Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[Don R]

 It's amazing that the online fitment charts don't go back past 1986.

[Kelly E]

It's amazing that the online fitment charts don't go back past 1986.

They consider anything older the Stone Age, you'll have to call the Flintstones.

[Don R]

 I went to the garage to load the truck ramps (in case of trailer failure) and realized my son in law hasn't brought them back yet. He also seems to have at least one set of my Ancra tie downs. In the future I guess he can make a special trip to return things rather than just bring them the next time he's here.
 I repaired the trailer plug on my brothers trailer last Sept. but I'm sure the taillights won't work. I'll bring it home today with the bike and replace them.
 I must be excited to go get the bike, the clock goes off in 3 hours and here I am wide awake. The best part of retirement is waking up when I wake up so it's easier to have one night of short sleep.
  My first bike riding experience was on a Suzuki 250 dirt bike, it tossed me off a couple times, once under a multiflora rose bush. Here's to hope this one doesn't toss me off in a similar manner.
 
 

[Mark1976]

The best part of retirement is waking up when I wake up so it's easier to have one night of short sleep.   

"Gods honest truth"
It takes a bit of getting of getting used to. Retirement that is.

[grcamna2]

I went to the garage to load the truck ramps (in case of trailer failure) and realized my son in law hasn't brought them back yet. He also seems to have at least one set of my Ancra tie downs. In the future I guess he can make a special trip to return things rather than just bring them the next time he's here.
 I repaired the trailer plug on my brothers trailer last Sept. but I'm sure the taillights won't work. I'll bring it home today with the bike and replace them.
 I must be excited to go get the bike, the clock goes off in 3 hours and here I am wide awake. The best part of retirement is waking up when I wake up so it's easier to have one night of short sleep.
  My first bike riding experience was on a Suzuki 250 dirt bike, it tossed me off a couple times, once under a multiflora rose bush. Here's to hope this one doesn't toss me off in a similar manner.
 
 

I hope you enjoy going to get yourself the 1100E Don;a Christmas present 'purchase' for You.

[ekpent]

Being a Suzuki kid growing up and a big fan of the large bore Suzuki road bikes of that period I am afraid that if everything works out well and its a good runner you're going to love it too much ! Might be some lonely Honda 750's sitting around next summer. 

[Kelly E]

We got my 81' GS 1100E up and running today. We cleaned up the ignition system connections, drained the old gas from the tank and carbs. A bit of battery charger and it is running. Now I need a decent day for a test ride. No sign of oil leaks so far after replacing the valve cover gasket and the o-rings on the two front center cylinder head nuts. Thanks Leino!

We resurrected this bike 4 years ago and Glen only put 2k miles on it since then. I just have to adjust the suspension for me and give it the once over.

[Don R]

 We bagged the gauge panel and headlight and towed it 3 hours home in fog and drizzle. It's everything I hoped for, except the gas cap is rusted solid and won't open. I'm thinking I'll drain it and fill it with evaporust from the bottom. Then keep it warm for a day or three. 
 The mikunis need new pod filters. I see it also has cb style carb rubbers. I hope they are OK, there's an odd taillight issue probably a burned out bulb. Next, I need oil filters and whatever seal or gasket is in there. The oil filter area looks like a VW except vertical.

 I can only assume some rust in the tank.

[grcamna2]

We bagged the gauge panel and headlight and towed it 3 hours home in fog and drizzle. It's everything I hoped for, except the gas cap is rusted solid and won't open. I'm thinking I'll drain it and fill it with evaporust from the bottom. Then keep it warm for a day or three. 
 The mikunis need new pod filters. I see it also has cb style carb rubbers. I hope they are OK, there's an odd taillight issue probably a burned out bulb. Next, I need oil filters and whatever seal or gasket is in there. The oil filter area looks like a VW except vertical.

 I can only assume some rust in the tank.

Glad you got it back on the trip.
The Evaporust should fix your tank up; make sure you get the oil filter/gasket for the 16 valve engine(5-bolt)rather than the one w/ the round cover w/ 3 bolts.

[seanbarney41]

Camna's got it on the oil filter gasket...it's a really wild formed o-ring.  Filters that come with a gasket will always have the 3-bolt/8 valve version that does not work.  Last I knew, the 5 bolt gasket was still available from Suzuki.  I bought a handful when I first encountered this problem.

[Kelly E]

Camna's got it on the oil filter gasket...it's a really wild formed o-ring.  Filters that come with a gasket will always have the 3-bolt/8 valve version that does not work.  Last I knew, the 5 bolt gasket was still available from Suzuki.  I bought a handful when I first encountered this problem.

We bought some OEM oil filter o-rings a few months ago.

[grcamna2]

Camna's got it on the oil filter gasket...it's a really wild formed o-ring.  Filters that come with a gasket will always have the 3-bolt/8 valve version that does not work.  Last I knew, the 5 bolt gasket was still available from Suzuki.  I bought a handful when I first encountered this problem.

Does NAPA sell the proper oil filters for it,with the gasket for the 16 valve engine ?

[Don R]

 A world champion kawasaki racer told me the routine for a leak proof kawasaki valve cover, Install, torque, torque, run to temp. allow to cool overnight torque again. do the suzuki's also need this routine?

[grcamna2]

A world champion kawasaki racer told me the routine for a leak proof kawasaki valve cover, Install, torque, torque, run to temp. allow to cool overnight torque again. do the suzuki's also need this routine?

I never had a problem with my 1100E's valve cover gaskets leaking on them.
I clean the surfaces carefully with a safety razor and install dry.

Don,check your cylinder head/valve cover for warpage !

I had one person who shouldn't have ever owned a bike... Ernie's big son 
A good customer of mine(in 96')asked me to sell his 83' 1100E for him,so I did.
The kid I sold it to was one of these guys with all his brains somewhere starting in his shoes,then it would transfer to his right wrist;in other words,the guy would never let his engine cool off. 
He was constantly 'fast blasting' the throttle while sitting still:no brain I guess..

He overheated that engine severely and so I replaced his valve cover gasket.. it leaked;I did the same thing again:it leaked,again. 

I didn't have a large cast iron machined-flat 'table' because if I did I would have layed that top cover up on there with a .0012",+  feeler gauge. I'm 99% certain he had warped his valve cover.

I think many of them have that happen when running the engine too lean while revving the sh*t out of the engine while sitting still;that's a hot,high-performance engine and it needs airflow !

I would like to have a large machined cast iron surface where I could use different grades of lapping compound to return the covers to flat again.

[Don R]

 I have a chrome 750 cover that insisted it wanted to leak. I tried two sheets of 180 and aa piece of glass to level it. The chrome however, defeated my best attempts to sand it. I installed it with Allen head bolts, and I've realized the leak isn't the cover.

 It's a funny story, the guy I got the GS from said he bought it from a bike shop owner who didn't want to sell it. It was in the shop but under a cover. The shop was a little slow and needed a sale and he insisted on buying that bike because it was the same model he lost in a divorce and wanted to own one again. The owner begrudgingly sold it to him but wouldn't tell him anything about it.
 He thinks it could have a kit and a cam but he's not sure how you would find that out without taking it apart. I'm not willing to take it apart but I would measure the cam when it is exposed for valve adjusting. The carbs are a hint that it could be built but certainly proves nothing.
  I think back to the 900 Kaw that I test rode in the 70's and am excited to ride it.
 
 The chain is a little tight and the adjusters look offsides, my report for the day.

[grcamna2]

I have a chrome 750 cover that insisted it wanted to leak. I tried two sheets of 180 and aa piece of glass to level it. The chrome however, defeated my best attempts to sand it. I installed it with Allen head bolts, and I've realized the leak isn't the cover.

 It's a funny story, the guy I got the GS from said he bought it from a bike shop owner who didn't want to sell it. It was in the shop but under a cover. The shop was a little slow and needed a sale and he insisted on buying that bike because it was the same model he lost in a divorce and wanted to own one again. The owner begrudgingly sold it to him but wouldn't tell him anything about it.
 He thinks it could have a kit and a cam but he's not sure how you would find that out without taking it apart. I'm not willing to take it apart but I would measure the cam when it is exposed for valve adjusting. The carbs are a hint that it could be built but certainly proves nothing.
  I think back to the 900 Kaw that I test rode in the 70's and am excited to ride it.
 
 The chain is a little tight and the adjusters look offsides, my report for the day.

A piece of glass.. sitting on a totally flat table.. and using large sheets of sandpaper:yes,I can see that working 
Chrome is very hard;I tried filing it and No Way.

[Don R]

 I'm in learning mode, vac petcock leave or replace? Does it have a real off setting?  What is the electrical device on the tunnel under the gas tank? I need a manual.

[seanbarney41]

I am generally of the opinion to always ditch a vacuum petcock, maybe not so bad if the carbs have overflows.  (I dont think the stockers do, and I can't remember if the smoothbores do or not?)  However, my bike still has the original vacuum petcock and it still works flawlessly.  No, there is no real off position.  I generally leave mine ON, and only use prime if the bike has been sitting for more than a couple weeks.

Does the '81 have a gas gauge?  My '82 does, and I am guessing that sensor is the electrical device in quesdtion.

[Kelly E]

We're running the stock vacuum petcock on the 80' and 82' and the prime feature is nice to have when it's been a while since the last ride. Both the 80' and 81' have a gas gauge.

[Don R]

 HA! I didn't notice a gas gauge yet but a sender is exactly what it looks like.  EDIT; yes!  it does have a gas gauge.  Here's my sign. DUH.
 I'll be looking for the manuals. Since it doesn't have the airbox there's nothing above the battery. I saw a couple of the missing pieces on ebay.
   Cylinder number one of the 29's has a gouge on the top of it. I hope that happened on a different bike L0L!   

[Kelly E]

HA! I didn't notice a gas gauge yet but a sender is exactly what it looks like.  EDIT; yes!  it does have a gas gauge.  Here's my sign. DUH.
 I'll be looking for the manuals. Since it doesn't have the airbox there's nothing above the battery. I saw a couple of the missing pieces on ebay.
   Cylinder number one of the 29's has a gouge on the top of it. I hope that happened on a different bike L0L!

We don't have the airbox for either GS 1100E, I'm going to have one of my nephews design and 3D print a storage box that hangs between the frame rails. Also one for the 77' KZ 1000, it has no airbox as well.

[Don R]

  Did I mention that I oiled the cylinders and spun it over, then put on the IV bottle and it starts and runs? 1 and 2 are cold, 3 and 4 float bowls were low on gas so I'm guessing they were lower on fuel because it was sitting on the sidestand.
  I'll be looking for a non vac petcock, this one is perilously close to the carb, maybe that's how the mikuni got gouged on top.

  I filled an old Yamaha with gas once in the winter and could not stop the overflow. I had to roll it out in the snow and put an oil change pan under it. W0W! A lesson learned hard is a lesson learned well.

[grcamna2]

  Did I mention that I oiled the cylinders and spun it over, then put on the IV bottle and it starts and runs? 1 and 2 are cold, 3 and 4 float bowls were low on gas so I'm guessing they were lower on fuel because it was sitting on the sidestand.
  I'll be looking for a non vac petcock, this one is perilously close to the carb, maybe that's how the mikuni got gouged on top.

  I filled an old Yamaha with gas once in the winter and could not stop the overflow. I had to roll it out in the snow and put an oil change pan under it. W0W! A lesson learned hard is a lesson learned well.

APE may have a couple choices,possibly Pingel.

[Kelly E]

I had to cut off some of the handle on the KZ 1000 petcock because it would hit the #1 carb top after we installed a set of Mikuni RS34 carbs. The 80' GS 1100E has no knob, just a screwdriver slot and no off position and it has RS36 carbs. The 81' has a knob but no off position. I may get a set of Mikuni RS36 carbs for the 81' after we get a Delkevik exhaust for it. The stock exhaust is dying rapidly and it sounded funky yesterday because of the cracks in it.

[grcamna2]

I had to cut off some of the handle on the KZ 1000 petcock because it would hit the #1 carb top after we installed a set of Mikuni RS34 carbs. The 80' GS 1100E has no knob, just a screwdriver slot and no off position and it has RS36 carbs. The 81' has a knob but no off position. I may get a set of Mikuni RS36 carbs for the 81' after we get a Delkevik exhaust for it. The stock exhaust is dying rapidly and it sounded funky yesterday because of the cracks in it.

The cracks in that exhaust,have you tried repairing those exhausts ?
I like stock.