GZ 250 starting question and quick carb sync question on a gs500

[Hwy5]

So this is not a gs500 question but it is suzuki....hopefully I willl get some response. I helped my friend clean up his gz250. We cleaned the carb, replaced the spark plug, lubed the throttle and choke cable, and a host of other small things on similar scale with those. We got it all back together and now it will push start but it just clicks when he pushes the starter button. The lights come on and the battery seems to have a good charge although I have not put a tester to it because the lights are so bright. I am thinging starter? What are your feelings on the issue? Thanks for the help guys!

Also, (on a gs500) will syncing the carbs change the idle. I have an idle that is changing often but can't find an air leak anywhere. I just did a valve adjustment and the bike runs and starts a TON better! Thanks to this site's how to by the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The valves had NEVER been changed or checked because it had 2.58 shims in the intake and none of the shims had ANY clearance. I take that back I did get a .015 feeler gauge through one of them with a fair amount of force applied to it. Thanks for the time and help as always!! You guys rock!

[BaltimoreGS]

Start simple and make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight.  If the starter was working ok before I seriously doubt that it went bad while you were working on the bike.  Most likely it's a battery related issue.  It wouldn't hurt to check your grounds (Earth) while you're in there.  If the battery tests ok try bridging the starter solenoid terminals with a plastic handled screwdriver and see if the starter motor engages.  If so, you have a bad solenoid.

Buddha would be a better one to answer this but I don't think your carb sync would cause an erratic idle.  Have you tried using an unlit propane torch to locate vacuum leaks?

-Jessie

[Hwy5]

It turns out his issue was a bad battery.

In terms of my irratic idle it seem when I put everything back together last night that something was not tightened properly because the bike runs like a champ today and I have had no issues. I am guessing that I did not tightened something and had an air leak as a result. I will try the unlit propane torch though if the issue surfaces again. I had not considered that and I like the idea. Thanks!

[JAY W]

Hi on reading this thread came across the propane torch test to find air leaks,never heard of before,how does it work?
Combo Jay.

[BaltimoreGS]

Works on the same principle as using carb cleaner but is a lot less messy.  A vacuum leak causes extra air to get into the engine causing a lean condition.  You can trace the leak with an unlit propane torch by moving it around various places of the engine.  When the torch is near the leak the engine will suck in the propane which richens the air/fuel mixture and smooths out the idle.

-Jessie

[JAY W]

Thanks Jessie,learnt something today.Been working on bikes for a good 20 year never knew that trick.Combo Jay.