I just got a GS project... questions

[treybrad]

Well, I got my hands on a '93 GS500 w/ 25k miles. That's pretty high mileage, but if only cost me $400 with a nice helmet. It hasn't been exactly babied though. It needs a new starter for sure and probably the carbs need to be freshened. I got it running yesterday before buying it by popping the clutch, and it was idling really high.. but it ran.

What else do I need to be looking for. I'm defintely going to do an oil change, air filter and probably new plugs/wires. Any suggestions on where to find this stuff as cheap as possible? Any online places?

As far as putting in the starter, any tips? I've got a Clymer manual on the way via the link on this page, anything I should look out for. I also need to do the fork seals.. any suggestions?

Well, as you can see i've got my work cut out for me. I hope to have it running and ready by the end of the month.. hopefully. If I get too far in over my head anyone know of any good shops in Austin, TX to take it to?

Anyway, thanks for any help.

trey

[The Buddha]

why do you think it needs a starter... 45K miles on mine and its not been babied either ... and the only thing I know it doesn't need is a starter...
OK OK I just replaced the starter clutch, and know the starter is good. Shops are likely to be $$$, I'll clean and jet carbs if you like for ~$40 or so... But if you are going to be tinkering with stuff... best bet.... do it yourself.
Cool.
Srinath.

[treybrad]

Well, the reason I assumed starter is that's what the prev. owner thought. How would I go about trouble shooting if it's really the starter or not? I can push the START button and it doesn't do anything at all...

trey

[The Buddha]

OK hit start and it does nothing... OK starter relay, or battery... both of which blow 100 times more often than the starter itself. And also check wiring and ground connections.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Rema1000]

Check the water level in the battery cells, and top up any low cells if necessary (then charge the battery).  

Put the bike in neutral, and up on the centerstand.  Connect jumper cables from the GS battery cables to a car battery (if the battery is in a car, be sure the car is not running).   The bike will probably start at that point, since the battery is the most-likely cause.

But if it doesn't, check:

-the clutch safety switch (bike only starts when the clutch is pulled-in, but the switch contacts can wear-out), see http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=76808 for a picture of the clutch lockout.

-the sidestand safety switch (no picture, but it's easy to find)

-the starter relay (again, see http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=76808 for troubleshooting).

[bcbickers]

OK hit start and it does nothing... OK starter relay, or battery... both of which blow 100 times more often than the starter itself. And also check wiring and ground connections.
Cool.
Srinath.

Check your clutch, too.  My 93 won't crank without the clutch pulled in.

[luksi]

For $400 I would plan on doing everything myself...and depend on the folks on gstwins.com to help you through.  Just learn how to search for anything you need to know...if no find, just ask.

I haven't had to do much to my 2002 GS, but several others I trust have told me there isn't a lot of choices in Austin for getting shopwork.  I had my bike inspected at Woods and they were helpful when I needed a tire changed.  They are a big, multi-brand shop that also works on watercraft  and four-wheelers.  They were courteous but pretty busy.

Several local folks I go to for advice about motorcycles have told me that Zabor's on Burnet Rd has the best mechanics.  I was planning on trying them out if I ever goof something up.  It's a small shop and the owner is supposed to be sort of gruff, but I understand once you get to know him he's a teddybear.

[treybrad]

Well, you guys were right.. the starter is just fine. I didn't know I had to have the sidestand up. Maybe the prev owner didn't either.. :dunno:

So there's one problem solved. I got it started up and running, but it's pretty rough. Give it gas, it wants to die, turn on the choke it idles really high.. So my guess is the carbs need a good retuning. It has an F1s slip on, the guy said it was jetted for it but.... who knows.

Any good websites on cleaning/tuning carbs? I took them off the bike but i'm kinda hesitant to start tearing them down without having some kind of security blanket. My manual won't be here till next week probably, and I'd like to at least have it running better by then...

luksi - I'll have to check out Zabor's and see what they have to say. I've noticed there aren't a whole lot of options in town, hopefully they can be helpful when I need it..

Anyone have suggestions on a new air filter? Should I stick with the stock filter, or since I have the carbs off and everything try and get a Uni or K&N or something?

trey

[Kerry]

Well, you guys were right.. the starter is just fine. I didn't know I had to have the sidestand up. Maybe the prev owner didn't either.. :dunno:

Whew - good news!

I wonder how much more than $400 the PO would have charged if he had known that one simple fact?  At least you don't have to feel bad about "hoodwinking" him, since you didn't know either.

I got it started up and running, but it's pretty rough. Give it gas, it wants to die, turn on the choke it idles really high.

That sounds like my bike, and just about every other GS500 I've seen.  Some tips:

1) Start the bike with full choke (lever all the way back) and NO THROTTLE.

2) Let the tach climb up to 3,000 RPM.  If it starts climbing higher, push the choke lever in a bit at a time to keep the revs between 2 and 3K.

3) If you wait until you have to turn the choke all the way off to keep the revs down, then the bike is plenty ready to go.  I usually don't wait that long; I ride off with the choke on and monitor the revs at each of the stops leading out of my neighborhood.

4) Once the bike is FULLY warm (a few mile of riding) then use the idle adjustment knob to set the idle around 1200 or 1300 RPM.[/list:u]

So my guess is the carbs need a good retuning.

Retuning?  Maybe.  Cleaning?  Probably.

I would start by draining the fuel tank into a gas can for use in your lawn mower or something.  Put in fresh fuel, along with part of a bottle of carb cleaner fuel additive.  Assuming that you can put some miles on the bike this way, add some more from the bottle at every other fillup (or so).

Any good websites on cleaning/tuning carbs? I took them off the bike but i'm kinda hesitant to start tearing them down without having some kind of security blanket.

Take a look at miket's Poor Man's Rejetting Pictorial.  It won't tell you every little thing, but you can "watch" as he takes the carbs apart, etc.

My manual won't be here till next week probably, and I'd like to at least have it running better by then...

I could see about sending you scanned images of the pages you need.  Which manual are you getting?

Anyone have suggestions on a new air filter? Should I stick with the stock filter, or since I have the carbs off and everything try and get a Uni or K&N or something?

Hmmmm.  That's pretty much "your call".  But I have a nearly new stock filter and a fairly new UNI filter (with cleaner and oil) if you're interested.  I'm currently running a K&N Stock Replacement Air Filter with the restrictor installed -- because I have never rejetted.

[treybrad]

Well, I did drain the tank as much as I could.. the gas looked pretty rowdy in there.. and refilled with a couple gallons of new gas. I've got the carbs off, I'm going to clean them up really well.. hopefully that'll help a lot.

I'll tell you one page I'd love to see.. how all the hoses around the carb are routed to and from the petcock and whatnot. I took all those off and kinda chuckled to myself about how much fun that was going to be to try and figure out... oops. I'm getting the Clymer book, hopefully it will help me out.

I'll PM you about the UNI or stock filter, thanks for the help. Gotta go study that website now..

trey

[Kerry]

I'll tell you one page I'd love to see.. how all the hoses around the carb are routed to and from the petcock and whatnot.

You had only to ask....  

See my Fuel Hose Routing page.

[treybrad]

Wow.. could you be more helpful?  

Tore down the carbs and cleaned them pretty well.. they weren't dirty at all really. I guess the last guy at least did something. Nonetheless, I got a little dirt out here and there. Put it all back on the bike (thanks to the handy hose routing page) and it fired right up. It was idling really, really high (8k) so I think I have my throttle cable routed wrong or messed up somewhere where it's getting pulled. I'll give that a look tomorrow.. it started raining really hard about the second time I fired it up... we'll see what happens. Hopefully that'll work...

Where can I pick up an oil filter from? Do I need to go to the Suzuki house, or will an auto parts store have one? How about spark plugs and wires? I think I should be able to pick up a battery from Walmart, but I'm not sure who all stocks motorcycle stuff besides the dealers.

Thanks for all the help.

trey

[Rema1000]

It was idling really, really high (8k)

Full choke gets the idle to 3k-5k on mine (5k when the engine is already warm).  If the choke cable is stuck, then it will idle high, and also it will kill when you crack the throttle closed (if the bike is warm).

Throttle cable binding happens all the time when people replace the handlebars.  If this is the problem, it usually can be detected by turning the handlebars.  If the RPMs rise with the bars turned in one direction and fall in another direction, then the throttle cable is stuck.  It is even possible to get the throttle cable stuck just removing the gas tank and replacing it.

For the filter, plugs and wires, try clicking on "Search" at the top of this screen and enter "plugs wires", click on the "AND" button and search  

[Kerry]

Wow.. could you be more helpful?

Just wait till I get going!  

Tore down the carbs and cleaned them pretty well.. they weren't dirty at all really.

You DID clean out the jets themselves, right?  They're probably the most important part.  (Sorry I didn't mention it before.)  Oh, and the float valve seats, too.

[...] it fired right up.

Yee-Haw!  

It was idling really, really high (8k) so I think I have my throttle cable routed wrong or messed up somewhere where it's getting pulled.

There is a chance that you've still got dirt in your jets and you're running really lean.  But 8,000 RPM?  I agree with Rema1000; some throttle must be getting applied somehow.

Where can I pick up an oil filter from?  Do I need to go to the Suzuki house, or will an auto parts store have one?

Most any auto parts store will have one.  If they don't have it they can order it.  Of course, you could also patronize the Suzuki dealer - and pay more for the SAME filter (I think) and EXTRA for the O-ring.    For brands that you can find in an auto parts store or even some Wal-Marts, check out the Oil Filter thread.

How about spark plugs and wires?

I get my (OEM) NGK plugs at Checker.  See these threads for more info and alternate brands/part numbers:

Spark Plugs.. do i have the right one?

sparkplug choices[/list:u]

I think I should be able to pick up a battery from Walmart [...]

Yep, a nice sealed (maintenance free!) battery if you don't mind mounting it sideways and rerouting the wires a bit:

[...] but I'm not sure who all stocks motorcycle stuff besides the dealers.

Me either - especially stuff like spark plug wires.  You can order new parts online from BikeBandit or Ron Ayers - but of course they ARE official dealers.  They just happen to have web-based parts fiches and ordering.

You could also delve into the world of motorcycle wrecking yards.  You can submit nation-wide queries online, or if you're "lucky" enough to live in a place where a lot of bikes get ridden and crashed you can visit them yourself.

Oh, and don't forget the "For Sale" forum right here on GStwin.com....

[indestructibleman]

It was idling really, really high (8k)

ok.  dumb question.  have you backed off the throttle screw?

cheers,
will

[treybrad]

Well, it stopped raining for a bit so I went back and took another look. Sure enough, somehow my throttle was getting pulled. The idle screw isn't even close to coming into play, so it's getting pulled quite a bit. Maybe it's routed weird, but more likely my bent bars are causing it to be pulled a little. New srinath bars should fix that.. speaking of, I'm sending him my carbs to clean all out and jet correctly. Who knows what the last owner did, and for his price, I'd rather not mess with it and end up sending them to him in a week anyway b/c I messed something up. A little peace of mind. That way at least I'll know they're right and can troubleshoot elsewhere if I still have problems.

I'll probably go get a battery tomorrow and see what else I can get my hands on from the auto parts store. I guess I'll try online what I can't find there. I'll give those other threads a good look over, thanks for posting those.

Anything else I should look into for a bike that's been sitting for probably the better part of 6 months and has that many miles on it? I really want this baby to purr when I get her put back together.

Here's a question.. are the progressive springs worth $60.. are they that much better than just putting in spacers? I'll have to take all that apart to do the front fork seals, so I figure if I'm going to want springs I might as well go ahead and do it.

Next step.. finding some tires. I know I can find some posts on that. Thanks for all the help so far guys! I can't believe how helpful this board is.  

trey

[pantablo]

...are the progressive springs worth $60?

Yes. Not only are they worth it, they should be considered an ESSENTIAL upgrade.

... finding some tires. I know I can find some posts on that.

hehehe..you might find a post or three [dozen] about tires. best bet is to get Bridgstone bt45's in stock front and either stock rear (130/70) or 140/80.

[luksi]

I got everything for an oil change at the Autozone on S. Congress...I'm sure the others have all the same stuff.  I don't have the filter part number here, but they looked it up for me at the store.

Isn't this forum great.  So helpful and charitable...even to someone with one of those orange cow avitars...no wonder Kerry took such an interest.

[indestructibleman]

Anything else I should look into for a bike that's been sitting for probably the better part of 6 months and has that many miles on it?

1993, 25k miles.  that's what, 2300 miles per year?  i personally wouldn't consider that to be high mileage.
my '94 has 40k miles on it and (knock on wood) runs just fine.
in fact, as you're now learning, leaving a bike sitting for a long time causes its own problems.
so a bike that has higher miles and has been run every week or every couple of weeks can be in much better condition than a really low mileage bike that's just been sitting in a garage.

cheers,
will