Page 1 of 8
1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:10 am
by jabcb
Starting new topic because the Photobucket policy changes trashed my old topic.
Lost free storage for my 1972 GT550 & decided to do a cafe build.
Pic from when I got the bike.
cafe-GT550-1 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Closeup of that wonderful fairing.
cafe-GT550-2 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Project is waiting for GT250 motor rebuild to be finished. So its a good time to make some decision.
Had title problems but that is now resolved & I have a PA license plate.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:10 am
by jabcb
Started working on the project.
cafe-GT550-0326 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Did a spiffy job at polishing the brake drums. (We cheated & had forum member Sandman do the work.)
cafe-GT550_6763 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:11 am
by jabcb
The GT380 project was bigger than anticipated, so I put GT550 build on hold until the GT250 & GT380 were done.
Both are done, so we are back at the GT550 build.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:57 pm
by sportston
Glad you ditched the fairing!
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:17 am
by jabcb
The fugly fairing is still available for free if anyone is interested.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:35 pm
by sportston
jabcb wrote:The fugly fairing is still available for free if anyone is interested.
Lol. If its free you never know, you might find someone who will take it off your hands. It might suit a 1970s highway cruiser fan. It reminds me of CHIPs.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 2:41 am
by dollydog
reminds me of the old AA man's bike in the 50's and 60's
cheers, dd.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:26 am
by jabcb
That sidecar looks like the compartment might have enough room to hide two small clowns.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 1:59 pm
by dollydog
just a bloody big toolbox mate
cheers, dd.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:55 am
by sportston
dollydog wrote:just a bloody big toolbox mate
cheers, dd.
I thought it was coffin! I thought that was for carrying off members that didn't make it to collect their ten year chip?
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:39 pm
by jabcb
Forks looking spiffy after a lot of hard work. (We cheated and had forum member Sandman do the work.)
cafe-GT550-8147 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:31 pm
by sportston
fork legs brushed then clear lacquered? Looks very nice!
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 4:08 pm
by jabcb
Clear powder coated. Sandman also did the forks + motor covers on the GT250 cafe built.
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:09 am
by jabcb
Rats. Per the service manual the fork spring is tapered because of the oil passages. Looks like fork improvements are limited to oil viscosity & sag adjustment.
GT550-ServiceManual-ForkSpring by
jabcb, on Flickr
Started tearing into the motor. A PO had labeled the cylinders when they had the top end off.
Had some metal bits underneath the clutch from the infamous exploding early starter clutches. Luckily I scored a complete late-model clutch + starter clutch assembly on eBay a few years ago.
cafe-GT550-531609024 by
jabcb, on Flickr
Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:40 am
by Alan H
Looking good now that fugly fairing is off!
Good news about the replacement clutch too.