1973 GT750 Waterbus Starter Issue

[Kiwi Rider]

Here’s a bike that was brought into work the other day, the guy has bought it a year ago, would not start so he put in his shed for a year and has now decided to let the “experts” (me lol) have a look at the cause of the fault.
Good battery, key on, hit the starter button and just a click and a whirring noise.
Yup, you guessed it, starter clutch problem!
I pulled the cover off and found this…..
She’s an original example,

The plungers for the rollers are damaged and won’t go again.
Key is sheared off and remains are in the key way of the starter clutch…

Below, she’s had the points ignition replaced with an old Skool transistorised ignition…

Below, the woodruff key is sheared off…

What a delight, also, the steering head bearings were so tight the steering would barely move.
She needs some love and Kiwi is the chosen one for that lmao!

 

[LC4CARL]

Fantastic machine. Glad she is in good hands!

 

[Bumblebee]

Those "Water Buffalos" were quite a beast...a heavy beast too...

 

[Kiwi Rider]

and, here’s my second job of the day….
Fork seals on the old oil burner GSXR,
Unfortunately I discovered damage on the fork slider, caused by braided hoses with no plastic sheathing to protect the fork leg,
The owner is in shock at the mo lol
Amazing how thick the slider actually is… but it must be sooooo close to perforation!

 

[Kiwi Rider]

Those "Water Buffalos" were quite a beast...a heavy beast too...

Have you ridden one lately?
They’re actually not that bad compared to some of the big bikes these days…

 

[Bumblebee]

Have you ridden one lately?
They’re actually not that bad compared to some of the big bikes these days…

It's been a long time since I've swung a leg over one....at the time I had my GSXR750 race bike, RD400F, RZ350, Kawasaki S1 and pop up Katana in the garage....the water buffalo was heavy compared to most of those.......what did it weigh? Around 500lbs if I can remember correctly...

But I suppose compared to today's bikes it's not too bad....

 

[Bumblebee]

and, here’s my second job of the day….
Fork seals on the old oil burner GSXR,
Unfortunately I discovered damage on the fork slider, caused by braided hoses with no plastic sheathing to protect the fork leg,
The owner is in shock at the mo lol
Amazing how thick the slider actually is… but it must be sooooo close to perforation!

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That's a lot of damage surprisingly enough.......

 

[sixpack577]

What kind of times and speeds can that 750 2-stroke run?
Heavy or not, that had to be fast for it's day.
What's the hp, over 100?

 

[sixpack577]

A modern inverted fork, adjustable rear shocks, with good wheels, tires, and brakes, and either of those bikes would be awesome.

I'de also call that an enjoyable day at work, 2 classics.

 

[Bumblebee]

What kind of times and speeds can that 750 2-stroke run?
Heavy or not, that had to be fast for it's day.
What's the hp, over 100?

They were fairly quick....and really smooth, but were behind the Kawasaki in outright speed...

 

[Bumblebee]

A modern inverted fork, adjustable rear shocks, with good wheels, tires, and brakes, and either of those bikes would be awesome.

I'de also call that an enjoyable day at work, 2 classics.

Someone put the engine in a 600 Ninja frame in the '80s....it was pretty cool but an RZ or RG 500 would absolutely kill it....

 

[Kiwi Rider]

They were fairly quick....and really smooth, but were behind the Kawasaki in outright speed...

GT750s were a lazy torquey two stroke , only about 70hp at the wheel, but pretty cool to ride at the time in the 70s, but as Bill said, an RZ or Kaw Mach 3 would eat it.

 

[Kiwi Rider]

A modern inverted fork, adjustable rear shocks, with good wheels, tires, and brakes, and either of those bikes would be awesome.

I'de also call that an enjoyable day at work, 2 classics.

Unfortunately the frame and swingarm were made of rubber…. But nice suspension and brakes would help… the limitations are in the chassis.

 

[GIXERHP]

Wow how funny those two bikes are,
Im stuffing a wb 750 motor into my old GSXR1100 chassis

 

[Kiwi Rider]

Wow how funny those two bikes are,
Im stuffing a wb 750 motor into my old GSXR1100 chassis

What?????
Sacrilege!!!!!!
The old GSXR’s MUST ONLY HAVE the period correct oil burner engine installed.
Now, 100 lashes as penance for violating the sacred law of the GSXR!

 

[Bumblebee]

This is a cool GT750 beastie...

 

[Berlin Germany]

@Kiwi Rider

yes, such a coated hose (without plastic around it) can work like a saw,
even more so if the brake line was routed incorrectly.

 

[Berlin Germany]

LOL - oilburner

decades ago my very second bike was a gt550 . the lil sister of the 750 - but not less a beast - lol

i killed her wizh not enough oil in the oiltank and around 180 km p h on the highway
a piston shows a hole in its middle

now knowledge about repairing , i sold it after only 4 months of ownership .

 

[Kiwi Rider]

@Kiwi Rider

yes, such a coated hose (without plastic around it) can work like a saw,
even more so if the brake line was routed incorrectly.

The brake hoses were a little too short, at full extension of the fork the hose pulled tight against the fork leg . . if the hose was longer it would only be scratches on the leg, not a trough like it is.

 

[Kiwi Rider]

A wet day in my mates shed, working on bikes as per usual…. Aaaahhh yes!

Below, his Volvo needs some love too!