My first post and my first problem.

[infinate719]

Well I just bought my first GS500 which happens to be a 06. I couldn't pass it up. It is not my first bike but I am not familiar with them. I have 3 Honda CBR600's which have been my bike of choice to this point and I know them inside and out. Anyway I picked the bike up for $400 since it isn't running and has been wrecked. I stripped the plastics off and now I'm trying to get it started. The battery is good and it seems like it wants to start but it won't turn over. It's like the engine is trying but just wont start. I checked the spark plugs and they were black and wet so I changed those out. I also tried to change batteries but that didn't help at all.  Like I said I'm not familiar with these bikes yet.... When I start it in Neutral it stays put but when I throw it in 1st with the clutch in it still jumps forward....Any help or advice would be helpful. Pics to come of my great looking $400 bike...LOL

[black and silver twin]

first and foremost welcome to the board!  and congrats on a good buy (hopefully  )

anyway, when you say it wont turn over do you mean it wont fire or the engine wont crank?
if the engine wont crank does it make any sounds?
If it will crank but wont fire then what you said about the plugs being wet is most likely the problem. are they wet with gas or oil?
did changing the plugs help at all?
these bikes are carbureted so they can be finicky with the choke and mixture settings as well.

answer the above questions and we'll go from there. also please list all, if any, mods.

[black and silver twin]

oh and about the clutch, either its out of adjustment, or the cable or push rod are broke/gone

[mister]

When I start it in Neutral it stays put but when I throw it in 1st with the clutch in it still jumps forward....Any help or advice would be helpful. Pics to come of my great looking $400 bike...LOL

Do you mean... when the clutch is in and you start it, it keeps jumping forward as if there is no clutch until you stop pressing the starter button.

Or

Do you mean... it jumps forward an inch or so and no more no matter how long you keep the starter depressed?

Look forward to your pics...

Michael

[infinate719]

The engine turns over but it wont fire I guess...The spark plugs looked like they were wet with oil and really really black in color. I'll play with the clutch tomorrow..probably just no adjusted right since I just put the clutch lever and cable on. The bike won't start unless the clutch lever is in even in Neutral...Once I put it in gear and press the clutch lever it still jumps like the clutch isn't engaged. Back to the engine problem..Yeah I'm not familiar with these engines at all... SO if the plugs had oil on them and they are black how to I adjust the mixture.... I also read the owners manual about making sure the fuel was traveling right and how to check the plugs to make sure they were getting a spark. I will trouble shoot some more tomorrow.

[mister]

The bike won't start unless the clutch lever is in even in Neutral.

This is normal. Even in neutral you must pull the clutch in to start it.

Once I put it in gear and press the clutch lever it still jumps like the clutch isn't engaged.

As I asked... is it...

#1. It jumps forward a small bit, just once and no more no matter how long you keep the starter pressed

or

#2. It continually jumping forward as if the starter is powering the bike's forward motion

If it's number #1... this would appear to be normal. A small movement forward while starting the bike when it's in gear and with the clutch in. As my bike starts, this forward movement ceases with the firing of the engine.

There may be nothing wrong with your clutch.

A couple of quick questions...

Some times the clutch switch isn't put in right when replacing the lever.

Also, you did make sure the petcock under the tank is on right? And that the kill switch is off, didn't you?

Michael

[infinate719]

The kill switch is off and yes I believe the peacock switch is set right. It is straight down now. i tried it on pri first then switched it straight downto run I believe. The spark plugs are getting a spark so the fuel test the book shows I guess is my next step...

[mister]

The kill switch is off and yes I believe the peacock switch is set right. It is straight down now. i tried it on pri first then switched it straight downto run I believe. The spark plugs are getting a spark so the fuel test the book shows I guess is my next step...

The GS has two controls for fuel flow.

One is the Frame-Mounted petcock. This is the one with Res Pri On written on it. All three settings allow the fuel to flow.

The second one is Under the tank itself. This is the one you would turn Off if you needed to remove the gas tank to stop gas flowing out. It needs to be as you see here for the gas to flow.


Michael

[infinate719]

Just after bringing her home...


2 hours later


Still no luck on getting her started though. I did notice the green connector loose which I think is to the ignition but it didn't effect my problem. I also noticed this cover open but I'm not sure what it is too. Here is a pic....

[Pigeonroost]

Air, fuel, spark, compression -- all OK, she should fire or at least mis-fire.  MIght be funky old gas.  Get a spark tester and see if she has fire.  If so, prime a cylinder with ether and see it responsds.  If it does, get fresh fuel and clean carbs.

prs

[infinate719]

SO how do I prime it with ether? The spark plugs are firing.

[infinate719]

I read this on another thread:
"I cleaned out the pilot jets and  riched out the air/fuel screw".....

How do I do this. Maybe it will get my bike running too. I really prefer fuel injected bikes but I guess thats because that's all I know. This is like baby steps for me again.

[gregvhen]

you said it jumps foward even with the clutch engaged? this would mean high resistance when trying to start which would mean maybe the starter cant spin it quick enough to get it fireing good. try puting it on the center stand, adjust the clutch to be as free as possible and then see if the starter spins quicker. If the starter spins quicker it could help the engine fire better.  My bike will never start if the starter cant spin as fast as its sposed to.

[infinate719]

I will try that once I get her back together. I was attempting to clean the carbs and jets since I see that should be done according to several post. All i have in you tube videos and feed back off of here to go off of though. I'm use to fuel injected bikes... SO can anyone tell me what that cover goes to on one of the pics above??? I also found this today upon inspecting it a little more. Will it effect the clutch at all even though it still engages?

[black and silver twin]

there is supposed to be a threaded rod there to adjust clutch cable tension. with out it you will be unable to pull in the clutch far enough to disengage it. which is your problem. I think a new cable will come with the threaded part, I think.

[infinate719]

While cleaning the carbs I found a bolt missing...Here is a pic? Will this effect it drastically if missing? I plan to replace it but I was just wondering. Also can someone explain to me where on the 2nd pic is the air mixture screws or if its even on there? Hopefully I catch everything the first time and it runs when I put her back together...

[infinate719]

Oh yeah here is one of my other babies....

[black and silver twin]

While cleaning the carbs I found a bolt missing...Here is a pic? Will this effect it drastically if missing? I plan to replace it but I was just wondering. Also can someone explain to me where on the 2nd pic is the air mixture screws or if its even on there? Hopefully I catch everything the first time and it runs when I put her back together...

the bolt missing is resposible for sealing the intake boots to the engine, with out one you could get vacuum leaks and erratic riding/idling problems. so replace it.

[black and silver twin]

as for the mix screws, they are on the bottom of the carbs in your 2nd pic. they are inset in the carb deep in the aluminum tubes sticking out of the very bottom of each carb in your pic.  they are brass and have a flat head drive. they are the only flat head drive thing on the carbs aside from the jets, but the jets are not visible in your pic.

[black and silver twin]

p.s. your missing a float bowl screw and the rest are stripped. replace them with stainless screws so future disassembly will be painless, they are available at any hardware store for cheap.