New Bike Help

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 02:26:00 PM

Ok guys, I bought a 2005 gs500. It only has 1440 miles on it! Well that the good news. The bad news, it fell over in my garage this morning (my luck) the little round thing on the brake broke off. Also the bike is not starting. The battery is fine, the horn and lights work but the bike wont turn. This happened yesterday (first day I got it) but I assumed I put the bike in park mode and the battery was shot. I was wrong.

Does anybody have any ideas? I also need to get the brake handle replaced, I don't know how much that is going to cost. I am not by any means knowledgeable with cars or bikes. I'm guessing I will need to take it to a shop and have them check over it.

This sucks

scratch · March 12, 2007, 02:29:04 PM

In what position is the big, red Engine Stop Switch?

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 02:32:32 PM

Quote from: scratch on March 12, 2007, 02:29:04 PM
In what position is the big, red Engine Stop Switch?

It's down, kick stand up, bike in neutral, clutch pulled in.

scratch · March 12, 2007, 02:43:12 PM

Make sure the battery connections are solid.

Does the motor spin at all (turn over)?

The only other thing I can think of is the fuse.

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 02:50:06 PM

It does not turn at all. Does everybody feel like crap when their bike falls over?

I called a dealership and they think that it is the carbs, they wanted $250 to clean the carbs. Is anyone on the forms from the Chicagoland area? I would gladly pay for someone to come out and take a look at it.
Other then that I don't really know what I'm going to do.

Thanks,
Jason

scratch · March 12, 2007, 02:54:39 PM

If it doesn't turn over at all, then it's not the carbs; it's something electrical.

I'm now suspecting the clutch safety switch.

Something is preventing the engine from starting, the engine needs electical to get it started; either to the starter motor (to spin over the motor to get compression), or the starter circuit (one of the safety switches).

Both sparkplug caps on? (completion of a circuit)

It fell on its right, so I doubt it's the clutch safety switch, but I don't know how delicate they are since mine has been removed. I also kinda doubt it's the starter motor, because the starter motor gear will only fall out to the left, but the motor itself can be dislodged to the right, but it takes a strong force; I don't think a fallover will do it.

Bear with me, I haven't been a mechanic in a long time.

NiceGuysFinishLast · March 12, 2007, 03:03:14 PM

Do not, I repeat DO NOT pay $250 to have your carbs clean. If you'll take em off and pay shipping both ways, I'll clean em for $40, or Srinath will too. But it's electrical. Carbs would make it turn over with no starting, or run but poorly. If there's no cranking, it's electrical. Check the clutch safety switch and the sidestand safety switch.

Edit: Scratch beat me to it.

Edit Again: I was kidding about sending me the carbs. I was merely commenting on the fact that $250 is ridiculous. Even if you're not mechanically inclined, if you can read and look at pictures, you can do your own carbs.

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 03:24:52 PM

I found a bike shop 10 mins from my house! I called the guy (a friends friend) and he is going to pick up the bike in his trailer tomorrow. He thinks that some oil got into the carbs. Either way I'm glad that he is so close and he only wants $100 for most of the work. This makes me feel a lot better. Do you guys know if there is a way to polish or buff the engine cover and exhaust to get off a small scratch?

Thanks guy.

Edit: Should I have him re jet the bike while I'm at it? I'm going to have him do a full inspection and tune up.

Egaeus · March 12, 2007, 03:29:59 PM

If it doesn't do anything (i.e. the starter relay doesn't even click) then it's absolutely, positively not the carburetors.

pandy · March 12, 2007, 03:32:49 PM

Quote from: Crash-n-Burn on March 12, 2007, 02:50:06 PM
Does everybody feel like crap when their bike falls over?

The first time? Yes. The second time? Yes, but not *quite* so much. The third time? A little. The fourth time? Eh....it happens. The fifth time? *sigh* it fell over again. The sixth time? All I did was look at it!! WTF!? The seventh time? Oh...wait...I think I stopped counting about there, if not before....

BUT....I haven't dropped him in....ages....it must be months now...

Post up when she's fixed and let us know which of the answers above is correct.

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 03:46:54 PM

Quote from: pandy on March 12, 2007, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: Crash-n-Burn on March 12, 2007, 02:50:06 PM
Does everybody feel like crap when their bike falls over?

The first time? Yes. The second time? Yes, but not *quite* so much. The third time? A little. The fourth time? Eh....it happens. The fifth time? *sigh* it fell over again. The sixth time? All I did was look at it!! WTF!? The seventh time? Oh...wait...I think I stopped counting about there, if not before....

BUT....I haven't dropped him in....ages....it must be months now...

Post up when she's fixed and let us know which of the answers above is correct.

You're awesome

I will! I will also put some pictures online.

brett · March 12, 2007, 04:23:12 PM

Like everyone else said, if the starter isn't going at all, it's electrical. When you turn the key to on, do the lights come on? If you don't even have lights, my guess is the battery connections are loose. If not, I think scratch is on to something...

Quote from: scratch on March 12, 2007, 02:54:39 PM
If it doesn't turn over at all, then it's not the carbs; it's something electrical.

I'm now suspecting the clutch safety switch.

Something is preventing the engine from starting, the engine needs electical to get it started; either to the starter motor (to spin over the motor to get compression), or the starter circuit (one of the safety switches).

Both sparkplug caps on? (completion of a circuit)

It fell on its right, so I doubt it's the clutch safety switch, but I don't know how delicate they are since mine has been removed. I also kinda doubt it's the starter motor, because the starter motor gear will only fall out to the left, but the motor itself can be dislodged to the right, but it takes a strong force; I don't think a fallover will do it.

Bear with me, I haven't been a mechanic in a long time.

My first thought was the clutch safety switch too. Personally I hate that little bastard, it always likes to fall out of place. I know the bike fell on the right, but maybe the little piece got dislodged? You know, the small plastic piece with the metal conductor on it? Taking the clutch lever off is pretty easy, so it's worth trying.

Crash-n-Burn · March 12, 2007, 04:36:59 PM

Well, I hope it will be an easy fix! I don't think I really want to mess with the bike just yet, I'm going to let the professional handle it. Eventually I want to be able to fix my own problems. Like I said earlier do you think it's worth it for me to also get my bike re jetted?

scratch · March 12, 2007, 04:43:47 PM

While it is worth it, it may not be practical at this time since the professional probably wont be looking into the carbs. If you already have the jets, and he is willing to change 'em out for ya, do it.

NiceGuysFinishLast · March 12, 2007, 07:29:43 PM

how TF would oil get into the carbs?

Egaeus · March 12, 2007, 08:05:09 PM

Well, you turn the bike over so that the oil drains into the airbox, then you turn it up on its nose so that it drains into the carbs.

NiceGuysFinishLast · March 12, 2007, 08:33:40 PM

Quote from: Egaeus on March 12, 2007, 08:05:09 PM
Well, you turn the bike over so that the oil drains into the airbox, then you turn it up on its nose so that it drains into the carbs.

That's about what I thought... lol

pandy · March 12, 2007, 08:34:58 PM

Quote from: Egaeus on March 12, 2007, 08:05:09 PM
Well, you turn the bike over so that the oil drains into the airbox, then you turn it up on its nose so that it drains into the carbs.

Isn't this the way EVERYONE parks their bikes?

Don't tell me *I'm* the only one!?

Jarrett · March 12, 2007, 08:44:21 PM

Quote from: Crash-n-Burn on March 12, 2007, 03:24:52 PM
I found a bike shop 10 mins from my house! I called the guy (a friends friend) and he is going to pick up the bike in his trailer tomorrow. He thinks that some oil got into the carbs. Either way I'm glad that he is so close and he only wants $100 for most of the work. This makes me feel a lot better. Do you guys know if there is a way to polish or buff the engine cover and exhaust to get off a small scratch?

Thanks guy.

Edit: Should I have him re jet the bike while I'm at it? I'm going to have him do a full inspection and tune up.

You should try and fix it yourself. Listen to Scratch and everyone else, and check the clutch safety switch and trouble shoot until you get it started. Don't pay someone 100 dollars to pick the bike up, take it to the shop, and spend 15 seconds fixing it. Don't give up and good luck.

ducati_nolan · March 12, 2007, 10:13:54 PM

just check the wires going to the clutch switch on the handlebars, that happened to me once.

If it's one of the safety switches, the bike will still start if you bump start it, so just get a running start and pop the clutch and it should fire up. Just look the thing over and plug in the wires and you'll be good, no reason to take it to a "pro"

By the way, The shops will assume you're a sucker and take advantage of you.

I hope you're joking about jetting the carbs, get the thing running first.

good luck

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