Getting back into riding
Moderators: oldjapanesebikes, H2RICK, diamondj, Suzsmokeyallan
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tennesseetwostroke
- On the street
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:09 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT550L x2 TS400
Getting back into riding
New member here. I have been out of riding for a long time. Recently was gifted a bike by my wife after 30 years of not wanting me to ride. House, kids, getting ran over, things like that. I have really missed it. The bike is an 84 Honda V45 Magna and is in very good shape. As much as I like it my first love is Suzuki. I bought a 74 GT550 recently and have started to restore it. It was a barn find on ebay, seized motor with 5000 miles on it. It was parked until it was brought out a few months ago. Nearly complete, missing side covers and a mirror. I think my biggest challenge is going to be the crankshaft. Ruined all the main bearings. Looks like there are many well versed twostrokers here and I am sure I will need some info from them. Hope to have it on the road soon. Thanks to all.
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oldjapanesebikes
- Moto GP
- Posts: 3229
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:43 am
- Country: Canada
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT750(Jx3,L,M,A,B),T500
- Location: Ontario
- Contact:
Re: Getting back into riding
Welcome ! 
Until recently the crankshaft main bearings were an issue as most of them were unavailable - just recently though Cruzinimage has come out with reproduction bearing kits. While I personally have not used his crankshaft sets, I have bought many of his piston sets along with a few other items (fork tubes and gasket sets for example) and generally have never had a problem - in the absence of any other option, I think it is worth considering. Make sure if you buy pistons that you get the right ones - there were two different engine designs (plated and iron bores). You can sort out the differences by checking this link.
Good luck !
Until recently the crankshaft main bearings were an issue as most of them were unavailable - just recently though Cruzinimage has come out with reproduction bearing kits. While I personally have not used his crankshaft sets, I have bought many of his piston sets along with a few other items (fork tubes and gasket sets for example) and generally have never had a problem - in the absence of any other option, I think it is worth considering. Make sure if you buy pistons that you get the right ones - there were two different engine designs (plated and iron bores). You can sort out the differences by checking this link.
Good luck !
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
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tennesseetwostroke
- On the street
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:09 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT550L x2 TS400
Re: Getting back into riding
Hello and thanks . I figured out the cylinders and have ordered the Wisco set that Paul Miller has. His store is jrwdfa on ebay. They were the iron bore still std. size in good shape. And I have ordered the cruzinimage bearing and seal set and it looks good. The only thing with those is it does not have the oil slingers on the three that oil the big rod end. But Paul Miller has four sets of NOS bearings on his site right now. I just ordered those and will be looking for someone here in Tennessee that can do the crank, otherwise I will have to ship it off. I was looking through some old posts that were discussing the issue of not having the slingers by vdavidoff but it ended without saying what he did to finish his crank. I do not see where it would be different from any other two stroke, but I am not going to risk it. I will only get one shot at this and I hope to do it right.
