Choke Lever

conoral11 · February 26, 2009, 02:13:35 AM

Hi there,

I've been browesing the fourms ever since i've got my GS500e -ET and I would like to thank you for all the help you've given me already!

I've got one question however. One thing I have found in my time tinkering with her is that the choke lever returns to the Choke Off postion as soon as you let go. Is this the normal operation of the choke on this bike? I couldn't find this information anywhere in the haynes manual or floating around on the net?

conoral11

platinum_black · February 26, 2009, 06:47:45 AM

no that is not normal, i have just taken mine apart and put it back together the other day to replace the bars with the 89 clipons,

now with the choke lever on mine it sits in a groove which applies enough friction to stop it sliding back, it could be that yours has a bit of wear going on and it no longer holds the slider in place but id suggest unscrewing the control unit on the left bar and making sure that its definately in the right place. other than that i am out.

conoral11 · February 26, 2009, 09:27:51 AM

Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling it wasn't right.

I'll take a look at it in the easter holidays when i'm back home with the bike. I thought it might have either been the bar controls or someone had replaced the spring in the caberattors with a non standard one.

I'll post pictures when I take a look at it.

conoral11

platinum_black · February 26, 2009, 10:29:04 AM

even if they had replaced the spring it would have to be one hell of a strong spring for it to cause the lever to flick back as soon as u let it go.

fred · February 26, 2009, 11:10:31 AM

Quote from: platinum_black on February 26, 2009, 10:29:04 AM
even if they had replaced the spring it would have to be one hell of a strong spring for it to cause the lever to flick back as soon as u let it go.

I don't think you can replace the spring... I don't think it fits over the lug at the end of the cable. When you get a new cable, it comes with a new spring already installed...

conoral11 · February 26, 2009, 11:53:18 AM

I'll definatly take a proper look at the control then. The bikes previous owner had dropped the bike a few times, so I presume the issue started around then.

fred · February 26, 2009, 11:55:56 AM

Quote from: conoral11 on February 26, 2009, 11:53:18 AM
I'll definatly take a proper look at the control then. The bikes previous owner had dropped the bike a few times, so I presume the issue started around then.

Yeah, he probably took apart or replaced the left controls and didn't put them back together right... It should be an easy fix.

conoral11 · February 26, 2009, 12:56:22 PM

Thanks for all your help. It is greatly appreicated!

I've got one more further question (and knowing me alot more to come).

My GS has a white seat, I know the seat is original but i'm not sure if the cover is, or even if it has a cover!

So what i'm asking is weather or not the cover is original. I'm not sure the white works so well with the bike as it stands.

P.S. I know the bike needs alot of work doing to her, but thats what I enjoy doing.

conoral11

utgunslinger13 · February 26, 2009, 01:02:03 PM

No clue on the seat, but those stickers and mirrors aren't stock. And your bike seems to be in decent shape!

conoral11 · February 26, 2009, 01:17:44 PM

Don't even get me started on the stickers...... WD40 sorted most of them out, elbow grease the rest.

The PO had the bike stood for over a year, so when I went to take a look at her she wasn't running. But after a week the PO had her running so I took it.

It had the carbs high idle problem, thats been fixed by cleaning, cleaning, cleaning some more and just having the bike run everyday for the past 7 weeks.

The rear body work was broken, and repaired so its now a once piece setup.

The key doesn't seam to turn the seat lock so I'll need to take a look at the numbers.

The front left footrest is bent, well the mounting is so that needs sorting

The brake lever was snapped off and the rear brake doesn't always activate the brake light. The lever is lose so I belive thats a simple fix.

The exhaust as a hole in it which needs welding.... *sigh* something which I can't do myself.

The stands are all rusty at the joints s they move with a lovley rusty noise.

The right side emblem is missing, but I've noticed this seams to be quite common for some reason.

And finally the paint work is a bit tatty and the rubbers around the tank are gone.

But she runs! Thats all that counts, unlike my CB125 project that was my dads.

utgunslinger13 · February 26, 2009, 01:21:15 PM

Exactly, like you said - SHE RUNS! More than I can say about mine! I'm getting close, but still need to clean cards, and de-rust tank before I even TRY to start mine. I just rebuilt the motor so I'm a little nervous if she'll start or not.

Thanks,

Nick

sledge · February 26, 2009, 02:03:00 PM

Quote from: conoral11 on February 26, 2009, 02:13:35 AM
I've got one question however. One thing I have found in my time tinkering with her is that the choke lever returns to the Choke Off postion as soon as you let go.

Makes a change....they usually fill up with water and seize solid.

fred · February 26, 2009, 03:23:51 PM

Running is a good thing. Only one of my 2 GSs runs...

That seat cover isn't the original color. It is possible that it was painted, I've seen people post about painting their covers successfully. It could also be extra material over the original seat, my one of my seats had this on the rear portion to make it look like it had a rear seat cowl on it. You could carefully look under the cover on the bottom of the seat and see if there is extra material under the cover. It could also just be recovered with new material. You could always cover it with something else... Check out this recent post that covers some interesting options and links to good tutorials on doing it: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46591.0

From your picture, your bike is looking pretty good. No massive dents or rust and the paint looks pretty nice at least at a distance. I'm working on getting my bike looking that good. All the other problems you list don't sound that bad, nothing that will keep you from riding the bike while you gather parts and funds to fix it...

sledge · February 26, 2009, 04:43:16 PM

Quote from: fred on February 26, 2009, 03:23:51 PM
That seat cover isn't the original color. It is possible that it was painted

Looks like the seat vinyl has faded, was it left out in the sun and rain, either that or someone has been cleaning it with petrol. £20-30 on the bay for a good-one.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=gs500e+seat&_sacat=See-All-Categories

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Choke Lever