Cold weather stalling

[Nugent]

On my way home from work at 11pm I've noticed when the air temp is below 34 degrees F (1.1 C) and I hold in the clutch in to coast down a long hill, my engine will stall. Is the cold air cooling down my engine below happy engine operating temp?

I've been thinking about covering a section of my engine with foil as an inexpensive fix. Though that would force me to buy a temp gauge. Or maybe my idler just needs adjusting? Any thoughts?

-Mike

[bombsquad83]

Colder air makes your bike run leaner.  You might need to richen the mixture at idle with the mixture screws.  Yours might be covered with caps that you have to drill out if you have never adjusted them before.  Do some searching on the forum for how to do this. 

Another possibility is that your valves need to be adjusted.  The most common issue I've seen people have here when they need a valve adjustment is stalling when coming to a stop.

[weedahoe]

Maybe it just isnt tuned for such cold weather 

{edit} Bombsquad beat my by a few seconds

[gsJack]

I've never messed with idle mix screws or with jetting on my GSs but I've always had to increase the idle speed for winter and lower it again in summer.  Same on the 97 GS and the 02 GS for a total of 13 winters and 170k GS miles.  Easy to do at a stop while sitting on running bike, just reach under carbs and turn the knob.

[Bluesmudge]

Sounds like tight valves to me.

[jestercinti]

 

Sounds like tight valves to me.

+1

[crzydood17]

Yo dawg heard you had some tight valves! 

[Nugent]

I appreciate everyone's advise! So I either have tight valves and/or adjust my idle mix. Does the first or second option need any additional equipment or tools. After adjusting either, do I need to changing my jetting to compensate. Sorry if these are silly questions but I just have never worked on motorcycle engines before and I don't want burn up my carb (carbs?).


-mike

[jestercinti]

I appreciate everyone's advise! So I either have tight valves and/or adjust my idle mix. Does the first or second option need any additional equipment or tools. After adjusting either, do I need to changing my jetting to compensate. Sorry if these are silly questions but I just have never worked on motorcycle engines before and I don't want burn up my carb (carbs?).


-mike

By the book, without properly adjusted valves, carb fine tuning will not yield much.  That said, you may be able to get through the season by setting the mixture screws richer.  Adjusting valves will, at a minimum, require a valve adjustment tool and the proper shim size.  Look on YouTube for a user named BaltimoreGS.  He has some excellent how-to videos depending on your model year bike.  1989-2002 and 2004+.

If you don't already, buy a shop manual and use the search function.  LOTS of write-ups and good info.  Also check the Wiki (http://wiki.gstwins.com) for more useful how-to's.  It's not that hard, and once you gain a little confidence, you may actually like working on bikes!

The Haynes manual is the best.  About $30 with shipping.

[gsJack]

.......................So I either have tight valves and/or adjust my idle mix. Does the first or second option need any additional equipment or tools..........................
-mike

Just reach under the carbs and turn the idle speed knob to increase idle speed and see if that doesn't fix your immediate problem.  No tools or equipment required, you can do it with your hand.  If the caps covering the idle mix screws haven't been removed leave them alone. 

A check of your posts shows you have an 09 F model you bought from a dealer but doesn't indicate if you bought it new or used or how many miles are on it.  Anyhow, a valve clearance check should probably be done soon if you have never done it.