Suzuki with an English accent
- Thread starter AndrewDoesHair
- Start date
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
;D
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
RoadRash said:
Thanks! Here is a project I shared on this forum.
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=44032.0
I also have about 6k posts (and I've started literally probably 60 guitar build threads) on offsetguitars.com, which has a phenomenal projects section, and a really cool atmosphere in any case.
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
I rode like 20 hours in the past 3 days, and the bike is wonderful. I do crave a louder exhaust (mine kind of sounds like a pair of farting ducks), but I ran into a few more electrical issues that I'll need to address first...
I've been having an uneven idle situation since I got the bike running. Sometimes it would idle high, sometimes the rpms would keep dropping until it died. My mechanic friend fiddled with the carbs for like two weeks, baffled by this. But sometimes I guess the problem gets answered after a few hours of test ride, when it can't be answered idling in the shop. I was riding the bike with extra care at stops, making sure to keep the engine running, and I eventually noticed that while in neutral, the bike idled okay, and when I'd shift into 1st the bike would sometimes lurch forward a bit, and the idle would suffer. So I thought maybe all of this was the clutch cable needing adjustment, like even when I fully depressed the lever, I was still in the friction zone. So I adjusts it. Works better, but I still have intermittent idle issues.
We had replaced the regulator last week, and a multimeter showed that the thing was putting out a strong 6 amps, so I was riding all weekend under the assumption that the electrical was solid. But about 3 hours into day three, after getting food, the starter wouldn't turn over. The battery died in the midst of all my fun. After push starting, I kept the revs a little higher, hoping to charge the battery (by now I was thinking the battery was bad). Next few times I stopped, gas, pee, food, etc, it started okay, but I was killing the headlight switch before each start, so I could reserve as much power for the starter as I could. In doing all of that, I noticed that the idle was PERFECT when the headlight was switched off, and the instant I'd turn the lamp back on, the idle would drop and die without throttle manipulation.
So there is still an issue with the charging system. I headed straight home upon this realization, and on the way my headlight fuse blew! So crappy. I was only about a mile away rom home, but it was dark out and I was wearing all black. Most humbling ride ever. I was absolutely invisible.
On tuesday my mechanic is going to do something with the stator (replace it?). When I told him what had happened, he said he knew exactly what the problem is. I've been reading up on the GS forum, and relaying information to him, but he finally got on there himself. What a good friend, he is, helping me so much....
Here's a few pics from my weekend. My buddy has a 1978 GS550, and we ended up meeting a random guy with this little bobber thing.
I've been having an uneven idle situation since I got the bike running. Sometimes it would idle high, sometimes the rpms would keep dropping until it died. My mechanic friend fiddled with the carbs for like two weeks, baffled by this. But sometimes I guess the problem gets answered after a few hours of test ride, when it can't be answered idling in the shop. I was riding the bike with extra care at stops, making sure to keep the engine running, and I eventually noticed that while in neutral, the bike idled okay, and when I'd shift into 1st the bike would sometimes lurch forward a bit, and the idle would suffer. So I thought maybe all of this was the clutch cable needing adjustment, like even when I fully depressed the lever, I was still in the friction zone. So I adjusts it. Works better, but I still have intermittent idle issues.
We had replaced the regulator last week, and a multimeter showed that the thing was putting out a strong 6 amps, so I was riding all weekend under the assumption that the electrical was solid. But about 3 hours into day three, after getting food, the starter wouldn't turn over. The battery died in the midst of all my fun. After push starting, I kept the revs a little higher, hoping to charge the battery (by now I was thinking the battery was bad). Next few times I stopped, gas, pee, food, etc, it started okay, but I was killing the headlight switch before each start, so I could reserve as much power for the starter as I could. In doing all of that, I noticed that the idle was PERFECT when the headlight was switched off, and the instant I'd turn the lamp back on, the idle would drop and die without throttle manipulation.
So there is still an issue with the charging system. I headed straight home upon this realization, and on the way my headlight fuse blew! So crappy. I was only about a mile away rom home, but it was dark out and I was wearing all black. Most humbling ride ever. I was absolutely invisible.
On tuesday my mechanic is going to do something with the stator (replace it?). When I told him what had happened, he said he knew exactly what the problem is. I've been reading up on the GS forum, and relaying information to him, but he finally got on there himself. What a good friend, he is, helping me so much....
Here's a few pics from my weekend. My buddy has a 1978 GS550, and we ended up meeting a random guy with this little bobber thing.
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
Out of total boredom, I photoshopped a few tank paint options (and knee dents!). I probably won't do anything like this to the bike, but this was just for kicks.
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
Today I chopped the front fender in third, and painted it black. I was just bored, I guess... Check out the guitar templates I accidentally photographed in the reflection of the fender... Rad...
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
So, the "doing stuff" bug has been biting again... I just bought a spare gas tank for my bike, pretty cheap, on eBay- it's a little more aged looking than mine, but the plan is to bash the sides in for some knee dents, then a flat black finish on it.
Also getting ready to redo the suspension. While I'm at it, I'm going to put those accordion things on the forks, I just like the look. I plan on trying some clubman bars for a bit, but I'm 50/50 about them- I may end up going back to these bars.
I'll post pics as the process happens...
Also getting ready to redo the suspension. While I'm at it, I'm going to put those accordion things on the forks, I just like the look. I plan on trying some clubman bars for a bit, but I'm 50/50 about them- I may end up going back to these bars.
I'll post pics as the process happens...
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
My donor tank came today. I'm going to strip it tomorrow, then it should be hammer time by the evening... I have decided that I'm going to buy Triumph spring gold in rattle cans and paint this tank, my fenders, and maybe my side covers like a 1970 Triumph TR6R. I'm also planning on brown/tan grips, and then throwing on some fork gaiters when I redo my suspension pretty soon. This mock up shows my full, uncut front fender, because I'm not whiz enough at photoshop to have chopped it down in this image, and I'm too lazy to go snap a current shot of the bike for a new mock up...
And here is a 1970 tr6r... It wasn't until after I did the mock up that I realized my side covers should be black if I want to stick to this look (I don't know if I'll paint them or not)
And here is me envying the THUMPY motor on my friend's 1970 some other model... The same bike I posted on the first page of this thread... It feels so small and dainty compared to my Suzuki, but the engine sounds and feels so much meaner... I thought I was going to kill myself shifting with my right foot...
And here is a 1970 tr6r... It wasn't until after I did the mock up that I realized my side covers should be black if I want to stick to this look (I don't know if I'll paint them or not)
And here is me envying the THUMPY motor on my friend's 1970 some other model... The same bike I posted on the first page of this thread... It feels so small and dainty compared to my Suzuki, but the engine sounds and feels so much meaner... I thought I was going to kill myself shifting with my right foot...
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
I decided to do the knee dents with the paint on, because I used the pin striping as a guide, believing that I couldn't line up a template as good as they lined up their pinstripes...
But after I started, the paint was chipping here and bubbling there, making it hard to see what I was doing with the mallet, so I took a break from the knee dents to use a heat gun and scraper to remove the finish. It took about 20 minutes.
Then I played with the dents a little more. The front of the dents were the hardest part- they're totally imperfect and not so close to identical, but I think in the end I can get it close enough to live with. I assumed I had a smaller mallet, but when I realized I didn't have one I ended up cutting the back end of my stubby mallet using a band saw... Ghetto... But I guess it sort of worked... If this project goes botched I'll blame my self-cut mallet.
I ended up using aircraft stripper on the small and awkward areas, where the scraper wasn't doing much.
Here's an idea!
I'm not upset with it yet, so I'll keep going! I'll bondo up those emblem dealies and my wobbly dishes pretty soon...
Now my questions are- spray my finish before removing the rust from the inside and resealing? Or rust removal and sealer first? Also, I read about using sand and distilled water to remove rust, but that sounds insane to me, SAND in a gas tank? My poor carbs! WATER in a gas tank? Won't that mean more rust???
Thanks
-A
But after I started, the paint was chipping here and bubbling there, making it hard to see what I was doing with the mallet, so I took a break from the knee dents to use a heat gun and scraper to remove the finish. It took about 20 minutes.
Then I played with the dents a little more. The front of the dents were the hardest part- they're totally imperfect and not so close to identical, but I think in the end I can get it close enough to live with. I assumed I had a smaller mallet, but when I realized I didn't have one I ended up cutting the back end of my stubby mallet using a band saw... Ghetto... But I guess it sort of worked... If this project goes botched I'll blame my self-cut mallet.
I ended up using aircraft stripper on the small and awkward areas, where the scraper wasn't doing much.
Here's an idea!
I'm not upset with it yet, so I'll keep going! I'll bondo up those emblem dealies and my wobbly dishes pretty soon...
Now my questions are- spray my finish before removing the rust from the inside and resealing? Or rust removal and sealer first? Also, I read about using sand and distilled water to remove rust, but that sounds insane to me, SAND in a gas tank? My poor carbs! WATER in a gas tank? Won't that mean more rust???
Thanks
-A
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
So my buddy who has helped me along so far want me to bring the tank to his workshop tonight, we're going to soak it in a bucket of some kind of solvent. He has used it a million times. Then we're going to seal the tank. I should be on to bondo by next week.
A few questions about paint-
Will I want to go buy some two part clear coat, like an acrylic urethane or so? I have gallons of nitrocellulose lacquer, and LOTS of experience with it (as a guitar maker) but I don't know if its durable enough for a bike. If I get gas on it, will it bubble and come off? I have to imagine that lacquers were used back in the day- the guitar indistry didn't pick up catalysed paints until the 70's... I have a FinishMaster in my town, and can get the poly easily enough, I just don't have any experience with it and would be relieve to know that my lacquer could it it.
A few questions about paint-
Will I want to go buy some two part clear coat, like an acrylic urethane or so? I have gallons of nitrocellulose lacquer, and LOTS of experience with it (as a guitar maker) but I don't know if its durable enough for a bike. If I get gas on it, will it bubble and come off? I have to imagine that lacquers were used back in the day- the guitar indistry didn't pick up catalysed paints until the 70's... I have a FinishMaster in my town, and can get the poly easily enough, I just don't have any experience with it and would be relieve to know that my lacquer could it it.
AndrewDoesHair
Been Around the Block
He knows its priced high, but he's hoping a n00b with a fat wallet won't know that.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/3599485271.html
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/3599485271.html
Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
I would spray some lacquer on a metal surface, let it cure then pour some gas on it, go oh shit and wipe it off with crappy gas staton paper towel, wait the 10-15 minute it would take to get some soap and water, then clean it. If it still looks good, you are golden, if not, Spraymax 2K clear in a rattle can is a good solution, My guess is the lacquer will cloud if not completely fail. but it may hold up. Better to try that then do a great paint job and find out the first time you over fill the tank.
