Author Topic: GT750 Project Begins (Read 8906 times)

RRRToolSolutions · « **on:** November 08, 2008, 04:15:11 AM »

I've seen worse - This will be a slow project and one I have set a goal of 2009 to complete. This a 1974 GT750 Water Buffalo. I rode one last year at Deals Gap and liked it and it's something different from the rebuilds I've done so far. I'm looking forward to the experience -

Regards,
Gordon

bill440cars · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2008, 06:53:51 AM »

Hey Gordon, just noticed this thread. Looks like you are getting after bringing another "down for the count" bike back into the limelight.
I can already visualize how this one will look (except for the color).

For as bad as it looks overall, I do see some areas that aren't as bad. Instruments sure don't look bad at all (from that shot). I've got another buddy (here locally) who has done a couple (last one was a gold color and really sharp). Can't wait to see the progress on this one (especially considering the effort and detail you put into the bikes)

Take care, Bill

Stormer · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2008, 05:29:33 AM »

GREAT!!!
I love Suzukis two strokes!

Good luck my friend, and keep us in touch.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2008, 06:52:15 PM »

Yet another thread I will eagerly watch for updates

mcpuffett · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2008, 02:20:05 AM »

i for one will be watching this thread with some interest, i rode one of these bikes back in my youth & i've always fancied one but never bought one, just recently that has changed and i've started to gather infomation etc and i plan on owning one in the next couple of years

the model i want is a 1976 GT750 A in red

, cheers Mick.

andy750 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2008, 04:43:50 AM »

Another watcher here...I really enjoy what you do with bikes Gordon!

good luck!
Andy

Grizzly · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2008, 10:50:38 AM »

In 1980 a mate of mine had a 76A. He put a 3into1 Piper on it.

What a sound, you could hear it coming for miles. I used to like to follow him and wait till he dropped a couple of cogs to overtake.

I can still smell the two stroke AHHHHHHHHH.

mcpuffett · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2008, 11:37:45 AM »

Hi Gordon, i read on the kettle club web site that the 76 model was one of the models most sold and figured that parts may be easier to get for that model? i'm not in a rush to get one as i have set my goal for owning one in the next couple of years

so i will do more research and see what i come up with

thanks for your advice also any help is gratefully accepted

cheers Mick.

fuzzybutt · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2008, 03:28:37 PM »

you ever need a hand with something gordon, let me know, i'm less than an hour from you.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2008, 02:12:48 PM »

Quote from: fuzzybutt on November 13, 2008, 03:28:37 PM

you ever need a hand with something gordon, let me know, i'm less than an hour from you.

Would you be wearing that kilt, Fuzzy?

bill440cars · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2008, 08:20:24 AM »

And The Excitement Begins!

Later on, Bill

Sd455 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2008, 08:41:41 AM »

Hey, just picked up a 1974 GT 550. Do you know of a good forum or other sources for info or parts?

bgfootball67 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2008, 03:12:50 PM »

Gordon can not wait to see the finished project, love the work you do on your bikes! Especially want to see this one as my old man had one when I was little, orange one I believe....

mcpuffett · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2008, 02:21:42 PM »

Hi Gordon, guess what i have bought

, a 1976 gt750 A in blue, powder coated frame, swingarm, top and bottom yokes (triple trees), chrome work decent , after market wheels and expansion chamber exhausts (very loud)

, just needs a little tidying up and making my own

, cheers Mick.

mcpuffett · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2008, 02:23:30 PM »

here's a couple more

bill440cars · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2008, 04:46:17 PM »

Hey Mick, nice bike you've picked up on there!

Be curious to here how it runs out and all.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2008, 03:43:11 PM »

Quote from: mcpuffett on December 13, 2008, 02:21:42 PM

Hi Gordon, guess what i have bought , a 1976 gt750 A in blue, powder coated frame, swingarm, top and bottom yokes (triple trees), chrome work decent , after market wheels and expansion chamber exhausts (very loud) , just needs a little tidying up and making my own , cheers Mick.

Maaate, that is magnificent! It brought back a flood of memories too, back in 1979 a mate of mine wanted a bike, so we went shopping and bought him a GT750M. First time out he shiit himself (he'd only ridden dirt bikes previously) so, as I'd just lost my car license, we swapped for the three month suspension period.

I did several long trips on it, one just after I'd replaced the rear tire late the previous night. I did 180 miles in 2.5 hours with two fuel stops and a stop for lunch, and when I got home I realised that I'd forgotten to tighten the axle nut after I adjusted the chain! The only thing that was keeping the wheel in line were the chain adjusters!

On another trip I had a guy on a Kawasaki 750 H2 with chambers overtake me at warp speed, so I caught up and we raced each other for over 100 miles, his Kawa was way faster, but I had to stop for him every 40 miles or so when he had to pull over to do a plug change! He was wearing an old Army "Great Coat" (no decent wet/cold weather gear then) and his pockets seemed to contain an endless supply of plugs, he told me he had an old KLG plug cleaner at home, and would prepare a pocket-full for a long trip.

I eventually bought my own "J" model with a 3 into 1 "Bromlech" pipe, but the crank seals were stuffed and it smoked all the gearbox oil, so I got rid of it. In hindsight I should have kept it, apart from smoking like a baastard and eating plugs, it was a lovely bike! Cheers, Terry.

mcpuffett · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2008, 01:28:24 PM »

Glad you like my new bike Gordon & Terry

, i'm going to leave the colour as it is the blues growing on me, changed out all the phillips headed engine case screws for stainless allen screws yesterday, got my little list for parts off ebay needed, little niggly parts more than anything, centre stand, oil tank cap, side panel decals, liquid cooled decals for the engine block, & suzuki decal for alternator casing, cheers Mick.

bryanj · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2008, 06:05:48 AM »

Gordon, we used to work on a lot of these and i can honestly not remember ever having to split an engine, i do remember that to make em handle you had to fit either similar width tyre front and back or the super wide continental that was available at the time with a ribbed front.

Loads of brake stripdowns, new chains and sprockets, swing arm bushes. etc but no engine probs

mark · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2008, 02:07:26 AM »

Back in the olden days there were some guys around the corner who always had lots of bikes around and they were into water buffalos around the same time I had that T350 ......

.... and for some reason their 5 year old rides didn't look much better than your 'before' pix.....

.... and the after pix are pretty sweet.

Quote from: Terry in Australia on November 14, 2008, 02:12:48 PM

Quote from: fuzzybutt on November 13, 2008, 03:28:37 PM
you ever need a hand with something gordon, let me know, i'm less than an hour from you.
Would you be wearing that kilt, Fuzzy?

........ playing bagpipes with the cat on a leash.

Artfrombama · « **Reply #20 on:** December 28, 2008, 04:06:18 AM »

Always fascinating to see one of these old bikes restored. Keep up the good work and keep uploading pics of the restoration. Thanks!

cbr-eric · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2008, 12:45:04 PM »

cool project, look slike it will progress pretty nicely

mcpuffett · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:55:10 PM »

well i've been busy over the last couple of months buying parts off ebay for my Kettle, i've changed the bars for taller ones of a Z900, fitted a centre stand, fitted missing decals to side panels & alternator cover and cylinder barrels,fitted new petrol tank rubbers, fitted period Avon Roadrunner Tyres, & generally gone through it tidying wiring & changing nuts & bolts etc,

mcpuffett · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:57:20 PM »

more

cheers Mick.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2009, 08:56:45 PM »

Excellent score Mick, she's looking great...

Mick

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #25 on:** April 04, 2009, 05:09:34 AM »

Well you guys are in the shiit, you convinced me I need another waterbottle (Buffalo, Kettle, Smoke Generator etc, depending on where you come from) and my wife is less than happy with you all! Wayne (Aussie) has found me a running example of my all time favorite GT750, the 1973 GT750K, so I'm off for a couple of weeks to do some Army Reserve work in Tasmania on Tuesday to get some tax-free dollars to pay for it. Wayne lives in Adelaide, so it'll also involve a weekend road trip to collect it, and I'll post pics of my adventure on my return. Thanks Wayne! Cheers, Terry.

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2009, 06:53:01 AM »

I re-worked all of my photos in my hosting server and had to start a new thread. Here are some updates on my 1974 -

Regards,
Gordon

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #27 on:** April 05, 2009, 05:36:59 AM »

Where are they Gordon? Missing link? $:-\$

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #28 on:** April 05, 2009, 06:18:05 AM »

Sorry Terry, I forgot to paste the copy earlier -

Well, progress got slowed when I lost those 100's of correct "S" bolts, clamps, specialty fasteners, and some other hard-to-find pieces after zinc plating. I've purchased 2 sets of carburetors since - just trying to get all of the linkages, screws, and springs replaced. The US Postal Service still hasn't delivered that package shipped on the 23rd of December. I also purchased a new OEM front/rear harness, but all of the switches, connectors, and sheathing for the components connecting to those new harnesses had to be sourced and replaced/repaired.

I may sound as though I'm complaining, but not at all - while the lost pieces have taken me months to replace and have plated, it has given me time to take other things to the "next" level. I bought my own heavy duty 1 horsepower 1750 rpm buffer. Those covers are ones that I did after taking some practice on spares. Here again, the time and hands-on part of this hobby is what I enjoy most.

I still have the paint work to be done, several pieces to have chromed, and my seat pan is powdercoated and being covered with a new factory "GT" cover and new foam. My Deals Gap goal for early May won't be possible, but perhaps late May I'll get to start riding.

Enough talk - here are some updated photos - Regards, Gordon