Bike acting strange

[zenn]

Put about 500 miles over the past week. Mostly riding to work. Has been running fine till Sunday, now bike is very buzzy, I can hear the engine clanking under load at lower speed (about 30-45mph), its holding on to a high rev when coming to a stop. I'll have it at about 4k in 3rd maybe 35mph. click down trough 2nd-1st as I come to a stop but the rpms stay at 4K for a while after I stop. Sometimes have to b blip the throttle to get it down to 1500.
Also shifting to 1st is getting very clunky and loud, getting a lot of false neuterals.
Checked the oil. looks proper, topped it off a bit. Could it be too much oil, I know I didnt overfill it, just added a few drops just in case.

[manofthefield]

High idle could be from an air leak or sticking choke.  Does it eventually drop, or continuously idle high?

How long since you changed the oil?  Many people note better shifting after an oil change.  Or, if you're changing 2nd to 1st while your stopped and the engine is idling high, it will be clunky.

[beRto]

Check this sticky thread for some ideas on fixing the hanging idle:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=41199.0

I agree that an oil change would be a good idea.

You may also want to consider checking your valve clearances and then balancing the carbs.

[zenn]

thanks, that was quick. 
  :thumb:Will change the oil Saturday, see if it helps. 
As far as valve clearances and balancing the carbs. hats a job for a pro. If I do it I will wind up with a carburetor sprocket in the rear differential and some left over memory sticks.

[ben2go]

thanks, that was quick. 
  :thumb:Will change the oil Saturday, see if it helps. 
As far as valve clearances and balancing the carbs. hats a job for a pro. If I do it I will wind up with a carburetor sprocket in the rear differential and some left over memory sticks.

That's sooooooooooooooooooooo funny! 



Post your locale.Someone maybe near that's willing to lend a hand.

[beRto]

thanks, that was quick. 
  :thumb:Will change the oil Saturday, see if it helps. 
As far as valve clearances and balancing the carbs. hats a job for a pro. If I do it I will wind up with a carburetor sprocket in the rear differential and some left over memory sticks.

Well, I won't try to convince you that it's an easy job (even though it is!)

If it's been more than 4000 mi (6000 km) since the valve clearances were last checked, they are due: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Maintenance/MaintenanceSchedule

[ohgood]

Put about 500 miles over the past week. Mostly riding to work. Has been running fine till Sunday, now bike is very buzzy, I can hear the engine clanking under load at lower speed (about 30-45mph), its holding on to a high rev when coming to a stop. I'll have it at about 4k in 3rd maybe 35mph. click down trough 2nd-1st as I come to a stop but the rpms stay at 4K for a while after I stop. Sometimes have to b blip the throttle to get it down to 1500.
Also shifting to 1st is getting very clunky and loud, getting a lot of false neuterals.
Checked the oil. looks proper, topped it off a bit. Could it be too much oil, I know I didnt overfill it, just added a few drops just in case.

Trying to downshift to 1st prematurely (going too fast while trying to engage first) will give you junky shifting, ya. If I try rolling more than 10mph or so and shifting into first with the engine idling, it's noisy/clanky. I'm usually --just-- barely rolling when I slip it into 1st.

Your idle being too high will make shifting into 1st clunky/crappy also. It's the matching of speeds that helps things go smoothly, and 4,000 rpm's is definitely high for a shift into 1st gear. Heck, that's almost 4x the normal idle speed !

Try giving the clutch a release, then gentle squeeze and then light pressure on the shifter. It should drop in without much aggrevation.

+1 on the oil change. Keep it in the hashes on the dipstick (NOT SCREWED IN WHEN CHECKING !) and shifting should be smooth.




on a side note: isn't it really cool how well these bikes shift, given most of them are 10 or more years old ?

[The Buddha]

Sounds like air leak ... normally I'd offer to do your carbs, but the problem isn't exactly in the carbs, maybe manifold or maybe bad O rings or maybe a missing vacuum cap on the top of the carbs.
Cool.
Buddha.