Minor Starting Issue / Power Issue?

[Aban]

Hello Everyone!

I'm having sort of a minor issue (could be major, but I wouldn't know) with my 2009 GS500F.

When I first got my bike from her first owner (1300 Miles) the bike started up no problem. Neutral, choke on, engage clutch, starter, and she would be up and running.

A month or two ago it has been the same way but with an added step being I have to give it gas in order for it to start, then after it fires up I don't need to keep giving it gas and it will idle and run fine after the initial start up. No way will it start up now unless I'm engaging the throttle a bit to get it started. I'm wondering why this is. Also after I've been riding for a bit and its really hot out (as it is here in Arizona) like 110F+ and rising, it really is a pain to get it to start as I'm standing there holding the starter and engaging the throttle fully for at least 5 seconds until it finally starts. Then after that like I said she runs fine and gives me no trouble.

I have:
-inspected the air filter; all is good

I will be:
-changing to the NGK Iridium Spark Plugs
-changing the oil again (this time using K&N filter over FRAMM)

I don't know:
-how to inspect or clean the carbs (I should though, I've glanced at baltimoregs's videos and read about cleaning carbs enough times  )

2009 GS500F with 7k Miles

[Janx101]

Pilot jet clogged with gunk?

[fetor56]

So u have done 5,700 Mls with those spark plugs?...............Iridium time methinks.

[Aban]

Pilot jet clogged with gunk?

Is the pilot jet what baltimoregs refers to as the "main" jet in his carb cleaning video? If so i guess its about time I learn how to do a basic cleaning of my carbs and could try that out, I've also read about seafoam and how by just putting it in your gas tank can help clean gunk in your carbs..is this true and is the seafoam method accepted by a gstwinners? Either way I oughta learn how to clean the carbs..

And yea the spark plugs I don't think have been changed at all so that'd be 7k miles on the stock plugs.

[Ric0157]

The Pilot jet is different from the main jet.  The Pilot jet is for Idle to partial throttle.  The main jet is for partial to full throttle.  So if your having problems at startup only, it is probably the Pilot that is dirty.  However at that point you might as well check and clean both.  Also yours being an 09, has three jets, Pilot, mid main, and Main.  Basic carb cleaning is very easy, just watch a couple videos and be sure to take your time, and only do one at a time so as not to mix up the parts from one carb to the other. As for seafoam, I would try cleaning the carbs first and only use seafoam as a last resort.  Not that it is bad or anything, but it may not be needed after a good ol carb cleaning. 

[bombsquad83]

You are due for a valve clearance check.  That can definitely lead to hard starting.  Also, since it runs fine after you get it warm, I would think that you might just have a clogged choke circuit. The fuel jet for the choke is integrated into the float, and it sits at the very bottom of the float bowl.  It could easily get clogged up.  Unfortunately you'll have to take the carbs out of the bike the first time to get the float bowls off because of the JIS screws.  I also recommend getting actual JIS bits so that you don't strip out the screws:  http://www.rjrcooltools.com/vessel.cfm .  You can replace the JIS screws with allen heads while you have it apart.  While you have the tank off the bike, you might as well get a feeler gauge and a torque wrench and check those valves!

[Aban]

Update:

First of all thanks for advice!

I went ahead and got my courage up to do the basic carb cleaning. Unfortunately I did not look at your post Bombsquad before doing so and proceeded to strip 3/8 of the bolts (even using a hand impact driver)between the two float bowls  . I managed to break them loose with vice grips and then ran down to the hardware store and replaced the 8 screws with allen head screws. One had slightly more dirt in it than the other which had close to none but over all I'd say they were pretty clean even though I have nothing to compare it to. If someone could share a picture of what dirty carbs look like that would be neat. Removed the jets and soaked them in carb cleaner then sprayed through them real good, reinstalled carbs, reconnected everything etc. Turned petcock to prime and after a few seconds she fired right up!  I didn't have to give it any throttle in order for it start. Let it sit for a little and tried it again and sure enough started right up without needing to engage the throttle at all, so whatever I cleaned seamed to do the job which makes me happy as I'll be taking her out of town next week and didn't want to have any problems. Tomorrow I will have to test it to see how it starts after sitting in the heat for an extended period of time.

I also went ahead and put in the NGK Iridium Plugs, and when I get home from work I'll change the oil before putting her all back together. Overall pretty happy that its starting good again hope it continues.

Below is what the inside of the float bowls looked like before cleaning them. Would you say they were dirty or pretty clean? Also if someone could point out which jet is which I'd much appreciate so I know for the future if I should happen to rejet it etc. Thanks again to everyone for all the help and advice. 

[Aban]

Update:

So after changing oil (and cleaning the float bowls + jets, and changing to the iridium plugs) I put everything back together and rode it to work and back and like 3 times after that. I seem to be having some type of issue buts its hard to explain and I'm unsure if its normal or not.

After changing gears (at around 6,000 RPM) and rolling on the throttle it seems as if the power isn't there for like a second then it starts to increase like it should. I swear it did not do this before. The only thing that comes to mind is that I might of left too much slack in the throttle cables connected to the carburetor. I know they're supposed to have some slack but in my head i feel like they might have too much and that is whats causing the delay in power increase after changing gears and rolling on the throttle.

However at idle when I roll on the throttle it doesn't delay in climbing RPMs and with the engine off and just rolling the throttle and letting go I hear the plates snap shut on the carburetor. Which makes me think think its fine but I'm no expert  and like I said it did not do this before I cleaned the carbs or switched to iridium plugs.

Anyone have an idea of what could be causing the sort of very short power "delay" after changing gears? Any advice is appreciated

[Kerry]

My guess would be a loose chain.  Especially since the engine revs just fine with no load.

[Aban]

Thanks for your response.  My chain was a little loose about 1.5 inch of slack so I adjusted it down to 1 inch exactly. However this did not really help my problem. After reading some things online I guess what I'm referring to is a lag in throttle response after changing gears. I just went on a ride and and found out by not rolling off as much on the throttle when changing gears (like barely rolling off at all) the lag in "throttle response" or rpm increase is not there. I'm not sure if this is how the engine is supposed to act after cleaning somewhat dirty carbs or putting in new spark plugs because I have nothing to base it off of as this is my first bike. I still keeping back to when I reattached the two throttle cables back to the carburetor that I might have left too much slack in the cables and by doing that when I roll off to change gears and roll back on the "throttle plates" i think they're called are closed more than they used to causing the delay in how quick the rpms begin to rise. If that makes any sense at all 

So I guess my question is could too much slack in the throttle cables connected to the carburetor give me a somewhat of a delayed response after changing gears and engaging the throttle?

Also could I tighten the slack in the cables without disconnecting everything on the carbs like I had to to get them out the first time? I dont remember how visible the cable nuts were because I was already set on pulling out the carbs.

[Kerry]

Sorry for sending you down the wrong path, but if/when your chain does get significantly loose, you'll know why that was my answer for a "delayed response" ... although it's in the drivetrain instead of the fuel supply system.  It's a pretty strange feeling....

I suppose loose throttle cables could cause something like what you describe.  On '89-'00 (single throttle cable) models, there is secondary adjustment point near the right handlebar ... inline, on the cable itself.  Kinda/sorta like the clutch adjustment, but using a different method.  I don't know if the same is true for the dual-cable models.