1975 Suzuki T500 IT IS ALIVE! First start video 5/7/11
- Thread starter Wingspan
- Start date
Ringo said:
Thanks.
It's not even on the same planet as your Gulf bike. That thing is amazing. Recent updates: Called the bike shop this morning and they're supposed to have a new set of needle valves here for me tomorrow. Hopefully the UPS guy will bring my pods tomorrow as well. I made a needle height adjustment this morning and did an other short ride. Big improvement! No more running until I have the filters but things are looking up.
Wingspan, Absolutely beautiful project! One of my all time favorite scooters, I just bought one yesterday (AT LAST!!), which caused me to find your project!
Before you condemn the needle/seat in your leaky carb, examine very carefully the actuating arm where the float(s) contacts it. It must be PERFECTLY smooth and flat. The floats impart only a very tiny force on the arm, and it doesn't take much to impede the force needed to completely close the needle/seat. The floats move in a straight line on their guide pins, and the arms swing in an arc. Those little steel pins on the floats sit at nearly the exact same spot all the time on the brass arms while they let fuel dribble in to the bowl, and the constant vibration wears a tiny notch in the soft brass arm just enough to eventually make the needle not quite seal, or at least become maddeningly unreliable! Some arms can be inverted, but if these can't, sand or file the area flat, polish smooth and reset the float level. I've replaced a lot of needle/seat assemblies, and that actually fixed the problem a lot of times, but I realize now that most of the time it was probably just disassembly and reassembly with new parts that landed the float/notch alignment a hair off and the seal worked, lending credibility to the belief that the needle/seat was bad, when actually it was that arm. I don't think I have needed a single needle/seat assembly since I figured this out. Hope this helps and gets you running for the weekend!
again, great work!
John
Before you condemn the needle/seat in your leaky carb, examine very carefully the actuating arm where the float(s) contacts it. It must be PERFECTLY smooth and flat. The floats impart only a very tiny force on the arm, and it doesn't take much to impede the force needed to completely close the needle/seat. The floats move in a straight line on their guide pins, and the arms swing in an arc. Those little steel pins on the floats sit at nearly the exact same spot all the time on the brass arms while they let fuel dribble in to the bowl, and the constant vibration wears a tiny notch in the soft brass arm just enough to eventually make the needle not quite seal, or at least become maddeningly unreliable! Some arms can be inverted, but if these can't, sand or file the area flat, polish smooth and reset the float level. I've replaced a lot of needle/seat assemblies, and that actually fixed the problem a lot of times, but I realize now that most of the time it was probably just disassembly and reassembly with new parts that landed the float/notch alignment a hair off and the seal worked, lending credibility to the belief that the needle/seat was bad, when actually it was that arm. I don't think I have needed a single needle/seat assembly since I figured this out. Hope this helps and gets you running for the weekend!
again, great work!
John
Thanks for the tip. I do recall seeing a mark on the float where the pin makes contact. I'll be sure to give that look when I pull the bowls back off. I've already got the new valves coming so I'll change them out anyway, but you might just have saved me some added frustration.
dcmspikes said:
Thanks.
Here's where I bought my Acewell:
http://www.spmotostore.com/SPEEDOMETER_ACEWELL_2701_p/53-a2701.htm
There are other sources, but this was the only source I found for this specific model. I didn't want anything on my gauge that the bike didn't need such as a fuel gauge, oil pressure, etc. Most places I found that sell the Acewell only list the more expensive model with those features that I didn't need.
I got my new needle valves and pod filters yesterday. I polished the float arms (per jpmobius' tip), trued up the mating surface of the float bowls, and reassembled the carbs. Then I put on the UNI's and took her for a spin. Did 6 or 7 miles around town. Still have some tuning issues to overcome but it never seemed like it wasn't going to get me home. There was no sign of fuel leakage from the float bowls after the ride, so that's encouraging.
VonYinzer said:
I wouldn't say it's running well, but we're getting there. Thanks for the nomination. I posted an acceptance but is seems to have disappeared.
Here's another short vid:
1975 T500 Cafe 1
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Sweet! Beautiful bike. I didn't realize until I just saw the video that the kicker was on the left side.
Serialk1llr
New Member
Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Wiring started 4/22/11
Hey Wingspan, does having this setup allow you to eliminate the need to have points, coils, etc?
Wingspan said:
Hey Wingspan, does having this setup allow you to eliminate the need to have points, coils, etc?
sparkymoto
New Member
This bike is incredible in the pics and even better in person. What a treat to see it at the Rockers Reunion tonight in Indy...and ooh that sound!! Well done Mark. I'll email some pics if they turn out.
Well, Rocker's Reunion 2011 was a pretty good time overall. Lots of cool bikes, met lots of nice folks, but the weather just didn't behave. I rode over to the show in the dry, but the rain started shortly after I got there. Rain was on again, off again for the rest of the day and the ride home was in a downpour. It was an adventure getting home but due to the weather and some running issues that crept up (like the shift lever toe peg vibrating off a mile from home, sticking me in first gear...rain soaked pod filters, and what I hope is just a fouled plug) but we made it.
Beautiful Yamaha:
I really liked this little Honda bobber:
Sparkymoto's awesome BMW.
I don't know for certain how many bikes were there, but they lined both sides of the street for 3-4 blocks. It was a good turnout considering the weather. Many thanks to the Indy Ton Up Club and all the event sponsors for a great day.
The T500 is disgustingly filthy after her rain adventure:
Oh yea...came home with this:
Beautiful Yamaha:
I really liked this little Honda bobber:
Sparkymoto's awesome BMW.
I don't know for certain how many bikes were there, but they lined both sides of the street for 3-4 blocks. It was a good turnout considering the weather. Many thanks to the Indy Ton Up Club and all the event sponsors for a great day.
The T500 is disgustingly filthy after her rain adventure:
Oh yea...came home with this:
famousseajay
Been Around the Block
Great work on the bike! And congrats on that sweet trophy.
VonZipper
Active Member
Sorry I didn't know it was you there at the show Wingspan, your bike looked outstanding and the Trophy you took home was very well deserved. I really should have introduced myself at the after party but after the rain and all the craziness I headed for home when the second downpour hit around 7:40 without seeking you out. If I had known it was you I would have offered you and your bike a ride home in my truck and saved you the soaking...next time I'll try to make sure we meet. Maybe at the Steer Inn Vintage Night next month? I saw you get your trophy though (just didn't make the connection) and thought the event was better this year than last..the band kicked butt too. Congrats on the win! Jim
