In for a pound

[tz375]

Looking good so far. I hope you chased every thread out to remove the broken media. The oil dams inside the covers also have to be cleaned out to make sure it is 110% clean.

Another thing to watch for are dings in the surfaces and raised areas around threaded holes. It is often a good idea to make sure that case surfaces are dead flat and match their partners.

[kawonda750]

Good advice. I will go over it again to make sure.

[kawonda750]

And suddenly, things are coming together. I received the bearing locator pins yesterday finally. I will finish the lower end tomorrow hopefully. I am still waiting for my cylinders to come back.
I did see a cool video yesterday of someone assembling the cylinders and pistons using cable ties as ring compressors. I assume it is likely one of you guys. A really good idea...

[kawonda750]

Here we go again. The little inner clutch shim is not there so it is wait for it to arrive by snail mail.
My theory that this engine was untouched is exploding. Little things seem to have been left out after work was done.

[kawonda750]

The shim arrived at end of day yesterday just about the same time that the machine shop called to say my cylinders are ready. Of course, we had a major snowfall today so I was snow blowing but finally I have the clutch in and the cover on. I will continue tomorrow likely after more dealing with snow. The cylinders look good. I have them cleaned up. I am not sure if I would ever do vapour blasting again. The sand forms a mud with the water and is hard to get rid of. It took a bunch of rinsing to get everything clean.

I did stop at the auto store and got long cable ties for the piston rings so unless something else is missing, I should have the engine ready to go back in by Sunday. Well, unless there is another large snow that is....

[badgereng]

I picked up my GT500 crankcase halves today after being vapour blasted and they were spotless. No beads or any other form of debris.

Maybe the company that did them did not thoroughly rinse and blow off after blasting.

Try a different company next time if you want some more VB doing.

[kawonda750]

Cylinders on and torqued. The cable tie ring trick semi worked. The middle cylinder ones fell immediately so I reverted to finger squeezing them . Then the right went on perfectly and the left had the top ring go in and the bottom one hang up but that ring went in with a little squeeze. All in all, a fairly easy job.

[kawonda750]

Finally, a feeling of accomplishment. Still lots to do but it is looking like a bike again....

[kawonda750]

New intake rubbers which are pliable and not hard ened so carbs are finally installed. I have a new solenoid on order but I have spark and carbs are there. It is ready to run. Too bad there is still about 4 feet of snow in front of the garage door. A warm week is coming next week. Hoping the painter is at least thinking about doing the tank and covers. He is a car enthusiast who paints kitchens for a living so my work is only a fill for him. I have to give him months to do it and also give him a required by date. He does beautiful work though and, doesn't charge me outlandish amounts...

[kawonda750]

I talked to the painter today. he was having trouble matching the grey colour and said no one knew what he was talking about. I said it was understandable since the bike is 50 years old this year and Suzuki dixcontinued the colour years ago. He will have the tank scanned and get as close as possible. Most won't know if it is correct anyway.

Everything else is done and the tank and covers are all I need. I certainly hope that I don't have to take the air cleaner off again though. It was an exercise in frustration getting it in place even after I secreted my wife's hair drier to soften the rubbers in my cold garage. back to hurry up and wait .