Riddle for the GS Gods

[FatBastard]

Okay, I own an 07 GS, the weather recently made a rapid and drastic change, getting colder by about 40 degrees give or take. As this happened, the bike began to run like sh!t. The engine started making a random tick(It's not loud and It's not cyclic) and idle started having issues(drops slightly with tick it seems). Also, it likes to die at lights. I believe the majority of my issues are the fuel air mix. The bike preforms just fine once it's going, and doesn't have power loss(except for that tiny dead spot from jet kit, but unless your me you barely notice). My question is, do you agree or have another idea about it. Thanks all, and you are all ass savers for me

[black and silver twin]

the tick with dropping idle is either pop-back or back-fire, both indicate lean jetting (its a gs500, lean as sin from factory). if it started doing it only when cold i would say your jet kit is still too lean. but it could also be vacuum leak. or clogged jet but less likely because its temp dependant. So check for vac leaks and if none then rejet again for the cold.

[FatBastard]

okay will do, and whats the easiest way to check for vacuum leaks?

[black and silver twin]

first just look closely with good light for tears or holes in any vac line or the rubber boots that hold the carbs to the engine. if there are no visible tears then turn on the bike and let it idle and listen real close for a hissing sound. if none is heard or the bike is too loud to hear (like mine, thx V&H  ) then you can, carefully, spray the lines and connections one at a time with carb cleaner or starter fluid (if your carefull ) with the engine running. when the engine idle jumps the part your spraying has a vac leak. common leaks are; the boots that hold the carbs to the engine, petcock and line, and the vac caps on top of the carbs. of course any thing can leak so be slow patient obsevant and safe.

P.S. whats your idle set at? it should be 1200 or so when fully warm and no choke

P.P.S. what jet kit you have? the dead spot you refer to sounds like leanness

[FatBastard]

idle is at 1200, and have dyno jet jet kit

[black and silver twin]

dyno jet kit comes with many jets, easy to jet too lean, try testing for leaks then if none rejet BIGGER

[ineedanap]

forget it, I guess I never learned how to read...

[the mole]

Tick could be due to a sticky valve, that would also explain the other symptoms.

[The Buddha]

Assuming nothing has gone busted on yours (fuel line, vacuum line, exhaust gasket, air filter, gas tank or other electrical etc) ...
My first guess is - Its lean.
Solutiuon: Rejet, + 1 all around.

#2 This happened to my chopper of late and hence alerted me to the possiblity of weather affecting that, cos even here we suddenly had a cold snap after which it warmed back now ... but this hit me when cold.

The gas in the tank of the gas station gets more condensation from the colder weather. That especially is severe if their reservoir tank is low on gas and they dont see much turnover. The other thing is, gasoline vapors will occupy much of the tank's free volume obviously when its warmer in the warm months ...
Anyway a cold snap dumps water from condensation into the gas, and you could be the sucker than has ended up with much of that in your tank. I know I was, cos I filled up gas at this place after a warm day and suddenly after dark it got much much colder, and I was getting home and had to fill then.

I drained the tank and found it had water. I drained the carbs and got more water. I sprayed carb cleaner in the carb through the drain (a savage has a large drain bolt so you can get the jets that way if they're not crammed full of crapp) ... and when it was all dried out, I put fresh gas in. Gone problem solved.

So I guess look for water in gas and clear it out.

Cool.
Buddha.

[FatBastard]

okay, here's the thing, mechanic has jet kit somewhere and I doubt I'll be able to get it back( I got screwed by him very long story), I don't have the $$ to buy another jet kit, can I try to adjust the mix first to see if that helps with it, also will fill up with gas as soon as i burn it off(i have nowhere to dump it). Does anyone have the pages for how to adjust the fuel mix for an 07, I have the clymer, but the carbs aren't up to date. Thanks all

[BeerGarage]

On both carbs:

Try going out 1/2 turn on # 27, mix adjust screw.  (This is outside the float bowl, so you do not need to take off screws # 38.)  You may have to remove a small metal cap, #42A,  covering the adjust screw to do this.  If so, search on remove idle screw cap.  That will involve a drill, if you are up to it.

After this, ride and report.

Read this first for better pics:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12928.0

Also, tuning a carb over the internet is impossible. 
Have you seen this Mikuni carb article?  Awesome writeup by some Yamaha guys.

http://weislake.com/sig/mucker/carb%20tech3.pdf

This book gives a great overall picture:

http://www.google.com/products?q=book%3A+motorcycles+fundamentals+service+repair&hl=en&btnG=Search

Good luck.

[BeerGarage]

And let me also say, thanks to TheGoodGuy for the great freaking pics on that writeup that I linked to above.

[FatBastard]

awesome thx so much, now can I use a phillips head screwdriver to turn that screw, or do I need to use something else?

[Paulcet]

I use a 6-sided screwdriver bit (3/16" flat) with a mark on one side.  You can't get a long screwdriver in there.

[FatBastard]

okay so a flat, and I assumed that I couldn't get a normal screwdriver in there, I'll find one with a 90 degree bend or something, thanks

[FatBastard]

Good news! I got sick of waiting for my mechanically inclined friend to come over this week and adjusted the mix myself, I only did the right side carb because it sounded like the tick was on that side, opened screw half turn and presto, no more tick! Granted it is 60F today but I think it was running lean and I fixed it, I'll take it out tonight when it's colder and see if tick comes back but I think I did it   btw she idles happier now too, and choke works better thanks all for all your help, and let me know if I am epically wrong plz

[The Buddha]

Dont just do 1 carb, do both,  unless you know that its been screwed up on that 1 side, like someone drove the air mix screw deeper into the body than its originally intended. Unless that is the case, set them both equal.
Cool.
Buddha.

[FatBastard]

well I think it may have just been that carb that was off, because it really sounded like just that side, what would happen if I don't adjust the other one and I'm wrong?

[The Buddha]

If you're wrong ... maybe nothing ... or may detonate and eat a piston ... but that's usually at higher load and rpm ...

Do a plug pull @ idle ... if they both look the same just let it be then ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[FatBastard]

okay, just to be safe I opened up the other carb a little bit too, next time I have the tank off I'll look at plugs