Bringing a 92 GS500E back to life...... IT'S ALIVE

[blade]

I picked up a 92 with about 2500 miles on the clock and I am trying to get it up and running again.
The majority of items on my to do list are:
bleed the brakes
change the fork oil
replace tires (original)
grease axels/check bearings
check steering head bearing
new battery done
replace broken clutch lever
flush gas tank done (looks like it has been sealed at one point)
air filter
plugs

when I dropped the oil I had a surprise, there was a fair amount of gas in the sump with the oil. As soon as I found that I poured a little over a gallon of fresh oil back in without adding a filter and then added some down the plug holes as well. Next I pulled off the carbs and spun the motor a few times to try and get some of the oil circulated in the motor again.  
I tried to do a compression test but my old gauge decided that it no longer wanted to work after 20+ years of neglect.

I am assuming that my biggest problem right now is the carbs, I suspect that after sitting all this time the float needle is stuck and letting fuel pour through and into the cylinders and from there draining into the oil.  Unfortunately when it comes to carbs I am at a loss, does anyone have suggestions of what I need all I need to get them cleaned up and reworked?  I have been reading the forum but for some reason I just don't understand the basics of carburetors.

Oh and what have I missed on my list of to do's?

[bassmechanicsz]

Pick up plenty of beer to make the work go smoother.

[kml.krk]

check this website: the guy shows how to take the carbs out and rejet them, I guess you will only need the first part for now

http://www.angelfire.com/mt2/mikesgs500/rejetting/


good luck

[Jared]

Is it the much coveted Purple with pink tiger stripes?!?!? Heheh...

Get yourself a clymer manual for the bike... Very helpful.

The fuel in the oil never surprises me when I pick up a bike....just tells me I have carbs to work on...

www.Partsnmoor.com   carb kit part number is 48-1947  $12.00 each -you'll need 2... only problem is they have a min order and two carb kits don't meet the minimum ( $35 min..) ....but they sell other things.. accessories...tools...

[blade]

bassmechanicz, if I do that I don't think much work will be getting done after the first hour


kml.krk  Thanks for the link, I had not found that one yet and it looks like it will clear up some of the mystery for me


Jared, why yes it was the highly prized Purple with pink tiger stripes, but sometime between then and now it has had a coat of black put on. There are a couple of dents in the tank and I can see the original color underneath.
Thanks for the link to the carb kits, and I do have a Clymer manual on the way as well, that was the second thing I did after pouring fresh oil back into the motor.

[Jared]

I've had ....hmmm 3 purple 92's over the years ...4?  I have one in the garage right now...

I'm a bigger fan of the 91 blue tho...if I had to pick...

Welcome on the link.... The manual will help a lot with the carb work...

Have fun.

[blade]

Just came back from a quick run on it. I ended up replacing the tank petcock as someone had cut the filters out of the original one and when I opened the carbs I found crap in the bowls and rust bits stuck under the float needles. When I pulled the jets, the pilots were plugged solid and the tubes under the mains were almost full of as well.  But after some time, wd40, carb cleaner, new O rings, float needle and seat, and a jet kit from Buddha, the old girl coughed to life in a cloud of blue smoke. Once the oil that I had dumped down the cylinders burnt out, she doesn't smoke at all. 
Overall it was a little easier than I thought it would be.
About the only thing left to do is to get the contact holder for the clutch lever, From the looks of it the previous owner lost this and then bypassed the clutch safety circuit, if I was going to be the only one riding it I would not worry about it, but since I bought the bike for my girlfriend to ride I  don't want her having any surprises.

Thanks to everyone that sent me suggestions and links to info, and thanks to all that have contributed the vast amount of information on the board