rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 19, 2023 14:49:29 GMT -5
Hi fellow RE5 owners, About a year ago I purchased a Suzuki RE5M with the intention of restoring it as close as possible to how it left the factory. I have restored several other Suzuki from the 70s and 80s in the past. Pictures below is how I purchased it. From a distance it looks OK, but in reality it isn't all that nice. 
It has all the details of an early M-model, it was manufactured in oct-74 During the test ride it was running hot so I first checked the thermostat and temperature meter
 Thermostat and temperature meter were OK. The radiator looks to be clogged and it could be that something is wrong in the rotor housing. After this I started the restoration with slowly pulling the RE5 apart. At the moment I'm in the middle of the process and a lot of things are already finished From time to time I will updated thread with new pictures of the restoration
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Post by hudson on Nov 19, 2023 15:48:33 GMT -5
I think the first place to check is the Constant Voltage Regulator ( CVR ) this controls the voltage to the temp. gauge. It is mounted to the under side of the gauge assembly. The service manual has detailed specifications to test the CVR. It should be 7 volts as the test is shown. This is a likely place for a false temp. gauge indication. A temp.gun check of the radiator while running can help confirm a false temp. indication. Both of my RE's had defective CVR's
Brian
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Post by hudson on Nov 19, 2023 15:54:08 GMT -5
Your RE looks to be very original and complete, You are starting way ahead of where I started.
Brian
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rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 19, 2023 16:09:58 GMT -5
I think the first place to check is the Constant Voltage Regulator ( CVR ) this controls the voltage to the temp. gauge. It is mounted to the under side of the gauge assembly. The service manual has detailed specifications to test the CVR. It should be 7 volts as the test is shown. This is a likely place for a false temp. gauge indication. A temp.gun check of the radiator while running can help confirm a false temp. indication. Both of my RE's had defective CVR's
Brian Hi Brian,
I'm aware of the voltage regulator but didn't checked it at that time, maybe I should have done that. But I checked the temperature during riding the bike with a multimeter and the thermometer wire connected to the fan switch. I also checked it with a temp. gun after the ride. Temperatures were pretty high although this isn't directly the coolant temp. of course
JK
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Post by wayne on Nov 19, 2023 23:39:48 GMT -5
Have a look at the thread below. It gives a ballpark idea of radiator temps using a temp gun after warmup and after riding. Compare it to what you're finding. Will quickly tell you if your readings are within "normal" or are actually high. About 2/3 of the way into the first post actual temp readings are given: re5rotary.proboards.com/thread/2937/temperature-normal-coolant-radiator-gauge |
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rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 20, 2023 16:28:53 GMT -5
Have a look at the thread below. It gives a ballpark idea of radiator temps using a temp gun after warmup and after riding. Compare it to what you're finding. Will quickly tell you if your readings are within "normal" or are actually high. About 2/3 of the way into the first post actual temp readings are given: re5rotary.proboards.com/thread/2937/temperature-normal-coolant-radiator-gaugeI have used your thread as reference which was very useful |
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rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 20, 2023 17:08:31 GMT -5
First job I did was removing all engine covers which needs to be polished because I hate this job the moste
Clutch cover removed Some water stood in points housing
Removing left engine covers  Fan switch cleaned Temperature sensor cleaned Thermostat cleaned Prep work before polishing. Normally I first sand everything by hand but this time I used a die grinder with sanding wheels First polished parts Removed the right cover Note that the ring around the clutch basket has snapped but clamped itself in the cover. Luckily no other damage to mechanical parts
Cover prepped for polishing Cover polished
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Post by timpa136 on Nov 20, 2023 18:11:31 GMT -5
Note that the ring around the clutch basket has snapped but clamped itself in the cover. Luckily no other damage to mechanical parts
Me, too. Same thing. Tim
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Post by multistrada1 on Nov 20, 2023 19:43:50 GMT -5
Good luck on your project. Have you run a compression test?
What other 70's bikes have you restored? You have a good support group on this forum!
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Post by Framitron on Nov 20, 2023 22:02:51 GMT -5
Wonderful looking bike REBM! Welcome to the forum. Your tires look very much like the original Grand/High Speed tires that the RE5 came with. I assume these tires are modern replacements?
I'm not able to see the 21 images in your 4th post. The 5 images in the first post come in fine. Anyone else have that problem?
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Post by wayne on Nov 21, 2023 0:08:23 GMT -5
Wonderful looking bike REBM! Welcome to the forum. Your tires look very much like the original Grand/High Speed tires that the RE5 came with. I assume these tires are modern replacements? I'm not able to see the 21 images in your 4th post. The 5 images in the first post come in fine. Anyone else have that problem? Same, I can only see the pictures in the first post (nice, clean looking bike by the way. Great start for you). |
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rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 21, 2023 16:23:44 GMT -5
I repaired the pictures, hopefully it stays working now. I don't have the special compression tester so I didn't test it, but I will disassemble the rotor anyway
The previous owner fitted these tyres, this are Avon Speedmaster MK2 from 2021. They do look pretty close to the original. I now use them on my GT750B because I removed them from the RE5 wheels. Some more polishing related pictures Removed the wheels
and removed the tyres Removed the clear coat from the front hub and polished the sprocket holder in the lathe
Bead blasted the rear hub and drum brake plate prepped it for polishing Polished the lower fork parts Stripped off the clear coat and sanded the rims Polished rim
Luckily all the aluminum polishing in now finished
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Post by wayne on Nov 22, 2023 4:55:37 GMT -5
So much work there. Well done! Coming along nicely.
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rebm
1st Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by rebm on Nov 22, 2023 16:57:30 GMT -5
After all the polishing I finally could rebuild the wheels First pressed in all the wheel bearings
and the seal & bearing off the sprocket holder Finished rear wheel with new spokes from Suzuki |
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Post by Framitron on Nov 22, 2023 18:35:30 GMT -5
Beautiful work that you have done REBM!
Are your B-points connected? I see the B-point breaker in the timing housing but cannot see the wire leading to it. (I looked carefully because my A-model has no B-points and I am thinking of reactivating them. That is a big project for the A model because of it lacking the speed sensor. But I can dream!)
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