Need help getting my 89 GS500 to run

[71buickfreak]

What's up? I just picked up my new (to me) 89 GS500. It turns over, has spark, but doesn't run. I can get it to pop every once in a while if I hold the throttle open while cranking it. I have not taken it apart yet. The guy I got it from said it ran great last year, he parked it for the winter (outside) and when he got on it this summer it wouldn't start. He said he got it started a few times but it shut off after only a few seconds. Any ideas?

[banner]

first thing first i'd clean it out completely. Get a clymers manual and first thing i'd do is check over it and get to work cleaning out the carbs.

Most probably they are gummed up from the gas sitting so long. Also the battery is another culprit that might have to be charged or replaced.

Give all the cables a good shot of lube as well while your at it.

[71buickfreak]

Thanks. I've got the manual already. I was going to pull the tank and make sure its flowing fuel and work the carbs to make sure they are functional. It turns over fine with the battery and has good spark. I will keep the charger handy though. I am thinking that is was gummed up or rust from the tank is clogging the carbs.

[V8Pinto]

pull the plugs, dribble gas in the cylinder, replace plugs, and if it fires then your carbs are gummed up.  If you have the right bits, you can get the float bowls off the carbs while they're still on the bike.  Just pull the jets and clean them and it should work itself into shape.

[TarzanBoy]

Thanks. I've got the manual already. I was going to pull the tank and make sure its flowing fuel and work the carbs to make sure they are functional. It turns over fine with the battery and has good spark. I will keep the charger handy though. I am thinking that is was gummed up or rust from the tank is clogging the carbs.

Let me know if you need a new tank.  I just happen to have a spare!

[davipu]

maybe these will help?

[ajgs500]

Davipu is that the Brooks' beast

[davipu]

I don't know, but a new pair of shoes always helped me run.

[ajgs500]

New lungs would help me run

[dgyver]

You might have an intermittant spark cause by corroded wire connections. It may look like you have a spark but it may not be firing all the time.

Are the plugs wet or dry after trying to start?

Best to install new plugs.

The valves clearances should be check too.

[Hugh Jardon]

Let me know if you need a new tank.  I just happen to have a spare!

OK, now post some details about the tank (price, color, price, condition, price; did I mention that I want to know the price? If you won't tell me the price, just tell me how much you're asking for it, or how much you'll take for it, or how much money you'd want for it... I think you know what I'm asking you, right? Include your zipcode, so I can calculate the shipping charges from there to here, and it would help a LOT if you'd post some pics... Thanks

[Jared]

If it sat over the winter and hasn't been run... You'll need to pull the carbs and clean them... The pilot jets are almost drfinitely going to be clogged with "rust" (fuel additives that end up clogging them up after the fuel in the bowls evaporates.....).

Do you have some starting fluid... pull the air filter out and give the airbox a blast of staring fluid...(Gumout carb cleaner spray works..) a) and turn it over...  If it will "run" on that-  It's you carbs.

Get a manual as suggested already and take your time and do a good carb cleaning...

Good luck.

[71buickfreak]

Welp, I gave it a crack to see what I could do. I pulled the seat and the tank, got the filter out. TOTALLY clogged. nasty. Sprayed the carb cleaner, no dice. Pulled the plugs. fouled out bad, plus the electrode was about half the original diameter. Went to Orielly's and got a set of comparable Champion plugs (out of NGKs, any suggestions on better plugs? I also need wires) came home, popped em in, hit the start button.

To my quite honest suprise, IT FRIGGIN' FIRED! started up, ran no problem. Put the tank and seat back on, took it for the first spin. The gas is old so its a bit sluggish on full throttle, but it runs and shifts!

Considering this is a bike with a selling price of $300 in non-running condition, I'd say it was pretty good deal. It needs some cosmetics to be sure. the tank is shaZam!, the seat fairings need painted, the frame has some surface rust form being laid down 1 or 5 times, the gauges aren't working (previous owner said they work if you jiggle wires, so prob. needs some re-wiring, no biggie) and the turn signal switch works but has to be moved just right to shut them off, but hey it's a friggin $300 bike (I trade a subwoofer and amplifier I had $10 in for it) so I ain't complaining, especially since it runs!
Woohoo!

[ninja_steve]

congrats dude...$300 is a steal.

[mjm]

.... and the turn signal switch works but has to be moved just right to shut them off, ....

Push the switch in to shut off  rather than trying to slide back to center.

[71buickfreak]

yeah, that doesn't work like it should.

I did find another problem, when its been running up and down the road, it bogs down a little and the overflow hose had fule pouring out of it. I figure the floats need adjusted or are stuck.

By the way, the bike already has the complete V&H kit, it sounds nice.