Author Topic: Suzuki GT550 two stroke triple. (Read 12254 times)

Magilla · « **on:** June 25, 2013, 04:45:50 pm »

UPDATE: the Suzuki GT550 is almost ready to go. The fenders are on. The shocks are on. The motor side covers are on. The carbs are clean and back on. The lights and directionals are back on and now working. I need to put the new tank on and it should be ready to go.

kghost · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2013, 06:23:14 pm »

Your post needs more pictures.....

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2013, 01:39:28 am »

I remember "Back in the Day" one of my friends T boned a cow @ 100 MPH on a shiny new black GT550. Both the 550 and the cow were "DOA", but luckily my friend survived.

I always liked those Suzy triples. They were heavy, and they were thirsty, but they were wicked fun to ride!

Stev-o · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2013, 07:07:26 am »

Subscribed for pics. Would like to have one of these too

Magilla · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2013, 10:56:43 am »

Here are a few before pictures. As you can see it was not in very good shape.

Magilla · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2013, 10:57:36 am »

more pics of how it started

Magilla · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:11:37 pm »

Here is a video of the bike when I pulled it off the lift tonight. What do you think I should sell it for?

1975 Suzuki GT550 2 stroke Triple

sandman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:23:26 pm »

Great sounding Suzuki triple! Don't sell it...why not keep working on it and take it to another level?

Magilla · « **Reply #8 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:28:42 pm »

I cant keep them all. Once I get one cleand up and running again, I sell it and buy the next project bike to tinker with. I'm sure after I sell it, I will want it back. These things are hard to find around here.

Stev-o · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:32:06 pm »

Sounds awesome! Personally, I would try to find a better rear fender, install the airbus and side cover emblems and ask $3K.

I need to fire up my smoker (RD350)

Magilla · « **Reply #10 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:37:06 pm »

I have to stock airbox as well as spare pods. I guess I could wrestle up some side emblems too.

Magilla · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:39:19 pm »

I bought a used fender for it but when it came in it was for a GT380 not GT550. The 550 is wider. That sucked.

kghost · « **Reply #12 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:42:36 pm »

Good looking Suzi!

toytuff · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2013, 05:59:18 pm »

I agree with others. Keeper.

I have seen a few 2 strokes pop up around here from time to time. Are they a hard build? Parts?

Very nice motorcycle. Very. I was going to sell my Dream but after riding it I'm just going to do what Steve-o suggested. Improve it.

Get's the four

from me.

tt

Stev-o · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2013, 07:04:01 pm »

Here's one for $2800, yours is much nicer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Suzuki-gt550-Indy-Motorcycle-/141001619394?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item20d459f7c2#v4-47

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2013, 10:11:41 pm »

Quote from: toytuff on June 26, 2013, 05:59:18 pm

I agree with others. Keeper.

I have seen a few 2 strokes pop up around here from time to time. Are they a hard build? Parts?

Very nice motorcycle. Very. I was going to sell my Dream but after riding it I'm just going to do what Steve-o suggested. Improve it.

Get's the four from me.

tt

The crank seals are the biggest thing IMO. Bikes that have been sitting for an extended period will likely have bad seals. They will run but smoke more than usual and may have bogging at higher rpm. To me Magilla's 550 smokes too much and I suspect the seals. It's a big job...complete engine teardown and a machine shop to pull apart and put the crank back together so it's tough to make some profit if you are buying and selling when you go that route. I am not ripping on the work by any means as the bike looks great but I would not pay top dollar for a 2 stroke that did not have new seals or minimal smoking. The Suzuki's had a pretty effective oil injection system. Look for a bike that has been run on a regular basis and it may not be an issue. I have an agreement with an old co-worker to buy his 72 Suzuki T500. Bike is in really nice shape but....been sitting 30 years. I am only paying $500 for it for that reason. In nice running condition it's a $2500+ bike.

Parts are generally available especially for the Yamaha RD's. The T500 is big in Europe so any parts not available here I can get there. I think the other Suzuki's have pretty good availability. The Kawi's are getting expensive of course but to me the Yamaha RD's are the best all around package. I do have a soft spot for the T500...that big bore twin is a great looking bike.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2013, 01:33:24 am »

Yep, I agree with Rusty, the crank seals go brittle, and the engine sucks the gearbox oil into the crankcases and suddenly the fuel/oil ratio goes from 25:1 to 10:1, and you can't see anything behind you and your two wheeled "Fogger". The 1972 J(?) model on eBay for $2800.00 is a much more desireable bike, like the GT750's, the first model is always the most collectable.

Having said all that, Magilla's bike is a nice looking bike, and I can respect his "Red paper Clip" bike buying/tidying/flipping regime, I've been doing the same thing over the last few months and it's great fun continually "trading up", if you don't have big cash reserves to just buy a nice bike and keep it. Realistically, I'd say $1500 might be a fairer price, considering it's a big job replacing the crank seals. Cheers, Terry.

toytuff · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2013, 05:14:44 am »

Thanks guys. Two RD 400's have poped up but one is priced out of sight and the other needs way, way to much work. I know nothing about 2 strokes.

Still, Magilla's bike is way cool.

tt

Magilla · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2013, 05:38:02 am »

On the GT550 the crank seal can be replaced without a complete motor teardown. There are a few videos on youtube for it. With that said I do agree that the right way is a complete teardown.

Also part of the reason mine is smoking the way it is (besides dry seals?) is the overload of Marvel Mystery Oil and SeaFoam that is in the tank. I always run a heavy load of this in the first tank of any bike I buy.

My bike is OK but not great. I brought it to a level for the next owner to take it to great. On a scale of 1-10 its a 5 or 6 at best. Again if you were in the market for a bike like this, its a good place to start.

Killer Canary · « **Reply #19 on:** June 27, 2013, 06:16:11 pm »

Wouldn't this bike have labyrinth centre seals?

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #20 on:** June 29, 2013, 02:51:08 am »

Quote from: Killer Canary on June 27, 2013, 06:16:11 pm

Wouldn't this bike have labyrinth centre seals?

Yes mate, it does.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #21 on:** June 29, 2013, 10:14:54 am »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on June 29, 2013, 02:51:08 am

Quote from: Killer Canary on June 27, 2013, 06:16:11 pm
Wouldn't this bike have labyrinth centre seals?

Yes mate, it does.

On some bikes you may be able to replace the two end seals without tearing the engine down...but to get at the center ones....

Killer Canary · « **Reply #22 on:** June 29, 2013, 05:14:56 pm »

Why ( realistically ) would the labyrinth centres need replacing?

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2013, 05:35:55 pm »

Actually, after a little research I've discovered that they're not "Labyrinth" seals, but regular oil seals, and when they dry out, as previously mentioned, they allow gearbox oil into the combustion chambers and fuel into the gearbox, so it's not a good look.

Looking at the attached thread, it's important to do a leak down test on one of these old strokers, and if it fails the test, do a full strip down and replace all the seals. The GT750J that I bought from my cuz back in the 1990's had stuffed seals, and I could make the whole street disappear in a cloud of smoke on that old bugger! Cheers, Terry.

http://www.suzuki2strokes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=99225

kghost · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2013, 06:31:16 pm »

It's a problem.......

Fingers crossed the seals are good on my project.......

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Author Topic: Suzuki GT550 two stroke triple. (Read 12254 times)