TURNS OVER BUT WONT START

[RTUBMAN]

I PICKED UP A 91 GS WITH 12000 MILES. IT RAN ABSOLUTLY FINE WHEN I GOT IT. I TOOK IT TO INSPECTION AND IT PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. THE INSPECTOR DROVE THE BIKE ONTO THE BED OF MY TRUCK. TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND WE STRAPED IT DOWN. I GET HOME 20 MIN. LATER AND ROLL IT OFF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND IT WONT START. I THOUGHT MABEY THE BATTERY WAS DYING SO I JUMPED IT AND IT TURNS OVER VERY FAST BUT STILL WONT START.

PLEASE HELP!

I MADE SURE THE PLUG WIRES WERE ON THE PLUGS GOOD AND LOOKED FOR ANYTHING OBVIOUS THAT COULD BE DISCONNECTED BUT I DONT SEE ANYTHING.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR EVERYBODYS HELP.

[wraithR1]

I'm sure you probably checked this stuff, but...

1.)  What position is the petcock?
2.)  Is the tank empty?

[RTUBMAN]

OK, I AM BRAND NEW TO MOTORCYCLES.

I DONT KNOW WHAT A PETCOCK IS AND YES THE TANK HAS GAS. ITS NOT FULL BUT IT DEFF. HAS PLENTY OF GAS.

[wraithR1]

No worries!  

It's the valve directly below the tank on the left side of the bike.  You should see a selector lever with settings the read something like:  PRI, RES, and ON.

[wraithR1]

Check out Kerry's site...it has a some great pictures of the petcock:

http://www.bbburma.net/

[callmelenny]

You can try cranking in the "prime"position. That will eliminate the petcock diaphragm as a problem. On a 91 you could have issues with degrading rubber.

Have you pulled the spark plugs and checked them for excess carbon?

check that caps lock key too

[Frost]

shouldn't be the petcock...if it started before loading...it should start after unloading...PRI/ON/RES should all start the bike if there's gas in the tank

did you jump it from a car battery?...make sure the car is not running when you jump it...or else you'll fry the electricals...

as suggested above...check for sparks from the plugs...just unscrew it out and touch the engine while clicking the starter button...a blue spark should be visible...(make sure there's no gas or oil near the area)...

i'm assuming you know how to start a bike  :dunno: ...engine kill, clutch in, neutral, start button.....

if after you checked the obvious...try to bump start it...run with the bike in first gear and clutch in...then quickly release clutch to get the motor going...make sure you hang on to it...and once it gets started...clutch in and keep revs up...

update us on it once you've tested it out...

[callmelenny]

One thing I forgot to say was that the clutch switch can be a little tricky. Mine gets out of whack every few weeks. If it gets stuck, the bike won't start. You can pull the wires and jump them with paper clip.

I keep meaning to fix that  

Kerry posted a pick in this thread http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15377&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=clutch+switch

[Anonymous]

Don't try to jump it in 1st.  I'm sure Frost just did a typo.  You need to be at least in 2nd or the wheel will just skid on you.  I tried it once.

[Frost]

i've always bumped mine in first...maybe that's why it was so difficult...

i have to run VERY VERY fast to bump it...lol :lol:

ALMOST dropped by bike once doing it...ALMOST...

maybe i should try bumping in 2nd next time i try...

[Dom]

I've gotten pretty good at bump starting it.  I've had to since I only live a few minutes from work and the battery doesn't really get a chance to charge back up.  I barely have to be rolling now to get her started.  Just get her rolling and when you pop the clutch push down on the handlebars as hard as you can.  This helps turn over the pistons and get good traction on the rear wheel.  It takes a little practice but my days of pushing the bike as fast as I can in full gear are of a byegone era.

[Blueknyt]

Id have to start with Petcock positioning, damn thing could have almost 1/2 tank and need switching.sad part is, the pickup tubes on my tank valve were cut by prev owner, and being as diaphram went bad on frame valve, ive DQed the vacume line and just use the frame valve as on/off with Pri being on.

[RTUBMAN]

"You can try cranking in the "prime"position. That will eliminate the petcock diaphragm as a problem. On a 91 you could have issues with degrading rubber. "

IM SORRY, CAN YOU PLEASE GO INTO MORE DETAIL?


WHAT IS "PRIME" POSITION

AND WHERE WOULD THE RUBBER BE FROM?

REMEMBER YOUR BASICALLY TALKING TO AN IDIOT. ITS MY FIRST BIKE AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES. I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED SO ANYTHIGN YOU TELL ME I CAN DO, BUT I DONT KNOW THE MOTORCYCLE LINGO YET

OH AND I CHECKED THE CAPS LOCK THINGY AND I NEED IT FOR MY JOB

[cernunos]

Is the choke on when you try to start it? I just adore the little twin and think this forum is nifty.

C.......

[callmelenny]

The petcock is a rotating switch by the frame on the left side. See Kerry's fuel hose page for a digram http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/www_gs500_de_HoseRouting.jpg

The petcock has three postions labeled "on" "res" "pri"

Pri is for Prime which will gravity flow fuel to the carbs. The other two setting rely on vacuum from the engine to operate. Normally you run in the on position and switch to reserve "res" if you run low on gas.

Note that an "empty tank" will not be totally empty of gas. It is possible to be "out of gas" but have some still sloshing around. Putting the petcock on prime and then leaning to the left will sometimes get more in the carbs.

[RTUBMAN]

I HAVE TRYED WITH CHOKE ON, CHOKE OFF, CHOKE HALFWAY. I HAVE TRYED TWISTING THE THROTTLE. WHEN I TWIST THE THROTTLE IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO START BUT IT DOESNT. I HAVE LET IT SIT OVER NIGHT THINKING I MIGHT HAVE FLOODED THE CARBS(IF THATS POSSIBLE) AND IT STILL WONT START. WHEN I GET HOME I AM GOING TO HAVE FUN TRYING TO PUSH START IT. I HAVNT HAD TIME TO PULL THE PLUGS TO CHECK FOR RESIDUE OR OIL.  

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD SUGGESTIONS I HAVE GOT FROM EVERYBODY IN THE FORUM. PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. IF YOU GUYS AND GIRLS CAN HELP ME FIX MY BIKE THAT WILL SAVE ME $ OUT OF MY POCKET. I STILL HAVNT BOUGHT A HELMET OR EVEN REGISTERED THE BIKE YET SO ANY MONEY THAT I HAVE TO SPEND TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN IS GOING TO PUSH BACK MY ON THE ROAD DATE, AND I REALLY WANT TO GET IT ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND PLEASE KEEP THE IDEAS COMING SO I CAN GO HOME AND PLAY WITH MY MOTORCYCLE.

[Rashad]

is it possible its been on prime for days, and your carbs have been flooded just as long? Maybe when he started it and put it on prime, it was never turned back to on? Try that... i have no idea.

[Frost]

what kinda job do you have that requires you to put CAPSLOCK ON!!?!?!?!?

[RTUBMAN]

IM A MECHANICAL DRAFTER AND I USE AUTOCAD ALL DAY LONG. AND WHEN YOU TYPE IN AUTOCAD ITS PRETTY STANDARD TO KEEP CAPS LOCK ON. SO I JUST LEAVE IT ON ALL THE TIME.

[callmelenny]

what kinda job do you have that requires you to put CAPSLOCK ON!!?!?!?!?

Maybe he could get an intern to push it on and off as needed :lol:

Just kiddin, good luck with your bike. Hopefully it is something simple.