Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[Don R]

 The valve lash was very consistent, just a wee bit tight at .003" I made them .004" mostly to learn how. I used a medical clamp on the Square nub, a couple of the nuts were sticky to the adjuster. I have 4 items reported out for delivery today and nothing has arrived before dusk. one ups, two usps and one FedEx.

[grcamna2]

The valve lash was very consistent, just a wee bit tight at .003" I made them .004" mostly to learn how. I used a medical clamp on the Square nub, a couple of the nuts were sticky to the adjuster. I have 4 items reported out for delivery today and nothing has arrived before dusk. one ups, two usps and one FedEx.

I like using the narrow(1/4" wide)feeler gauges or tapered ones;meant for small engines on those valves.

[Don R]

 I'm most likely going to have to buy an oil pan. The thread repair insert didn't have enough material to bite into. I used a spark plug for a 14mm plug and the insert screwed up into the pan. Tonight, when I removed the spark plug and tried to insert a real drain plug it wouldn't reach the insert.
 The gas leak most likely washed out the locktite. I did get the oil filters and put one in, so if the oil pan was OK I could add the oil. I don't like to leave any engine sitting without oil in it.

[grcamna2]

Don,the GS1100E oil pan is also shared with the GS1000S/GS1100S Katana models and the GS1150 engines;same part.    the part # may be slightly different on some(last number)because of black paint.

[Leino]

I have five or six but shipping is a killer 

[Don R]

 There is an oil pan sitting one state from me, I'm going to make an offer of $50 shipped. It is a guy that buys and parts out a lot of bikes.  I buy from the guy and he sold me my first Yamiya 4-4 exhaust for $1200 new and more than one Sandcast part that made a couple of my bikes whole again.
  Edit: I'm seeing a couple oil pans on ebay that should work but they look different from each other. I'll get under the bike and try to get a better look.
  For now, I teflon taped the plug all the way to both ends, screwed the thread repair fitting onto the plug, cleaned and dried the inside threads, and installed them snug with JB weld on the outside of the repair thread and a tiny bit on the inside of the pan threads. Hopefully the teflon will work it's no stick magic.
 My wife reminded me of how much I spent before and since Christmas and in light of her reminder I'm not buying anything until the next pay period is here. Then she said it's OK don't worry about it.
   Riiiiight. 

[Don R]

 What's the best way to address the rubber cam caps? Mine appeared to be dry, I greased the cover gasket and the rubber caps thinking that would settle them into place without binding up.
 I seem to have lost my inch lbs. torque wrench, the smart money says it's in the race trailer in storage. I need a new one anyway, my brother has one here in his tool chest that he got in the late 1950's. I'll pass on that one too.

[Kelly E]

Inch pounds is a must working with aluminum threads.
 I have a WWII vintage Plumb Tools torque stick. It's a really skinny 6" 1/4" drive extension. It will twist before stripping aluminum threads on a 1/4" / 6mm hole in an aluminum case. An old veteran told me that it was more reliable than a torque wrench in field conditions when working on aluminum aircraft engines.

I've never been able to confirm that but it makes perfect sense. I use it for all 6mm fasteners going into aluminum threads. I have an inch pounds torque wrench but I trust the torque stick more.

[grcamna2]

Inch pounds is a must working with aluminum threads.
 I have a WWII vintage Plumb Tools torque stick. It's a really skinny 6" 1/4" drive extension. It will twist before stripping aluminum threads on a 1/4" / 6mm hole in an aluminum case. An old veteran told me that it was more reliable than a torque wrench in field conditions when working on aluminum aircraft engines.

I've never been able to confirm that but it makes perfect sense. I use it for all 6mm fasteners going into aluminum threads. I have an inch pounds torque wrench but I trust the torque stick more.

That torque stick has some history behind it.

[Don R]

 I'm not saying I won't use the old one but want something to compare it to before trusting it on small bolts. I check my clicker wrenches against my old beam type that lives in its original box.
  This one was used on WB50 weather aircraft in Japan and later on air cooled VW's so it would be fitting to use it on Japanese motorcycles.

 I also spotted this, does not inspire confidence. Maybe it's time for a full bike nut and bolt check.

[Don R]

  I got the rocker cover on and oil in it, I oiled the #2 cylinder with a squirt of atf since the gas that leaked through the petcock ran through it. I started it on the gas in the carbs and nearly learned the hard way that the exhaust was full of fuel too. What a mess. I opened the shop doors, dumped the rest of my oil dry on it and started sweeping.
 With any luck I'll get the new petcock tomorrow.

[Kelly E]

After we fixed the 81' GS the exhaust had a bunch of gas/oil mix in the exhaust. It made a small mess but killed a bunch of mosquitoes.
 It also made it easy to see how bad the cracks in the right side exhaust are. It definitely needs a new exhaust system. The cracks in the exhaust are in the same place that the 80' GS had them.

[Don R]

 I fired it today, I put in a set of new Denso's and it still had a lean burble, I got my new flashlight and noticed the #2 intake clamp wasn't all the way back to the groove. I moved it back and cured that noise. It idles nicely now. The petcock came and it's on the tank, I have a pesky birthday party to go to or I'd be riding tonight.
 I'd bet it snows before I get the chance to ride again. L0L!

[Kelly E]

That sounds about right. Since I've fixed all the plumbing issues there's been no nice enough days for testing. Plus the 1/4 mile to the pavement is a bit gooey.

[Don R]

 It snowed but it didn't stick to the pavement, so they didn't salt it. There is still hope of a ride although it won't be much fun.

[grcamna2]

It snowed but it didn't stick to the pavement, so they didn't salt it. There is still hope of a ride although it won't be much fun.

I hope you get a ride in on it Don.

[Don R]

  Thanks. I gotta say, I'm really tired of my hands and clothes and shop smelling like gas. There's a coffee can of horrible smelling bad gas outside still trying to evaporate. I brought in an oil bottle that had that in it and needed to take it out in the trash.

[Kelly E]

I burned up some bad gas yesterday. I had some old firewood starting to get rotten and it was wet but a good redneck can get any firewood going.

[grcamna2]

Wow  !! 

[ekpent]

I call that "magic fire starter" sometime when camping after a rain !  I use a little kerosene from a squirt bottle in my wood burner at the shop when I have to start a fire from scratch. Works a charm and a lot less dangerous.

[grcamna2]

  Thanks. I gotta say, I'm really tired of my hands and clothes and shop smelling like gas. There's a coffee can of horrible smelling bad gas outside still trying to evaporate. I brought in an oil bottle that had that in it and needed to take it out in the trash.

How's the oil drain plug ?

[Don R]

 The oil plug is dry thank goodness. I'm going to assume when it needs an oil change the teflon tape will release it. HA!
  I mis-located the horns and now when I turn on the key they honk. I've spent the day cleaning the shop and throwing away things my brain says are usable/fixable. My instinct says hoard it but I'm overcoming that because I also can't look at an extremely messy shop and it's getting that way. 
  It's snowing just enough to keep the streets wet but it's also 33*F.

[grcamna2]

The oil plug is dry thank goodness. I'm going to assume when it needs an oil change the teflon tape will release it. HA!
  I mis-located the horns and now when I turn on the key they honk. I've spent the day cleaning the shop and throwing away things my brain says are usable/fixable. My instinct says hoard it but I'm overcoming that because I also can't look at an extremely messy shop and it's getting that way. 
  It's snowing just enough to keep the streets wet but it's also 33*F.

The 1100E engine won't like the limited traction..

[Don R]

 Maybe I can work on my burnout skills. I did one on snow with my 836 Rat Race bike.

[grcamna2]