GSX550 Project 2005
It's sometimes awkward bein the leader of an MCC withoot a bike.
A...Its hard tae get tae rallies
B...Its hard tae get tae the club
C...Its hard tae go on club runs
D...Its hard tae get tae the shops fur fags
E...Nae point gettin a job coz a canny get there
The list is endless
Basicaly its just nae fun.
After wipin oot ma RF900 last year I was left with Carols wee GSX400 tae run aboot on. That lasted a few months until I managed tae blow the engine. (shouldn't have tried racin a Hayabusa on it). Bein financialy embarassed meant I was fecked. I managed tae borrow a wee VT500 which did an admirable job of gettin us tae a few rallies, even got a trophy for best original at one of them, but unfortunately all good things must come tae an end and it had tae go back tae its rightful owner. (just after he'd discovered it missing from his shed).
One of oor members had this wee GSX550 lyin rottin away in his maws shed and since she wiz fed up lookin at it he had tae get it moved. A nice offer was made to me that I could borrow it for as long as.
Champion, the mans a gentleman.
"Aye just come roond and pick it up"
Nae bother thought I. I'll transfer the insurance and be roond this afternoon.
"Might need a few wee things tae get it gawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!".
And so it was, I begged a lift from another member with a towbar, begged a trailer and we were off tae pick up this wee gem. We had tae drag it oot the shed and across the lawn tae get it near the trailer coz it was seized solid.
And so the challenge is on. Get it ready and on the road for oor next rally.
The pictures show it better than it actually is but I've managed tae get the engine runnin. makes a cool wee 550ish growl wi that nexus pipe on it. Obviously disnae go anywhere yet coz the chain that used to be a gold X link is now a solid rust link. First time a'hve ever seen a one piece chain. And no ahm no talkin aboot one thats no got a split link. The only way to change gears is with a club hammer, and ahve no figured oot how tae get the seat off yet.
However, it wiz a great gesture fae Chris and here's where I'll write the diary of the GSX550 ressurection.
Week one: Covered above. but heres the list of what needs done so far.
Back Tyre
Chain'n'sprockets, (obviously)
Cush drives
Swing arm bushes
Probably a back shocker
Back brake overhaul (new pads, new disc)
Indicators for the back
Free the fekin gear lever (club hammer again)
Front fork seals,
Fix a nasty oil leek from one of the cooler feed lines
Front brake overhaul
An engine tune up
And a big clean up, or should it just be a rat???
GSX550 Project Chapter 2
Three weeks later and not a lot has happened. Been busy tryin to descale it but I'm not going as far as stripping the frame. Dont have the patience for a full rebuild so its going to be a half Rat. Some shiney bits and some rusty bits. Kinda creates a balance. I've had the full back end off so I thought I might as well get the Crayola set out and do some colouring in.
Oh and you can see by the oil on the floor I've notfixed the leeky cooler hoseGSX550 Project Chapter 3 (the saga)
After spendin the last coupla months cleanin fettlin gettin ready for MOT etc etc.
I've been startin it up regularly and its been runnin. fine.
Booked its MOT three weeks ago and on the morning of its big day dragged it out into the sunlight.
Turn key, press button and the engine spins free but wont start. Feck. Ive ran it outa petrol. Put petrol in and try and try and try and try. Nothin.
Check the spark plugs and discover theres no spark on any of the leads.
Feck. Check the wiring for a loose connection. All seems fine to me.
Scratch head for two days then paint the petrol tank.
Neilly came over tae have a look and brought his wee electrical testers with him. After a few hours pokin an proddin there was
still no spark and no explanation.
Suspect CDI/igniter unit (coz all four cylinders have dropped out)
Scratch head again and ignore it for a week and a bit.
Went into the shed one Sunday morning and for some strange reason stuck a plug in one of the leads on the off chance.
and crikey there was a spark there that would jump the Rumford Burn.
I hastily stuck the tank on, petrol in and pressed the button.
Engine started but ran rough for a total of three minutes then backfires a few times and died. No spark anymore.
Scratch head again, polish up tank and go drink many beers.
Returned to subject again the following morning and it fired up first time but was backfiring badly.
Left it for five minutes to drink coffee then went back, swapped over plug leads three and four (oops) and pressed the button.
Engine fired up readily and ran ok for a total of three minutes then backfired twice and died.
It seems the dreaded spark thief monster has visited the bike in the garage and stole the life out of its sparkplugs.
I've spent the last three weeks rippin oot wirin and finishing the paintwork.
These last pictures are as it is now.
All glossed up and no friggin spark
Hopefully the next pictures will be a bona-fida MOT certificatew and a tax disc
Watch this space
Okay. What chapter are we at now in the saga.
Paid a wee visit to a man in Fife who sold me a Boyer ignition system off a GSX750. After a coupla hours fidlin tae get the sender unit tae fit the 550 engine the wee beastie fired up on the first try. Result !!.Fantastic. Get the MOT booked and head for the hills.
Booked the bike into Girders Motorcycles at Ardrie (again) for its MOT test on Tuesday (06/09) afternoon. Said day arrived and me an it set off towards Ardrie. 10 miles up the motorway I heard the unmistakable rattle of something transitioning from a fixed position to a fairly loose position somewhere inside the engine. Feck! Clutch in kill switch hit and coast off the road. Luckily I was passin the Cumbernauld Village turn off and managed tae roll right into the village. Have a wee look and notice the timing cover has a hole in it. Ooops!! should've put locktight on the bolt that holds the timing tae the engine. Thinking that the stator plate might be in tatters I begin cursin everything from the bike tae the garage lights (dunno why) but it made me feel better. Got on the phone and started tae phone for help. Carol was first tae arrive with my tools in the back of her car. Lemme see now 8mm socket and get the remains of the timing cover off the engine and inspect the damage. Only damage is to the bolt itself which has spun off its first threee threads and wont go back into the engine. After a wee scout round in the car wee came across an exhaust garage where I got hold of a new M10 bolt and a handfull of washers. Putting all the bits back on the engine (minus the timing cover)(its in too many pieces) and hitiing the starter the fiesty wee thing fired up again. Okay too late tae get tae Girders noo but it will get hame again under its ain steam. And so it did where its been stood in the garage since. It starts'n'goes but seems tae huv an extreme allergic reaction every time I mention "MOT". Bit like a wee dug that hates the "VET". When I get time I'll fix it properly then sneak it oot the garage, put it on the trailer, cover it with a hap so it canny see where its gawn and tow it quietly tae the MOT shop.
"FINAL CHAPTER"
At last.
I sneaked it up to Girders for its big test on Saturday 17th September 2005. After a coupla hours waiting while it was in the garage I was awarded with a nice new shiny MOT certificate.
The tale doesn't end there though. Believing there to be plenty petrol in the tank, at least enough to get me to Girders and back the wee bike had its last laugh. Coming down the M876 it gave the last gurgles of a wee engine starved of food. Unable to reach the fuel tap and switch it on reserve the engine died. I managed to coast off the M'way and ended up standing beside it under the motorway bridge on the Denny road. It seems when you completely drain Suzi carbs the prime setting doesn't fill the carbs up quick enough so in order not to drain the battery and leave me completely stumped I decided to get a gallon of fuel. Fortunately Carol was following in her car and was able to go fetch a gallon from nearby. That done and it was homeward bound.
Monday 19th September it was through to the DVLA for a tax disc. All things purchased and I can now announce the wee GSX is on the road.
Now to get it to its first rally. This is a completely different story as you will see in its first week it covered over 700 miles just to get to the
CrannTara at Glenisla.
However it made it so all that remains to say about this project is
"THE END"
"GSX at the Crann Tara Rally"
Or!! is it a new begining?? Watch this space