Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[Don R]

 L0L. I had my heart set on the 108 HP the magazines wrote about for the 83 models.
  I have 4 orders of parts coming but I'm afraid winter will beat them here. I've been looking at tire selections, there are several brands out in the shop on 750's but not many miles on any of them.
  I do like the mixed set of radials on my Hot Rod 836 bike, it's lowered and has a 2 1/2" longer swingarm so I'm obviously not a road race type.
  The Evaporust is percolating in the gas tank, it's about 90* warmed by a trouble light, it didn't work as well when it was cold.

[Leino]

L0L. I had my heart set on the 108 HP the magazines wrote about for the 83 models.
  I have 4 orders of parts coming but I'm afraid winter will beat them here. I've been looking at tire selections, there are several brands out in the shop on 750's but not many miles on any of them.
  I do like the mixed set of radials on my Hot Rod 836 bike, it's lowered and has a 2 1/2" longer swingarm so I'm obviously not a road race type.
  The Evaporust is percolating in the gas tank, it's about 90* warmed by a trouble light, it didn't work as well when it was cold.

They are in their 40's after all 

[grcamna2]

Don,I sent you a PM about/titled:the intense acceleration of the GS1100E.
Did you get it? I sent it a couple days ago.. it was a good bit of information.

I was sort of surprised I didn't hear back from you;just trying to help.

[Don R]

 Bikes in their 40's are new to me L0L! I have a kid older than this bike. That freaks me out a little too.

I did find the post, sorry I didn't respond, I've been at my kids house in the country and the internet sucks. If I use too much data the television locks up.
 Parents at work and two kids on break doing multiple sports with practices at different times. I'm not sure how they do it even when there is school.
 I really do appreciate the info you guys share, it's interesting to learn a new bike. I will go back and re-read and may have questions.
 As soon as we got home yesterday, I went right out to drain the Vinegar from the gas tank, flushed and add the Evaporust.  I got the carbs cleaned and almost back on, they needed a couple parts that I liberated from a set of 26 mikuni's I found.

[grcamna2]

Ok Don,it was a PM I sent;could I have forgotten to push send?

[Don R]

 Orient Express seems to have a good price on the carbs, They even have some NOS K&N filters for a premium price.
https://www.orientexpress.com/p-5364-mikuni-rs-flat-slide-carburetors-38mm.aspx

 I put the 29's on the bike and when I went to push on the fuel hose for the IV bottle, I noticed crud in the fuel tee. It must have been resting on the shim wood when I sprayed the carb cleaner into the float valve holes. They have to come back off and apart again.

[seanbarney41]

ohhhhh don, wish you hadn't posted that Orient Express link...got me seriously drooling over a pair of Dymag wheels for my Suzi!

[Don R]

 Those wheels are sweet, aren't they?
 The GS fired right up and idled on 4 cylinders after I cleaned the carbs again. The amount of crud in the fuel lines and inlets was surprising because the petcock and screen looks like new, maybe it is.
  I also adjusted the copper floats, #3 was low #4 was twisted a little. Someone didn't connect the throttle cable yet. If it wasn't snowing and 3" deep I would be flushing the gas tank and prepping for a midnight ride.

[Leino]

Bikes in their 40's are new to me L0L! I have a kid older than this bike. That freaks me out a little too.

My latest bike, a 1998 Suzuki TL 1000 R seemed quite modern to me but like you said, my son is older than the bike 
I bought my CB back in 2000. It was 26 years old at the time and I thought it was a pretty beat up and neglected piece of ancient history... 
Tiller is now 25 so nothing changes but the perspective.

[Don R]

   I got the tank done, de-rusted, flushed and oiled, a couple gallons gas in it, the petcock seemed to operate when I blew through it but no fuel will flow. I cleaned the screen and all of the usual stuff.
  It should have worked. L0L!
  The fuel line sits on the top of #1 carb, I should have guessed that's why the carb top was all boogered up. The cable tie I had supporting the carbs had to be removed.

[seanbarney41]

Don, you are operatng the petcock correctly?  You want the PRIME position with no fuel in the bowls.  This is the only position where fuel can flow with no engine vacuum.  Once the bowls are filled, engine vacuum opens the on and reserve positions.  On and reserve shut off automatically with the absence of engine vacuum.

[Don R]

 Yup, I got the flashlight and made sure what was what. I'm glad I left the inline filter so I at least know I haven't crapped up the freshly cleaned carbs.

[seanbarney41]

It is easy to test petcock operation with a simple vacuum pump plumbed to the vacuum port of the petcock.

[Don R]

 This is what I found, did not expect it but looks like what was in the fuel tee. The screen appears intact, it must be a chemical formation. It's soaking now, I'll waste a gallon or so to see  if it flushes out.
 Edit: so far, no flow from the screen to the valve. If it was a Honda I'd have slapped another one on there by now lol. The crud looks like cement but hasn't set up thank goodness.

[Kelly E]

That's nasty.

Does your petcock have a lever or a plastic bit in the middle with a slot for a small screwdriver to turn it to prime?
We have one of each kind, the 81' has a lever.

[grcamna2]

Looks like it's time for a new fuel petcock/valve assembly.

[seanbarney41]

The condition of that diaphragm is very important...I think it may be available

[Kelly E]

The condition of that diaphragm is very important...I think it may be available

We just replaced the diaphragm on the 81'. I'm not sure where Paul got it but I think it was Everett Power Sports.

[Don R]

 The diaphragm is hard but still flexes and hasn't cracked yet. I used o rings on the screws and in the petcock from my harbor freight o ring kit. I'll order a kit or petcock but am hoping for a test ride today. I'm not sure if I prefer new aftermarket or new old stock that may have been sitting in a bin for a decade.
  I added vacuum to the vac hose and can feel it open and close so there's a chance it will operate.
  That apparent sediment has no substance, when you rub it between your fingers it just turns to goo.
  If I get it going, I'm taking the needle nose vise grips along in case I need to shut off the fuel.

[grcamna2]

The diaphragm is hard but still flexes and hasn't cracked yet. I used o rings on the screws and in the petcock from my harbor freight o ring kit. I'll order a kit or petcock but am hoping for a test ride today. I'm not sure if I prefer new aftermarket or new old stock that may have been sitting in a bin for a decade.
  I added vacuum to the vac hose and can feel it open and close so there's a chance it will operate.
  That apparent sediment has no substance, when you rub it between your fingers it just turns to goo.
  If I get it going, I'm taking the needle nose vise grips along in case I need to shut off the fuel.

I would want a fresh fuel valve because if that vacuum fuel valve leaks,it will overflow the floats and fill up your crankcase with gasoline.

[grcamna2]

That's nasty.

Does your petcock have a lever or a plastic bit in the middle with a slot for a small screwdriver to turn it to prime?
We have one of each kind, the 81' has a lever.

Which style does your bike have Don?

[Don R]

 It has the lever that has prime, on and reserve. I'm looking at a Pingel on, off, reserve. It might not rub on the carburetor top if I make a plate adapter that offsets it to the front of the slot in the tank.
 In the meantime, I'll order a rebuild kit.
  If I went to the Mikuni 38's they might clear better. There, I have an excuse now.

[Mark1976]

  If I went to the Mikuni 38's they might clear better. There, I have an excuse now.

Lol...
Whatever ya gotta do to get her running and have fun...

[Don R]

 I rode it a few miles, it runs great at lower rpm's, the brakes and the trans are good, it breaks up a little at higher rpm's. I don't think the petcock is flowing as much as it needs to. Starts easy etc.

 I drained the oil and the drain plug unscrewed really easy. Of course, it is stripped. I got a helicoil kit for a 14 x 1.25 spark plug. I'm hoping I have the real drain plug and not an oversize one.
 I'm wondering if I will need to drop the header to pull the oil pan, there is about 3/4" clearance under it.

 Edit: I watched a video and went to Advance, got a rethread kit that starts into the existing threads, drills out the new hole and taps it as you go in one shot. I also poured the old oil back into it. I re-threaded it while the oil ran back out so the chips would be flushed out rather than in.  The Tap was also dipped in grease to help collect the chips. I also flushed it with a gallon of oil I had saved from a no start engine project. Now I'll let it drain overnight and install the thread insert with red Loctite in the morning. The insert is sitting on an old 14mm sparkplug for an install tool. The kit included some sort of punch, I have no idea what it is for.

[Kelly E]

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.