Bike has been sitting - Spray Carbs?

[novon]

I'm not very mechanically inclined, so would appreciate some help getting my 2004 GS500 started up.

I stored the bike for a year and stupidly left the gas in the tank.

The battery is replaced, but it still won't start, it turns but that's it. I suspect some gunk in the carbs.

I don't have the skills to take everything apart, I was told I can just remove the air filter and spray some carb cleaner into the carbs to get it going. Is this a good idea and if so what are the steps involved?

Thanks

[Big Rich]

What makes you think you can't take the carbs apart? Got 10 fingers, right? Actually, you don't even need all 10.

Take the float bowls off after draining them. Most of the bad gas will be in them. Re-indtall, then fill them with Sea Foam and let them soak for a while. Then drain the sea foam.

[tt_four]

Pull them apart! You can do it!

There was a walkthrough in the wiki but it's saying it wants a password so I'm not sure. Either way they're easy to pull apart, just keep the parts from the 2 sides separated when you pull it apart so you don't get the parts mixed up. Once you do it once or twice you can pull them apart, clean them up, and put them back together in no time.

These were mine this morning:

[Firewalker]

Pull them apart! You can do it!

There was a walkthrough in the wiki but it's saying it wants a password so I'm not sure. Either way they're easy to pull apart, just keep the parts from the 2 sides separated when you pull it apart so you don't get the parts mixed up. Once you do it once or twice you can pull them apart, clean them up, and put them back together in no time.

These were mine this morning:

He is right.......If you are not used to taking things apart or working on your stuff it can be intimidating at first.  You will be blown away how easy it is.  One word of advise.  Find the pics that show where the o-rings are located and when it says be careful......don't ignore it.  They can drop out and poof if you don't see them.  There are two under the black caps on the very top.  You will see where it is cast and there is a circle........Size of a pencil eraser.  There is an o-ring under each of those.  Just clean a bench or table off and keep your parts separated as the others have said.  Might just re do one side at a time.  Another tip I have for you is on the primary jets.....the hole is tiny.  I mean TINY!  If you play guitar or have a buddy who does......see if he will give you his old set of strings.  I use the high E string to run through the primary jet if it clogs.  The sea foam is greatness in a bottle.  When you remove the bowls put allen screws back in instead of the phillips.  Since I  have done this I usually just pull the bowls and clean jets without removing the carbs from the bike.  You can do it.......hit us back if you run into trouble.  Read the wiki..... Dig it!  Good luck.

Scott

[tt_four]

if you look at the black top caps, on one side right next to one of the screws you'll see a little plastic/rubber cap with a metal clip ring on it. That's where the o-rings are that everyone loses. Remove both screws with the carb facing upright in it's normal position, then keep an eye on that spot when you lift off the black caps.

A guitar string would work well. I always just use some pliers and yank one of the bristles out of my wire brush and poke it through all of the holes.