Suzuki GT550

Thanks for the link Al

Managed to get a better compressor now a vtwin with about 14.5cfm and loads of other bits so I'll sort out what I need and flog the rest. Not bad for £200 and looks like new.
I can get the engine done now. I'll send before and after pics to you Bill as I still don't do photostickit or whatever it's called. Hopefully the results will be worth the wait.

I notice we can upload pics again. Is there a limit on it Bill?

I made a soda gun out of a air blast and some pipe - like on the youtube thingy, but the old compressor wouldn't run it very long as the air consumption is very high. Machine mart do a blaster - looks like a paint spray jobby and I bought one CLICKY so with an extended tube on the nozzle end (which I have) it should do the job. Might be able to have a go tomorrow if the weather is OK so I can use it outside.

There is a limit on the pics, I went through and got rid of some. Looks like a bargain there Al (why would I be surprised at that?)

Someone might want all the bits & bats except for the orbital polisher so if I can swing a deal (it's the bloke who got my paintwork done and is doing all my brake hydraulics - several sets), so it might be an even better bargain. I'll flog the old compressor too now that I've cleaned the valves in the head and it's working ok, as well as a 5cfm can, anyway.

Well, how's the soda blasting getting on?

Slow. The compressor is up to the job but the weather has been shite and I have to do it outside as it's very dusty.
Had a go tonight and it cleans the cases OK, but the dust has gone all over the neighbours cars so I packed in. I'll try at work later tomorrow. I've got some 'before' pics (which I can't post due to posting restrictions again) so when I get some 'after' ones I'll email them to you Bill.

Cheers Al. Re the picture posting restrictions, I have been trying to find a way around them or at least sort them for good, but I can't.

Mornin' Bill.

Morning Al

Had a go today and good & bad points.
Good, does a nice job and doesn't scratch or damage anything including plastic pipes.
Bad, Messy!! and doesn't shift oily/greasy muck. So this has to be gunked off and then dried.
Otherwise not bad, I'll get some pics when I've finished - hopefully tomorrow, but see how that goes timewise.

The Machine Mart gritbast gun (clicky) is designed for different stuff and picks sodium bicarb too fast so I had to squash the pickup almost flat or it delivered too much and I couldn't see anything!!

Oh, you will need some gogs, one of the white poopy suits and a non windy day if you're doing it outside, or a blast cabinet if you're doing it indoors as it fills the room (and it's a BIG room at work) with dust.

Hmmm, looks interesting. What do you reckon it wold be like on bearing surfaces?

It's alive!!!!!

Managed to fire the beast up today, the left pot only just fired a couple of times so I've some hotter none resistor plugs that will be going in tomorrow until the fog clears. Don't think any of the neighbours in a 50 yard radius were too impressed but sounded well without baffles.
Did try a resistor plug in the duff pot as it was all that I could find at the time, but no joy as the cap is resistor too. Found the plug stash since, so onwards!!

Woo chuffin' Hoo!!!


What went wrong?
Well the new battery is crap, so it looks like a new motobatt is going to be ordered, the ignition switch is hit & miss so needs sorting - but I've got a couple of spares, airbox still to fit, brake lights work but lights don't so some issues there. Plenty to do this coming weekend no doubt.

Nice one mate. By the way, motobatt batteries aint no better than old fashioned batteries.

Oh yes they are! Bought one (£47) and without charging it spun the motor much better. After about 20 starts (and not charging) didn't seem out of breath - unlike me - still had 12.3v left.)
The old battery (which I bought new just before Christmas and then kept fully charged), would only do about 10 starts and then was noticeably slower spinning the engine and down to 12v so nearly flat.
Charged up the Motobatt that night and really whizzed the engine over next day. Lots better than standard, really impressed.



Now the fettling starts - might take years!

Hopefully the registration won't take too long. MOT later this week with a bit of luck.

Looking purty good though Al. I still reckon the motobatts aint no better.

Nice looking bike Alan   

MOT booked for Friday. Then I can get it registered.

Fingers crossed.

MOT passed, now just waiting for dating cert from VJMC. I'll start to narrow down the insurance quotes too. Think I might insure the A as well, I have a V5 for that so should be less hassle to eventually get it on the road.

Strange at the test centre though, 'the system' wouldn't accept the frame number.
At first it wanted a 6 digit number - it's only got 5, so they were going to put a zero in front and it didn't like that either, then it didn't like the GT550 prefix but eventually accepted a number of T550-25***, so I reckon I've got the only T550 in existence!
Computer says no (slap)
Computer says no (slap)
Computer says maybe (slap)

Computer says OK.

This technolology crap will never catch on.................

I had the same with the XJ600 I sold recently, only had 4 digits!

All registered and running. can't get the daft grin off me mush!!!





Anyone sad can read the story HERE

And HERE where I'm starting on another one!!
Glutton for punishment or what?

Nice one Al, feels good dunnit?

Can't get the daft grin off my ace. Brill!!f