Anyone want a 90 GS?

[Mayoke]

Really frustrated here.
Just got my 90 GS what, 2-3 weeks ago.
First, I dealt with a tire eating chain. That's now fixed and I have 2 brand new Pirelli Sport Demons.
Rear brake is straight now. Huzzah.
When I got the bike, it smelled like a gas station when running and still does.
I haven't smelled many vehicles that rich before.
I guess the upside is that it starts in .02 seconds everytime with or without choke applied no matter what temp the engine is.

In walks the next problem.
Besides the overpowering smell of gas, the bike seemed to run ok.
A little rough in the lower RPM range but smooth-ish after 5K with slight stumbling if you try to keep a steady speed.
TODAY however, a FUN thing.
The bike won't idle and even backfired on me TWICE.

Good thing it starts REALLY fast as I had to do it about 30 times on the ride home.
Tried the petcock in every position, same thing.
(Am full on gas. Filled up this mornin.)
Over 5K RPM, smooth-ish again but rougher than before.
1.5 - 5K though it stumbles and coughs and hiccups.
Come to a stop and the RPMs drop right out.

Eventually, I fiddled with the choke enough to have it idle at ~3K RPM and limped it home.
Needless to say, I'm not thrilled.
My first thought is that it's so damn rich that it's drowning.
My second thought is to sell the damn thing. 
Could explain why it smooths out at 5K under acceleration. (Oh yeah, forgot to mention if you try to keep it steady ANYWHERE, it tries to sputter but runs.)

I'm open to suggestions.
Please mind that I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I can follow instructions fairly well.

[ben2go]

Where are you located?I'll take it,if you're close. 

[Jay_wolf]

Dont think he ment , Give Give lol 

[Mayoke]

Yeah.
I have to fix this thing.
It's cost me waay too much.
If I were to sell it, I'd lose horribly.

I was hoping someone maybe had an "easy" suggestion like a carb adjustment or something that I could do that's not too involved.

Ah well, I can always take it to a shop and let them have at it and be deeper in still.

[scottpA_GS]

Clean the carbs 

[spc]

Yup, clean em out.  Also, did srinath tell ya what size mains you're running and if you have any washers under the needle.  Pulling a washer from under the needle can help lean you out a  little till you can get new smaller jets.

[Mayoke]

Yup, clean em out.  Also, did srinath tell ya what size mains you're running and if you have any washers under the needle.  Pulling a washer from under the needle can help lean you out a  little till you can get new smaller jets.

He may have told me and I forgot but I don't remember.
Looks like I get to take it to the shop.
I really have no space to work on carbs.

*sigh*

Just another thing to do.
The front springs are SHOT.
I know how they normally feel and these bottom out if you downshift.
They are REALLY shot.
The back isn't much better.

I really wish I still had my Clymer manual still from when I owned my first GS.
That one never needed anything though.
It was an 89 and it ran all day with no problems.
I guess I was hopeful I'd get another like it. 

[spc]

Ehhh, just pull the tank off.  Then pop your slide caps off and pull the needles out. Take out the washer and put it all back.  Don't even have to take the carbs off.

[Mayoke]

Ehhh, just pull the tank off.  Then pop your slide caps off and pull the needles out. Take out the washer and put it all back.  Don't even have to take the carbs off.

May give that a try.
Just pulled the plugs.
HOLY CRAPSHIT!
I have NEVER seen plugs that black in my ENTIRE life.   
I'm used to working on Turbo cars and such.
I'm used to running a little rich here and there.
These things look like someone rubbed them on charcoal briquettes!

[Jay_wolf]

mine was running really rich before ,like it was jetted for the kn and exhaust , so


with a lunchbox and exhaust and slight tweaking ,im spot on 

[The Buddha]

You have a stuck or sticking float ...
OK this is what you do ...
Sit by it right under the left foot peg area - preferably outside ... but in your house is fine if you drain the float bowls.
Then with handle spinner type ratchet and the allen wrenches that fit a 3/8th ratchet get the 2 bolts that hold in the float bowl off.
Do 1 float bowl at a time. See if the float will move up and down freely, then put it in prime and see where it closes and where it begins to flow. Also when closed see if it has a still flowing condition.
Repeat for other (right) carb.
Now also find out why
See if you get undue sediment or weird looking stuff in the bowls or in the gas you drain.
That means gas quality is bad where you fill, BTW you running regular or premium. Regular is what it ran fine on, and premium tanks at gas stations dont get that much action and therefore a ton of crap gets into the few people that use it.
Getting worse = something is stuck and getting worse. Be gentle and dont force stuff in or out. Those carbs were clean though so I doubt you got anything crazy.
You can send it to me ... but this will be faster. I'll check on it free - you can pack in nicely with the wheels and I'll check and send back immediately. However, How about you give it a whirl first. You'd figure it out as fast anyway.
Cool.
Srinath.

[The Buddha]

The left plug is blacker than the right
If so, there may be another diagnosis.
Take off the vacuum line from frame petcock, plug the open end with a golf T, and the frame petcock with a rubber cap. Try it in prime.
If its the same problem is stuck floats.
Cool.
Srinath.

[genEricStL]

premium tanks at gas stations dont get that much action and therefore a ton of crap gets into the few people that use it.

I've never heard this before , but i feel kinda dumb for not thinking of it hehe ... nice observation . I've been putting super unleaded in my bike the last 5-6 times and 3 or 4 of those times i've had problems the closer i got to empty . The bike starts to get a sputter , so i just fill it back up and add more Seafoam lol . I even looked for sediment in the tank but never saw any . I didn't think about old gas ... good tip 

[The Buddha]

Yea, the more $$$ gas is, the less people will use premium.
Also the damn truck I have runs a 1000 times better with premium. I know that first hand. The only stations I fill at are what I call the 5 cent or 6 or 7 cent stations.
The spread between regular and premium is 10-14 cents, making people likely to get premium there. Even so, after 30K miles the huge ass fuel filter in it is filled with crap ... my wife's mitsubishi running on regular, 90K, her filter was still clean.
Anyway, no clue that that is what is going on, but just thought I'd see if its the reason.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Mayoke]

The left plug is blacker than the right
If so, there may be another diagnosis.
Take off the vacuum line from frame petcock, plug the open end with a golf T, and the frame petcock with a rubber cap. Try it in prime.
If its the same problem is stuck floats.
Cool.
Srinath.

No, both plugs look like charcoal. They were CAKED black. I replaced the plugs.
Of course still won't idle and runs like crap.

I may look at the carbs or just wait for mechanic visit.

[Mayoke]

You have a stuck or sticking float ...
OK this is what you do ...
Sit by it right under the left foot peg area - preferably outside ... but in your house is fine if you drain the float bowls.
Then with handle spinner type ratchet and the allen wrenches that fit a 3/8th ratchet get the 2 bolts that hold in the float bowl off.
Do 1 float bowl at a time. See if the float will move up and down freely, then put it in prime and see where it closes and where it begins to flow. Also when closed see if it has a still flowing condition.
Repeat for other (right) carb.
Now also find out why
See if you get undue sediment or weird looking stuff in the bowls or in the gas you drain.
That means gas quality is bad where you fill, BTW you running regular or premium. Regular is what it ran fine on, and premium tanks at gas stations dont get that much action and therefore a ton of crap gets into the few people that use it.
Getting worse = something is stuck and getting worse. Be gentle and dont force stuff in or out. Those carbs were clean though so I doubt you got anything crazy.
You can send it to me ... but this will be faster. I'll check on it free - you can pack in nicely with the wheels and I'll check and send back immediately. However, How about you give it a whirl first. You'd figure it out as fast anyway.
Cool.
Srinath.

She got premium once and usually gets regular.
Also, I get my gas from the QT close to me and they do CRAZY business so I'm sure it's not unused gas.

I'll take a looksie.

[CirclesCenter]

Time to pull the carbs and pop em in the dip tank for a night.

I know, I hate doing it too.

[Jughead]

OK let me Ask One Question.Are you Running Resistor Plugs? If so Ditch them and Buy Regular NGK,Autolite,AC Delco or Denso plugs.Just from My Experience Stay Away from Champions.I won't even use them in my Lawnmower.If your Plugs are Black they are more than Likely Fouled.

#2 Your Bike Has Resistor Caps.The Little Resistors on the Inside can and Will Build up too much Resistance over time.You can Unscrew the Slotted Thing a ma Jobbie out of the end of the Cap and Replace the Resistor with a Section of Brass from the Model Shop OR if you have some House Hold Electrical Wire you can Cut a Piece to fit inside of the Cap Pretty Easily.

With Resistor Caps AND Resistor Plugs you will have too much resistance and won't get a Complete Burn.With the Above Modifications to the Caps you'll be able to run Resistor Plugs.

#3 Unscrew the Plug Cap off of your Lead Wire.Cut the End Off around 1/4" and rethread the Cap back onto the wire.Make Sure it's Threaded on Nice and Tight.Do the same for the Coil End of the Wires.

#4 Unplug and Replug the Wires Connected to the Coils.If the Connections are a Little Corroded Clean them.Make sure you Plug them back up.

Here is a Picture of what you'll find in the Plug Cap.The White thing is the Resistor.



The reason I say All of this is Because I bought a Perfectly good 89 GS500 with Lesss than 15,000 miles.The Counter Balancer when Bad and Spun the Bearing.The Also Thought that the Motor Was Blown since it was Fouling out Plugs and Blowing Black Smoke.It wasn't from Oil but from what looked to be the Carbs running Rich.I tore into the Carbs and they were Almost  As Clean as the day they Left the Factory.The Owner Started Having Problems After He Installed Resistor Plugs.

[ben2go]

Dont think he ment , Give Give lol 

yep.I was just kidding.He lives below me in GA,I think.

[blue05twin]

I think I live maybe 5 or 10 min's from you.  If you want bring the bike over, I never worked on a pre 04 but it can't be that different.  Also I know these are good but they may be better than what you have.  I have factory springs with spacers sitting here if you want them to replace yours.  They came out of a 05.

Let me know

Dave