top half of the motor back together.

Then a few hours later got bored and went at it some more.

Tank


rear rim and front wheel cover


Engine


Then I got in a bad mood and bored, decided to carefully start on the rebuild.
Got the motor in first.
Swingarm
then the center stand.



the bad news.
front end has to wait now.
the top bearings on the steering stem got cracked and one of the metal whatevers fell out.
I do believe it is #8 in the diagram http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/model_years/3546-suzuki-1994-gs500e/assemblies/124904
Will just do everything but the front end if I get around to it before next Friday.
Then i'll head up to the salvage yard and check some prices on a few things I need

(edit)
nvm on seeing what the salvage yard has as far as bearings go.
see a few sets brand new on ebay for around $30
also might as well snag new fork seals as well since they are only around $15.
didnt appear to need them but better safe then sorry.

[Tombstones81]

Got some more work done today.
Dog bones back on.
Rear shock, even tho I plan to replace it. (I just want the bike fully together first)
Kick stand button
half of the wiring harness. (still need to neaten it up and zip tie it down)
Battery box
rear wheel cover
& brake light that I am also going to replace.

[Tombstones81]

F&^%$ YEAH!!!

Went to work, overstaffed for the night.
Was asked if I wanted to go home, said heck yeah! more time on the bike! haha 

Pretty much all done with what I can do!! (cant put the front end on until I get a bunch of things)
Got Everything else on though.
Just didnt connect the fuel hoses to the tank, or put on the tanks petcock or cap.
Also didnt add brake fluid to the rear line yet.

Got everything on tho, at least for cosmetic reasons for now.
Still need to buy and install a new front sprocket and new chain, still put the side engine cover on and new chain guard tho.

I thought the parts looked sweet on their own.
Together on the bike... wow!
So glad my hard work panned out

kk sorry, room I had to take pics was limited.
Phones camera sucks.
Lighting is limited too and I couldnt move the bike with no front end.

So here is what I can get for now.
Cant see everything as great and pics do it absolutely No justice. (that I keep saying over and over again)









and sorry, didnt get a pic of the new chain guard.
I was too stoked and busy admiring my work when I finally got done.

I'll try to get better photos if I ever catch my nephew to use his Iphone (if it will even take better photos) probably will tho.

Hmmm, finished painting Friday morning at 2:30am
Started putting things back together Friday evening. (motor was first)
and Finished with what I can Sunday morning at 3:30am.

Pretty eventful weekend and really quick work putting it back together!

......but what am I going to do with my time now???!!!!       
hahahaha

sorry im just pretty stoked right now.
First time for all of this and for it to come out so nice has me in a Great mood!

(edit)
oh yeah, and no pegs either.
Buying http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Suzuki-Front-Rider-Foot-Peg-GSXR-600-2006-2007-2008-2009-2010-2011-2012-/160697810142?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item256a55fcde
So there was no point putting those UGLY @$$ stock ones on.

[adidasguy]

Looking sweet

Click on image to Play...

[Tombstones81]

ty and haha nice video.
nephew got back, borrowed his phone and got better pics.
will upload them as soon as he sends me them.