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CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

Hi,
I just registered here. I'm Dutch, 52 years old and I currently live again in Germany after having spent the last 3 years in the South of France.
Been riding bikes since the age of 17, First bike was a GS550 and soon thereafter I bought a crappy GT750 that had spent 10 years in a pig sty
with the cylinder head off. Got if for 100Dutch Guilders. Same seller sold me a T350 too. Ages later I got several RD350 YPVS and a KR1S.
That last one nearly cost me my licence, as I got caught doing 110miles on a 40mph road. Sold it and got a TL1000R as I tried to stay away from 2strokes.

Upon returning from France I now got hold of a GT185, which doesn't look too bad regarding the 650euros I paid for it. Last week I found a lonely GT380 engine
that I will overhaul and as I don't have the funds to create a whole GT380 I intend to fit it in a slightly more modern rolling chassis I got....

Best regards,
Charles
User avatar
Evans Ward
To the on ramp
Posts: 326
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:35 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 76 GT750, 72 H2 750, 84 RZ350
Location: Macon, GA. USA

Re: new on the forum

Post by Evans Ward »

Welcome and sounds like you’ll fit in just fine here. You’ve had some nice bikes.
1976 Suzuki GT750 (Maui Blue), 1972 Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV (Candytone Blue), 1984 Yamaha RZ350 (KRR- Yellow/ Black).
User avatar
Alan H
Moto GP
Posts: 3160
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:50 am
Country: England
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
Location: The Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: new on the forum

Post by Alan H »

Welcome Charles, sounds like an interesting project.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
sportston
Expert racer
Posts: 1119
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:04 pm
Country: England, UK
Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: new on the forum

Post by sportston »

Welcome! I'd love to see a GT380 lump in a more modern frame. Ambitious! Don't forget to post pics when you get around to it.
GTandcbr
Yeah Man, the Interstate
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Country: WALES
Suzuki 2-Strokes: suzuki gt 550j
Location: Wales

Re: new on the forum

Post by GTandcbr »

Hi Charles and welcome to the forum :) great selection of bikes! You have several good suppliers of parts in your country. If you send an email to gtreiner1@aol.com ask for a parts list he is very well stocked.
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I will post pics as soon as I start. I already put the engine in the chassis to see how it fits and
it does surprisingly well.Need to fabricate proper mountings of course. The rolling chassis is nothing fancy,
I guess you all will roll your eyes how I could use such a daft bike as a donor.... My answer is it's what I got available..

Just got myself another engine as the one I bought first missed the oil pump, oil feed pipes
and the sprocket cover. Stumbled upon a very neglected looking engine not too far from here
and got it for 200€. So now I got at least all parts to make one decent engine.

Started disassembling this neglected engine. Does not look too bad, will post some pics in the appropriate section later.
Got now the problem that I do not know yet how to take the primary gear off the crank. Is it fixed with a woodruff key? The original 1974 manual I just
bought just says take it off.Will ask in the repair section....

Best regards,
Charles
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

GTandcbr wrote:Hi Charles and welcome to the forum :) great selection of bikes! You have several good suppliers of parts in your country. If you send an email to gtreiner1@aol.com ask for a parts list he is very well stocked.
Thanks, I heard from Reiner before. I don't think I will be needing many parts, as it will be just the engine and carbs that will be GT380,
everything else won't be. Pipes will be from Higgspeed and I intend to fit a race ignition from Electrex.

Best regards,
Charles
GTandcbr
Yeah Man, the Interstate
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Country: WALES
Suzuki 2-Strokes: suzuki gt 550j
Location: Wales

Re: new on the forum

Post by GTandcbr »

Yes Charles primary drive is held in place with woodruff key :up:
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

GTandcbr wrote:Yes Charles primary drive is held in place with woodruff key :up:
Thanks and how would you remove this one?

Best regards,
Charles
GTandcbr
Yeah Man, the Interstate
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Country: WALES
Suzuki 2-Strokes: suzuki gt 550j
Location: Wales

Re: new on the forum

Post by GTandcbr »

The primary gear is held on the crank by a nut. Underneath the nut the gear has a slot with the woodruff key inside. Remove the nut and slide out the key
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

GTandcbr wrote:The primary gear is held on the crank by a nut. Underneath the nut the gear has a slot with the woodruff key inside. Remove the nut and slide out the key
Thanks! I have already removed the nut and tried poking in this slot with no result. I'll have another go this evening.
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: new on the forum

Post by karl pa »

The key is half moon so it will not just slide out, until the gear is removed.
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

karl pa wrote:The key is half moon so it will not just slide out, until the gear is removed.
So how would you proceed? Both gears don't move at all with the key in place?
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: new on the forum

Post by karl pa »

I don't believe the gear is pressed on, you should be able to wiggle loose, maybe a little help from screw driver or puller. Why do you want to take these gears off if I can ask?
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
CharlesP
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Country: Germany
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1978 GT185

Re: new on the forum

Post by CharlesP »

karl pa wrote:I don't believe the gear is pressed on, you should be able to wiggle loose, maybe a little help from screw driver or puller. Why do you want to take these gears off if I can ask?
I want the crank to be rebuild, just as a precaution. I understand for the rebuilder these gears need to be removed? Was thinking of using PJME? Some of you must have experience with them?

I tried to remove them carefully with a rubber mallet, but they don't move at all... All my pullers won't fit properly.. should I apply some heat?

Thanks,
Charles
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