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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 11:29 am
by jeffz
Beautiful bike!

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:32 am
by vulcanman
Wow ,got to admire your persiverence.anothe one saved .i thought i had lots to do my my 550A but nothing like you have achieved .my re nikasiled barrels back nxt Mon and piston kit and gaskets arrived today .mine due to barrel studs not being loctited in and nikasil being poorly done by a company no longer doing that , i wonder why ?,

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 5:31 pm
by Hush
We have very few still running GT550 here in New Zealand, mostly because my generation 40 years ago thrashed and crashed them. Anyhow there was a bike show locally and I contacted the organiser to ask if he had any 550 registered to display and he said no but they would like to have one. Not that I think mine is anywhere near good enough for public display but I thought it might bring up reminders for a lot of 70's owners. So the bike got to be in the show amongst over 200 other beautiful machines, not too many two stroke Japanese, a GT750 Water bus, a GT500 and a stunning72 T350. I think mine held her own and the charity the Bike Show was all about made some good money.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:45 am
by Alan H
Very nice. I have a mate living in NZ - currently with a GSX1000 I think and hopefully we'll be meeting up here next year. I'd like to get back down there too. Whistle see about that.
Now just enjoy the bike, 550 are the best of the triples IMO.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:28 am
by Hush
Jumping through a few hurdles to get the gremlin road legal (at present being test ridden with my 1500 Boulevard plates on it lol) Because the bike came with no plates and no previous ownership details I have to get the bike registered with the Vintage Car Club NZ, this has some advantages as if I registered the bike as a new build I wouldn't get the cheap yearly registration and any bike over 500cc in NZ costs $550 a year in road tax, where as this way the bike will be a Vintage registered vehicle. The VCC have been really helpful even though the process is quite long winded. Once the VCC stamp the paperwork to say they agree that my bike is a 1974 GT550 Suzuki, I can apply to "Exemptions NZ" which is a branch of the Land Transport Authority (LTSA) to have the bike registered in my name, yay then I just have to get the bike past the rather intensive Warrant of Fitness and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) process and of course pay the initial Vehicle Registration fees which means they give me new plates to put on the bike. :up:
Just for the possible information of other New Zealand bike rebuilders here is the break-down of costs:
LTSA Exemptions $184
Vintage Car Club $100
AA Testing STATION $550

It is a quite confusing process but if you live in NZ and want a hand sing out, I wish someone had done this for me lol. :)

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:45 am
by Hush
Had some blown bulbs in the clocks and as the tacho was jumping around and setting the idles was impossible, I found out I was actually using a GT250 tacho which shouldn't surprise me as I still have a lot of parts left over from my 250 rebuild. Luckily I had some old clocks and one was the correct (more correct according to my rivet counting contacts) one for the 550 and with all bulbs renewed the clocks go back on. At least now the tacho sits still and after a 20 mile ride I can get the engine to settle to a nice gentle 1500 rpms.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 2:55 am
by Hush
Bike runs well, could do with 6th gear as seems to pull at speed. Found it was an error to fit an in-line fuel filter between the carbs and tank as it is stopping fuel getting fast enough to those hungry carbs that are scoffing petrol. Also found the common fuel line I used is pinching closed when fuel is actually needed. Will replace these and see how it goes, was coughing at speed but recovering if I eased the throttle off. Fitted new rear shoes to the brakes as old ones wouldn't pass the WOF test when it goes through.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:56 am
by Alan H
Make sure the fuel filter is fitted the right way for flow.
Don't ask how I know about this...... :?

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:01 am
by Hush
Yeah it was correct flow but not fast enough for those thirsty carbs, removed all today and fitted new fuel lines. Tank has new filters and so has tap so not sure why I bothered with the in-line one.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 12:14 pm
by Alan H
Hush wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 3:01 am Yeah it was correct flow but not fast enough for those thirsty carbs, removed all today and fitted new fuel lines. Tank has new filters and so has tap so not sure why I bothered with the in-line one.
Because taking a bank of 3 carbs off, stripping, de-crapping, remantling and refitting is a pita.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 2:18 pm
by karl pa
Alan H wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 12:14 pm
Hush wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 3:01 am Yeah it was correct flow but not fast enough for those thirsty carbs, removed all today and fitted new fuel lines. Tank has new filters and so has tap so not sure why I bothered with the in-line one.
Because taking a bank of 3 carbs off, stripping, de-crapping, remantling and refitting is a pita.
I agree with Alan, I have inline filters on most of my bikes.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 2:53 am
by Hush
Damn I split a foot peg rubber, it had done zip road miles and it just split! I bought some new ones which were advertised as GT550 but turned out to be GT250 so much shorter and narrow fitting, got my money back on that as Ebay saw the advert was incorrect and did a very fast refund. Now I have to buy another set. Ah well just add it to the $14k list.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:55 pm
by Hush
Correct GT550 rubber footpegs found/bought/fitted, I have discovered that many rubber pegs advertised for the GT550 are not right and don't fit. I found the stock ones and they are an exact fit, the more I learn the more my credit card empties lol. At this moment 14/11/2021 I am still awaiting an appointment with the AA certification people to get the bike plated and road legal, I do have an appointment for 14th December which seems a long way off in this perfect riding weather. Last and I hope final part for the bike arrived this eek, the reg plate for the steering stem with my bike's numbers stamped on it.

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:04 pm
by sportston
It looks a great bike. Well done! :up:
As you have found out it is very expensive to restore one of these old triples now. I deliberately haven't totalled the money I have spent on mine. It's better if the wife asks how much I have spent on my bike. I can honestly say, "I don't know Darling. I am sure it is not too much." Erhumm. :lol:

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:40 pm
by Alan H
Me three after doing 3 x GT550s.
Might be selling the kettle & GS soon and trying a R80RT for touring 2 up instead and keeping the 550A and 550J for hooning.
That'll upset a few, no doubt........ :wth: