Gs750

[tommystinson]

I'm continuing to work on my friend/coworkers GS750. Part favor, part gift and part penance, it all adds up to (?).
Chain destroyed, sprockets that look like saw blades. A twist throttle that was so ill maintained that it wouldn't return; cruise control due to neglect. Electrical connections that melted the clear vinyl sleeves, it goes on and on. My friend bought this bike last year, from a supposed mechanic. He works for the same company we do. I'd like to call him a hack right about now, a little after midnight having spent a few hours in the garage. I'd rather be working on the Falcon...

[fredintoon]

Hi Tommy,
my son in Calgary just bought one of those ('84 I think) Not a bike I'm familiar with. I understand you are just fixing PO neglect with the one in your care but are there any particular weirdnesses with the GS750 that the boy should be wary of?
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[tommystinson]

As far as true defects, none that I am aware of. Lou's bike is the eight valve engine, for all purposes pretty much bulletproof. There is a forum for the Suzuki GS bikes, www.thegsresources.com Not nearly as cool as this forum, of course. A potential issue that I probably would have missed is with the carb boots. Suzuki boots have an o-ring that can dry out and cause blow-by and a lean condition. You'll need viton o-rings, probably easiest to get them at the dealer. It seems to be a pretty nice bike. I hate to say it, but if an XS was neglected as bad as this GS was, it would have been parted out by now.

[fredintoon]

Thanks Tommy,
I will pass that link on to him.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[MacMcMacmac]

Suzuki electrics are their own particular form of madness. Make sure it is charging before spending a pile of money fixing anything else, as the regulator/rectifier is famous for going up in smoke, often taking the alternator with it. It's a complex, over-engineered system. Luckily, a Honda reg/rec is easily substituted and solves all these issues, which leaves you with a quick, well handling bike that rarely breaks.

[fredintoon]

Hi Mc4,
that's a good tip, can you point me towards a wiring diagram please?
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[MacMcMacmac]

Just check if there is 13.5V or thereabouts at the battery while it is running. If there is, you are good to go. If not, you will have some sleuthing to do. The easiest test is the no load alternator test where you pull the plug with the three alternator wires and check across each phase at 5000 rpm. You should have about 80VAC on each phase. If you are much less than that on any one or all three, your alternator is toast. Many Suzuki riders ran a thick black wire directly from the negative post to the bike's chassis to improve grounding. Dunno if it helped much, but it couldn't hurt at all. Check "The Stator Papers" at the GS Resource website for more info. Many GS's ran their entire lives without any electrical problems whatsoever. Many did not, including an 83 550E I had that left me stranded one night near Refinery Row in Edmonton, with a blown regulator/rectifier. I thought the burnt smell was coming from the Petro Canada refinery. Damn thing took out every bulb on the bike when it went off. Blew a hole right through the epoxy potting material. Having said all that, these issues were much less of a problem than,say, the Honda V4 cams of the same era. It certainly wouldn't keep me from buying a GS, which is exactly what I did about 2 months ago, when I bought an 18,000 mile GS1100E to replace my XJ turbo.

[MacMcMacmac]

You can download the entire shop manual here. Registration required (quick and easy)

http://www.bettermoto.com/motorcycle...x.php?dlid=499

[tommystinson]

It's DONE! Pretty much, anyway. My friend picked it up today. New tires/tubes/rim strips. New plug wires in old coils. Tore the carbs down, cleaned, made new bowl gaskets, synched, colortuned. Rebuilt front and rear brake masters and calipers. Installed new sprockets and chain, along with new wheel bearings. Cleaned/lubricated all cables. Blah blah blah.
Lou's daughter brought him over to my house today to pick it up. I asked him to ride a short way to fill it up, then come back. When he pulled back into my driveway, I could tell he was smiling just by looking at his eyes through his helmet.
I put about 40 miles on it myself, before he picked it up. The bike runs strong, K&N pods and a very cool but unidentified 4-1 help, I'm sure. MacMcMacmac pointed out the Achilles heel of these bikes, the stator/alternator. Aside from that, I would have to say the GS is built like a brick s**thouse. I think it will last him a good long time. I wouldn't mind one in my garage either. Tommy

[fredintoon]

Won't open for me

Mac3 posts:- You can download the entire shop manual here. Registration required (quick and easy)

http://www.bettermoto.com/motorcycl...ex.php?dlid=499

Hi Mac3.
I hit that link and it says it don't exist. WTF?
Fred Hill, S'toon.