GS won't start.....Help!

[riderphyziks]

So because of the hurricane it has been about a week since I started my bike. Today was a nice day so I decided I would take my bike to work. Usually it starts right up with no choke. That didn't work today, so I figured it was because the bike had sat for a week. So I put it on full choke....still nothing. The starter is working but it won't turn over. I have no idea what this could be.

[mr72]

So because of the hurricane it has been about a week since I started my bike. Today was a nice day so I decided I would take my bike to work. Usually it starts right up with no choke. That didn't work today, so I figured it was because the bike had sat for a week. So I put it on full choke....still nothing. The starter is working but it won't turn over. I have no idea what this could be.

It shouldn't ever start cold without choke. If it was starting without choke before then it's likely adjusted very rich on the pilot. I'd say it may be flooded now, you probably want to check the float levels and float needles, reset the idle mixture, etc.

[Watcher]

My first GS would cold start without the choke in the summer.  Not all the time, but if it was nice and warm from the sun it would fire up with little to no choke.  Jetted to 40/130 with stock intake and aftermarket exhaust...


A week is a short time to lose engine function...

It's POSSIBLE that your float needles are stuck up.  It usually won't happen from just a week, but they're brass needles/seats and if they're exposed to high humidity they can corrode.  If they were on their way out this week of sitting may have pushed them over the hill, so to speak.
Set your petcock to prime and tap on the bowls to try and free anything that might be sticky.

Also, check your air filter for a nest.  If there was a hurricane nearby small animals can be hiding ANYWHERE.  I've seen mice make a home in engines before.

[HPP8140]

Not enough infomation:

Let's start with where the bike is stored?

• Indoor
• outdoor - check for water issues

[riderphyziks]

The bike is stored in my driveway. It is covered, but the cover blew off multiple times during the storm so the bike did get pretty wet. How do I go about determining if it is a water issue? Also just so everyone knows I am very new to bikes and how everything works because this is my first one.

[mr72]

The bike is stored in my driveway. It is covered, but the cover blew off multiple times during the storm so the bike did get pretty wet. How do I go about determining if it is a water issue? Also just so everyone knows I am very new to bikes and how everything works because this is my first one.

I was very new to these bikes just a couple of months ago but those on this forum will have you educated in no time.

I can't imagine one storm's worth of water damage is going to be a big deal, but what do I know? We drove my bike home on a trailer for 2 hours in a torrential downpour when I bought it and it had no noticeable water damage besides just being wet.

I was serious about it running rich if it starts without choke. It should require you to apply the choke to start when it's cold and in fact a correctly-adjusted GS500 probably takes 2-5 minutes or more of running before it can be taken fully off of choke. So this looks like problem #1 to me.

Presuming it is running super rich when trying to start, I think it's likely you fouled at least one plug with gas. So you need to check that and probably clean your new plugs. If one of them is damp then you need to sort out the carburetor issue first. That's a big rat hole so I won't go into it until you confirm the plug check.

The ignition check suggested earlier to look for a spark with the plugs in the boots and the bottom of the plug grounded to the head is a good next step.

That, in addition to whatever water-damage check others here suggest.

[HPP8140]

As mentioned check exposed electric connectors, battery, spark plugs, airbox.

I'm sure the bike will be fine when components dry out. Also try to push or bump start with your car (engine not running).