Decisions 74 GT550

[tennesseetwostroke]

Well I have reached the point where I must decide what to do with my cranks. The original one I thought was toast appears to be in very good shape other than the seals and bearings. Not so sure about one of the rods as it ripped a piston in half. It doesn't look hurt but I know it has been stressed. The other crank out of an ebay motor I have not torn down but seems good , just needs seals and bearings also. I made the plates to press them apart then found out my press was not heavy enough to do it. Lost a couple of days making the plates and modifying the press to hold a bottle jack. 10 tons was not enough, 20 was plenty. Getting them apart was not too difficult, putting on back together might be a different story. Has anyone else tried this at home? I know I will have to make a jig to keep the crank halves in line and a set of rollers to check true. Any advice here would be appreciated.
Also this is my first restoration and I am torn between completely stripping the bike or leaving it alone as it a survivor. It would be far from perfect but almost completely original. Any thoughts on this from the community?
I have pictures here http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/dan_37115/library/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[yeadon_m]

I think you must either be a skilled engineer or very brave
Obviously, you have the kit. It would terrify me and as the major cost is in the parts more than the labour, I've always chosen to farm this out.
I know of only one person who has successfully pressed apart, rebuilt and installed a crank at home. Please see Bill / Oldbeancanopener's posts here (UK):
http://www.kettleclinic.co.uk/kcforum/v ... =11&t=4492" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
Mike

[Coyote]

I am a machinist with 35 years experience. Put all the parts in a box and send them to Bill Bune. I hate to burst your bubble, but there ain't no way to do this at home. Especially on a triple. I wouldn't try it even if I still had all the equipment. I don't care how much savvy you think you have, you just can't the there without the proper aligning fixtures.

[tennesseetwostroke]

I myself have been in industrial maintenance for for 30+ years. We do everything in house except the machine work. After reading the link that Mike posted I may be tempted to try it. It was an older post and the pictures would not show or I would need to join and log in, not sure. Mike could you see the pictures? The individual web sets do not look like they would be to hard to align. Alignment holes are there for that. Putting the three sets together might be a little trickier. I have watched so many videos on youtube, can't seem to find one showing how to keep the sets lined up. Gotta love youtube. At the least I can separate what I will be using to run in the motor and press the other parts back together to see how close I can get. No harm done there.

[rngdng]

I also recommend Bune, but do as you see fit. As to the rest of the bike; it's in pretty good shape. I'd do a nice cleanup and ride it.



Lane

[yeadon_m]

Tennesee,
If you join the UK forum, it will be a useful add-on to the very good advice here.
I can no longer see the pictures but that may be because of space they are not archived beyond say one year.
I'm pretty certain that Bill / oldbeancanopener will share with you his experiences. As I say, he's the only person I am aware of who has done this at home and he reports the bike is running well and smoothly. Plus he is justifiably very smug
The best reason for doing it yourself is satisfaction, and potentially time-saving vs a shop wait-time, as the labour cost is small compared with the parts costs.
An alternative contact method is if you send me your email address and I will link you to Bill (I would PM him....I don't have his email address).
Please note that joining the Kettle Clinick is free.
I'm not the webmaster but I know all the people who are - Baz (Barry) and Mark (forum co-founders - both in or around Birmingham) and Astrax (Ian - in Gosport, Hampshire).
Cheers,
Mike

[tennesseetwostroke]

Thanks to all for the replies. I am slow getting back as I was on vacation and have returned to work. I am in no hurry to get this done, plenty of time to decide which way to go. I still have not received all the parts I have ordered so I'm on hold with the crank either way. I will check out The Kettle Clinick as You suggested Mike. I don't guess they will mind if I do not have one?

[Alan H]

The Kettle Clinic cater for all Suzuki 2 strokes, and folks have 550s, 380s, 500s, 305s, 250s, 185s,, etc.
(And even a couple of GS 'diesels!')

[yeadon_m]

Watch out for some posters there, who are insufficiently respectful of the great GT750, calling them hippos. Waterbuffaloes, not bloody hippos. Frankly, its gratuitously offensive, isn't it, Alan?
Mike

[Alan H]

I always call a hippo, a hippo, Mike.
Just love the 550 greyhound - it goes, it stops, it handles and is relatively unheavy. (Can't really say light!)

[yeadon_m]

Its all true Alan, 550s are great bikes (too) !
Mike