Diaphragms

[Fazer Rick]

Strange the bike was not holding on idle, I suspected a clogged jet. Stripped both carbies and found a rip and some holes in one for the diaphragms, I tried a bit of inner tube rubber and rubber solution but did not stick after 10 hours. I remember someone saying they tried RTV, so I have smeared some Blue Goo (RTV) over the rip and holes, let's see if that holds in the morning. I have also ordered two new diaphragms at $34 ea from my local suzuki shop, as the RTV is only a temp fix, for good measure you know the small oring recess ontop of the carbs, I don't believe that has had any o ring in either for sometime so just as a precautionary measure a drop of RTV in each of them.

[craigs449]

Why would u put RTV in the area where there is supposed to be an o-ring?  Just get another o-ring from OEM or get a nitrile o-ring assorment from harbor freight tools. You are gonna destroy the carbs by blocking those small passages with RTV!

[Fazer Rick]

Yes I'll probably order the o ring, but to clarify, the O ring hole is right on top of the carb housing where the lid goes on and can see no purpose for it ? Could you enlighten me, this is on a 2004 GS500F, maybe now redundant and dos n't need any o ring at all, cheers
The RTV has held on the diaphragm on a 200km run yesterday, bike ran like a dream, but this is not a permanent replacement, just waiting til my new ones arrive from the dealer tomorrow.

[RossLH]

Those holes are for carb synchronization. If you clog them with RTV and your carbs get out of sync, you'll be lucky to ever get them right again.

[Fazer Rick]

oh oh, my new jets are due soon, so the carbs will have to come off, ill get rid of the rtv out of those holes, thanks for the info However the rtv cover job on the diaphragm split is still holding up:) Since I've stripped the carbs down and cleaned the jets out with a wire from a brush the bike is 'purring'nicely. I've got an FZ8N but the contrast between the two is so wide that I love riding either one. Since owning the GS and doing alot of maintenance on it, (the easiest bike I've ever worked on) it has grown on me. I saw another GS500F yesterday ride past and I had to take a look as all I heard was the parallel twin rumble. Thought wow does mine sound like that, cool........

[salamander]

If you don't have the o-rings, you'll want to get some.  Without them, you're asking for a vacuum leak.

[bsheppar]

The 04's and up don't use the little o-ring right next to the diaphram like the older models do.

[salamander]

Missed that ... I saw he was talking about o-rings and assumed that was what he meant.  Live and learn.

[Fazer Rick]

Thanks folks, will keep the old o ring holes plugged, just incase, new diaphragms on, god I love how easy it is to work on this bike.

[ned from PA]

BTW, silicone RTV is not compatible with gasoline or gasoline fumes.