help me get my GS back on the road!

[thehooligan]

hey guys, this is my first post here and unfortunately its a "my bike doesn't work" post. i've done a lot of reading on the site here and i still haven't gotten it running right. so... please help!

here's the story:

i bought a 2007 gs500f about two months ago. i wasn't able to get it out and really drive it until a few weeks ago. the first ride for about 40 minutes went off without a hitch. the second ride also was fine. my third trip however saw my bike start to lose power and stall at lights. after i struggled it along for a few more minutes it got to the point where i was cruising along at 40-50 and it would slowly lose power then just die as i was moving along. so being the mechanically inclined i began to take stuff apart. so far i have done a few few things. first i verified that fuel was going from the tank to the petcock, check. then i tested if the petcock allows fuel to flow if a vacuum is drawn on it, check. next i tested if the bike runs if fuel is put directly into the carbs by pouring it directly into the line with a funnel, check. lastly i tested if there is vacuum going to the petcock, it seemed weak but there was (of course i don't have anything to compare the vacuum strength to). when i put it all together however it doesn't run properly. i have narrowed it down to this issue: the bike runs when its on "prim", but not on "on".

id love to get this squared away as i have a slew of new parts to put on but i don't want to until this is fixed.

[mister]

Ok.... ride to a gas station and fill it up.

Don't just look in the tank and see gas and think you are fine. You are not. The tank is deceptive. So.... first fill it up then report back.

Michael

[thehooligan]

i know its not that, the bike was just filled before the ride when everything stopped working

[RossLH]

Check for vacuum leaks and check your float heights. If everything checks out alright, take off the carbs, clean the hell out of them, put it all back together, and try again.

[thehooligan]

doing the float height check in about 20 minutes, will report back after. i cleaned the carbs already once and they are going to get rejetted as soon as the parts arrive.

[codajastal]

Check your battery as this happened to me and my battery was fooked. As soon as I replaced battery problem went away.
Not sayin thats it but check with and without load.

[thehooligan]

how does one test a battery?

[codajastal]

how does one test a battery?

With a battery tester or multimeter. Or take to local garage and get them to test it.

[Janx101]

.... waiting patiently .... waiting.... waiting....

s'funny .. would have thought adidas be in here by now.... the words battery and multimeter never fail!

but.. hooligan ... if you not sure about how to test battery .. DO like cods said and take it to a garage ... watch what they do .. and maybe ask them a few questions ... that way you pick up the info and know for next time .... there WILL be a next time 

[codajastal]

.... waiting patiently .... waiting.... waiting....

s'funny .. would have thought adidas be in here by now.... the words battery and multimeter never fail!

but.. hooligan ... if you not sure about how to test battery .. DO like cods said and take it to a garage ... watch what they do .. and maybe ask them a few questions ... that way you pick up the info and know for next time .... there WILL be a next time 

Lol on adidas

lol on the 'there WILL be a next time"

[thehooligan]

its funny that ive rebuilt engines and dont know how to test a battery...

[Bluesmudge]

Could be a bad petcock. This was the first thing that went wrong on my 2006 when mine would only run on PRIME. New petcock fixed the problem.

[adidasguy]

#5309

.... waiting patiently .... waiting.... waiting....

s'funny .. would have thought adidas be in here by now.... the words battery and multimeter never fail!

but.. hooligan ... if you not sure about how to test battery .. DO like cods said and take it to a garage ... watch what they do .. and maybe ask them a few questions ... that way you pick up the info and know for next time .... there WILL be a next time 

I've grown weary of always saying the same thing about using a meter.

[Janx101]

ahh c'mon adidas! .. you know you love it! ... 

oh and your korn comment below avatar is out of date! ... 

think of the multimeter/battery thing as your .... Legacy! .. yeah... the Gift of Knowledge that is passed on by word of mouth or written musings .. for the benefit of future generations! , you're not going to go all Grumpy Grandpa in the rockin chair by the fire are you!

..... c'mon lads ... we need to cheer Gramps up a bit!... i think that while he is happy that Trey has a new loving home... he is mourning the loss of a favoured child! .. 

so come on adidas! .. you need to be positive about the battery thing .. dont let some slight repetition make you acid and negative.. mount the battlecharger of righteous information, ride forth with energized mind and sparked up spirit! 

[mister]

So it runs in Pri but not on On and you are 100% certain you have enough gas.

Do you have an aftermarket fuel filter on the On fuel line?
Have you checked the On fuel line for a pinch in it which would restrict flow?
Petcock vacuum diaphragm?

Michael

[thehooligan]

i dont have a fuel filter on there, and there is no pinch. im begining to think its a bad petcock. is there a way to test that?

[mister]

i dont have a fuel filter on there, and there is no pinch. im begining to think its a bad petcock. is there a way to test that?

Ok, so you have an Idea of how the Petcock works have a look at this diagram...



Now, with an 07 your petcock should resemble the one on the right of the below image...



The diaphragm might be ok but your vacuum line might not be. So examine the diagram and then check your vacuum to make sure it is ok.

Michael

[thehooligan]

so a few days ago i pulled the petcock from the bike, hooked up the incoming fuel lines to it, and tested each position. without vacuum fuel would only flow in prime. when i drew vacuum (using my mouth and the standard vacuum hose) fuel would flow just fine.

this leads me to believe the petcock is fine and that i dont get enough vacuum to it when the bike is on. this would be confirmed by my observation that the bike runs on "prime" but on "on"

[mister]

Ok so the diaphragm is good. Have you followed the vacuum hose to make sure it is connected correctly?

Michael

[adidasguy]

#5313

.... waiting patiently .... waiting.... waiting....

s'funny .. would have thought adidas be in here by now.... the words battery and multimeter never fail!

but.. hooligan ... if you not sure about how to test battery .. DO like cods said and take it to a garage ... watch what they do .. and maybe ask them a few questions ... that way you pick up the info and know for next time .... there WILL be a next time 

OK - rather than repeat what I've said here is an article from Betterystuff on how to test your battery with YOUR VOLT METER.

http://www.batterystuff.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-your-battery-is-bad.html?utm_source=Bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BatteryStuff&utm_campaign=Mid-Summer-2012-Newsletter&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=How+to+Tell+if+Your+Battery+is+Bad+in+3+Easy+Steps&utm_content=2012+Mid-Summer+Newsletter+[VIDEO]&utm_campaign=08%2F10%2F2012