My GSX1400 Restoration

[grog]

SA, just pull it out. Refit and align will still be same.Just did mine, not a problem at all. Dont undo or move chain adjust bolts. Very easy. 

[Hooli]

Just make sure you put the wheel back in the swingarm parallel.  Perhaps measure or mark accurately the position it's in prior to disassembly. 

This link has the info in it.  https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=242.0

So when I remove the rear wheel it loses it's alignment? That right there is enough to want me to just leave it alone and do it all on the bike in situ. When replacing the rear tyre I can't remember them aligning it back up again. Might have missed that part though.

If you don't touch the adjuster bolts & make sure the square bits the axle goes thorough is pressed up against them on refitting the alignment will remain the same.

[SA14]

SA, just pull it out. Refit and align will still be same.Just did mine, not a problem at all. Dont undo or move chain adjust bolts. Very easy.

If you don't touch the adjuster bolts & make sure the square bits the axle goes thorough is pressed up against them on refitting the alignment will remain the same.

Thanks and onya

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Hi Baz,

Its easier to pull the rear wheel out than rebuilding brake calipers, and you seemed to do that with ease.

I dont see how you cant disturb the chain alignment when removing the wheel, but thats me, anyway, realignment is also really easy.

Whilst youre there, good time to check/ replace wheel bearings and clean sprocket carrier and clean inside of swing arm...

Personally I prefer the original white Suzuki wheels, and some rim stickers over polished.

[Hooli]

Eric chain alignment is set by the two bolts in front of the axle that screw into the swingarm. You don't need to move them to take the wheel out, so provided the assembly is correctly pressed up against them again the alignment will be retained.

Bearings is a good point, particularly the sprocket carrier bearing. They never last long on these bikes.

[gsxbarmy]

Biggest mistake I made on my 14 was stripping the paint and polishing the rims. The alloy that Suzuki have used for the rims is not exactly top quality, takes ages to get a shine and even then it's a dull shine - plus I found the paint ion the rear rim thicker than the front and stripper didn't really touch it, do I had to finish off sanding by hand.

Slightest bit if damp and it was back polishing the rims again, no matter what I put on to protect the shine.

If I had the choice again, I most certainly would not polish the rims - high maintenance and a disappointing finish.

Yeah, that's the biggest problem with polishing aluminium. You have to keep polishing it. Luckily I have a solution with my triple ceramic coating which is holding up well now for just over 3 months and still chrome-like shiny so I reckon I've got that problem licked. Interesting about the quality of aluminium though. If I can't get them to sparkle then I'd settle for satin style but I reckon I'll be able to get them shiny enough to keep me happy. May I ask what method you used to polish? How far did you sand? What grit did you get to before moving to polish? I'll be going to 3,000 via 800, 1,200, 1,500 and 2,000.

The problem was not so much with keeping the shine - it was getting it TO a shine - I do like them nice and "chrome" like, but the best I could get no matter what I tried was shiney, but not really shiney. I'd been warned about the quality of the alloy before I started, and sadly the guy who told me was bang on, as under the paint, I found some poor patches of alloy (where it goes that blackish colour). Grit wise, I went through the stages to a 2000 grit before putting them on the buffing machine, taking it down through the stages of Brown, Green, Blue and Yellow cake using (mainly) 3" and 4" buffing wheels (from hard thru cloth) and specialist mops/dremmel for finishing. As you will see in the photo, more of a satin shiney finish, was never happy with it.

[SA14]

Hi Baz,

Its easier to pull the rear wheel out than rebuilding brake calipers, and you seemed to do that with ease.

I dont see how you cant disturb the chain alignment when removing the wheel, but thats me, anyway, realignment is also really easy.

Whilst youre there, good time to check/ replace wheel bearings and clean sprocket carrier and clean inside of swing arm...

Personally I prefer the original white Suzuki wheels, and some rim stickers over polished.

Haha, I'm never going to live that down...lol I had a lot of help from you guys and a live physical member. But I get your point and I thought of that myself but still I was nervous about that and will be nervous about anything critical. I spose that's healthy.

The problem was not so much with keeping the shine - it was getting it TO a shine - I do like them nice and "chrome" like, but the best I could get no matter what I tried was shiney, but not really shiney. I'd been warned about the quality of the alloy before I started, and sadly the guy who told me was bang on, as under the paint, I found some poor patches of alloy (where it goes that blackish colour). Grit wise, I went through the stages to a 2000 grit before putting them on the buffing machine, taking it down through the stages of Brown, Green, Blue and Yellow cake using (mainly) 3" and 4" buffing wheels (from hard thru cloth) and specialist mops/dremmel for finishing. As you will see in the photo, more of a satin shiney finish, was never happy with it.

Ok, well that's way more than I was going to use so maybe I'll pause and re-think. The idea of going through all that effort and not getting a result is a worry. I still think they need something to accentuate the wheel and I'm not into stickers personally. Might just leave well enough alone.

Appreciate all the input fellas.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Eric chain alignment is set by the two bolts in front of the axle that screw into the swingarm. You don't need to move them to take the wheel out, so provided the assembly is correctly pressed up against them again the alignment will be retained.

Bearings is a good point, particularly the sprocket carrier bearing. They never last long on these bikes.

Thanks Hooli, yeah I get that, but evertime I need to take the wheel out, i have to get enough slack in the chain to get it off the sprocket, so i have to take the adjusters in, push the wheel forward, remove chain and then wheel, so a realignment is needed when putting it all back together. Or am i missing something?

[SA14]

The problem was not so much with keeping the shine - it was getting it TO a shine - I do like them nice and "chrome" like, but the best I could get no matter what I tried was shiney, but not really shiney. I'd been warned about the quality of the alloy before I started, and sadly the guy who told me was bang on, as under the paint, I found some poor patches of alloy (where it goes that blackish colour). Grit wise, I went through the stages to a 2000 grit before putting them on the buffing machine, taking it down through the stages of Brown, Green, Blue and Yellow cake using (mainly) 3" and 4" buffing wheels (from hard thru cloth) and specialist mops/dremmel for finishing. As you will see in the photo, more of a satin shiney finish, was never happy with it.

Just on this again...

I believe you had those problems but last night I saw so many that had a chrome-y shine to them and I really would like that look. So I wonder if maybe there was a year or period where the (or some) wheels came through the line with inferior quality castings (or are they forgings)? Have you heard of anyone else who has had this problem apart from your source? You source; was he just another 14 owner with a same year bike or a pro polisher? H does sound credible don't get me wrong but I do have to wonder at all the other 14 wheels I see with shiny dishes (dishi?). I know that once I start there's no going back but I'd like to start with a little bit more confidence that they'll come out pretty good if not perfectly chrome-y. I appreciate your input because I would've been pretty upset if I came across one of those black patches of which you speak.

Let's say I chose to go ahead, may I ask if you stripped the paint using paint stripper or did you go straight to sanding the paint off? Did you strip the whole wheel and repaint the centres and spokes or did you carefully mask them off then strip and sand up to that line? I know you're a polishing expert and I'm just a (metal) polishing enthusiast so any info (and your time) is much appreciated as always.

Lastly, and this makes me cringe just as much as I know you're all about to but what about alternatives to polish? Chrome paint or chrome stickers that look ok-ish? It's just that from a design point of view the wheel needs some definition (think Tron). The black tyre and wheel is just too much black out near the edges. Ever since the "hotwires" and Simmons of old I've loved the black centre and chrome lip/dish look and I think it really works well on these.

Some pics for inspiration once again.

[KiwiCol]

@Snapey has done wheels in the past, he may be able to offer some tips.

[gsxbarmy]

Just on this again...

I believe you had those problems but last night I saw so many that had a chrome-y shine to them and I really would like that look. So I wonder if maybe there was a year or period where the (or some) wheels came through the line with inferior quality castings (or are they forgings)? Have you heard of anyone else who has had this problem apart from your source? You source; was he just another 14 owner with a same year bike or a pro polisher? H does sound credible don't get me wrong but I do have to wonder at all the other 14 wheels I see with shiny dishes (dishi?). I know that once I start there's no going back but I'd like to start with a little bit more confidence that they'll come out pretty good if not perfectly chrome-y. I appreciate your input because I would've been pretty upset if I came across one of those black patches of which you speak.

Let's say I chose to go ahead, may I ask if you stripped the paint using paint stripper or did you go straight to sanding the paint off? Did you strip the whole wheel and repaint the centres and spokes or did you carefully mask them off then strip and sand up to that line? I know you're a polishing expert and I'm just a (metal) polishing enthusiast so any info (and your time) is much appreciated as always.

Lastly, and this makes me cringe just as much as I know you're all about to but what about alternatives to polish? Chrome paint or chrome stickers that look ok-ish? It's just that from a design point of view the wheel needs some definition (think Tron). The black tyre and wheel is just too much black out near the edges. Ever since the "hotwires" and Simmons of old I've loved the black centre and chrome lip/dish look and I think it really works well on these.

Some pics for inspiration once again.

On the wheels, I believe it can vary, even with wheels off the same year. My wheels were off my K7, they were the second set I did, as originally I bought a set off a K2 and did those. End results were pretty similar. Having said that I have seen some wheels as per your pictures which were more to what I wanted to achieve - the guys who had those had bought them off eBay already polished (went for a small fortune), so I suspect they were done professionally using machines far superior to what I had to hand.

As for stripping them - and I think Snapey found this as well - the black paint on the rear wheel is thicker and harder than the front wheel on black wheels. On mine I masked them up and started with paint stripper, front wheel paint came off pretty well yet it hardly touched the rear wheel, so the rears I masked up and sanded by hand.

Don't get me wrong on the finish - I could always get a shine, but it was never one where you could see the reflection of your face, it was always grainy, actually even on the professional ones I mentioned earlier, it was a better shine but still grainy. I think that Suzuki just generally used a lower grade alloy when they cast these wheels. Some wheels I saw had been fully polished, spokes as well and strangely when I was getting some bits chromed on my bike, I spoke to a polisher at the chroming plant and he said they had varying results doing the whole wheel as the casting finish on the spokes and hubs varied (some being rougher than others, the rougher ones not coming out so well). So it seems that with the wheels it could be pot luck as to how good a finish you can get. Maybe I was just unlucky with 2 sets. The finish on the wheels in your photos suggests that may be the case.

As for a chrome finish through paint or some other solution - I did look into that, and a few guys did have theirs done. Varying results, I've never yet seen a shiney chrome paint finish, and whilst what they had done was pretty good, it was never shiney shiney like you are looking for IMO. Maybe processes and liquids used have changed these days, after all I am talking about what was done 10 years ago. They also found that the product used chipped pretty easily, many got them re-done (actually I think the product used was taken off the market not long after, so have no real idea what is available these days - although I guess there is always the dipping option - that may well give a good chrome finish (I don't know). I've seen a few wheels that have been hydro-dipped and the results visually have been very good.

Finally one has to consider weather - you guys have much more sun and a drier atmosphere than the U.K. - heck my polished alloy used to oxidise just getting the bike out from the garage - and I think that that also could influence the finish.

I did once see a set of rims that had actually been chromed - looked lovely but had cost the owner a small fortune to get done.

Hope that helps - as KiwiCol says, Snapey did his rims on his K5 and got a great finish, don't let me out you off trying, it's a lot of work, but if they come out well, then very satisfying - worst case is if you are not happy with the finish you have to get them re powder coated.

I've attached a couple of pictures of my K7 wheels just after finishing polishing them. This was the best shine I could get which I was pretty happy with, and (IMO) not far off the finish of the wheels in your picture.

[grog]

SA, not stock wheels on black bike outside Dayboro Pub, look good but. Red n Black in first pic looks good, was that the bike called Sophie? Maybe. Eric, i just drop caliper, knock axle out, spacers fall out, sprocket carrier comes out of cush drive. Wheel comes out, sprocket sits with chain still on.

[SA14]

SA, not stock wheels on black bike outside Dayboro Pub, look good but. Red n Black in first pic looks good, was that the bike called Sophie? Maybe. Eric, i just drop caliper, knock axle out, spacers fall out, sprocket carrier comes out of cush drive. Wheel comes out, sprocket sits with chain still on.

Yeah that black bike has spectacular aftermarket wheels which I know cost him a lot. I asked about it when I used to hang out in facebook groups (ask @Hooli how that turned out for me lately...lol) but the design element of a shiny rim was what I wanted to show. I think it looks classic and really do want it but just lifting off the throttle a bit after 'Barmy's "things you should know" advice.

'Barmy, thanks for all of that and the time you took to write it. Appreciate the effort bloke. I was out staring at the bike and though it's a bit cramped on the bike but I'm not sure I have to remove the sprocket now as there seems to be enough room to work. Thanks for the thickness advice too and you're right; if I farque it up I can always just repaint. Seems stupid but I didn't really think of that.

As for the "ok-ish" shine you were able to achieve I reckon I'd be happy with that. I polished some old drag racing magnesium wheels once a long time ago in my hot rod days and they had that same "ok-ish" appearance but from a short distance they looked great.

"Restoration" is probably a bit too heavy a word for the cosmetic spruce up I've done on this magnificent but neglected bike but I reckon with shiny dish on those magnificent 3 spoke wheels of ours it would be the perfect finishing touch.

Then there's the mirrors, the collector to polish, that weird ticking and high frequency hum I hear coming from the engine at the lights...

[fades off into the distance talking to himself].

[gsxbarmy]

SA, not stock wheels on black bike outside Dayboro Pub, look good but. Red n Black in first pic looks good, was that the bike called Sophie? Maybe. Eric, i just drop caliper, knock axle out, spacers fall out, sprocket carrier comes out of cush drive. Wheel comes out, sprocket sits with chain still on.

Yeah that black bike has spectacular aftermarket wheels which I know cost him a lot. I asked about it when I used to hang out in facebook groups (ask @Hooli how that turned out for me lately...lol) but the design element of a shiny rim was what I wanted to show. I think it looks classic and really do want it but just lifting off the throttle a bit after 'Barmy's "things you should know" advice.

'Barmy, thanks for all of that and the time you took to write it. Appreciate the effort bloke. I was out staring at the bike and though it's a bit cramped on the bike but I'm not sure I have to remove the sprocket now as there seems to be enough room to work. Thanks for the thickness advice too and you're right; if I farque it up I can always just repaint. Seems stupid but I didn't really think of that.

As for the "ok-ish" shine you were able to achieve I reckon I'd be happy with that. I polished some old drag racing magnesium wheels once a long time ago in my hot rod days and they had that same "ok-ish" appearance but from a short distance they looked great.

"Restoration" is probably a bit too heavy a word for the cosmetic spruce up I've done on this magnificent but neglected bike but I reckon with shiny dish on those magnificent 3 spoke wheels of ours it would be the perfect finishing touch.

Then there's the mirrors, the collector to polish, that weird ticking and high frequency hum I hear coming from the engine at the lights...

[fades off into the distance talking to himself].

Found some pictures of my polished wheels I've added to my thread above (added after posting, so you may not have seen them) - these were just after finishing the polishing. Actually looking at those, they weren't too bad. Here's some later pictures after I painted them and applied some pinstriping as well.

Thinking on it, maybe I'm being too negative. Go for it, like you I like the look.

[SA14]

I'd be more than happy with that much shine. Thanks for posting them.