So there’s a material that covers the underside of my cylinder head shrouds that looks like roofing tar. Unlike roofing tar it’s quite hard, though I imagine the heat cycling has caused it to harden. If I had to guess it was added to quiet things down, but it seems to me it would inhibit cooling. Anyone ever see this done to a shroud? It was on the inside of the points cover too!
Chris
GT550 cylinder head shroud has roofing tar?
Moderators: H2RICK, Suzsmokeyallan, oldjapanesebikes
-
- On the street
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:04 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: Suzuki A50, S32 Olympian
- jabcb
- Moto GP
- Posts: 4152
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
- Location: southwestern Pennsylvania
Re: GT550 cylinder head shroud has roofing tar?
The covers on my GT550 cafe build had the “tar” on the underside as shown in the pic. Had the tar removed before spiffing up the covers.
GT550-ram-air-0777 by jabcb, on Flickr
The GT550 points cover is an aluminum casting similar to the other covers. No “tar” on the underside on all of the ones I’ve seen.
The GT750 points cover is a steel stamping with a “tar” disk on the back side.

The GT550 points cover is an aluminum casting similar to the other covers. No “tar” on the underside on all of the ones I’ve seen.
The GT750 points cover is a steel stamping with a “tar” disk on the back side.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
-
- On the street
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:04 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: Suzuki A50, S32 Olympian
Re: GT550 cylinder head shroud has roofing tar?
Yup, that’s exactly what I have! Guess I’ll just leave it in place since apparently it’s common. Maybe the former owner replaced the points cover with one from a GT750, hence the “tar”.
Thanks for your reply jabcb!
Thanks for your reply jabcb!