Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Photos and progress of your restorations, even bikes you had but no longer own.

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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Always wanted one of these big two stroke beasts sine the 70's. Bought this ruin for too much money, turned out the front wheel and the frame where the only parts worth having, everything else was toast or wrong. Had J model front forks that were too loose for the triple tree, tank was J too, seat was rubbish, engine turned over amazingly well and when I got the head off i found out why...no pistons! Gearbox was full of rusty water, crank was ruined. Basically I have had to buy this bike back 3 times with parts scavenged, donated and purchased at horribly inflated prices from around the world.
rodent
On the street
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:15 pm
Country: Australia
Suzuki 2-Strokes: '73 GT750

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by rodent »

I don't believe you're a "pioneer" :(
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jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by jabcb »

Congrats on having the backbone to see this dream project through to completion. :up:
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
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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: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Alan H »

Hope the original seller recovers soon.
I suspect words were said....... :roll:
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

So to give some background to this money pit I call a bike lol. The tank was J model, the forks were also the thinner J ones so would never have worked, the main stand was missing, it only had one pipe and that was cracked, the seat was also a mismatch, no headlight, engine had no pistons and the cases were held loosely together with one bolt. The rear wheel had broken spokes, handlebars were bent. In the end I figured out I had a frame, a front wheel, a set of carburetors and some engine cases, not much for $1125 but hey I had a GT550 (Well some of it).
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Last edited by Hush on Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Now I needed an engine and plan "A" was to buy a runner from somewhere but there was nothing around so I was forced to use what I had.
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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

The rebuild was held up as I hunted for pistons, it turned out one barrel was 0.05 already and the other two were std so not a set, these I had bored to match at 0.5 and finally found some pistons in Australia.
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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Today's mission was fitting the oil lines and refitting the starter motor which now works great. Minor annoyance is I can't get the neutral light to show, It works if I ground the blue wire from the clocks but when hooked up to the sender blue wire from the sender unit I get zip? I can't spin the engine to allow the gears to move as I still have the carbs and oil pump off. I may put the sprocket cover on so I can activate the clutch which will let me move through the gears.
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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: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by karl pa »

Looking good :up:
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Nuts, one of the exhaust manifold bolts has decided to spin and not catch a grip, have bought a Helicoil to fix it. Throttle cables and tacho cable has arrived, bit scary as when the oil pump parts arrive I may actually have to try starting it!
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Helicoil successful, exhaust tightened, ram-air covers fitted, new stainless steel cover bolts purchased for oil pump. 6 oil pump seals ordered from local Suzuki dealer, awaiting oil pump drive pin and main oil pump seal from Ebay. Seat pan at engineering shop to be rebuilt. Correct front guard purchased from Canada ($220) also seat hinges, locking plate and air box cones from same seller.
Cliff56
On the street
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:29 pm
Country: Canada
Suzuki 2-Strokes: Original owner GT550L

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Cliff56 »

Hush wrote:Helicoil successful, exhaust tightened, ram-air covers fitted, new stainless steel cover bolts purchased for oil pump. 6 oil pump seals ordered from local Suzuki dealer, awaiting oil pump drive pin and main oil pump seal from Ebay. Seat pan at engineering shop to be rebuilt. Correct front guard purchased from Canada ($220) also seat hinges, locking plate and air box cones from same seller.
Parts are on their way from Canada!!
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

I hope so lol. :D
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Gear shifter has no return happening, had to remove the clutch cover and reset the gear shift spring, no one tells you about these things! My Clymer and Haynes manuals never mentioned anything about putting tension on that spring. So while I'm in there I sorted the kick starter out too, finding those two tiny punch marks is nearly impossible. Next mission was the gear indicator, I removed it and took it apart, cleaned the tiny brass pick-ups and put it back on, it has no issue showing 2nd 3rd 4th 5th but neutral and 1st are hard to find or stay on. Possibly some readjustment of the unit will help.
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Added a new stainless steel bolt to the earth side of the sender and it worked perfectly, seems the original bolt was just old and crusty and not making good contact. Tested plugs, can only get a weak red spark on all plugs, 40 year old condensers and points probably didn't help so have ordered new ones. :roll:
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