Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Photos and progress of your restorations, even bikes you had but no longer own.

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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

So some unfortunate decal issues we need to sort but in the meantime the L/H pipe I purchased to replace the original has made it's way across the US to a friendly fellow GT550 owner who is going to clean it up for shipping. I only bought the replacement pipe for aesthetic reasons as mine had a split and a munted end and a nasty gauge near the headers but as I fire the bike up occasionally to ensure it doesn't think it can go back into hibernation for another 20 years, I notice I still am not getting smoke from that pipe, the other three smoke heaps but the L/H top is smoke free! I suspect maybe as I fished half a baffle out of that pipe a while ago that maybe there is the other half in there blocking somewhere. Hoping the replacement cures this. I am pretty happy with the colour for the bike, the side covers look great.
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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Pipe finally arrived from US, after fitting it the bike fired right up and the idles evened out so looks like that old pipe was still blocked somehow. Tank should be at last ready to fit to the bike tomorrow so the whole package will be back together. Bit of paperwork to do to get the bike road legal but basically end of a 14 month rebuild, waaaay over spent lol but I rebuilt this one cos I wanted a 550 and money wasn't the major concern. getting parts for these old bikes is getting harder each year.
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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Early Xmas prezzy from my son, he wasn't too impressed with his workmanship but to me it is perfect, at last now I can complete the bike and run it from the tank as it should be.
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GTandcbr
Yeah Man, the Interstate
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Country: WALES
Suzuki 2-Strokes: suzuki gt 550j
Location: Wales

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by GTandcbr »

Beautiful colour that ! Looks amazing looking forward to seeing the end of project photos 8)
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

So the new tank badges don't quite fit, the attaching poles are in the right place but 4mm thick whereas the originals are 3mm! So some drilling to get them to mount correctly, having none of those tiny nut things to hold the badges in I mixed up some JB Weld and very carefully bent the Australian made badges to the curve of the tank. My son reassures me that the clear coat wont be affected by my liberal use of insulation tape to hold them on while it sets lol.
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Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

And just like that after 14 months and $14000 we have a complete bike. Minor teething issues like a leaking gas tap which needed attention. Next some legal paperwork with an inspection by certifying place to make her road registered. I forgot how quick these old two strokes were, nearly ran over one of my mutts, little Izzy is blind and ran right under the bike! I figure 80% of this bike is imported, parts from the US, UK and Australia make up much of it and about 1/3 of the costs were for shipping parts from around the world. Generous donations from other 550 owners here in New Zealand have filled the gaps for parts I couldn't source. Along the way I picked up 550 parts, many for the wrong model as I fumbled through learning about the different models, these parts I couldn't use found homes with other 550 owners around the country. I have a workmate who rides and does semi professional videoing so hope to get some footage of the green machine.
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Last edited by Hush on Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Alan H
Moto GP
Posts: 3160
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:50 am
Country: England
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
Location: The Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Alan H »

And very nice too!
All it needs now, is some wear on the tyres - ride it and enjoy it!
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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Evans Ward
To the on ramp
Posts: 326
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:35 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 76 GT750, 72 H2 750, 84 RZ350
Location: Macon, GA. USA

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Evans Ward »

Great work and it came out spectacular! :clap:
1976 Suzuki GT750 (Maui Blue), 1972 Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV (Candytone Blue), 1984 Yamaha RZ350 (KRR- Yellow/ Black).
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by karl pa »

Looks great :up:
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
GTandcbr
Yeah Man, the Interstate
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Country: WALES
Suzuki 2-Strokes: suzuki gt 550j
Location: Wales

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by GTandcbr »

Very nice indeed ! Great job. Now for the next project? :lol:
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Not allowed anymore projects according to she who must be obeyed but my son has just bought a very neglected Honda CBR400RR which we have done two of already so I guess that will be my wrenching for the time being. :ssh:
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Another minor issue keeping me off the road, fuel tap again leaking, found the "O" ring in the tap bowl was deformed so replaced that but in the process of draining the tank I found out that the breather hole in the cap was blocked. Much mucking around trying to poke things into it to remove rust and crud that wasn't evident before. In the end I boiled the inner part of the cap with something called "Elbow Grease" (no kidding) and out came all the blockage. Hopefully this is final hurdle.
rngdng
AMA Superbike
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Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Blythewood, SC, USA

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by rngdng »

Nice job. :up:
If you stroke it more than twice; you're playing with it.

Too many bikes, too much time, ENOUGH SPACE, FINALLY! Never enough money.........
Hush
Around the block
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Finally some road test time, bike is fast, have to remember to keep revs down as the engine is all new. Brakes are pretty useless, #1 pipe leaks from drain hole after a ride but this would be excess crud bleeding out. Bike runs great, very pleased so far, more longer rides to run more checks. Initially the idles would not settle down but after two short rides these are settling down.
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rngdng
AMA Superbike
Posts: 1769
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Blythewood, SC, USA

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by rngdng »

Beautiful job. CONGRATS!!!
If you stroke it more than twice; you're playing with it.

Too many bikes, too much time, ENOUGH SPACE, FINALLY! Never enough money.........
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