Well, I had reinstalled my newly re-jetted carbs and installed a fuel filter. Once I put the carbs back on and a fuel filter on, the bike wouldn't start.....see this thread:
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16731&highlight=
Well, I replaced the fuel hoses because I didn't care for the condition that the old ones were in and once I put the bike back together, it wouldn't start again. However, I fiddled with the hoses a bit and set the fuel lever to PRI for a couple minutes. Once I did that I tried to start the bike again and HOLY CRAP, it actually started. I let the bike run with the choke on for a couple minutes, then put it to about a quarter choke and everything was fine. Well, after a few minutes of letting it sit and run and revving it lightly from time to time, the bike died. I started it up again and just let it idle completely without giving it throttle, but it died again after a couple minutes. I noticed that my fuel hose going from my petcock to my carbs was a little pinched, so I straightened it out and set the lever to PRI again for a short bit. I started it again and it seemed to be doing okay. I rode it for a bit and it seemed to be riding very jumpy and not really that great, but once I shifted a couple times it seemed to be doing fine. I rode for maybe 4 minutes, then turned the bike off and stored it back in the garage. Came out later that night to try and run it again. It started up but died soon after. Once it died I set the lever to PRI again, hoping that maybe the carbs needed to get fuel or something again, but I had no luck starting it, it just reverted to doing the same thing it was in my previous thread with cranking but not starting.
GOD BLESS anyone that took the time to read that and is willing to give me a suggestion on where to go from here. Thanks guys!
Could it be possible that you've mis-plumbed the hoses? Here (http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/www_gs500_de_HoseRouting.jpg)is a diagram of the hoses courtesy of Mr. Kerry's website.
This sounds like fuel starvation for one reason or another.
the flow valve under the tank is barely cracked open
Flow valve under the tank? Please elaborate.....
what year is your bike??
1997
you know how to take the tank off?
Yes, I've taken it off numerous times already. I've even unscrewed the petcock from the tank before (don't ask why).
There is a screwdriver operated petcock under side of tank, that's gotta be vertical to be open fully. That's davipu's suggestion.
Now I have a better theory ... I have seen it in action too ... The screwdriver slot is supposed to be accessed from the right side of bike ... people fit it on left ... that's OK but they'd ahve to correspondingly swap the inside pick up/filter around to compensate ... They dont ... so when you ahve it in ON its reserve and res is on and worse ... prime connects reserve to carbs wihtout vacuum, and you now have on to res wihtout vacuum ... so not enough fuel in tank and the bike wont respond on prime or reserve ... So you're probably going to have to try it in on as its running if that's the case.
Cool.
Srinath.
damn Srinath, you just had to ruin my fun didn't you? you know I was getting ready to tell him that it was cause his rear tire was low and it was throwing off his carb floats. but no you just had to ruin it.....
srinath.....thanks for the analysis, but what should I do with that knowledge? Is the little screw that needs to be vertical sticking out on the side of the fuel-mounted petcock? Am I picturing the right part?
So I should just take off the tank and turn that screw vertical? When I took the petcock off, I remembered to install it exactly as it was before, so that I'm sure I didn't change anything on the bike from what it was like before.
yeah, just turn it to vertical
Well I believe there is plenty scope for screw up's without our help :lol: ... If I posted 1/10th the crap I see in peoples bikes You'd all call me insane ... I am currently working on a bike that seems to snap off every 5th bolt ... man like what's wiht this thing ...
Cool.
Srinath.
I don't understand why it would not be in a vertical position already....the p.o. supposedly was running the bike perfectly before he sold it to me, and it wouldn't have run smoothly if the screw wasn't vertical. Does the screw sometimes just work itself out of place?
Oh, thanks again for the jets, srinath! Got em installed in a snap....I'm just waiting on the bike to run like a champ to send you the DJ mains and needles.
nope, but as you siad yourself you removed the tank several times, when you pull the hoses off if you need to close that pet chicken so that the fuel dosn't run on the ground. and when you put the tank back on, you need to open it back up.
Well.....I'm an idiot and I didn't realize there was a screw to close it off. I just emptied the tank every time I removed it so fuel wouldn't pour out. I never turned the screw.
Perhaps that's not the problem, then....
then maybe a pinched hose, or a bad line/ connection on the vaccum line that connects from the petcock to the carbs
OK then you have the screw facing left of bike or right ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Screw facing right.
UPDATE: I got the bike started and can ride it around for a bit, but then it dies. It seems like when I play with the fuel hoses, trying to get any pinches out, that the bike runs fine. I got clear vinyl hoses for it, and when I put it to PRI, I can see the hose filling up. However, the hose does not fill up all the way (I dunno if it should).
When I'm riding it and just let out the throttle in 1st gear to let it idle, the bike really wants to die. It eventually does die, and I'm pretty sure it's because it's not getting enough fuel somehow. All of my lines are nice and straight......not twisted or anything. Once I set the fuel lever to PRI for a bit, the fuel hose fills up (almost all the way) and I can set it back to ON and ride for a bit. Then I have to repeat the process once it dies.
What could be wrong? Are my hoses just not working correctly?
Oh, I'd just like to add that the bike seems to run fine when I ride it in PRI. Would it hurt the bike to always ride it in PRI?
Going to work now.....just thought I'd bump this. :thumb:
What does it idle at? Maybe adjust the idle screw?
It idles at about 1200, which I believe is the correct setting....
1200 is correct. How does it rev in neutral? Can you grab a handful of throttle, snap it wide open as fast as you can (temporarily, don't sail past redline), and see what happens? If it doesn't bog, then your getting good carburetion down low and good fuel flow. Otherwise, I might second Davipu:
Quote from: daviputhen maybe a pinched hose, or a bad line/ connection on the vaccum line that connects from the petcock to the carbs
since your bike runs better in PRI (bypassing the petcock).
i think there are many gs's out there that only seem to run on prime. when i got mine 2 years ago it was on prime and i havent moved it since. i tried plain ol' "on" a few times and the bike sputtered and died each time. i just leave it on prime all the time. doesnt overfill the float bowls and spills gas on the floor (at least on my bike)
doesn't prime flood the lines?
wouldn't it differ from "ON"
I am not really all that mechanically inclined... im just thinking outloud
ok, seems to be a vacuum problem in your (non tank mounted) petcock as in either a lack there of.
Vacuum is not connected if runs in prime only. Now vacuum being capped off at the carb isn't bad for the bike, cos it will not get free air making it lean ... but if bike has to be run in prime, please remember to shut it ... ON or res when you stop/park it ... else it will flood the floats.
Cool.
Srinath.
intersting reading - maybe it has a bearing on my problem (see High Speed Cutting Out - posted yesterday). The vacuum pipe on my UK bike has a small plastic T piece halfway between petcock and carbs - should this line be one continuous line with no breaks ?