1975 Suzuki T500 IT IS ALIVE! First start video 5/7/11
- Thread starter Wingspan
- Start date
Titan performance
Titan cafe racer builders.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Steering damper installed 2/5/11
Ooo..I like that look Mark !
Ooo..I like that look Mark !
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine cases repainted 2/12/11
I decided to respray the cases with the "cast coat aluminum" I used before and no clear. It finally warmed up enough to paint in the garage so I finished the cases this morning. I'll take them into the airport and bake everything tomorrow.
zooke581 said:
I decided to respray the cases with the "cast coat aluminum" I used before and no clear. It finally warmed up enough to paint in the garage so I finished the cases this morning. I'll take them into the airport and bake everything tomorrow.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Steering damper installed 2/5/11
Quickie cell phone pic of the bike mocked up with the repainted engine. Much better, IMO! Now to break it back apart. Tomorrow I'm baking the engine cases and hopefully welding the seat mounts to the frame.
Quickie cell phone pic of the bike mocked up with the repainted engine. Much better, IMO! Now to break it back apart. Tomorrow I'm baking the engine cases and hopefully welding the seat mounts to the frame.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
That is looking real good. I like the painted look. Mine has taken a back seat for a few as complications with family and personal things have taken up all my time and energy but hope to get back to it soon as it is a release of tension and relaxing for me.
That is looking real good. I like the painted look. Mine has taken a back seat for a few as complications with family and personal things have taken up all my time and energy but hope to get back to it soon as it is a release of tension and relaxing for me.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
Long time, no update! Sorry about that.
Last weekend I baked the engine paint for the second time and my Dad gave me a hand welding the seat mount rails to the frame. Now I need to make a final decision on the frame, paint or powdercoat. Obviously powdercoat is more durable, but painting the frame wins on several other points. I painted my T1000LR frame years ago and it held up very well for the following years I rode it.
Today I polished the GT750 front hub. I'll be honest, my polishing job isn't what you call professional but it'll look good enough for me. Man alive I HATE that job. Once shined up, I replaced the bearings with new units from AllBalls and started lacing up the 18" shouldered rim.
First I lay out the spokes and hold them in place with small zip ties:
The put the rim on and install the nipples with the supplied anti-seize compound.
Assembly is the easy bit...truing still to be done. ;D
Long time, no update! Sorry about that.
Last weekend I baked the engine paint for the second time and my Dad gave me a hand welding the seat mount rails to the frame. Now I need to make a final decision on the frame, paint or powdercoat. Obviously powdercoat is more durable, but painting the frame wins on several other points. I painted my T1000LR frame years ago and it held up very well for the following years I rode it.
Today I polished the GT750 front hub. I'll be honest, my polishing job isn't what you call professional but it'll look good enough for me. Man alive I HATE that job. Once shined up, I replaced the bearings with new units from AllBalls and started lacing up the 18" shouldered rim.
First I lay out the spokes and hold them in place with small zip ties:
The put the rim on and install the nipples with the supplied anti-seize compound.
Assembly is the easy bit...truing still to be done. ;D
1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
Thanks Teazer.
I dropped off my frame and swingarm at the powdercoater (Prokote Indy) today for a coat of satin black powder. They said it should take about a week.
In other news, I ordered a set of Avon Roadriders and an Acewell instrument cluster. Putting a digital gauge on the bike does go against the grain of the project a bit, but I want functional instruments and this was the cleanest solution I found. At least the acewell is packaged in a somewhat vintage looking housing vs. some of the other universal units out there.
Thanks Teazer.
I dropped off my frame and swingarm at the powdercoater (Prokote Indy) today for a coat of satin black powder. They said it should take about a week.
In other news, I ordered a set of Avon Roadriders and an Acewell instrument cluster. Putting a digital gauge on the bike does go against the grain of the project a bit, but I want functional instruments and this was the cleanest solution I found. At least the acewell is packaged in a somewhat vintage looking housing vs. some of the other universal units out there.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
Wingspan, that paint you used on the cases, does it have to be baked on? If so what temp? Your tip for trimming the masking tape is a good one, my dad taught me to make gaskets using the same method when I was a kid.
Wingspan, that paint you used on the cases, does it have to be baked on? If so what temp? Your tip for trimming the masking tape is a good one, my dad taught me to make gaskets using the same method when I was a kid.
1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
I contacted duplicolor and they said their engine paint will final cure from engine heat alone and declined to give any oven curing instructions. I cured mine in the oven simply as an extra precaution. I took them to 225F, allowed them to cool, then heated them to 325F. I have no idea if this was actually beneficial or not.
I contacted duplicolor and they said their engine paint will final cure from engine heat alone and declined to give any oven curing instructions. I cured mine in the oven simply as an extra precaution. I took them to 225F, allowed them to cool, then heated them to 325F. I have no idea if this was actually beneficial or not.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
More progress...
I've gone through several plans for the fork and ended where I started...with the stock fork. They're a bit puny for serious duty, but this bike isn't going to see "serious duty". All the GT750/550 forks I've come across lately (including the set I bought) have been junk. My stock forks are in fantastic shape aside from a bit of pitting and surface rust on the lower legs. They won't even need to be rebuilt right away as the seals are still holding well. I'd also have to fab steering stops with the GT forks. So, at least for now I'm going to roll with the stock fork (looking into stiffer springs though). That meant modifying the GT750 drum to fit. I did some measuring then started asking around for machine shop recommendations.
One of the guys at work laughed at me and said..."you work in a machine shop...dumba$$", then offered to do it for me during his break.
He chucked up my backing plates in a lathe and buzzed off the 0.160" per side that I had calculated.
When I got home I tossed the front end together to see if I had measured correctly. Perfect fit! Now that the machine work is done I can start polishing the backing plates.
More progress...
I've gone through several plans for the fork and ended where I started...with the stock fork. They're a bit puny for serious duty, but this bike isn't going to see "serious duty". All the GT750/550 forks I've come across lately (including the set I bought) have been junk. My stock forks are in fantastic shape aside from a bit of pitting and surface rust on the lower legs. They won't even need to be rebuilt right away as the seals are still holding well. I'd also have to fab steering stops with the GT forks. So, at least for now I'm going to roll with the stock fork (looking into stiffer springs though). That meant modifying the GT750 drum to fit. I did some measuring then started asking around for machine shop recommendations.
One of the guys at work laughed at me and said..."you work in a machine shop...dumba$$", then offered to do it for me during his break.
He chucked up my backing plates in a lathe and buzzed off the 0.160" per side that I had calculated.
When I got home I tossed the front end together to see if I had measured correctly. Perfect fit! Now that the machine work is done I can start polishing the backing plates.
sparkymoto
New Member
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
Slick. I'm gettin' antsy to see all that goodness mocked up with the bike
You gonna run stock gaitors? I have a set of new XS gaitors that I was going to use for mine...but since I'm doing the modern front-end now I could send them your way if you're interested. pic.
Slick. I'm gettin' antsy to see all that goodness mocked up with the bike
You gonna run stock gaitors? I have a set of new XS gaitors that I was going to use for mine...but since I'm doing the modern front-end now I could send them your way if you're interested. pic.
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Engine repainted (again) 2/12/11
You and me both, brother.
Undecided. My gators are in excellent condition and only need a clean up. I love the looks of the exposed springs though. Not running the gators will potentially wear the fork seal faster...but I'm not sure I care.
sparkymoto said:Slick. I'm gettin' antsy to see all that goodness mocked up with the bike
You and me both, brother.
Undecided. My gators are in excellent condition and only need a clean up. I love the looks of the exposed springs though. Not running the gators will potentially wear the fork seal faster...but I'm not sure I care.
