My turn to have problems....

[Tombstones81]

WAS a nice day out, went for a short ride to check out a 96 V6 firebird I might consider trading my 02 grand am for.

Halfway there the bike starts actin up, sounded bad and total lack of power.
Pulling into a parking lot and it stalls, so I just coast in.

Didnt wanna stay running, and just have painted the exhaust a few days earlier, think it might be overheating (even tho I used the proper paint!)
So I pushed it over under a tree and checked it over.
Oil was fine before leaving and was fine then.
Did notice a few drops of something clear, not much at all but I couldnt tell what it was because I'm sick and cannot smell, so I'm not sure if it was gas or just water from the scattered showers we've had the past 2 days. (doubt it was water as I was riding a good half hour already)

Ran like crap all the way home after leaving it cool for a bit.
Total lack of power (as if I had a friggin lawnmower engine between my legs!)
and sounded like a scooter, best description I can make.

didnt wanna stay running at the one light I hit unless I kept revving it, and also stalled at one stop sign.
pretty much kept the clutch pulled and revving it at each stop sign and light afterwards.

got home and put it in neutral and oddly it stayed running.


totally new at this so thats the best description I can give right now as Im still a bit flustered and aggravated. (JUST got home 5 minutes ago, so I havnt checked it over better yet)


Hoping it was just overheating cause of the painted exhaust. (I've read that happen a few times, even with proper paint)
Have NO problem stripping it all off and leaving it like that if it means my bike runs fine.


any suggestions with the little description I gave right now would be sweet.
Shower let up so I'm going to go out and check it over better in a second.

Thanks

also remember a click, clank or some odd sound from the front area of the bike as if my header cap came off again and started dangling but the noise stopped Just as soon as it got my attention.

[joshr08]

i would guess and its just a guess but lack of power would be plugged carb or fuel filter or even plugged up tank vent.  just a few things to check.  Im not sure how painting the exhaust would make the bike over heat.  If the paint is holding in the heat in the pipes it would just make it flow out of the exhaust flow better.

[werase643]

and the compression test results are?
and the Vac leak results are?
what did you do besides paint the exhaust?
miles on bike?
miles since last valve adj?

give us something to work with

[Tombstones81]

and the compression test results are?
and the Vac leak results are?
what did you do besides paint the exhaust?
miles on bike?
miles since last valve adj?

give us something to work with

As I said, new to this.. aka riding and mechanics on a motorcycle.
So I dont know how to do a compression test or have any tools for it if they are needed.

didnt do anything besides paint the exhaust. (since it last ran fine)
but before I did that, the one header clamp came off while riding and was dangling for a few miles so maybe that messed something up.
that is the only thing I've touched since replacing my handlebars after my slight wipe. (which that mighta knocked something a lil off and didnt act up til now)

16,200 miles, had it for about 1,000 so far so I dont know when the last valve adjustment was.


Just went out tho and took the tank off.
checked all the hoses for anything pinched, loose, off, cracked or broken and all appeared fine.

but it back on and started it up with same results.

Idles just fine
Takes its sweet time to rev up when I open the throttle.
Totally stalls when I put the choke on.


Sorry thats all I got right now.
quite aggravated so I'm done going near the bike for today. (I always end up breaking something when Im this annoyed)

If thats not enough
Then I will just call the small shop that inspected it and see if they can tell me whats wrong by taking it down there.
Never seen any kind of sport bike at their shop tho, So I hope they can at least diagnose the problem for me.
IF I have to take it down that is.

(edit)
and I posted that as soon as I got home, so even if I knew how.. I didnt have time to do it between arriving and posting.

Just hope its something minor as I've just spent like $300 to $400 on all diff crap for the bike and a summer jacket.
would suck if it ended up being something major (yes im just paranoid) as I dont have the $ to go buying something else.

But stalling when I apply the choke might just be giving it too much fuel (I dont freakin know)
So I just hope its something minor like cleaning and adjusting the carbs as I've already got the carb rebuild kit inc in the mail.

[Twisted]

Did you remove the headers to paint it? If so did you replace the exhaust gaskets? If it only started acting up when it warmed up it could be a gasket problem.

[Tombstones81]

Did you remove the headers to paint it? If so did you replace the exhaust gaskets? If it only started acting up when it warmed up it could be a gasket problem.

Oddly, I'm fairly certain there was no gaskets there when I took it off.
I felt in the pipe and the engine and didnt find anything, BUT it ran fine before today.
and Both couldnt have just Fallen out, only one header clamp came off. (bolts rattled out)

but yes since I planned to replace the temporary bolts I have in there (same size but from Lowes) with OEM ones, I ordered new gaskets when I bought the bolts.

(edit)
sorry Im sick, aggravated and alot goin thru my head.
Yes I removed the exhaust to paint it hahaha

[mister]

At 16,200 miles it is a little overdue for a valve check - should have been done at 15,000 miles. So it is certainly something to schedule in.

How's your gas level? As in, how far to go before you hit reserve?
Spark plugs each firing? How are their conditions? Pull them, snap a photo of each and post it here.

Michael

[ben2go]

Valve adjustment and carb cleaning are needed to insure the bike will be healthy for the year.It kind of sounds like the vacuum petcock may be acting up.If they get a tear or pin hole in the diaphragm,the bike will run way to rich.It could also be a dying coil or fouled spark plug.When you buy spark plugs,pull the plug wire,stick the fresh plug in it, and let it rest on the head.Then start the bike.It should have a bright blue spark in the gap.Anything less will cause running issues.Do both sides.If they are both giving a good spark,the running issue is probably fuel related.

[Tombstones81]

Was at half a tank before I left, maybe a lil less.
Stopped and filled it up before it was acting up.

Spark plugs have just over 1K on them and are not discolored to indicate any problem.
both have the same normal wear color.

didnt check if they were getting proper spark tho.
I will tomorrow, its getting dark and passing showers today so the bugs are out in Swarms!

did start up better when it was cold and didnt stall when choked.

and whats the best way to check for any hose leaks? dont want to spray anything on there I shouldnt be.


I will do more thorough checks tomorrow when I wake up tho.

Will also take the exhaust back off and see if theres any problems there.

thanks

(edit)
actually, I'll go check if they are getting proper spark in a bit.
even if I do get eatin up by bugs!
best seen in the dark anyways.

Hoping its just a problem caused by the exhaust somehow.
as my emblems were ordered on the 3rd and came on the 8th.
other parts I ordered, including new OEM header bolts & seals were placed on the 8th.
So hopefully they arrive tomorrow or Tuesday and the problem gets solved if thats even a possibility.

[crzydood17]

fastest way to test if both cylinders are firing,

Warm up the bike slightly,
take a wet sponge/cloth but not a paper towel and QUICKLY wipe a short section of the headers, if they both are dry when you take the rag off your good if ones dry and the other is just starting to evaporate then you have a dead cylinder. Also laser thermometers are a mechanics best friend if ya got one SSDD just aim it at each header and if one is significantly cooler theres your problem... I dont know the average temp for GS500 exhausts but if one is normal and the other is way hotter then you could have a serious lean condition causing problems...

[Tombstones81]

^^ thank you.
Both are fine, no way to tell the difference, it was that close.

Nice spark from both plugs.

Started up, sounded ok.
Of course probably because its cool.

Took it a few rounds around the block and seemed all ok.
couldnt go very long or any further then around my house (2 streets connected with 1 way out and very quiet area) because I didnt have any of my gear on. WOW that felt very Odd.

seemed to be fine but only rode it for like 5 mins and didnt go very fast at all.
Only shifted to third once. (no gear on so I was being Cautious!)
gonna gear up and go around town until it acts up again (but stay Close to home) or until enough time passes where it doesnt act up and leaves me totally stumped as to why it acted up to begin with.
tho I doubt its Not gonna act up when it gets fully warmed up from riding for like a half an hr.

Choke cable might need some slack straightened or something.
When its idle and I turn the choke, it stalled unless I did it slowly.
also went up to 6K RPMs vs the 5K it always went at before. (first time it did it, didnt earlier either when it was actin up)

[gs500e]

fastest way to test if both cylinders are firing,

Warm up the bike slightly,
take a wet sponge/cloth but not a paper towel and QUICKLY wipe a short section of the headers, if they both are dry when you take the rag off your good if ones dry and the other is just starting to evaporate then you have a dead cylinder. Also laser thermometers are a mechanics best friend if ya got one SSDD just aim it at each header and if one is significantly cooler theres your problem... I dont know the average temp for GS500 exhausts but if one is normal and the other is way hotter then you could have a serious lean condition causing problems...

I usually read about 370 to 390 degF on stock header, about 6" from head; at idle for a few minutes.  (i figure if i read closer than that i could just be measuring head temps.)  
That temp could change depending on rich/lean, moon cycle, etc; but that's what i 'usually' see.  I've seen it as high as 500 degF.  I imagine that if revved up with a load on engine it could exceet 700degF... just a guess though.  Aftermarket headers are typically thinner wall tubing, so expect a higher temp... i've had headers on offroad vehicles glow red in day light, and run great.  (stainless steel glows red in daylight at about 950 degF)

[Tombstones81]

yep, started acting up again at the other side of town.

scared the crap out of me and almost sent the bike flying.
power just went to Ziltch and then Poof right back to normal for a second when I put some throttle on and the bike almost took off without me.

and the exhaust was backfiring like a MFer! sounded like popcorn!

think its getting too much fuel
not sure if the gas stink was me from earlier or the bike.

exhaust smelled too rich as well.

looks like im just sittin here until the carb parts come and see if that does it.
and also the exhaust gaskets and OEM bolts.

(edit)
ugh on the phone with the gf so my minds only half here.

It rode perfectly fine til I got across town so it seems its not a Major problem. (I hope) lol

[crzydood17]

Mechanics worst nightmare is a intermittent problem. IMHO it sounds almost like a coil going bad, random misses at higher RPM would give all your symptoms, Random loss of power... Backfires from unburned fuel... Some coils work great at low RPM then give up the ghost as they climb. Time to break out the meter.