Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[grcamna2]

RS38's might be a bit big for a stock motor, we used RS36's with K&N pods and a Delkevik exhaust. Works great.

+1 agreed.

[Don R]

 The drain plug looked original, it was oversize. The re-tap and sleeve kit didn't have a lot of metal to work with. I'm going to plug it with an NGK spark plug to see if it stays put. If that works, I'll look for a 14mmx1.25 plug. The harbor freight o ring didn't hold in the petcock as at least one carb isn't holding fuel back. I plugged the fuel hose and clamped it off.
 Stock motor? Bwahahahaha!!!
  Seriously though, thanks. You guys know more about these than me. I intend to check the cam just for kicks.
  I cleaned the pods and they are now hard as a brick and won't go back on the 29's I'll try cooking them in the carb rubber softener tomorrow.

[Leino]

Even 34's are plenty enough for a stock engine.

[Leino]

Our 1166 with G4 cams and Mike Rieck cylinder head had 29's and even though it was easy to see the top end was missing (8,5K ->) the engine started making power at fairly low rpm and was good enough for 140+ HP at the wheel.

[Don R]

 Wow, my bikes rarely see over 8.5K. I love a good discussion, it's a great way to learn things. The guys who have actually done it are the ones to listen to. I'm impressed by the 29's, that they work that well even with the reducer intakes.
 
  I got my ride in, and it runs and rides well. The petcock is leaking through, the #1 carb is still overflowing a little, the drain plug stripped out and no one knows when the valves were adjusted last.
  Parts and gaskets won't be here until late in the week so I guess it's time to put it on the lift and take it back apart to address those items. I ordered a K&L petcock last night, the corrosion in the stocker was bad enough that I'm not sure a kit will fix it.
  There is a set of new Denso plugs in the Honda stash, I'll give them a try also.

[Kelly E]

Cool, you got a ride in. The only decent riding days we've had I was stuck installing new appliances and fixing plumbing issues. I've got 4 bikes ready for testing but have one more plumbing issue. I have to replace the 8" frost free hose bib on the back of the house. The current one was installed by a complete moron. It comes through the wall underneath the kitchen sink. The pressure side comes up and out of the wall for about 7" and does a 180° turn back to the end of the hose bib. Instead of using the correct fitting they jammed the wrong fitting into the end of the hose bib and soldered it.
We're cutting it all out and redoing it with the correct fittings and installing a shut off valve because it doesn't have one.
Someday I'll get to test ride my 81' GS 1100E.

[grcamna2]

Wow, my bikes rarely see over 8.5K. I love a good discussion, it's a great way to learn things. The guys who have actually done it are the ones to listen to. I'm impressed by the 29's, that they work that well even with the reducer intakes.
 
  I got my ride in, and it runs and rides well. The petcock is leaking through, the #1 carb is still overflowing a little, the drain plug stripped out and no one knows when the valves were adjusted last.
  Parts and gaskets won't be here until late in the week so I guess it's time to put it on the lift and take it back apart to address those items. I ordered a K&L petcock last night, the corrosion in the stocker was bad enough that I'm not sure a kit will fix it.
  There is a set of new Denso plugs in the Honda stash, I'll give them a try also.

The K&L supply are what I look for on Ebay;Made in Japan will last.
That 1100E wants Rpm's !!   
Don't think sohc4 redline:let it keep pulling upwards before you shift. 

[PeWe]

I guess you have clear tube tool for the VM29.
I ordered for my VM29 here soon 10 years ago.
Time really flies....the price too
It fit TMR32 too.
https://www.z1enterprises.com/fuel-level-gauge-tool-for-vm29-rs34-rs36-smoothbore-carbs.html

I replaced the screws holding float bowls and top covers with allen head M4.
Then very easy to remove float bowls with a small allen tool when carbs sit on bike.
Fiddling with float levels, pilot jet.

[Don R]

  I don't have that tool yet, thanks for the link and the tip.
  I kept smelling gasoline, this morning I opened the overhead doors to let the fumes and heat out, left one open a foot and when I thought it was safe, turned on a fan blowing under the bike.
  I started to put in the oil drain plug and gas began to run out of the crankcase. Apparently, the vacuum diaphragm has failed and allowed gas to run into the #2 port. The fuel supply hose was already plugged so it took a second for me to realize what was happening.
  I was afraid the tank had sprouted a leak, so this is a better problem to have. I have no idea if the gas washed the red loctite out of the oil pans repair threads before it set.
  The shop can air out a little, the tank is plugged and off the bike to get some separation to be sure what's up.

[Leino]

We used early GSX-R 29mm carbs.

[Don R]

 I see the 29 smoothbores selling (asking price) for about what a set of newer flatslides would cost. 
 I put a spark plug in the drain threads and then unscrewed it, the repair threads stayed in place. As soon as I'm satisfied the thread repair worked, I'll pour the old oil back through the engine and oil the #2 cylinder. 

[grcamna2]

I see the 29 smoothbores selling (asking price) for about what a set of newer flatslides would cost. 
 I put a spark plug in the drain threads and then unscrewed it, the repair threads stayed in place. As soon as I'm satisfied the thread repair worked, I'll pour the old oil back through the engine and oil the #2 cylinder.

The old oil back through the engine?

[Don R]

   I want to flush out the gas from the failed petcock and any shrapnel from tapping the drain plug hole. I did run oil through the engine while I re-tapped the hole to carry chips out, this afternoon there was still gas dripping out of the oil pan. I'll also add some 2 stroke oil to the #2 cylinder where the fuel entered through the vacuum port. The oil filters should be here tuesday so tomorrow I'll do the filter removal and clean-up.

 Tonight, I lubed and loosened the chain and aimed the back tire straighter. I've been reading and am going to prepare for the parts arriving and adjusting the valves. I do have a leak down gauge but prefer a warm test, I might buy a compression tester that fits these plug holes.
 

[grcamna2]

   I want to flush out the gas from the failed petcock and any shrapnel from tapping the drain plug hole. I did run oil through the engine while I re-tapped the hole to carry chips out, this afternoon there was still gas dripping out of the oil pan. I'll also add some 2 stroke oil to the #2 cylinder where the fuel entered through the vacuum port. The oil filters should be here tuesday so tomorrow I'll do the filter removal and clean-up.

 Tonight, I lubed and loosened the chain and aimed the back tire straighter. I've been reading and am going to prepare for the parts arriving and adjusting the valves. I do have a leak down gauge but prefer a warm test, I might buy a compression tester that fits these plug holes.
 

I see. You'll be flushing out the old sediment and gasoline from the engine:that's good.

[Don R]

 I've been looking at the Maier fairing for the square headlight, it comes in black and it's no longer made of abs, the ads seem to infer it's a new to them polypropelene.
  That said, the next expenditure after I get a few more things fixed will be the tires. I'm thinking BT46, should the front be 100x90x19 or the 110 width? 130x90x17 rear?  The ones on it have letters for sizes.

[grcamna2]

I've been looking at the Maier fairing for the square headlight, it comes in black and it's no longer made of abs, the ads seem to infer it's a new to them polypropelene.
  That said, the next expenditure after I get a few more things fixed will be the tires. I'm thinking BT46, should the front be 100x90x19 or the 110 width? 130x90x17 rear?  The ones on it have letters for sizes.

The stock sizes are inch tires: 3.50V19 front and 4.50V17 rear,a tube type application.

[seanbarney41]

I have mostly used 100/90/19 and 130/90/17.  I think 140/90 was on there when I got the bike and my very knowledgeable Suzuki drag racing shop owner suggested that size also.  I was running Continental TKV's.  Rear was lasting like 3000 miles lol.  Now I have Michelin Pilot Road 4?, has lasted 4k miles and might squeeze another 1000 out of it.

[seanbarney41]

The wheels on my '82 are all good for tubeless and that is how I have been running them.

[grcamna2]

The wheels on my '82 are all good for tubeless and that is how I have been running them.

Do you run the stock rims ?  They don't have 'tubeless tire applicable' stamped into them.
I know the stock rims on the GS1100E's 'can' be used for tubeless tires as I've also done that.
I started thinking(back in the 90's when I still had the bike)if I had a catastrophic blow-out it 'could' cause the tire to rapidly deflate,so I removed the metal valve stems on my rims and went back to tubes.

[Don R]

  The plug I put into the repair thread apparently wasn't 14x1.25 because it turned a half turn and popped out. I put a 14mm spark plug in it and it holds oil. I got the filter out, the Kerker leaves just enough room t the top center to wiggle an oily filter out.
  The cam cover resisted a lot too, a dowel was rusted in place and it took a minute to figure out. I lifted a bit and tapped with a rubber hammer until I found the spot that didn't rattle, I lifted it a little and put a plastic wedge in it, then pushed down gently. It popped right up. The PB Blaster that I sprayed on the exposed gaskets didn't hurt either.
  The cams appear to be stock, nothing is stamped on the ends or the middle.

[grcamna2]

  The plug I put into the repair thread apparently wasn't 14x1.25 because it turned a half turn and popped out. I put a 14mm spark plug in it and it holds oil. I got the filter out, the Kerker leaves just enough room t the top center to wiggle an oily filter out.
  The cam cover resisted a lot too, a dowel was rusted in place and it took a minute to figure out. I lifted a bit and tapped with a rubber hammer until I found the spot that didn't rattle, I lifted it a little and put a plastic wedge in it, then pushed down gently. It popped right up. The PB Blaster that I sprayed on the exposed gaskets didn't hurt either.
  The cams appear to be stock, nothing is stamped on the ends or the middle.

Can you find a 14x1.25 thread drain plug ?

[Kelly E]

Both of our GS 1100E's have 100/90-19 on them.

[Don R]

 I'm sure the parts store has the 14mm 1.25 plug. When I bought the rethread kit, I didn't realize that the plug I had was already oversize. Then the one in the parts drawer was undersize. I saw a spark plug used as a drain plug a while back on facebook. I laughed at myself when I screwed it in.

[PeWe]

I recommend Michelin Road Classic.
I have used tubeless tires on my CB750 as long as I can remember, but with tubes.
Michelin tubes the last years.

My CB750 K6 got a Michelin Road Classic rear tire that lasted much longer than all my other tires before. That despite 3 rubber grinding dyno visits.
8718 km.
I guess >10.000km without dyno runs.
It has Road Classic front as well, 100/90-19.
Bike feels stable. It felt OK when crossing lane lines even when rear was  really worn.
Many tires will cause rear wobble.

I have not ridden hard on curvy roads to feel the limits of the grip except for full throttle on 2-5 gears straight ahead up to +200kmh which felt good.
130/80-18 on 3" rim.

The sizes you mentioned above available.
https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-road-classic#sizes

The price over here lower than many other tires.

I have a set of CB750 stock wheels that got 3.25-19 and 4.0-18  Road Classic this winter. For my K2's next change. I look forward to feel the difference on that bike.

I have so far no reason to try another tire on my bikes.

[Don R]

  Thanks for that info, I have Michelin's on my gl1000, they have been on a few 14 hour days of non stop riding (fuel and rest stops) with no issues. 965 miles each way. I should have documented a trip, gone a little out of my way and gotten my iron butt certificate.