First bike, 93 GS500, need help!

ctjacket · June 01, 2013, 03:34:41 PM

So I just picked up my first bike this morning. About 16k miles, and it's in pretty good shape other than it won't start. I had planned to spend 2k on my first bike, and since I got this for 700 I feel pretty happy. The previous owner last rode it 6 months ago, and then stored it ever since. Here's some pics of the bike.

The previous owner said with a new battery it should start right up. Well that is not the case. I hear the engine trying to start, but it just doesn't. Should I start by replacing the gas/oil? I have 2 new plugs on the way.

I want to drain the oil and gas and start fresh, and clean the carbs as well. Problem is that I live in an apt building, and all the work as to be done on a side st, which I don't mind, but I don't really have a garage or even work bench other than my apt countertop.

adidasguy · June 01, 2013, 04:14:30 PM

First, drain carbs and tank. Put in fresh gas.
Add some Seafoam to the gas, too. It will help clean things out.

Now it should run. Gas goes bad.

You can do oil. Never a bad idea with a new bike. Gas is your big problem. New spark plugs will help.

ctjacket · June 01, 2013, 09:46:56 PM

Sounds like a plan. What do I do with the old gas? Let it evaporate? I have never disposed of old gas before.

I'll make sure to take pics/update this later with what I do, since everyone loves pics.

Gorilla · June 01, 2013, 09:53:21 PM

I just did this a week or two ago with adidashelp. Definitely new gas will help very much. His tip about using that stuff called seafoam is great too. Yes just let the gas evaporate somewhere safe overnight. I have the same issue of letting evaporate over night. i put it on the side of my partment outside and it will evaporate over night.

rowbvp · June 01, 2013, 10:41:52 PM

I been in the same situation,owner says one thing,only to find its something else! (Crab clean ) if you been starting it over and over, pull the plugs out and let it sit. could be flooding the engine. (When you are cleaning the carbs check the jet sizes) Some people will change the to make bike faster. If they are wrong go back to stock jets.

ctjacket · June 02, 2013, 06:55:43 AM

As I am pulling the gas tank and carbs, should I install a fuel filter while I am doing all of this?

PatheticPuma · June 02, 2013, 07:19:33 AM

Quote from: ctjacket on June 02, 2013, 06:55:43 AM
As I am pulling the gas tank and carbs, should I install a fuel filter while I am doing all of this?

With my old bike it had been in storage for a couple years. ALl I did was pull and drain the tank, open the drain screws on the carbs to drain them, mix about 8oz of seafoam to 1.5 gallons of gas, and add to the tank after putting back on the bike. Waited a couple minutes to let the carbs fill up, then fired it up. It ran rough because of the high concentration of seafoam, shut it off after about 3-5 minutes of running, and let it sit for a few hours to let the seafoam do it's thing. Then top off the tank with fresh gas, start it up, (it will run rough for a little bit until the more diluted seafoam gets to the carbs) and ride!

I will be doing this again today to my GS, weather and time permitting

ctjacket · June 02, 2013, 10:40:15 AM

Okay emptied gas tank completely and carbs, but it still won't start. I am going to see what the plugs look like next. Just have to go back out to get a 18mm socket.

Here's a pic of my workshop:

In the back you can see my collection of gas waiting to be evaporated. Only issues is that it might rain here soon....

Getting that 2.5 gallons of gas sucked. I have to bike 4 miles to get it, and carried it in one are the whole time.

ctjacket · June 02, 2013, 11:23:43 AM

Okay I pulled this plugs and this what they looked like:

Wiped them off, put them back in, and still not starting. It turns over, and one time made like it was about to start, but did not.

edit: I realize I may not have put enough gas in the tank to run it from "on" or "prime." There is only about a gallon and half in right now. On Tues I will put the new plugs in with more gas as well, and then go from there.

Gorilla · June 03, 2013, 08:38:36 AM

good luck man. I wish i could help more but im brand new to these bikes too.

jacob92icu · June 03, 2013, 11:02:00 AM

Are you sure you are getting spark?

*EDIT*

btw, you can put pictures straight into your thread using the img button that looks like Mona Lisa. Just put your link in between the [-img-][-/img-] Without the -'s

ctjacket · June 03, 2013, 03:55:03 PM

I set like that in case the images were too large, but I'll change it.

Also that is the first thing I am going to check when I put the new NGK's in tomorrow night. I don't have any time until then due to work stuff. I guess if I am not getting spark, then it could be the coils, ignitor, or signal generator right?

ctjacket · June 04, 2013, 04:54:27 PM

So I am getting spark out of both plugs. About to do a compression test with my finger, and then go from there.

ctjacket · June 04, 2013, 06:13:24 PM

This is backwards right? Could this be the source of all my problems?

To the right is the left outside of the fuel tank

Janx101 · June 04, 2013, 06:52:02 PM

holy huge unfocussed picture batman!!!!

it does look bass ackwards .. that little metal knob on the right in the pic .. i think is the tank petcock screw ... which mostly sits facing in across engine ...

but .. like that .. its easier access hmm? ... i 'think' .. so long as you connect the fuel lines bass ackwards also... so each hose goes to the correct part of the frame petcock ... then it should be no problem really ...

another thought... who did the install of that petcock? .. and is there any gunk in it somewhere?

Watevaman · June 04, 2013, 07:08:29 PM

Do you live in VA? I'm not a mechanic by all means but if you need another hand with anything I could help.

ctjacket · June 04, 2013, 07:17:29 PM

Downtown DC. Sorry for the blurry pics. This was done in a parking spot haha.

The carbs have some pretty bad orings. Both orings on the needle seat were hard, brittle, flat and covered in some white gunk. Vacuum port orings were same way, etc... The jets seem clear, but all the o rings everywhere are hard and brittle.

So I just ordered a set from cycleorings.com, and hopefully I can get the bike running on Saturday.

Watevaman · June 04, 2013, 07:27:51 PM

Cool. I'm in Manassas myself.

Have you checked the float heights and all that good stuff? I can't imagine them being too off from just sitting but weirder things have happened. You may want to do an immersion cleaning of your carbs if possible. With the fuel hoses disconnected from carbs there is fuel flow through your tank petcock? And also your frame petcock?

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you need help or when you get it running. More GS riders in the area is always good.

ctjacket · June 04, 2013, 08:20:32 PM

Didn't check float heights. I will be doing a full clean of everything. There was fuel flowing through the tank petcock, and I believe it flowed through the frame petcock, but I can't remember now. I didn't drain the carb before I disconnected it.

It seems like something may be up with one of the carbs anyway judging by that black spark plug right?

ctjacket · June 05, 2013, 05:51:35 PM

So one of the sliders was pretty much impossible to remove, then I found this:

News:

First bike, 93 GS500, need help!