It's official the bike is cursed... or perhaps I am.

[tomtampa]

Maybe it's an old girlfriend that I upset or her mother, but I believe the bike is cursed. Carbs are a complete head Fu<. Cam chain is chatty at idle(i think cam chain). Bike is pretty grubby all round,  I'm gonna take it to a mechanic, unless there is someone around Tampa that I could call on. What price range should I look at for the service all round, just for diagnosis?

[tripleb]

diagnosis should be <$100

[lawman]

Maybe it's an old girlfriend that I upset or her mother, but I believe the bike is cursed. Carbs are a complete head Fu<. Cam chain is chatty at idle(i think cam chain). Bike is pretty grubby all round,  I'm gonna take it to a mechanic, unless there is someone around Tampa that I could call on. What price range should I look at for the service all round, just for diagnosis?

What do you know about its history?  The carbs should be pretty easy, and you will save a ton doing that yourself.  The cam chain "chat" is probably tight valve clearances - have you checked?  That would save you a ton as well.  Grubby means a light degreaser, a brush, and some rags.  You haven't given me any reason to think you can't deal with this yourself.  I bought an '04 for $1,700 and completely redid it for less than $400, including replacing the front end and getting a spare set of carbs.

[bill14224]

The cam chain is self-adjusting, so I doubt there's a problem with that unless the spring-loaded tensioner is messed-up, which isn't likely.  Also, valve clearances increase with wear, so if anything I'd say there might be too much valve clearance.  The only way to have too little clearance is if someone adjusted the valves incorrectly by using shims that were too thick of not having the crank at the right position when doing the adjustments.  I agree it doesn't sound like anything terribly involved.  This bike is blessed with simple carbs, and there are only two of them. 

[tomtampa]

Yeah... I have gone over the carbs completely, and adjusted the shims as per the video, rechecked about 5 times to make sure. all around 0.05mm. Hence why I am running out of options and hair.

[ohgood]

bug bobthebiker. he, or someone he knows can make your bike run again.

do not, under any circumstances take it to Ron's Cycle Supply in Brandon. see this thread:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=34254.0


bob is a good wrench, and the folks at PA (pureaccelleration) are really nice about finding you -quality- help for anything they can't handle. tampasportbikes.com has a few decent wrenches too, but most of the folks there don't understand anything more than: download map, install via USB to computer, etc

great folks at both places. check em out.

[lawman]

Yeah... I have gone over the carbs completely, and adjusted the shims as per the video, rechecked about 5 times to make sure. all around 0.05mm. Hence why I am running out of options and hair.

This may sound dumb, but did you make sure you had the stator lined up right, and that you checked all four clearances?

Could you tell us what you know about the bike - history, miles, services, etc?  When did you start noticing these problems?  Can you describe the problems a bit more?

[tomtampa]

I don't it's had a workshop service, no records anyway. I bought the bike a few months ago, has 15k on it. The motor runs strong when it is running well. The chatty chain noise at idle is definitely cam chain noise. I've dealt with enough motors to know that noise. Have been through the carbs with no luck, checked the jets, floats etc. all seem spot on. Adjusted the valve shims this weekend, with little difference. although I can't really tell riding it because of the carb issue. Compression is all good and even at 150. One other thing is it clicks like a dead battery every so often when going to start, so I have to roll it a bit in gear and then start it. Almost like the starter is still engaged on a car motor, not sure how the gs is setup. ANYWAY I've spent loads of hours on this bike and can't find the answers. I'm very patient, but this has become crazy.

[lawman]

Dying batteries can affect this bike's performance more than a lot of others... have you checked the voltage on the battery even when it's starting right?

[The Buddha]

Cam chain tensioners do die. I have rewound mine and used it for 2X as long as it had been on it stock.
There are threads about rewinding it. But if you cant find it or do it, send me that too, and put in an extra $5 and I'll get it also and ship back with carb.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tomtampa]

Okay well I fixed the cam chain tensioner, and fixed the starter motor issue,(rebuilt with brushes from an old car starter motor,  ).
Still an issue with the carbs, the floats are sitting pretty close to perfect. BUT the bike is still running rich, the plugs are black as the ace of spades. I took the airbox off completely, thinking it would make it run lean/leaner with more airflow. That didn't make a difference. everything is stock on the bike, but I'm considering putting in smaller idle jets so i can at least start the bike without flooding it.  I don't know what to do on this one. Any input? gonna check the vacuum line leak back from the petcock now.

[lawman]

Did you try turning the mix screws?  They're on the bottom, covered by a brass cap originally...

[The Buddha]

Shhh lawman, dont interrupt him with logical thought while he's doing random crap to it.
Maybe we can tell him its cos his bike is purple that its not running. It doesn't want to be seen in purple.
Cool.
Buddha.

[lawman]

Or maybe I can get it off him cheap if he doesn't, say, turn the mix screws all the way in, then back them out 2 turns and find out his bike is fine...

[The Buddha]

Yea we can do that after he paints his pruple bike a nice azure blue.
Cool.
Buddha.

[lawman]

I don't know why, but I prefer yellow bikes.  My ooooold bike was yellow, my last bike before this was red, and this one is yellow.  There were other yellows in there.  My car is black though... go figure...

Hey tomtampa, maybe if you paint it yellow, it will work.  If not, I'll buy it yellow.

[The Buddha]

I like yeller too, that shock I did in yellow was so cool looking.
I however really like blue and silver. My SV was that combo. Beautiful naked aluminum with clear coat and blue paint on all body panels.
Cool.
Buddha.

[lawman]

Alright tom, leave the mix screw alone, and I'll give you $100 and a pack of gum for the bike and two cans of yellow Krylon...

[tomtampa]

you guys must have two d!cks, you couldn't be that silly with one. 
why adjust a bike that is all stock? it worked for every other gs500..plus i'm not a remove and refit kind of guy. 

[lawman]

you guys must have two d!cks, you couldn't be that silly with one. 
why adjust a bike that is all stock? it worked for every other gs500..plus i'm not a remove and refit kind of guy. 

Because it's not running right, so it probably isn't all stock?  Can you even tell me, sitting here now, that the brass caps are still on the carbs?  How many turns are the mix screws set at right now?  Is the left set where the right is?  You said you know nothing about the history of the bike right....?  What you're describing is too much gas - you've looked at everything, but, apparently, the one thing that is actually designed to control fuel mix.  I am trying to help.  Seems to me the mix screws would be the next logical step... Unless you want $100 and a pack of gum.  In that case, 2 cans of yellow krylon and a PM...