My "new" GSX1100EX

[bigphil61]

Bought this today. 

It's in OK condition, but far from great.

14 owners :-O
One for the past 10 years, who has barely used it.

Positives:

It's a GSX1100 :-) My bike from back in the 80s.
As far as I can see it's never been dropped.
Engine sounds like a well oiled sewing machine, sort of, no knocks, taps or whatever.
Öhlins dampers.

There are a number of issues that I'm aware of, in no particular order:

Unknown service history as in the guy I bought it from had used it so little he couldn't remember the last oil change :-(
The clutch is stupidly heavy and drags a bit.
The head bearings are shot/loose.
The indicator relay is dead
The engine races when on full lock on the rh side (made for an interesting test ride).
The seat is shot. Cover coming off and foam flatter than hammered shit.
Oil leak at front of engine, I think it's the valve cover gasket or possibly the tacho cable exit.
Engine seems a little "flat". I'll change the oil and plugs, clean those filters and see if that makes a difference.
Looks like the camchain tensioner had been bodged at some point, missed that when I was looking over it.
Fork seals both leaking.

All in all, not too bad I suppose. I'm looking to get the bike running "well" first (oh and I'm changing those bloody bars to something more "superbike". I'll use that as a baseline before getting too excited with any other mods.

Question (if you got this far)
What is the best source online for GSX parts, not the fancy stuff, more like gaskets, screw sets, bearings etc.

Cheers

Phil

[bigphil61]

Oh, the tank's a funny shape cause that's they way they were sold over here. I hate it. I'll bee looking for a UK shape one sooner or later.

[bigkenx]

Looks good mate

[1260etiology]

Schweet bike mate. Doesn't look like there's too much wrong with it. Don't know where you're based but if you're here in Oz then give Mick Hone in Melbourne a call. He is the guru for OEM parts here in Oz.

www.mickhone.com.au

[djc]

Robinsons Foundry in Canterbury are pretty good, do mail order aswell. Be sure to ask for OSS discount once you've been quoted price, it should bring it down a bit!

[bigphil61]

I forgot to say I'm in in Sweden. The OSS "scene" over here is a bit limited. Most people over here either seem to ride HD or the jap equivalents (Middle aged newbies in most cases), modern Jap stuff or insanely rare and pedantically restored vintage stuff, which are rarely used. (That's my impression anyway)
There are loads of drag racers but that's not my thing.

Robinson's? I wonder if that's the same shop from back in the 80s. They saved my holiday to France once when I dropped my bike a few days before I was due to leave (diesel on a wet roundabout) and no one in London had the parts I needed. But Robinson's saved the day. I'll look them up.

Cheers, Phil

[nw66]

x2 Robinsons for new stuff and Grumpy1260 and Suzuki performance parts for tuning parts and second hand parts both do mail order. Grumpy1260 have also built me two engines one GSX1170 and a 1216 Gixer

[arttu]

One good place for OEM parts is www.cmsnl.com/ Maybe not absolutely cheapest but at least cheaper than Suzuki dealers in Finland.

Probably needless to say but it might be a good idea to drop the oil pan and clean the oil pickup strainer when you change the oil first time.

[bigphil61]

Thanks Arttu, I hadn't thought of that. I used to do all my own building and servicing. Rebuilt both my previous GSX motors, but that was a LONG time ago and I'm rusty.

[Dezza]

The throttle problem is probably something to do with the cable routing for the non-standard bars. As Arttu says, remove the sump and clean the strainer. If it's got the standard three crosshead screws, use an impact driver and then replace with allen screws. You'll need a new sump gasket. The bad running may be due to the pod filters if it's not been jetted correctly. Try and get a Ledar induction kit (remember them?), I think Grumpy still does them, they are a fraction of the cost of a dynojet kit and work well. Take the rocker cover off to check your oil leak, and whilst you are at it check the valve clearances. If they have closed up they will affect the running. This is easy as they are screw and lock nut. If it's like the efe, you'll need a 9mm spanner and the Suzuki tappet tool (this used to be really cheap from Suzuki dealers but I don't know how much they cost now). Be careful with the threads holding the rocker cover on. Don't be surprised if some ham fisted berk has stripped the threads in the past which may in part affect your oil leak. Hopefully it just needs a new gasket, o'ring or similar. I don't know about early models but I don't think they have a reusable rubber gasket for the cam cover. Finally, balance the carbs. It won't run perfectly unless you do so. And clean the pod filters.

[bigphil61]

Hey all, thanks for all your replies! Much appreciated. Got various gaskets, filters bolts etc on the way, including the sump!
Dezza you're right about the cable routing. It's also WAY too short. New one in the post. I don't think I ever used a tappet tool back in the day. But it's a while back now ;-) I'll look it up.

Given the 14 previous owner history I'm expecting a few buggered threads on the engine. But I want to get it running first, then over the winter I'll go through the engine properly. It's a runner but I want to check the basics and sort the leaks before I start on anything else.

[arttu]

Oh, about the oil leak. If it's coming somewhere above the middle exhaust ports there is a good change it's actually the head nuts not the valve cover gasket. Two middle head nuts in the front have o-rings to prevent oil leak around the nuts. Difficult to explain but you will understand when you remove the nuts However, the o-rings seem to get hard and brittle quite easily and then they start to weep oil. Usually it's difficult to spot exact location of the leak since air flow spreads oil all over the head.

[bigphil61]

Thanks Arttu. I'll bear that in mind when I do the engine over the winter.

[beerbellykelly]

Bike looks good well worth time and money - personally prefer the English ( bigger curvier) gas tanks- but either good best paint scheme for these too - nice

[bigphil61]

Aug 8, 2014 23:31:58 GMT beerbellykelly said:

Bike looks good well worth time and money - personally prefer the English ( bigger curvier) gas tanks- but either good best paint scheme for these too - nice

Cheers. I also prefer the rounded tanks but all GSX:es come like that over here. I'll be looking to getting a UK tank and having all the bodywork re-sprayed at some point. I'll almost certainly keep this colour but might go for Yellow wheels as that's what I had back in theday.