My "new" GS500 has Starwalt's Disease

[alois71]

Let me introduce myself. This is my first post about my FIRST motorbike a 1989 GS500. (I almost got a bandit but liked this bike too much). I got it off Craigslst in minneapolis for 400 dollars. The story is such.
Some guy bought the bike from his friend's wife for 200 dollars. It was apparently in a garage for a few years. Early this summer he took it to a local bike shop and had the following done (I am reading it off the receipt he gave me)
1. Brake fluid and Pads
2. New Front and Rear Tires
3. Carburetor Rebuild
4. Petcock?
5. Fuel chicken assembly.

Folks, this guy had the title transfered int his name in june, immediately spent (per receipt) 1200 dollars and had at least one good month of riding and then the story goes.


" I was going 30 mph the other day and the rear tire locked up. Thankfully I rolled to a stop with the clutch engaged but now the bike won't start." He later goes on to explain that he can't roll start it nor jump start it but the only thing the bike makes when he turn the key is a "click." hmm......

Very very similar to this post by OPTheory http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38758.msg435291#msg435291

So he doesn't want to fiddle around with the bike, and I think I got a steal. Based on history alone it seems to be a Goat doesn't it.
So I wanted to give you guys a running history of exactly what is wrong with the bike and some input on how to deal with Goat Syndrome... especially for a newbie.
I will post pictures as soon as I upload them and figure out how to use the forums better. Stay tuned.

.Alois

[alois71]

So here are some pics of my Bike







Tell me where to start somebody.
My plan is to drain the oil. take off the cover and inspect the starter and associated criminals.

[Domindart]

Wow, I cant really tell you where to start but I like the looks of your bike man!   I love the chin spoiler and the top fairing.  For $400?  Cool!

[arbakken]

bahahaha!!! I was soooo close to buying that bike!!

If I weren't leaving for school in less than a week I would probably be making the same post you are. Congrats!!

FWIW, i'm down in Rochester

[yamahonkawazuki]

yup drain oil, and tehn check stator assy. and post pics when you remove cover, i gotta see what it looks liek  , btw welcome aboard

[b_long_1]

Looks great. You got it for 400? What a deal.

[theUBS]

Even if you have to replace the motor, $400 is a steal. Good luck getting her going! 

[bobthebiker]

I have to agree. $400 is a killer deal, even if you DO have a blown motor. 

[The Buddha]

Goats doesn't lock up the motor usually.
Cool.
Buddha.

[dgyver]

Sounds like it was run low on oil and seized the engine.

[The Buddha]

Unable to turn over actuall is another indication of having a locked motor. Yes goats can quit charging, give you a short and do all sorts of electrical BS. But a locked motor will also need such a huge torque to turn it, the starter can not spin and the solenoid will just click in rapid order.
Cool.
Buddha.

[alois71]

I agree, it seems to be like an engine vs a goat. I will post as I progress.

[The Buddha]

Take off the left side ... that'll tell ya.
Maybe I'll snag my friends motor and crack it open too ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[fred]

That is a very nice looking bike. I hope you can get it running without major pain...

[nascarkeith]

The chin spoiler and upper fairing with some other things parted out on ebay would probably be worth the 400 bucks.  It is a sweet looking bike.  If it is indeed the motor it sounds like a good excuse to rebuild or transplant some more horsepower into it.

[Kasumi]

You got a steal get a new motor chuck it in and it will be great Love the looks, one of the best 'original' looks ive seen.

[The Buddha]

OK I hate to be the contrarian here ... and I wont say you didn't get a great deal ... that is not what the contrary is for ...

But people look at the damn pic and conclude the bike is great.

Yea it looks good. Definete. I have a huge soft cornet for the 89 ... my fave is the white, but black is a close second ... and yes its good.

Yes the chin spoiler the fairing and clip on's can be parted off for the 400 you have in it. And yes, you can do that and still use the bike ... thereby making it free ...

OK OK ... so where is the contrary ...

See the bike's good or no so good looks totally depends on the frame and how many spots of rust it has.

By the time you get the motor out (BTW 89's are freaking nightmares to get motors out and back in) they had the frame section bolts where you have to wiggle it further to the right than any other year before you slide it forward and out. Big huge PITA. And a new motor back in, you'd nick up the frame in so many more spots, it will all begin to rust soon after. OK It wont rust and fall apart ... but rust on the frame is one problem you have to combat.

The difference between a nice body set and a ugly body set, is 1-200 bucks. Getting a pretty body, that is what you have gained. Chin fairing, headlight fairing and clip on's will get you close to what you paid for it ... so you do have a free bike to work on and it will then work for you. That is a good deal.
Cool.
Buddha.

[coll0412]

Let me introduce myself. This is my first post about my FIRST motorbike a 1989 GS500. (I almost got a bandit but liked this bike too much). I got it off Craigslst in minneapolis for 400 dollars. The story is such.
Some guy bought the bike from his friend's wife for 200 dollars. It was apparently in a garage for a few years. Early this summer he took it to a local bike shop and had the following done (I am reading it off the receipt he gave me)
1. Brake fluid and Pads
2. New Front and Rear Tires
3. Carburetor Rebuild
4. Petcock?
5. Fuel chicken assembly.

Folks, this guy had the title transfered int his name in june, immediately spent (per receipt) 1200 dollars and had at least one good month of riding and then the story goes.


" I was going 30 mph the other day and the rear tire locked up. Thankfully I rolled to a stop with the clutch engaged but now the bike won't start." He later goes on to explain that he can't roll start it nor jump start it but the only thing the bike makes when he turn the key is a "click." hmm......

Very very similar to this post by OPTheory http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38758.msg435291#msg435291

So he doesn't want to fiddle around with the bike, and I think I got a steal. Based on history alone it seems to be a Goat doesn't it.
So I wanted to give you guys a running history of exactly what is wrong with the bike and some input on how to deal with Goat Syndrome... especially for a newbie.
I will post pictures as soon as I upload them and figure out how to use the forums better. Stay tuned.

.Alois

Lolz...I just saw that bike on Craigslist after it was posted over at MNSBR

http://www.mnsportbikeriders.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=31707&view=findpost&p=543000

I n the craigslist add, the previous owner said that he just replaced the "starter gear" which could mean that he screwed it up and the starter motor didn't disengage. Who knows...but welcome to the forum fellow Minnesota based GSTwinner.

[dgyver]

...

Lolz...I just saw that bike on Craigslist after it was posted over at MNSBR

http://www.mnsportbikeriders.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=31707&view=findpost&p=543000

I n the craigslist add, the previous owner said that he just replaced the "starter gear" which could mean that he screwed it up and the starter motor didn't disengage. Who knows...but welcome to the forum fellow Minnesota based GSTwinner.

If that is the case, then he has Starwalts. Much easier to check and fix... just pull the starter.

[The Buddha]

If the starter gear was replaced ... I dont see how it can "not disengage".
It can not engage ... oh yea ... spin free and never catch. Yea. Not disengage - I have my doubts.
But ... true starwalts is where the starter clutch is locked in the engaged position ... all the time ... and if the genius replaced the gear and not the clutch ... ofcourse you have starwalts with a new starter gear ... So you lose what, a starter and the starter clutch itself and needless to say, whatever gave it starwalts ... Goats mild goats ?? super ultra mild goats light
If you have run it (and the clown did run it as per your original post) with anything other than super ultra mild light goats ... you may have magnet bits in the bearings/oil galleys. May have to rebuild, like goat did.
Cool.
Buddha.