just bought '01 gs, have a few questions

[importracer689]

HEy guys,
my name is mark, and im from Dahlonega, Georgia. I just bought a 2001 gs 500 (blue on silver) from a buddy. i got a really good deal on it and it came with a helmet, jacket, and gloves.
anyway, it sat for a few months, but when i sprayed some starter fluid in it at first, it cranked right up, so i put plugs in it, did an oil change, and added 2 gallons of premium.  I realized that the gas and whatever treatment he had in it was bad, so i drained it out and added 2 gallons of mid grade, problem is i put a whole bottle of stp fuel treatment in it, which is waaaayy too much, and didn't think about it, now, sometimes it makes really good power and runs fine, but after a little while, it starts making zero power and not idling. it did this earlier today, and after sitting for a few hours, ran just fine for awhile, then messed up again. I took off the tank, checked the flow through the petcock, drained the bowls, which both had good gas in them (no junk), took off the accelerator pump covers and  they were both clean and functional, no shellac., so i'm thinking it is just the waayyy overdose of fuel treatment, one bottle into 2 gallons of gas, where it calls for 1 bottle for 10 or 20 or something. Before i drain and refill the tank again, i would like to know if this is a common problem or anything like that.
thanks guys,
mark

[importracer689]

ok update. i just got on it, cranked it up and  again, idled fine, ran fine, made plenty of power throughout the rev range. I am 90% positive that if i rode it for 5-15 minutes it would mess up again. is it just the fuel treatment or something else?

[werase643]

if you are that concerned...drain fuel out....put in your truck
then fresh gas in bike

[tussey]

if you are that concerned...drain fuel out....put in your truck
then fresh gas in bike

or buy a $5 gas can at Autozone, fill up the can at the gas station then fill up the bike with good gas

[ducati_nolan]

A carb cleaning would probally help. But if the thing dosn't totally die on you, just go ride the piss out of it till you run out of gass and then fill it up with fresh stuff. Just strap a 1/2 or 1 gallon gas can on the back of the thing and run the sucker dry.

[scratch]

Welcome!

anyway, it sat for a few months,

Water in the floatbowls, maybe?

and added 2 gallons of premium.  I realized that the gas and whatever treatment he had in it was bad, so i drained it out and added 2 gallons of mid grade

Don't use premium, too high octane, doesn't burn fast enough.

but after a little while, it starts making zero power and not idling.  it did this earlier today, and after sitting for a few hours, ran just fine for awhile, then messed up again.

This is why I think it's water, but it could be because of the treatment you added.  Just add more mid grade gas (or the lowest octane gas).

[importracer689]

alright guys, thanks a lot, ill go out, drain the float bowls (again), drain the tank into my truck (good call), and then fill it up with 5 gallons of 87 octane. hopefully that should fix it. i believe that the 12 or so ounces of treatment i put in it was about equivalent to adding that much water, so i think new gas wil lfix it up.
thanks,
mark