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 .

[kawonda750]

New solenoid came so now, Can someone please explain how to get at the top bolt? Wrenches do not fit in with the sidecover mount there. 1975 Gt750 BTW

[jabcb]

As I remember, the electrical panel has 1 screw. Remove that screw & move the electrical panel so you can get at the solenoid bolt.

The panel has a locking tab that engages with the battery box. That's how Suzuki was able to use just one screw. Make sure to engage that locking tab when reattaching the panel.

[kawonda750]

Thank you. We had a huge ice storm with freezing rain . Tree branches were covered in ice and broke under the weight and fell on hydro lines. We have not had power since Saturday night and power is still off. We have no phone, no cell service, no internet and , of course, no heat. We ha.e a natural gas furnace but no electricity to work the blower. Inside temp is down to 41 F. We have finally had to move into town. They got their power back yesterday afternoon.

[jabcb]

On the brighter side ...
It's a reminder of how good we have it. George Westinghouse installed the first AC power plant in my area in 1886.
My parent's house was originally heated with coal & had been converted to natural gas before they bought it. Coal heat was a lot of work.

[kawonda750]

When we first bought 35 years ago, we had electric baseboards and a wood stove. We bought a good air tight wood stove and heated mainly with wood. A client of my wife's delivered 5 full cords of wood each fall and dumped them on the front yard. We then stacked it in the basement, outside the basement and some in the yard. Then fought about who had used all the kindling and who would chop more. Fun times but we were much younger then. I was very happy when we built an addition and got a natural gas furnace. Joyous time when I put the stove outside to never be used again.
The chimney was bad and would have cost what the furnace costed us.

Hoping that we get hydro today but not holding my breath. We inherited a house in town where our son lives and my wife has her office too. We have invaded his space. But, at least Mom is cooking for him for a while.