engine tick

[FatBastard]

Hey guys, I'm the proud owner of a gs500f 2007 model and my engine has been giving me some issues. All the maintenance has been done on it and it's having problems. The bike is horrible to start in the morning and I have to use a ludicrous amount of choke to get it running. Also it doesn't have a steady idle. The biggest issue is that the bike has a periodic tick from time to time while at idle. While moving, the bike seems to be fine, it does 95mph on the freeway every morning, but it's just when it's at idle it has issues. The tick seems to be coming from the side opposite the kickstand. Any ideas? My next maintenance is in 2k and I'm thinking I should just give in and have suzuki look at it but I really don't have the cash for that. let me know if anyone has any idea what this all is, maybe just a bad batch of fuel? Any advice would be helpful, and I'm in high school so money is really tight. Thanks all 

[mister]

FatBastard:

Welcome.... pics thank you.

What do you mean by "I have to use a ludicrous amount of choke to get it running"?

My start up routine is.... FULL Choke to start and for the 1st minute. Then, I ease off the choke until it's idling around 2k - maybe a tad above it. And while it's idling at that I then put on my jacket, gloves, helmet, bag on the back, etc.

As for ticks and other things.... what Oil do you use?

My mechanic uses Motul 1000 on the GS. I know of Suzuki dealers who use either Motul 1000 or Motul 5100 for the GS. One of the guys I ride with rides a Kawasaki. He used Motul 1000 and had horrible noises and clunky gear shifting. He switched to Motul 5100 and all noises went away and his gears become smooth.

Michael

[FatBastard]

Okay so the full choke is not unusual? Well thats good at least. As for the oil, I have no idea aside from it being 10w-40, the last time I changed it was 6 months ago for the last maintenance, and it's only had 1000 miles put on it since (give or take 100). Should I change the oil and see if that helps?
Thanks

[Hondatwo]

Yep, sounds fairly normal here too.

Full choke to start when cold.

Ticking in engine, yep, have that too, even after services, & bike is now near 30,000klm old.....still no probs with her.....try different oils perhaps, or just accept the GS for all her niceties & noises 

Cheers

[FatBastard]

thanks, thats good to hear the tick isn't too bad, it makes all sorts of little noises, but none are loud or sound really bad or are constant. Guess it's just the engine. But been awhile since the oil was changed, can't hurt. Thanks

[ineedanap]

Before I rejetted I had an intermittent tick at idle when the bike wasn't up to operating temp.  It was accompanied by a drop in rpm with each tick.  It sounds crazy but what I was hearing was actually a small lean misfire.  Don't know why it made a ticking noise with each miss but backing the mixture screws out 1/2 turn took care of the tick. 

[FatBastard]

the bike has a stage 1 jet kit on it already, I think it's just engine noise, and it seems to have gotten a bit better since i put in fresh gas today, but can't hurt to change the oil, it's been 8 months. Thanks

[XealotX]

Note...I own a 2002 with ZERO engine mods...

Anytime the temp is below 80 degrees I typically have to apply choke to start it in the morning. Below 70 degrees then full choke for about a minute. Needs about 2 minutes to (mostly) warm up. Found that it's easier to let it sit with choke on for about a minute then ride for a couple of miles with partial choke to get it warmed up faster.

Below 60 degrees anytime I pull away from a stop for the first 5 minutes or so is an adventure in clutch/throttle/acceleration. Great for busy intersections on cold mornings when the bike wants to die and cars want to run me over on their way to work. Also, below 60 degrees the engine will cool quickly and you may find choke necessary after stopping for a short time...grocery shopping, bank, etc. Probably not much of an issue in Vegas.

Now, you will read on this site that various engine mods (re-jetting mostly) will cure cold start issues. This would be easier to believe if some forum members didn't also claim that larger jets...

Increase horsepower and torque to Hayabusa levels...
Increase fuel mileage to 80 MPG...
Make you look thinner and better looking to the opposite sex...

Beware the placebo effect where (well meaning) members make minor changes to their bikes and proclaim amazing performance results. (Heck---if I had just dropped $400 on a new exhaust for a $1,000 bike I would probably imagine incredible performance increases as well...)

As far as engine racket, I have (slowly) grown used to my bike sounding like a paint mixer full of marbles. As long as you are keeping up with maintenance (especially valve adjustments) then its "probably" normal. The engines in these things were originally used in the Ford Model-T and haven't changed much over the years. Not cutting edge but bullet proof given a reasonable amount of care.

[GSrookie500]

I used to think something was wrong too with some little ticks I heard, but that's the way these bikes are, it's normal. It's not like you have insulation between you and the engine, like in a car, the motor is right under you.

I think the ticking noises come from the plastic flappers in the carb and the cam lobes circuling. I even checked the valve clearances just to be sure, nothing was wrong there. My bike is still running good after 20k miles. Still got those same ticks but it doesn't bother me anymore.

[BaltimoreGS]

Keep in mind that almost all air cooled bikes are noisier than their water cooled counter parts, ever heard a Katana run with out the fairings on??  Sounds like an old Singer sewing machine!

-Jessie

[FatBastard]

wow, i had no idea the engine design was that old, but it does seem to run okay once it's warmed up. I also went out today, and it just smelled really rich, so it may need the fuel air mix adjusted. The way I figure it at this point is there's less than 2000 miles till next date due in the shop, and as long as the red light of death is not on and the engine isn't sounding like Mick Jagger at the superbowl, it can wait till then. Btw, winter in vegas, gets cold, not for you people maybe, but it's almost 40 tonight, and I'm used to 95.

[GSrookie500]

Seems like it, judging by your MPG. I get average 50

[FatBastard]

yeah, not to mention i go 90+ many a morning 

[FatBastard]

does anyone know how to adjust the air fuel mix? I know there are screws or something to do it on the carbs.