Possible part out

[89blackgs]

I have reached a point in which im not sure what to do. I bought an 89 gs500e about 6 months ago and haven't ever been able to get it to start. When I bought it, it was running. It was leaking a little fuel out of the carbs(stuck float) but it was running and I made an offer and bought it. When I got it home I couldn't get it started and with every crank of the motor there was a clanking noise. From what I have figured out it seems that a exhaust valve is bent. It wont start. If you thumb test the spark plug there is little compression and when you place you have behind the exhaust you can feel the air/fuel coming out. My thoughts are that the mix isn't compressing because the exhaust valve is stuck open and its just exiting the exhaust, which is why it wont start. The clanking noise makes me concerned there is more wrong with it than just an exhaust vavle. I don't have a whole lot of money and can't drop more than 300 into it. I'm not a very good mechanic but could maybe work my way through fixing it but im not real sure where to start. I am thinking about just selling it or parting it out, but getting it running is preferred. The bike is in good condition and everything else seems to work fine. My question is how much does someone usually make parting one of these out and how much is it worth just selling like is. If anyone else has experience this problem I would also like advice on fixing it if possible.

[The Buddha]

Where are you ?
I may buy the thing provided price and distance is right.
Cool.
Buddha.

[89blackgs]

Near Springfield MO

[The Buddha]

Gaaa 700+ miles.
Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

Checking for a bent valve is quite easy.
Pull both spark plugs out.
Use a flash light and look in the hole. see what valve edge etc is visible. Slowly turn it over. See if one valve edge disappears and the other appears.
Repeat for other cyl. If they do its not a bent valve. The GS motor is a non interference motor. You can have both valves open and the piston wont hit em.
Cool.
Buddha.

[89blackgs]

Alright thanks for the advice, would a bent exhaust valve produce a clanking noise?

[The Buddha]

No, but a loose cam chain would, so would a dead starter clutch. Neither of those costs more than 30 bucks and a couple hours of elbow grease to fix. You gonna need the magic sliding hammer which somehow went missing a couple years ago. But ... lets find what it is then worry about getting it out and fixing it.

A broken off valve could make a clank but in that case you will not see a valve edge at all in that cyl. You also likely will ahve a spark plug that has been bashed to hell and what not. Cannot usually happen unless you were riding it.

A valve and piston contact is extremely rare in this bike but its possible if you have a very bad rod bearing and a cam chain that skipped a few links.
You got somethign else clanging there. It may or may not be terminal, but it serves you to know what it is.

Cool.
Buddha.