Good riding weather coming soon. Help!

[rscottlow]

We've got temps into the 70's coming in Ohio next week, and I've got my first issue I'd like to get resolved before then so I can take my new GS on my first ride! Any help is greatly appreciated!

I've done a lot of reading, but a bit of reassurance would go a long way if I'm going to try to tackle this on my own. I don't know much about carburators, but from what I've read around this forum and elsewhere, I think my problem is a float that isn't functioning properly.

I've got a couple of different symptoms:
1. Fuel dripping from a capped tube, that I believe comes from the air box. From what I understand the cap on this hose is designed to allow excess fuel to drip from the air box without allowing air in. So I think there's fuel coming into the air box even when the bike is off.

2. Excess fuel in the cylinders. I checked the plugs, and they're soaked with fuel.

So I'm either getting too much fuel, or not enough air (or both), and the bike won't start now. That could also have something to do with the cooler weather. I guess my real question is, should I take it to someone, or try to fix it myself? I've got some experience working on cars, but have never done any small engine work, and have never touched carbs. Thoughts?

[Big Rich]

Fix it yourself.

Check your oil level - if it is higher than it should be, you may have gas in your oil and it is contaminated. As far as the carbs go, have you checked your float height with a clear tube? And your petcock isn't set to "prime", is it?

[rscottlow]

Fix it yourself.

Check your oil level - if it is higher than it should be, you may have gas in your oil and it is contaminated. As far as the carbs go, have you checked your float height with a clear tube? And your petcock isn't set to "prime", is it?

Thanks...it looks like the oil was changed before the bike was put away for the winter, so I can't very well see the oil on the stupid dipstick. I did smell the oil though, and I don't notice any fuel smell.

Petcock is not set to prime.

Not sure how to check the float height... I did watch the carb cleaning video on the video tutorial sticky. Is there a link explaining how to check float height?

[Iarn]

Check this out. It helped me a lot.

http://www.motorcycleforums.net/forum/mechanics-corner/52158-suzuki-gs500f-float-height-adjustment.html

[rscottlow]

Check this out. It helped me a lot.

http://www.motorcycleforums.net/forum/mechanics-corner/52158-suzuki-gs500f-float-height-adjustment.html

This is excellent, thank you! I'm going to start on removing the carbs tonight.

[Big Rich]

Scott, before you take the carbs off, try the clear tube method:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en-US&ie=UTF-8&source=android-browser&q=carb+float+level+clear+tube&gws_rd=ssl#hl=en-US&q=carb+float+level+clear+tube+gs500

It's good to check with a tube first, because it shows you the actual float height. If you measure the proper gap mentioned above (thanks Iarn!) and it is in spec, but you have a sticking float needle..... it can get confusing. 

[rscottlow]

Great, I'll do that. I'll have to find some clear hose. Any hints on where I can find that?

Another question. I had already started working before coming back here to check. When lifting up the fuel tank, I notice that the hose coming out of the bottom of the tank in front of the pet ok is kinked. Is that a problem?

[Big Rich]

Can't help with the hose coming off the petcock - I never had a GS500. Surely somebody will chime in though.

For the small diameter tubing: aquarium tubing works, along with the vent tube from the original battery.