GS is acting up. Any Help??

[TeBo]

Ok, I rode my GS yesterday, after not riding for a few weeks.  It's never acted like this before.  First, idle seems low.  I'm idling slightly below 1000 RPM.  And once or twice, when I pull the clutch in, it'll die.  When I'm in the high It's no problem. She runs as good as she always does.  But when I start off the line, or try to go in low gear, She'll hesitate so much, start chugging making me look like I dunno how to ride, and sometimes I can hear her backfire.  I have no idea why (not familiar w/ mechanics of bike yet.).  Any help??

[GRU]

clean the carbs....i think srinath recommend's yamaha carb cleaner....get some and spray into the carbs

[jamesmcb]

I've had that same problem now for a while, and I took it to a Suzuki service center and they didnt even fix it after i dropped a buttload of money for service done on it.  It seems like it does it everytime I start it up until it gets good and warmed up (which on mine seems to take forever.....even after 10 minutes its not warmed up yet).  after its fully warmed up it runs like a charm, but it seems like it shouldnt take that long to warm up.  The dealership keeps telling me i just am not waiting long enough for it to warm up....but 10 minutes into riding its still doing it....that just seems strange...   It hesitates like TeBo described, making me look like an idiot.  GRU mentioned cleaning the carbs....to be honest I dont even know what that is or how to do it....any attempt at an explanation would be appreciated!

[TeBo]

mines get worse when it warms up??  I'll try cleaning hte carbs later.  thanks  SRINATH ! ! HELP ! ! ! !

[geekonabike]

I've had that same problem now for a while, and I took it to a Suzuki service center and they didnt even fix it after i dropped a buttload of money for service done on it.  It seems like it does it everytime I start it up until it gets good and warmed up (which on mine seems to take forever.....even after 10 minutes its not warmed up yet).  after its fully warmed up it runs like a charm, but it seems like it shouldnt take that long to warm up.  The dealership keeps telling me i just am not waiting long enough for it to warm up....but 10 minutes into riding its still doing it....that just seems strange...   It hesitates like TeBo described, making me look like an idiot.  GRU mentioned cleaning the carbs....to be honest I dont even know what that is or how to do it....any attempt at an explanation would be appreciated!

Would you like to share what it is they said they did to it?  I'm curious, as mine is in the local mech's shop.  One of my floats (like I know what I'M talking about) was way out of wack, which he said might be why it was running rich.  (Jets were correct.)  Before I took it to him it had a similar problem to yours, but it also has this surge once it is warmed up.  But I'll have to see what it does when he gets done with it.  I just don't want to do the same as you, bring it to the dealer and spend a lot without any improvement.  More then ten minutes to warm up?  My BeHind!  I mean, are you living in Greenland?  --Mike D.

[Mk1inCali]

So...carb guru's...I've got an 00 with a Factory Pro jetkit, drilled 3 holes in stock pipe, BobB ignition advancer, 6500 miles, factory air filter mess.  CA gas of varying grades, haven't found one that runs particularly better than anything else yet.  Anyway, it runs clean, I get 35-40 mpg which is on the low end, I know, I run it pretty hard, and I know it's running rich with just the jet kit, but it ran like crap without it back when it was new.  My deal is this, I ride 3-4 miles to work in the morning, I let it warm up as I put on my gear to go to work, so that's 2-3 minutes, then I hop on and kill the choke.  Idles kinda low, but it stays alive.  By the time I get to work after .5 mile of city traffic on each end of a 3 mile freeway romp it is idling right at 1200 or so.  Is that about where it should be, ie, is that a "normal" warm up schedule?  Just thought if you guys could shed some light on what mine is doing, that might help these guys understanding how it should be...plus I get help without hi-jacking a thread!

Thanks guys, and good luck all of you with jetting probs!

[pantablo]

10 minute warm-up isnt uncommon on a stock jetted bike, in colder climates (colder than SoCal).

Tony, I used to get 55mpg romping in the canyons hard. You have a factory jet kit with stock pipe (holes drilled shouldnt be an issue) and stock air filter/box? What jet sizes do you have? If it was rejetted for stock your mpg might be right, maybe on the rich,side I'd guess and your warm up sounds right. 1200 is right on when warm. Bikes with stock jetting will run higher rpm once warm, sometimes as high as 3k rpm.

TeBo-Sorry I cant help... :dunno:

[TeBo]

My bike is bone stock.  A '98 w/ 2700 miles, so I don't think it should have any serious problems.  I was thinking since my friend (who had it before me) had kept it in his garage for so long w/ out running it, that it might have settled?  I dunno.  All I know is, It's so hard to get out of first gear, and I'll be jolting worse than some guy whos learning how to use a clutch for the first time.

[TeBo]

Ok, I went outside to look at my bike, stared at the carb w/ a can of Carb cleaner in my  hand, and just kept staring.  LOL..  Am I supposed to pull the carb off the bike, or can I clean it w/ the carb still on the bike?  Any help on how I should clean my carbs??

[SPARKPLUG1977]

To get to anything important you should not only pull the carbs, you should pull the carbs apart.  Then proceed to spray the carb cleaner in just about every hole you can find. After that I usually spray the crap out of them with compressed air.

[Bob Broussard]

The pilot jet and idle circuit have very small holes. It wouldn't take much to partially clog them with old gas gumming them up. I would run some fuel system cleaner in a couple tanks of gas. If that doesn't help, then you'll probably need to take the carbs apart and clean them. Carb cleaner can damage rubber O-rings, so remove them first before cleaning.

As far as warmup goes. Go full choke at startup. then ease off a bit after a minute. You can ride with the choke partially on. When you let off the throttle and the idle stays up, just back it off enough to bring it down.
It should be warmed up enough to turn it completely off within a few minutes.

When it backfires, it's a sign of a lean condition. A jet kit and advancer will improve things all around..

[bignuts45]

Mine takes about ten minutes as well and I live in Tampa.  I have had all the crap looked at valves, float height, cleaned carbs, rejetted and still takes a long time to warm up, even the mechanic aknowledges it and said some bikes take longer to warm up.

Is there anything I am missing on the checklist?  Mine is a 01 with 5000 miles.

[The Buddha]

Yamaha carb cleaner is to be mixed in with gas... OK for the lazy man's carb cleaning method, try one of those car type cleaners which you add to gas... ride out a tank or so... and then see.
Other warm up issues ... pilots and air screws... 40 pilots and 3 turns out on air screw, and heck 125 mains while you at it and a #4 washer under needle. Stock bikes also need that jetting combo...
Cool.
Srinath.

[mjm]

Mine takes about ten minutes as well and I live in Tampa.  I have had all the crap looked at valves, float height, cleaned carbs, rejetted and still takes a long time to warm up, even the mechanic aknowledges it and said some bikes take longer to warm up.

Is there anything I am missing on the checklist?  Mine is a 01 with 5000 miles.

My '01 with pod filters and a Cobra F1R has one size larger pilots, one size larger mid-main, one washer on the needle, 150 mains, three turns out on the pilot screw and floats set even with the gasket -  starts and runs without choke when the temperature is above 70 - When its colder I can take off immediatly with the choke partly on down to about 40.  

Most jet kits do not include larger pilots.  Do not follow the standard "40 pilots" advice on a 2001 and up - the stock pilot is a 17.5 bleed type - put in a # 20 bleed type.  Other than the pilot jet, if you have a jet kit intended for a 2001 and up that came with a needle, do not follow these suggestions -  the needle change makes the 150 main way too rich. It your kit was intended for an earliet bike, then you might want to go up once size on the mid-main.

[Hi-T]

I wonder if there is a problem with fuel delivery at low RPMS - ie petcock or vaccum lines.  Does anything change if you run on Prime vs on.

I'd also recommend riding through another tank (with cleaner).  It maybe debris or rust and you might be able to push it out.  Which is easier than pulling the carbs and cleaning them.

[TeBo]

OK OK OK..  I think I may have the problem:

Could it be because my right header wasn't even clamped on, and my left one was loose?  I just looked at my whole pipe, and saw that what I thought was some sort of heatsink, was actually the header mounting thingy.  I think that's why it keeps backfiring (Much like my homie's Mazda RX7 w/ a bad exhaust.)  Anyways, I put the bolts on, except for one (local bike shop is out, ordered them, will take 3 days to get here.)  so I'm guessing I still need to wait it out.  When I yanked the throttle though, same thing.   Twist fast, and it chokes.  I also cleaned the outside w/ Carb cleaner, and the put a bottle of the Yamaha cleaner inside the gas tank.  Haven't been able to ride it out though (Just put it today, and rode it home.  Bike tanks take long to drain out.  lol).  Does anyone think things would get good if I get that last bolt on?  hahah  Dag nang I'm such a noob