82 GS450E Scrambler from Aus - Done!

[hillsy]

Your speedo and tach need re-building to stop the jumping Pete - new cables wont do anything to fix that.
 
There's a place called Otto instruments on the Southside that re-build gauges, although you would be able to buy an Acewell for less money (a mate of mine had a Z1 speedo re-built there a few years back and it was around $200).
They do a fantastic job though (as you'd expect for that sort of money). Worth it for something like a Z1, but probably not warranted on a GS450 cluster.

[interceptor]

you could try using a drill with a bit that fits in gauges to try and simulate  but maybe a tach is different?  .  I did that to check mine. 
I once had a jumping speedo on a mustang, changed the cable and was good to go.

[peteGS]

Your speedo and tach need re-building to stop the jumping Pete - new cables wont do anything to fix that.
 
There's a place called Otto instruments on the Southside that re-build gauges, although you would be able to buy an Acewell for less money (a mate of mine had a Z1 speedo re-built there a few years back and it was around $200).
They do a fantastic job though (as you'd expect for that sort of money). Worth it for something like a Z1, but probably not warranted on a GS450 cluster.

Yeah not sure Hillsy... didn't go into detail here but I just got done ripping the gauges apart, cleaning, and lubricating them internally. Made a huge difference to the speedo (it was sticking quite badly) but no noticeable difference to the tacho.


Testing with a drill directly on the speedo and tacho drives show no bounce at all, although it's not really an accurate test.


I may have to consider replacing them in the new year regardless though as I think the speedo is reading 10% less than I'm actually doing due to the larger diameter front tyre... an Acewell could very well be the way forward in that case...


Thanks for the heads up on Otto Instruments though, good to stick in the memory banks if they're ever required.


Also, did you get my PM from the GSR at all?

you could try using a drill with a bit that fits in gauges to try and simulate  but maybe a tach is different?  .  I did that to check mine. 
I once had a jumping speedo on a mustang, changed the cable and was good to go.

Yeah I did test with the drill and no bouncing, but just not sure how accurate a test that is.


I replaced the speedo cable not long after I bought the bike back in 97/98 but I've never replaced the tacho cable...

[peteGS]

I rode in to work today and took a lunch time ride with one of the guys up to Mt Coottha which was nice, haven't been up there for years. Sign posted 50kmh and narrow and twisty so it's a nice road to get used to curves on again for me so I really enjoyed that.


Anyway, my work mate noticed my chain looked a little loose while he was following me and when I checked he was right. Not sure if I messed up the adjustment initially or if it's just wearing in (never had a brand new chain before), but I fixed that up tonight.


Last couple of rides I've also had the occasional issue getting back to 1st at stops and sometimes down from 3rd to 2nd as well, so I've adjusted the shift lever up a small amount as it feels like I'm just not engaging them quite right. See how that goes next time.


I also received my #20 pilot jet for the left carb today, so I put that in tonight as well and set the mixture screw two turns out again.


Not sure when I'll get to fire her up again and try the highest RPM method again but it'll be interesting to see if the mismatched pilot jet sizes sorts that out.


Some pic's from the ride today:

[Big Rich]

Nice pics Pete! It looks so........WARM!

[peteGS]

Nice pics Pete! It looks so........WARM!

Haha yeah Rich, it was nice and warm, almost too toasty sitting at traffic lights but a good day for a ride
 
Also is it just me or is all text on the forum suddently centred this morning? A little weird to read... 
 
Really hoping I get a chance for a run around the block today to see if the odd sized pilots make it any better at idle...

[peteGS]

I scored about 20 minutes yesterday to get her warmed up and fiddle with the mixture screws and see how my adjusted gear shift and chain felt. Everything seems pretty good now. I still had my idle wound up too much from the other day so given she was a bit leaner, running around the neighbourhood had her resisting dropping to idle nice and quick as she should.
 
Got home, reset the idle, did the highest RPM method, and seemed much better.
Definitely not as boggy off a closed throttle, but not quite sure if that's actually solved or not, need some more time in the saddle to work that out.
 
I've really gotta find some time to go and find somewhere away from traffic to do some plug chops. While I don't think she's going to be so lean as to hole pistons, I'd really rather be sure based on fact rather than theory...
 
And last night I got back into the garage for a short while to have another fiddle with the knee pads.
Drew up my design idea on the white board so I'd have something to go off:
 

 
Got some templates cut out of paper, and I ended up cutting the centre out of the rectangular piece so I could position it correctly over the "GS":
 

 
Traced it out onto the right hand knee pad:
 

 
And looks like the design should work and the position of the design on the knee pad should be good too:
 

 
So now I need to work out some horizontal grooves and then figure out the best way to carve it all out.
Ideally I'd like the area around the "GS" where I'm going to carve the horizontal lines to be lower than the rest, so that means taking probably a mm or so off that whole area and then carving the lines. Or it may be easier to carve the lines and then cut down the peaks that are left between the lines... time to suck it and see I guess.
 
Also, one of the guys over on the GSR had a brilliant idea of sticking some magnetic sheet to the back of the pads so they're not permanently attached... brilliant!
 
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/Magnetic-Sheets-Supplies-/117514/i.html
 
Anyway, I also forgot to mention that my house mate brought home the carry rack off the old YB100 on the weekend so I could see if I can make it work on the GS.
 

 
My thoughts were if I can't source the optional genuine sports rack then I could get another grab rail off eBay or something and weld some generic rack on there to emulate how the genuine sports rack mounts on the tail piece.
 
The width of the rack shows it's a good candidate for this treatment:
 

 

 
I should be able to cut the bars around where the masking tape is and spread the lower bars to weld onto the grab rail:
 

 
I think it'll work well providing I can successfully weld it, which will be the most difficult part given my crap welding so far.
 
Have to wait for the new year before trying to track down a grab rail and starting on that though.

[peteGS]

I think I may have found what my wife should get me for our anniversary next year too (that's the next "special" day for gift giving)...
 
http://www.s3performance.com.au/acewell-3701-digital-speedometer-tachometer-with-pilot-lights-p-58.html?osCsid=ue4kicqal3f954q21k89dcckk7
 
Plus...
 
http://www.s3performance.com.au/stainless-steel-mounting-bracket-for-triple-clamps-p-56.html?osCsid=ue4kicqal3f954q21k89dcckk7
 
While I'm not that keen on digital speedos, one of these will allow me to compensate for the larger front tyre quite easily...

[peteGS]

Well nothing actually accomplished as such last night, but I did have a fiddle around with the carving tools to try to work out the best way of carving the design out of the neoprene.
 
It's not going to be simple but I already knew that much...
 
Here's the shaped tools I have:
 

 
And the flat tools:
 

 
Grabbed a bit of left over neoprene from cutting the pads out:
 

 
A couple of runs with the V gouge:
 

 
Don't forget that even though they're essentially cheap chinese/taiwanese junk, the gouges and blades are very sharp! This is the result of the slightest brush...
 

 
And this is after trying all the various different shapes and sizes. Still really none the wiser for a final plan of carving but it looks like just the V gouge will be all I'll need.
 

 
Also, I think this Acewell gauge would suit the bike a bit better, missed this one on my first look:
 
http://www.s3performance.com.au/acewell-2853-digital-speedometer-with-chrome-fascia-ring-ideal-for-cruisers-and-customs-p-60.html

[Hoosier Daddy]

I think that carving a pattern of your own is amazing. Such devotion!
Keep the updates coming.
 
Oh, and the ride pics look awesome!

[peteGS]

I think that carving a pattern of your own is amazing. Such devotion!
Keep the updates coming.
 
Oh, and the ride pics look awesome!

Well we'll see how they turn out first... I'm not exactly the artistic type so they may be too embarrassing to actually use yet 
 
And the riding's been great so far! Weather's a bit dodgy at the moment but no time to ride anyway, hopefully next week while I'm off work I'll get at least one nice day to go for a good decent ride for a few hours
 
Will definitely post progress and ride pic's if I get some too

[peteGS]

Finally! Got out for a good ride today, around 200km's in one go at last! I did this loop starting near my house (and no, the map doesn't pinpoint my house  [size=78%]):[/size]





I detoured off Mt Mee Rd looking for what was supposed to be the Mt Mee National Park or something, but after a few km's of meandering narrow bitumen with nothing in sight except properties I decided to turn around and head back. Pulled over and snapped some nice pic's of the view though:











And the obligatory proof shot:





Then I carried on, ended up having a nice chat for a few minutes with a guy at a rest stop on a Boulevard C50 who's been 20 years off a bike. We're such a friendly bunch us bikers aren't we? Except the few odd ones who don't nod back of course...


Anyway, then I spotted a Katana turning left from the D'Aguilar Hwy onto Mt Mee Rd as I was turning left out of Mt Mee Rd, not sure if it was a fellow GSR member or not...


Then I had to make a pitstop on the way down beside Somerset Dam, so snapped a few more happy snaps:








A bit of the nice sweeping road heading to where I stopped on the other side of the hill:





Again, the obligatory proof shot:





And the audience watching my performance:





All in all an awesome few hours out and about reminding me of what I've missed over the last 10 years and I'm so stoked to be back on two wheels again and enjoying it!


The only downside to the whole day was getting stuck behind some Harleys on the way up Mt Glorious who just about stopped to turn corners (and there are a lot of corners on Mt Glorious!) and the slow cages who just can't seem to do the speed limit even in a straight line... fortunately there wasn't too many of them!

[peteGS]

I was a little remiss and didn't update this thread yesterday after being able to start using my Chrissy presents...





I got my carbs sync'd yesterday so now I can get into the Colourtune and try and get the jetting sorted properly.


Before:





If anyone's keen I have lots of pic's of cutting the Carbtune hoses and putting the dampers in etc. but I think the end result shows it was rather successful


No more progress on the knee pads yet, hopefully I'll get back to them before too much longer...

[Hoosier Daddy]

Beautiful scenery, must have been an awesome day. Envy your route too, even though we aren't "flat" here, I'd have to ride a many hours to get to roads like those... curves and hills equal great rides!
 
From the looks of the mercury sticks, you got her dialed in. Was there a marked improvement in the way she runs?

[interceptor]

Great pics!  Pretty much flat where I am with an occasional hill here and there.  Glad to hear you got it running better and carbs dialed in.  Can't wait to see the knee pads.  Whats the process, carve out and then fill with rubber?  Great idea.