New addition to the garage - now with bonus MOT

[P.]

a whole downpipe?

WTF...any idea on the cause?

[nowhere.elysium]

Probably something retarded, like me forgetting to use spring washers, or something. They're not studs, so I had to pack out the length of the bolts I was using with washers - it wouldn't surprise me if it transpires that I'd solely used flat washers, which would be a really stupid thing to do.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[nowhere.elysium]

Well, tits.
I've isolated the cause of the leaky furl tank, and it would appear that hamfistedness on my part is the point to blame.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7969476304_b0f4d139e0_z.jpg
This is the fuel sender mounting plate - yes, I know that there's an inordinate amount of Hylomar all over the place; it got to the stage where I honestly thought I could just coat the offending part. Didn't work, obviously.

As you can see, there are two bits of metal sticking out below the mouth of the hole - these are bits of the tank skin that have been punched through by an overtightened bolt. As such, since the tank wasn't empty enough to be able to even attempt to re-seal it with solder, I elected to have a crack at Araldite-ing it to buggery.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/7969472144_d14ff8a727_z.jpg

So, my dad and I fashioned a plate from some aluminium sheet that he had lying about, and stuck it to the tank. The liquid surrounding it is Araldite that I deliberately laid on extra-thick, so it'll run down into any other holes and gaps, and fill in any spaces. The Hylomar is because I got the plate the wrong way up first time round; although it doesn't look like it, the bolt spacing has actually got a specific orientation.

The tank's still over at my parent's place now, I'm going to leave it there for a couple of days to cure and harden, then I should, hopefully, have the GS back up and running in short order.

While I don't particularly care about not having a fuel gauge, I am still a little annoyed at having to make a permanent change to it. If this hasn't worked, then it's replacement tank time, which is the last thing I needed, given my current financial constraints.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[nowhere.elysium]

The tank fix didn't work, but I've just had an extraordinary bout of luck on eBay; managed to get two tanks (one's got a rough paint job, the other has a pullable dent) and a new fuel sender unit for £114, including postage.

Result.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Blackwolf]

Nice win! Looking forward till I next see the gs again.. and steal a go
____________________
Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[Blau Zedong]

[nowhere.elysium]

Yeah, it's a bit of a coup pricewise. Unfortunately, it does mean that I've got to save up some money for a decent respray, though.

Still, better than no bike
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[nowhere.elysium]

Win. My tanks have both arrived. I'll start checking them over for general condition tomorrow; I've got other things that require my attention this evening.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[nowhere.elysium]

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8027464813_2507ca2367_z.jpg
Shot with the matt black tank. This one doesn't have a fuel sender mount, so I'm going to be getting the dent pulled from other one, and will have it repainted at some point.

Depressingly enough, I got a parking ticket for this, too.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Charlie]

Do you really need a fuel level indicator? Every bike I had that had one was useless. I just always brimmed it and used the odometer (which I am sure you're aware of)

Edit:
I hope I've got the right idea of what a fuel sender is!
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[nowhere.elysium]

Yes you have, and no I don't, really. I just wanted it out of a sense of completion, more than anything. The bike will be ridden without one for now, and I feel none the poorer for its loss, I assure you
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Shaft]

Odd that it doesn't have a mounting, I thought all GTs came with a fuel gauge as standard.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[nowhere.elysium]

The petcock mounting point is further back, too, so I'm wondering if it's from a GL or a similar parallel model. Interferes with the side panel slightly, but nothing too drastic. It's only temporary, anyway.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Shaft]

Wouldn't be a GL, that was the factory custom model, with a pronounced peanut tank.

There was a 650E, that I don't think was officially imported, but even my lowly GS550Es had fuel guages.

Curious.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[nowhere.elysium]

[Shaft]

I've just read a write up on the E and it's a totally different bike to yours, essentially a bored out GS550.

They also didn't have a fuel gauge for the first year, so that looks like it could be the origin of your tank.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[nowhere.elysium]

Still getting ballache from the RHS switchgear. I'm wondering if it's worth just buying a generic switchgear unit, or if I should shell out £40 for a genuine one from a broken GS.

Bandit switchgear, although having the same stuff on it, has got a different plug, and would require some wiring work as a result. It's half the price, but doesn't look quite right on there.

Hmm.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Shaft]

Stick with original, but if it's 40 quid for an unknown secondhand one, give Pete Bond a call; he's just round the corner from me and he does fully refurbed units for about £60.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[nowhere.elysium]

OK - I've spent the past couple of weekends chasing this electrical problem with my Dad, and we've not gotten any further. I've ordered a secondhand loom, with a mind to using it as a template so I can make my own.

I'll report back when I've got an update.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[AlexW]

Whats up with it?

[nowhere.elysium]

[AlexW]

Fair enough. Feel free to ask if you need any assistance, As vehicle electrics are my day job, and something as simple as a 80's bike would be pish.

[nowhere.elysium]

That is damn useful to know

I want to be able to modernise as much of it as possible, ideally. I figured that Bandit electrics would probably do the trick, but I'd be a lot more comfortable with it if I could check with someone who knows what they're doing, so I'll doubtless be picking your brains some time soon.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Blau Zedong]

[nowhere.elysium]