Hey everyone! I'm new to the boards here and new to restoring bikes. I've had a lot of experience working on cars out of necessity, and am somewhat mechanically inclined. I've always wanted to get into restoring old vehicles and I found an old GT 550 in my grandpas barn, figured this is as good a place to start as any.
I believe my bike is 1975. It says 8/74 as manufacture date and lists the vin as gt550-49739 so I think that puts me in the model M category of 1975. The license plate on it says 1988 so I at least know it was last running about 27 years ago!
Anyway, I have no clue where to even start on this bike. I've got a clymer manual and I was thinking of using that to guide me on the "how to", but I'm not sure where to start. Any advice or pointers would be most welcome. Thanks in advance!
Photos to come once I figure out how to post them. Ha ha
Last edited by capazzo22 on Wed Sep 23, 2015 2:30 pm, edited 3 times in total.
We all have different opinions on this.....but for me, I would want to get it running first....if the engine is blown to bits you may feel it's not worth the bother.
titan performance wrote:We all have different opinions on this.....but for me, I would want to get it running first....if the engine is blown to bits you may feel it's not worth the bother.
Ok, that's kind of what I was thinking too. Get it running first. My question is should I start by rebuilding the carbs? It looks like there was some leaking from some engine seals so should I start by pulling that apart, cleaning and redoing seals?
Welcome to the forum I think the first question is the motor stuck or free. If it is free I would start with the carbs and cleaning the petrol tank. Flush out old petrol . take out the plugs and before cleaning them have a look they may give you an idea how the bike was running before it was stored. Lots of help on here! Good luck
GTandcbr wrote:Welcome to the forum I think the first question is the motor stuck or free. If it is free I would start with the carbs and cleaning the petrol tank. Flush out old petrol . take out the plugs and before cleaning them have a look they may give you an idea how the bike was running before it was stored. Lots of help on here! Good luck
Great! Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I think the engine turns since the chain was moving just fine. I guess it could have been in neutral, but I'll check that out first.
My advice to you is to start drinking heavily. Where was that bike buried anyway? Step on the kicker and see if it turns over, the chain moving probably means it's in neutral. If you decide to restore it, just prepare yourself for a tedious and costly project. BUT, if you plan on keeping it, it can also be a rewarding project.
Lane
If you stroke it more than twice; you're playing with it.
Too many bikes, too much time, ENOUGH SPACE, FINALLY! Never enough money.........
rngdng wrote:My advice to you is to start drinking heavily. Where was that bike buried anyway? Step on the kicker and see if it turns over, the chain moving probably means it's in neutral. If you decide to restore it, just prepare yourself for a tedious and costly project. BUT, if you plan on keeping it, it can also be a rewarding project.
Lane
It was sitting in my grandpas barn so not really out in the weather, although it does kind of look like it was actually buried. Oregon is pretty humid.
Yeah, I'm planning on restoring it for myself, and definitely not for any sort of profit.
Invest in a LOT of EVAPORUST... you'd be surprised how good that stuff is for cleaning all sorts of parts and chrome...
But I'd make sure it spins over freely. Just remember that you SHOULD be doing this for enjoyment and to keep yourself out of the local watering holes...Me personally I am a GLUTTON for punishment and would probably want to do it... How are the body parts?
Bloop2 wrote:Looks like the Cobra that I'm just about finished restoring, same shape. I have deep pockets and don't worry about the cost. I'll help you out.
Thanks for fixing that ! I have special pair of work shop pants where the pockets reach down to the knees. So far I haven't reached the bottom, but getting close.
Before you try to start it, lift the barrels off and remove the pistons from the rods, then fill each crankcase with diesel. Turn the engine over slowly on the kicker - lots - then drain/refill/repeat.
This will soften the seals and get a load of crap out of the bottom end of the engine. Make sure all oilways are clear, then use an oil gun to squirt some oil down all the pipes from the oil pump to the engine. Clean the carbs. Then do it again as the first time won't be good enough. Then refit the pistons, barrels and heads and try to start it. You need a GOOD 12v battery and good wiring connections at the very least.
Plenty of advice regards 550s on here, I'm on my 3rd and several more in reserve!
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
Alan H wrote:Before you try to start it, lift the barrels off and remove the pistons from the rods, then fill each crankcase with diesel. Turn the engine over slowly on the kicker - lots - then drain/refill/repeat.
This will soften the seals and get a load of crap out of the bottom end of the engine. Make sure all oilways are clear, then use an oil gun to squirt some oil down all the pipes from the oil pump to the engine. Clean the carbs. Then do it again as the first time won't be good enough. Then refit the pistons, barrels and heads and try to start it. You need a GOOD 12v battery and good wiring connections at the very least.
Plenty of advice regards 550s on here, I'm on my 3rd and several more in reserve!
Thanks for those tips! That's exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for.
I'm planning on replacing the wiring before getting to the starting point. Just got the carbs off so I will start on those soon. I will need some hard work to get the head cover off as two bolts snapped below the surface with almost no torque on my part. My first try to get one out had my easy out snap off in the bolt. Funny part is when I took the mufflers off they came off super easy. That's funny to me since when I work on cars the exhaust manifold is almost always the must stuck on part.
Good news is the mufflers sound solid, no rattling or loose crap inside!
Great pics of the bike! Don't mean to hijack the thread, but can anyone tell me what those two bolts are for in the frame behind the rear brake light switch?? Every GT550 I've seen, including mine has them!
Cliff!!
