Did I buy a lemon?

[vegbiker]

Help (and sorry this is so long)! I bought a 2000 GS500 with 5000 miles on it. The only mod done was an aftermarket pipe (Vance & Hines). It ran lean, but otherwise had no problems. I bought it and had a local bike shop rejet the carbs. It ran like a new bike - awesome.

Thirty miles down the road, the bike died (I was coming to a stop, clutch in). I started it up and 5 miles later it started sputtering like it was out of gas. I switched to RES (even though I had fuel) and rode to the next station. Filled it up, started off, and it started backfiring. That's when I gave up and had the bike towed back to the shop.

The shop replaced an o-ring in each carb. One was swollen, causing the cylinder to run lean; the other was too small for the carb and was letting in too much fuel, causing it to backfire. Fine.

I've put 60 miles on it since the second repair and halfway through, I noticed a "lurching," which doesn't seem safe and could get me into trouble on corners. If I'm not really twisting my wrist, it sputters. It shouldn't sputter in 2nd gear when I'm going 45 mph (maybe 6000 rpms), right? I make smooth shifts and let the clutch out slowly, but I get the same lurching (never had that problem on other bikes - I can shift well). Also, it just started backfiring again. I drove it back to the shop and left it there.

At this point, the shop seems to be cutting corners - I paid $500 for a tune up and carb kit, so the second repair was "free." I refuse to pay for this repair, since it's the first problem that wasn't fixed right. What could it be? I'd like to go there tomorrow with some ideas.

[JasonB]

Ouch! $500!!!! I havent rejeted my carbs yet but I dont think its gonna be $500 hard and then to not even do it right makes it worse.

Sounds like they didnt put something together right or adjust the carbs correctly. What exactly they didnt do right I dunno but you will prob get suggestions here.

[TheGoodGuy]

What kind of airfilter are you running, what kind of jets have you got on it.

I am thinking these guys didnt jet it right.. lurching happens when its warm i assume.. which means there must be a leak somewhere.

Anyway I am sure the experts will come and chime in.

[vegbiker]

Yes, it lurches when warm. It's okay for the first few miles, and then it gets all choppy. I'll check the make of the air filters and jets.

The $500 bill was so high because if labor - the jet kit was only $90 - damn!

[yamahonkawazuki]

with a $90 jet kit, they took their sweet time on it, doesnt take THAT long to re-jet carbs, heck even a complete removal, tear-down re-assy. and install, followed by putting airbox filter, cables etc doesnt take that long.!my opinion is they inflated the repair ticket, with either   or lack of skill, and they want you to pay for mistake.they broke somethin' i tell ya, if you were closer, id do the repairs and would not charge at all., cant stand to see a fellow rider screwed. good luck to you anyhow.

[JamesG]

What you are describing is more like a fuel problem than a carb one.
make sure that the petcock under the tank is completely on. The fuel selector assembly on GSs are notoriously prone to crapping out. Have them look at that if you take it back to them.

[The Buddha]

Yes JamesG's idea is very much the most likely cause. The other possibilities are...since its worse when hot I'll say its getting too rich. What O ring was swollen, what was small...That sounds fishy to me. The richness could be caused by overflowing or too high floats also. A jet kit is $35 on clearance sale...what clearance...they seem to be making them in large numbers still...Factory jet kit was around $80 so maybe that was the one they used. Shop guys are notorious for connecting the vaccum and fuel hoses wrong. I have seen the vaccum line hooked up to the left carb top fitting and a cap on the other fitting and the spot where the line was suposed to go was open. Now lurching on opening throttle is probably cos they didn't close off 1 hole in the slide. If the bike acts up when you open throttle fast but behaves when you open slowly there is the first hint.
Cool.
Srinath.

[vegbiker]

Thanks everyone! I'll talk to the shop about the fuel selector assembly. I don't want to get hosed. I've spent enough on the service that it should be perfect - I'll keep you posted.

[Arpee]

Jean,
mind if I ask who's doing the work?  I only trust two shops in this entire area to work for me (gosh I hope it's not one of em).  Seattle Cycle Service up behind the Enterprise Rental car place on Aurora (west side of st.) and Seattle Cycle Center over by all the porno shops at about 103rd and Aurora.  Don't flippin' smackin' take it to the turdballs at Aurora Suzuki!!!!

[sprint_9]

Make sure all your vacuum hoses are hooked up. I had similar problems after removing and reinstalling my air box I later discoverd that when I reinstalled it I knocked off a vacuum line.

[Rashad]

HAhA! a lemon!? :lol:


lemon?...lol

If anyone has a lemon....... :nana:  its me.

Thats a simple problem.. a lemon would be hard to get with a bike. Since the motor is running still.. and its a fuel problem, which happens.. i couldnt see a lemon bike. maybe a lemon DEALER :mrgreen:

[Michael]

The $500 bill was so high because if labor - the jet kit was only $90 - damn!

Yep, they got you with the pointy end!  I have had my carbs down about a dozen times and the most it has taken me, including cleaning them and finding all the fiddly bits my son lost for me was 2 hours.  Most times I can do it in about 45 minutes.   Ask them to itemize their time.