Cobra Questions

[oldjapanesebikes]

I'm just starting a rebuild of a Mk 1 T500, and since I've never actually seen one other than in photos, there are a few things that are not obvious from the parts manual or photos - if you have one of these then hopefully you can help !

- The left side cover on mine seems like its missing something toward the rear edge of the cover as it looks as if a spot weld has pulled off (its a metal cover) in the area of where the knob to secure the cover goes through - if so, what is it supposed to look like ? I've marked the area with an arrow in the photo:



- Am I correct in thinking that Suzuki did not have 'S' mirrors in 1968 ? From what I can see, these seem to have been introduced in 1969.

- And did the original first year models only come with one mirror ? Or was that perhaps country specific ?

- I need to have the front mud guard re-chromed and so was planning to remove the rivets securing the stays - any suggestions as to what to use for replacement rivets ?

Thanks in advance !

[jabcb]

My 69 T350 looks the same. The mirror mounts on the clean section of the handlebar that is beside the brake lever mount.
I have aftermarket mirrors, so I don't know if the factory mirrors have the "S" or not.

[oldjapanesebikes]

Left side cover for you Ian, yes, a small bracket along with an aluminum spacer underneath, includes a washer that sits on top of the spacer:

Perfect - thanks ! My metal working skills are 'amateur' level, but I can fab something up that will work and will resemble that. The length of the spacer is about 1 in ?

[oldjapanesebikes]

It is a totally different style, does not show the "S" as it does for the newer style mirror in the parts manual. Mine did come with mirrors but they were totally after market.

My 69 T350 looks the same. The mirror mounts on the clean section of the handlebar that is beside the brake lever mount.

Thank you both.

I think these ones may be the correct ones - they are actually universal fit (left or right) and were in the box of bits that came with the bike and do resemble the ones in the parts manual and in photos I've collected..



I was going to work on it more today, but went riding instead

[oldjapanesebikes]

I took the spacer out, it is made of plastic, length is 23 mm (manual has length listed). The washer is the usual threaded one to keep it from falling off. The spacers were used for MK I to MK III.

Thanks !

[oldjapanesebikes]

Another question - rear shocks. There was a thread on taking apart the Suzuki rear shocks here on the board at this link viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7053&start=15&hilit=shock" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , but I was interested in hearing from folks who had taken apart the older style with the spring enclosed within the chromed sleeve, and the painted upper shroud as used on the T500 MK 1 and other mid-60's models. A fellow by the name of Graham Curtis did an excellent job of stepping through how to do all of this on '60's Honda rear dampers (his photo library is located at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63154743@N ... 863153601/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) - presumably Suzuki dampers are similar ?

Three questions really:

- I'm assuming the same sort of jig used to take apart the later style can be used, or a press, but I'm concerned about the reassembly and the risk of damaging the painted upper shroud - any tips ?
- if you had the legs and lower sleeve re-chromed, I'm assuming you would have to do a full rebuild on the damper - are they crimped seal, or threaded and where did you locate the seals etc ?
- what weight of oil did you use ?

Thanks !

[oldjapanesebikes]

Found this post old , I know I'm going to be doing the same on my shocks:

Thanks - I missed that one when I did my search.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

That mirror in the middle is the correct one, it had a clamp that went around the handlebars positioned just inside of the clutch lever assembly. I only know of one on the left side being fitted for the North American market as a standard item.
Those clamp style early mirrors never came with an 'S' as far as I can remember.
For the fender rivets you can use some stainless philips head screws or stainless button head Allens for close visual replacements.

[jabcb]

Paul Miller is selling a clamp-on "S" mirror for the T500 Cobra on eBay. Don't know if its correct NOS or an aftermarket part.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-T500-Cob ... 0936406229

[oldjapanesebikes]

Paul Miller is selling a clamp-on "S" mirror for the T500 Cobra on eBay. Don't know if its correct NOS or an aftermarket part.

Thanks ! In the end I picked two up from Reiner - they match the one original I had (no 'S') so at this stage I don't know what really was original - the various parts manuals I've picked up lead me to think that the 'S' backed mirrors were introduced in 1969.

[oldjapanesebikes]

Cobra horns - were they riveted or did they use screws ? I'm thinking rivets. Anyone know for certain ? And yes - I am holding it upside down .

[argo1974]

The Nikko horn has phillips head screws on my Cobra. The same on my 69" Kawasaki H1.

[oldjapanesebikes]

The Nikko horn has phillips head screws on my Cobra. The same on my 69" Kawasaki H1.

Thanks - that's what I needed to know !

[oldjapanesebikes]

I found this interesting - these Suzuki oil lines are original and appear to be rebuildable ! They also seem to work fine so I hesitate to touch them - but I'm curious. My engine is T500-13233 and all the other oil injection lines I've seen are a one piece design and not (at all easily) rebuildable - same as on the GT550 and GT750's. Any ideas when Suzuki changed to the newer style ?

[Bloop2]

Mine are the same, also picked up a spare set of the same type, tempted to play with one set. Should make it easy to play with the check valve.