Kettle Clinic

Hello chaps, I've been a member of the forum for a couple of months now and thought it was time I introduced myself!

So, I'm Tom, 25, Yorkshire born, mechanical engineer. My old man is also on this forum, hes the real reason why I own this bloody thing as I've grown up surrounded by incredible sounding bikes (350lc's RD400's etc) and wanted one for myself. He's got a GT750B (amongst other things) and I've just bought a GT550L (US). The plan is to get out on some dad and lad road trips when it's done! I also have a 600 hornet for when I don't want to call the RAC, and some sh*tbox Honda PC50 pedal and pop death trap.

Onto the bike, its a 1974 GT550 L, US import from Minnesota. Landed in the UK in Jan and I'm currently going through the process of getting it registered. It seems to be fairly complete, not seized, and very very green. I'm looking forward to getting this bike on the road for a ride. The collection of parts has already started and I met friendly chap called Dave in Pelsall that sold me a lovely Piper 3-1 exhaust! So big thanks there.

My dads showing me the ropes with this build so we've been doing most of the work together so far - the barrels came off at a couple of weekends a go revealing a rusty crank- damn - so that's now in chesterfield being rebuilt. The casings will go off for vapour blasting and then rebuild in a few weeks.

-- For now this bike isn't undergoing a full resto, I just want to get it running nice and ride it! Eventually it will undergo a nut and bolt, but not yet. --

I am in need of a few parts, so I'll post some more comments in this thread later with what I'm looking for, and just some general advice. I'd be very grateful of anything that you've got to offer, particularly tips and tricks on how to do certain things when I get to it.

Cheers, Tom

Welcome to the asylum Tom. Are you still hiding somewhere in God's County or emigrated to a lesser place?
I'm just on with a rebuild and my 3rd 550 resto, so there's plenty on here if you need advice or parts.
Just do a search (top left 'quick links') and type in '550' or whatever you need info on.
My rebuilds are 'slow starting', 'Earwig' and 'Yeti' - explanations why on the threads.

Welcome to the forum Tom. also to the growing herd of 550's on here. Any help or parts required just shout up!

Welcome to another 550 owner Tom

Welcome aboard Tom my that's a fine looking 550 that looks a good buy mate better than you described it to me

Cheers Dave

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

I'm in Warwickshire now Al, but I get back to Sheffield frequently to top my accent up

Good job you had that Piper for sale Dave as the factory pipes disintegrated when I took them off

Welcome to 550 land. Fantastic bikes, all the GT triples, I’ve one of each, though I didn’t do so well in the 550 top end & am still working out what do with it. It’s got NOS centre pipes & it sounds brilliant!
In yours, a really nice example. Not been taken to bits is a huge positive.
Your cylinders, unlike my UK 550B with nikasil-plated bores, are conventional iron liners in alloy block. So if you need a rebore, there are v good aftermarket pistons & you can get quality reboring done everywhere p.
-you’ve got rare plug cap rubber grommets in your Ram Air covers. Take care of them, hard to get at any price!
-carb throttle arms are easy to snap & are furiously expensive to replace. When you get round to dismantling the carbs, please undo the 8mm clamp bolts and never, ever prise the clamp ends with a slim driver. Don’t ask me how I know.
-boots on those throttle arms & especially throttle rods (verticals going to slides) degrade horribly & turn into black gloop. The only thing I’ve found dissolves the gloop, and that’s carb cleaner. Physically scrape off as much of it as you can before starting to clean.
If you’ve got more than one key, if a lock has been replaced usually, I can help you with a lock set recoding service, just PM me.
I’ve also got a brand new genuine set of rims front & rear for the 550/750, together with full sets of stainless spokes/nipples, if you were thinking of a wheel rebuild. They’re not cheap & I never got around to doing it.
Cheers,
Mike

Mike, thanks for the info that's great!

The bike is totally original, its never been stripped. All the bolts are stamped with the Suzuki 'S', and the key is the same for all the locks. Although there is only one key so I need to get another one cut.

Those pesky clamps you've mentioned, well all mine are snapped. They look like they've been left over tightened. But, easy to fix with the TIG welder fortunately, I'll post some pics of the repair

Carb Clamp Repair

nice repair job there, by the way your finger nails are way to clean to be working on bikes.