Another GTO back on the road...

[steve]

Just thought I'd share a couple of pictures with you of my GTO which has only been brought back to life fairly recently. I bought this bike back in 2005 but with other projects on the go plus all the usual other commitments in life, I only started working on it last year and it has taken until now to get it to this stage. To be honest, the pictures are a bit flattering as there are still a numbers of things I need to attend to (small dents in silencers etc)...up till now, it's only undergone an engine rebuild plus some zincing and chroming. Also had to replace head and wheel bearings etc as expected. The paintwork had previously been done before I had it. I've tried to leave everything generally as it was and have just given it a good clean. It's very low mileage (under 3000) and the reason for that is I think an engine problem that must have occurred early on. It was never fixed properly and so the bike was just laid up.
It's the first Bridgestone I've ridden and it's an absolute joy!

[moonpup]

That's NICE Steve, best looking 350 Bridgestone ever made!

(flame on GTR people...I'm immune!  )

[Bikenstein]

Nice bike Steve  Looks a whole lot bettern a painted tank

[reed]

Steve,
Well done mate, nice job on the GTO.
Its great seeing these Bridgestones back on the road!!
Thanks.
Steve Reed.

[Steve S.]

A beautiful bike.  I have always loved that color.  My jaw just dropped!

[Mopar5426]

  Hey Steve     The GTO Is My Favorite   I Have One Just Like It   It Was My First Restoration Project    After Doing A Few Other Bikes Id Like To Tuch Mine Up Again  Im Working On A 71 Painted Tank White GTO Know   GTOs Are Getting Valuble  If I Can Find A Picture Ill Post It   GENE

[paul]

LOOKS GREAT!!!!!

[ziggy stardust]

Very nice Steve, how's she run?

Z

[steve]

Thanks all!
Yes Lee, runs really well and I'm very pleased with the general ride position as well...think you'll agree when you start riding your GTR fairly soon no doubt.
The one problem I have and hopefully it's only temporary...oil is leaking from the exhaust gaskets and the joint between the headers and silencers, so my fairly short ride on Saturday resulted in about an hour of cleaning the intricate parts of the engine of oil splatter...not to mention my boots! This is probably from when the bike has been started and left idling a number of times, when doing a bit of fine tuning...I'm hoping it will seal itself soon.
Other than that, it's great and I think it looks fantastic. Can't wait to get the GTR done now!

Steve

[deisher6]

Steve:
Great looking bike..super work.
I have a similar oil problem on my GTO.  Especially bad when I took the wife for a ride and coated her back with oily soot!  I ride mistly by myself now.
I backed off on the injection some and put nos gaskets on the header / muffler joint.
Please post what your solutions are.

Again great looking bike.
regards charlie

[ziggy stardust]

Steve, I had exactly the same problem with oil splatter when I started my GTR briefly over the weekend. I wiped it off the exhaust and the main stand and at the same time had a look where it was coming from.
Yes the orange rubber gasket had gaped at the bottom, next time I plan to run it I'll clean the gaskets and pipe, then reassemble with a wipe of clear silicon, once tightened again I'll smear clear silicon neatly into any gaps.

May work?

Nearly forgot.... How does the clutch feel compared to other machines, I set mine up and it felt so odd so I slackened it off again.

Z  

[coxy]

the joint rubbers are cheap best just to buy new ones

[ziggy stardust]

Yes you are right coxy, best buy new. But until I get another order together for RC I'll just try the silicon.

If I could get the orange rubber seals quickly then it would be no problem but anything I've ordered from RC takes ages to arrive in the U.K.

Z

[coxy]

it  takes anywhere from 3days to a month here but a usual shipment is 2weeks. also one of my exhaust clamps was slightly pinched so i got new ones
if it leaks from the header it may have a cracked flange

NICE GTO LOOKS GREAT YOU MUST BE VERY HAPPY

[ztnoo]

steve,
Beautiful bike.
It looks fantastic!
 

[steve]

Thanks Charlie, ztnoo and coxy...appreciate your comments.

Just back to the leak problem...cheers Lee, think i need to check those seals more closely, in case there is a gap formimg somewhere when I tighten the clamps. I did use new seals by the way.

To be honest, the clutch hasn't really felt any different from my other bikes, but presumably, as it's dry, does have a 'meshy' sound when pulled in, which was a bit strange at first.

[coxy]

 HEY LEE WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE CLUTCH FEELING ODD ?

[ziggy stardust]

Coxy, Yeah feels strange, like there is no control, it's either in or out or on or off.

Pull in the clutch lever which is hard to do and then let it go and it returns feeling sloppy.

I'll have another go at setting it up when I get the engine running again.

Z

P.S. No need to shout Coxy. lol (typing in capital letters). 

[coxy]

sorry about the yelling caps lock was stuck on . maybe your push rod is worn or bent ,or clutch springs ,how is the ball bearing in the control arm just throwing some ideas .   

[ziggy stardust]

I replaced the push rod as mine was slightly undersize, the correct length is in the manual. New clutch springs fitted and the ball bearing is there. All tightened to the correct torque setting.

When I pull the clutch lever I do see the pressure plate being pushed, I'll have a more indepth look when I come back from my holidays.

Z