Carb question. 2002 gs500

[sphinx]

My 2002 gs500 needs a new set of carbs. What years will work? Or can I change intake boots and replace with a different year set? Any info would be great, haven't been able to find anything.

[gsatterw]

I would try to find 01-02. I think 01 is when they went from 2 jets to 3. I think the 04+ have a bunch of extra crazy hoses and crap with them. I believe any year will work however.

[sphinx]

The only 01-02 I have found have been new at 350 each. No used ones, I've called junkyards, looked on eBay, Craigslist, etc.

[adidasguy]

All carbs will fit because the heads are the same (except for the gear for the mechanical tach not on newer ones).

Your carbs are dual throttle cable so 2001-2009 would be an easier fit than 89-00, though I believe you can get by with just using one cable for older carbs.

I've heard the extra crap on new carbs can be bypassed. One is a throttle position sensor. Bikes run if it is disconnected. There is a vacuum switch. That's for emissions. It doesn't need to be connected. PAIR system is not needed either so that vacuum line gets capped off.

So go 2004+. They're easy to find.

[weedahoe]

My question would be why do you think you need a new set of carbs rather than cleaning and rebuilding them?

[gsatterw]

^good point

[sphinx]

The slides themselves and the slide channel are both out of spec. Its leaking air internally.

[sphinx]

All carbs will fit because the heads are the same (except for the gear for the mechanical tach not on newer ones).

Your carbs are dual throttle cable so 2001-2009 would be an easier fit than 89-00, though I believe you can get by with just using one cable for older carbs.

I've heard the extra crap on new carbs can be bypassed. One is a throttle position sensor. Bikes run if it is disconnected. There is a vacuum switch. That's for emissions. It doesn't need to be connected. PAIR system is not needed either so that vacuum line gets capped off.

So go 2004+. They're easy to find.

I don't understand what you mean by the gear on the mechanical tach. Are you saying the mechanical teach wont work? 
I'm on my phone and it keeps auto correcting sorry

[gsJack]

Just picked up a 2002 gs500 for 500. Has 9000 miles on it and a small dent in the tank. Otherwise, its pretty clean. Had been sitting for about two years so..............................

The slides themselves and the slide channel are both out of spec. Its leaking air internally.

Hard to believe carbs with less than 10k miles on them are worn out but they probably needed some cleaning after sitting two years.

I have an 02 GS I bought in 9-03 with 4k miles on it and it now has over 96k miles and the carbs have never been touched.  It still runs good as new but does use a bit of oil.    Could be your bike had considerably more miles than showing or a previous owner switched the carbs with others before you bought it.  Anyway if you are looking for new carbs I wouldn't want any older than 01-09 ones since they have the 3 circuit carbs and 89-00 models had the 2 circuit ones.  I put over 80k miles on a 97 GS I bought new and I thought there was a world of difference in the two running them both for a while.  The mid-range performance was so much stronger and more flexible on the 02 in everyday riding although the 97 still felt a bit stronger on the top end.

[sphinx]

I had been starting to think the guy who sold me the bike knew the carbs were bad. I also think there are more miles n the bike than originally thought. The carbs were cleaned thoroughly, piston rings changed, and the valves were adjusted.  It was only a $500 bike.

I haven't been able to find carbs 01-02, hence the question. How much work is it going to be to fit 04-09 carbs on it? Is there a right up? Has someone switched em out? I've got no clue honestly.

[bombsquad83]

 :whisper:If you think your carbs are bad, I'll take them for the cost of shipping .  Seriously though.  They probably just need a more thorough cleaning and maybe replacement of some rubber parts.

[craigs449]

:whisper:If you think your carbs are bad, I'll take them for the cost of shipping .  Seriously though.  They probably just need a more thorough cleaning and maybe replacement of some rubber parts.

+1........

[gsatterw]

adidasguy was saying that all the engine and carbs are essentially all the same/all years will fit all years. He was just pointing out the main difference is that the 04+ have an electric tach vs the older mechanical tach. Don't worry about the tach, you are worried about the carbs. It will be very easy to fit any year carbs onto your bike.

But I also agree with everyone that is saying your carbs are probably fine, just need a rebuild possibly. These things are freaking bullet proof, they dont just fall out of spec. Replace the slides if you think they are the issue. Probably some tiny o-rings went bad or something.

[sphinx]

The carbs have been dipped twice, boiled twice, all passages gone through with a fine wire. The shop we took it to said it is leaking air internally making it impossible to set the needles and the mixture screws. As a side note the top end has been rebuilt and the valves adjusted.

[weedahoe]

The carbs have been dipped twice, boiled twice, all passages gone through with a fine wire. The shop we took it to said it is leaking air internally making it impossible to set the needles and the mixture screws. As a side note the top end has been rebuilt and the valves adjusted.

So what's your game plan now?

[sphinx]

No clue. I'm thinking get a rebuild kit and rebuild the Carb, obviously, and hope that where the slides slide isn't the issue. If that makes sense. I'm hoping the kit is cheaper than carbs. If that doesn't work, new carbs, and if new carbs don't solve the issue, I'm gonna take the bike to the middle of the desert and blow it up or something.

Link to a Carb kit?

[weedahoe]

might be worth the time and money to buy a set of running carbs.

[bmxr123]

you are probably crimping the carb boots when installing the airbox as i have seen this quite a few times with the gs500..its very easy to screw up and i've even done it myself..

Does the air box fit nice and snug onto the carbs or is it a total Buddha Loves You to get them on? I have seen boots that are messed up from having the airbox installed wrong and the bike will have major vacuum problems..(slow return to idle is especially the tell tale sign of this)

with the carbs still on the bike check to see if part of the boots fold into the air box and dont seat around the outside properly..With a flashlight you should be able to follow the edge of that boot all the way around to make sure that part of it isnt crimped up and leaving an air leak..

[craigs449]

you are probably crimping the carb boots when installing the airbox as i have seen this quite a few times with the gs500..its very easy to screw up and i've even done it myself..

Does the air box fit nice and snug onto the carbs or is it a total Buddha Loves You to get them on? I have seen boots that are messed up from having the airbox installed wrong and the bike will have major vacuum problems..(slow return to idle is especially the tell tale sign of this)

with the carbs still on the bike check to see if part of the boots fold into the air box and dont seat around the outside properly..With a flashlight you should be able to follow the edge of that boot all the way around to make sure that part of it isnt crimped up and leaving an air leak..

Easiest way of re-installing the airbox/boots is to smear a little grease on the lips, take the filter out, and you can reach inside the airbox to use your fingers to be sure they are seated right. 

[sphinx]

The carb boots aren't being squished. I ordered some carbs, will install them when they arrive!