clutch problem

[dane_lindsay]

my 2002 gs500 was running great until 3 days ago, when it started stalling/backfiring/doing bad stuff right after releasing the clutch into first gear.

it felt like it was making no power, so I had to rev it up quite high before releasing the clutch in order to get it back home.

the reduced power and erratic reving under a load is exactly like an air leak, but i have checked every mount and the fuel lines, and i released a little butane next to the manifolds and other airleak prone areas with no effect. each spark plug is great, and if i pull a spark plug wire it will idle strongly off of either cylinder alone.

the problem is only under load. i noticed that the clutch cable was adjusted a bit loose, and when i tightened it a little at the lever-side adjuster, the already-crappy performance when releasing the clutch into 1st gear became much worse with the backfiring, sputtering and stalling making it almost impossible to get it back up the drive way.

on a side note, i hope you are all well. it's been a while since i had to use this board for advice. feels just like the old times, bringing back memories of poisoning the neighbors with fumes from the hydrochloric acid i used to clean the rust out of my tank, or that time i completely f***ed up the wiring for the handle controls and like napoleon riding the weltgeist a necessary schematic was posted by some good soul. it's just like an elton john song, any elton john song.

[ohgood]

check your plugs- they'll tell a little tale.

check your plug WIRES, they'll make you think it's carb related.

dump your float bowls, and run the remainder of the tank's gas through the float bowls too. (get fresh gas)

see the proper way to adjust your clutch in the manual. it's not hard, really

you may have a partially clogged idler jet. it will effect low -end performance and cause similar symptoms to yours.

[dane_lindsay]

check your plugs- they'll tell a little tale.
--One of the first things that I did. They are lovely, with strong sparks.

check your plug WIRES, they'll make you think it's carb related.
--Wires are fine

dump your float bowls, and run the remainder of the tank's gas through the float bowls too. (get fresh gas)
--First thing I did was drain the tank, get fresh gas, and drain the bowls; I had just filled up the tank before the problems, so my first thought was bad gas. That's not it.

see the proper way to adjust your clutch in the manual. it's not hard, really
--I'm pretty familiar with adjusting the clutch after 10 years of owning Gs500s; if there is a little slack in the cable it is fine to adjust at the thumb dial. The clutch-end of things moves freely across the range when the plate comes off, so it isn't the adjustment.

you may have a partially clogged idler jet. it will effect low -end performance and cause similar symptoms to yours.

--Maybe, pulling the carbs is my next move, but I won't be able to try until the weekend.

Thanks for the advice, BTW.