how do i clean fuel filters

FatBastard · April 22, 2010, 05:42:55 PM

okay, bike is running fine till i hit a light, then as soon as i pull in the clutch and let it go down to idle, it idles too low and dies. I think the fuel filters may need to be cleaned, because the carbs have been fully rebuilt awhile ago so i doubt it's them. So A) where is the fuel filter on the bike and B) how do i get at it and clean it. Please if you know how to do this post pics and let me know, this is killing me cause she runs so great on the road, and it idles fine in the garage, she just needs to stop dying at the lights. Thanks all.

mister · April 22, 2010, 05:57:32 PM

The GS doesn't have an accessible fuel filter as you may be thinking. There's the Thing in the tank. Not what you'd call a fuel filter really. A fuel filter as you think of is an Upgrade for this bike. Here's the wiki on it http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.FuelFilter

Michael

jeremy_nash · April 22, 2010, 05:59:46 PM

have you tried adjusting the idle?

tt_four · April 22, 2010, 06:45:02 PM

If it is the fuel filter inside the tank that's giving you problems, then that means you have some serious rust in your tank, and you need to address that. If there's no rust, you shouldn't have to deal with the filter. Maybe when you cleaned the carbs you just messed with one of the settings? For whatever reason nothing ever idles the same after you've been riding as it does when you first start the bike. Try turning up the idle when you're riding, and just deal with it idling a little high before you actually ride. Think of it as an automatic choke.

FatBastard · April 22, 2010, 07:01:39 PM

okay, so no fuel filter eh? what on the carbs could be causing this? Also i turned my idle up but I'm afraid it's going to get a hanging idle if it goes too much further. Ideas would be great, and the only thing i have adjusted on the carbs is the fuel air mix, which I set back where it should be I'm pretty sure. Could i have bumped something caused another issue. Ideas please!

lopee · April 22, 2010, 08:45:03 PM

Not sure where your at, but warmer weather does this to my bike as well. Im jetted, decked, lunchbox and yosh. I start out with a little choke in the summer, and have it idle on choke for 5-10 min while suiting up. Then take off for about a mile, and when I stop before leaving the neighborhood, I kill the choke and adjust the idle up to not stall. After riding for about 20-30 minuets the bike idles at like 2200-3200 rpms. I then lower the idle just to the point where she's about to stall, I like to call it "fat". She pops slow just breathing the fumes out the pilot jet. She's ready to race, if I was on the track. Good luck, the GS is cold blooded. So warm her up, then tickle her sweet spots and she'll give you a good ride!

gregvhen · April 22, 2010, 09:03:45 PM

instead of turning off choke and turning up idle, try just going half choke till its fully warmed up.

lopee · April 22, 2010, 09:21:54 PM

The bike bogs trying to ride with the choke at halfway, so thats what I do. Once Im out of the neighborhood and off choke, it runs normal till I stop, when I adjust the idle. Its the heat. I do like your suggestion, and will try it with varying amounts of less choke. I can adjust the idle while moving(slow) i've gotten so good at it, but it would be nice to just start, go, and never adjust the idle.

tt_four · April 23, 2010, 04:19:26 AM

Ah fuel injection. In general I don't care much either way, but when cold weather comes it's so nice to start a bike with one push of the start button and just run back inside while it takes care of itself.

Fatbastard: turning your idle up won't cause a hanging idle, it'll just raise the idle. The idle adjusts the same part the throttle cable attaches to, so turning up the idle is exactly like twisting your throttle a tiny bit.

FatBastard · April 23, 2010, 12:34:08 PM

okay, had a beautiful day today, 75 out, took it on the freeway a good 10-15 miles, got off and she was warmed up, and, she did it again, i tried turning idle up more but apparently it didn't work. Could it be a vacuum issue, the carbs not able to pull enough to them so it stalls. I looked under the tank and the hose to the tank is secure i'm pretty sure. If it is vacuum how would i check for it? thanks all

tt_four · April 23, 2010, 01:02:08 PM

Next time it starts doing it turn the petcock onto PRI. If it keeps doing it, it's not a vacuum issue. If it stops doing it, then it's the vacuum.

FatBastard · April 23, 2010, 03:02:04 PM

okay, not vacuum issue, thanks for that advice to find if it was, took battery down to auto zone so they can charge it for me, maybe it's holding just enough charge to start the bike, but not to keep the amps high enough when the rpms drop to low. We'll see, after this i got nothing, but i think it could be this, the headlight starts to loose power at low rpms(below 1000) so we'll see, cross your fingers all and thanks

Eric_in_OR · April 25, 2010, 09:23:56 AM

Quote from: FatBastard on April 23, 2010, 03:02:04 PM
took battery down to auto zone so they can charge it for me, maybe it's holding just enough charge to start the bike, but not to keep the amps high enough when the rpms drop to low.

Maybe, but you shouldn't even need a battery once the bike is running.

Toledo Jim · April 25, 2010, 11:33:12 PM

Quote from: FatBastard on April 23, 2010, 03:02:04 PM..snip.. the headlight starts to loose power at low rpms(below 1000) ..snip..

Normal idle rpm AFTER your GS is warmed up should be between 1200 and 1500 rpm, no wonder it doesn't seem to be working right.

Also, if you are trying to ride with under 4500 to 5000 rpm you are real close to the bottom end of the operating range in any gear for these machines.

Then again, just my opinion, I have been wrong before.

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how do i clean fuel filters