GS500 Dies during trip and burns oil

[Pv]

Howdy all,

I've been following the forums for awhile now, ever since I bought my GS500 back in April.  I got her as my first bike and have never looked back, it's been great.  I've finally encountered a problem and wanted insight from the best.

About a week and a half ago on my ride down to Iowa (I'm from St. Paul) she died on me while I was about 60 miles into my trip, she sputtered a bit and finally died.  A couple minutes after it died she started back up and was idling high a little above 2k RPMS.  I took her to the gas station, put in some oil since she was pretty low and went on my way without an issue (besides for the damn speeding ticket right outside my destination).  On my way back from Des Moines it happened again.  After letting her sit for a bit she started up again and didn't give me any more problems the rest of the way.

I was going about 80 most of the trip and it was fairly hot out,  I don't think it's a cooling issue but possibly a fuel one.  Currently I have my fuel set to "On".  I recently changed my oil and my filter for the first time and it looks like she may be low on oil again.

Thanks in advance for the help, and for the board in general!  I kill a lot of time on here.

P.S. if anyone has a yoshi or extra exhaust for sale let me know, my cobra is wrecked.

[dohabee]

Maybe a clogged gas cap vent?

You should be able to tell by opening the gas cap next time it dies and see if you can restart it.

[ineedanap]

P.S. if anyone has a yoshi or extra exhaust for sale let me know, my cobra is wrecked.

There are two in the FS section right now.  Nice guy selling them too.   

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=50063.0

[kml.krk]

search for fuel starvation - it's common issue with pre 2004 GSes. It's caused by poorly designed fuel petcock.
cheers and good luck

[pandy]

My boy (he's a '92 GS500e who's on to his next owner) was an oil burner, too, AND he was gifted with the fuel starvation issue. I had to check his oil very frequently (fortunately, they're tanks, because on more than one occasion, the oil didn't even register on the dipstick), and I got very good at turning the petcock from ON to RES at freeway speeds. We never really solved his issues (he was who he was, and that's what he was  ), and his new owner (who's a member of the family, so he knew all about my boy's issues) has now ripped out all his hair trying to solve his issues. GS500's are....quirky..... 

[jeremy_nash]

the quirkiness is why we love this bike!  but seriously, a newer model fuel petcock would solve your problem if it is a fuel starvation issue.  it mounts slightly different, but is easy to fab a bracket for, and being an air cooled bike, we are gonna us alittle oil, just try to remember to check it periodically.  I generally check mine every few hundred miles.

[Pv]

Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it.

I'll look into the fuel starvation issue,  I don't know if its just coincidence that the issue came up right after I changed its oil.  Before it didn't seem to burn much oil and it never died on me from my previous trips down there.

BTW its a 2000 GS500 if that helps.  Should I be running it on PRI?

[kml.krk]

you can try PRI to temporarily fix the issue, just remember to switch back to ON position when you park the bike.
Otherwise you will flood the carbs (at least this is what I read on this forum)

[yamahonkawazuki]

the quirkiness is why we love this bike!  but seriously, a newer model fuel petcock would solve your problem if it is a fuel starvation issue.  it mounts slightly different, but is easy to fab a bracket for, and being an air cooled bike, we are gonna us alittle oil, just try to remember to check it periodically.  I generally check mine every few hundred miles.

yup plus hte gs does not like extended slow speed riding. and when hot use oil.

[bill14224]

you can try PRI to temporarily fix the issue, just remember to switch back to ON position when you park the bike.
Otherwise you will flood the carbs (at least this is what I read on this forum)

Yes, using PRI when riding then setting it to ON or RES when parked does basically the same thing as a manual petcock.  And yes, you are describing the classic fuel starvation issue.  If that's the case, riding on PRI will make the problem go away.

How much oil are you using?  Dropping half the distance from full to off the dipstick in a couple tanks (400-500 miles) is typical.