GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 01:35:24 PM

Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 01:35:24 PM
I rode it yesterday and even this morning. went to class, came back a few hrs later. Got on the bike and started it... Reved it a little 2 secs later the engine just cuts. Sounds like a stall. there is gas in the tank. What do you think it is? i switch to reserve. same thing happens.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: simonyau on May 25, 2005, 01:44:43 PM
Do you have choke on when you start the bike? Sometimes a little choke will help the starting. I usually apply some choke and let it run for a couple of minutes before taking off.

Hope it helps,
Simon
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 01:47:19 PM
ill try that. thanks. battery is runnin fine too..keep em commin!  :)
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: gazingwa on May 25, 2005, 01:53:21 PM
check your air filter, after that, i think it is carb time
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 02:00:43 PM
Just came back from trying to start it again, It has gotten worse. The bike wont turn over. Its as if the battery is dead but its not...lights and all the other lights are working. Maybe i need to change the oil as well? . The carb was jsut cleaned. ill check it anyway. and the air filter too.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: Ry_Guy on May 25, 2005, 02:53:38 PM
I got the same problem with starting. All the lights work. The battery even reads 12 volts full charge on the voltmeter. But it still struggles to turn over. I cleaned my carbs too. I've been jump starting it everywhere I go, which is starting to get annoying.
After you do get it running, do you have full power on the open road?
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: scratch on May 25, 2005, 04:14:15 PM
Battery may have the voltage, but may not have the amperage. Charge the battery. If the battery doesn't stay charged it's either the battery or the stator is going out. Or, you got Goat's.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 07:44:01 PM
ry- Once its up and goin its great.  Not a problem. its just the actual start that sucks.... The battery is brand new for me.

scratch- u said maybe the stator is going out or i have goats? whats that mean? im a noob. I called the guy who sold it to me and he said to jump start it. Im thinking i need to clean the spark plugs... ill look for a link on that now..and i may have "flooded" the bike. and in which case i dont know how to cure that. any more help would be greatly appreciated while i scower the abyss of The Search. lol..
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: Ry_Guy on May 25, 2005, 10:17:44 PM
Not sure if you've done this or not, but try jump starting it off a car battery. Make sure the car is OFF. If it turns over well, but still takes a few tries to actually fire up, then we have the same problem.
I'm thinking it's one of the following...Stator problem, goats syndrome (I hope not), or needs a valve adjustment. But I might rule out the valve adjustment because it still has full power when running.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 25, 2005, 10:47:02 PM
Ry- You seem to be more knowedgable about this than i am. then again im a newb to this business of GSing. heh. What is goin on when there is a stator problem/goat syndrome in the bike?
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: Ry_Guy on May 26, 2005, 08:37:46 AM
After doing some research, I don't think it's Goat's Syndrome, because that would make a bunch of racket in the engine when we ride.
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10798&highlight=goats+syndrome
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13606&highlight=goats+syndrome
Here's something to do to check for it...
Quotedo you have a volt meter?
buy/beg/borrow one.

key off....read voltage at battery...12.2-12.5V
start bike.... read voltage...13.2-13.8V

if 12 when running...not charging
The stator problem is still a possibility, but I know as much as you do at this point. The only other thing that's possible is a short/pinched wire somewhere. But I've checked all over and I can't find any. I'm still somewhat a newb myself, so we're in this together   :thumb:   Lemme know if you find anything.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 26, 2005, 10:39:21 AM
Yo Ry Guy-  I read something similar on the voltage thing here (http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id21.htmlurl) You may have read the same thing. Thanks to Pantablo for the info.

I also have a check list I will be going over today. They are in no particular order.
-check spark plugs if dirty or need to be replaced.
-check clutch adjustment. (doubt thats it)
-starter/ignition

My bike is also due for an oil change and chain lube. Ill let you know how it goes. :cheers:
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: J-Double on May 26, 2005, 12:14:21 PM
Quote from: That guyry- Once its up and goin its great.  Not a problem. its just the actual start that sucks....

Maybe you need one of those little blue pills. Oh wait, I'm on a motorcycle forum.   :lol:
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 28, 2005, 09:30:42 PM
Yo Ry- I have realized my battery is definatly the problem here. There is enough battery acid in the sucker and it sounds fine when its hooked to my car's bettery, but the sucker just wont charge! Its haning in the 11.6 volt rangs when i need it at 12.5 The trickle charger is good but it is a pain in the but to wait for..I actually turned it on while the trickle charger was hooked up and i realized the bike was idling at like half the power.. it was wierd. it would die if i gave it any more gas, i would have to wait for it a little and SLOWLY rev the engine. If i rev it with even a quarter of the throttle it puts out and dies. HMMMM. what do you think? New spark plugs needed maybe?
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: Ry_Guy on May 29, 2005, 02:50:41 PM
That guy - Not sure about the spark plugs, man. I probably need new ones myself. I haven't had the time to look at the GS lately :(  . I might check the start switch assembly next. Last time I tried starting it, I jiggled the wiring near it a little and it wouldn't do anything. Then I jiggled it again, and it worked fine.

[edit]: I checked the start assembly today and found nothing wrong, other than a dead petrified ladybug in there. RIP

Good call on the battery. I checked mine again, and it's hanging around 11.9 volts. I put it on the 1amp trickle charger, but it didnt' seem to make a difference. Maybe it doesn't have enough amperage after all. Have you gotten a new battery yet? I'm considering it, but the cheapest one I found was $60 at Walmart. I'll be looking around for something cheaper the next few days.
QuoteI actually turned it on while the trickle charger was hooked up and i realized the bike was idling at like half the power.. it was wierd. it would die if i gave it any more gas, i would have to wait for it a little and SLOWLY rev the engine. If i rev it with even a quarter of the throttle it puts out and dies.
So...you hooked the charger up while the bike was running, and read the meter on the charger? I think a voltmeter would give a more acurate reading, but I could be wrong. What's the deal with it dying when you give it gas? Did it always do that?
I'm hoping a new battery will fix the crappy idle too, and not just the crappy start-up.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 30, 2005, 10:35:38 AM
Ry-Guy  -  I posted this other post last night when i came home last night (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17979&highlight=). Good ole scratch gave it a reply. So im going to follow his advice and check the air filter. as far as the battery is concerned. I was talking to a bike mechanic and he said to check the battery acid level. make sure its between or near the two lines of the case. you just unscrew the top and you check each chamber. if any are low you are supposed to put some distilled water all the way to the right level. As far as the stupid trickle charger is concerned, it works. I just dont like how you have to leave it on there for a while because i gotta leave it out in my appt garage and the only outlet is next to the elevator entrance. I can just see people going up to it and fkin around with it. i dont like leaving it in such a vulnerable state. may be different for you. im gonna go ahead and change the spark plugs for peace of mind.

QuoteSo...you hooked the charger up while the bike was running, and read the meter on the charger?

no i didnt do that. i was worried i was gonna get zapped. heh. but i took the trickle charger off and then tested it. it was a solid 11 and the 11.6 was flickering.

good luck. ill keep you posted on any improvements over here.

peace
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 30, 2005, 10:37:09 AM
Ry-Guy  -  I posted this other post last night when i came home last night (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17979&highlight=). Good ole scratch gave it a reply. So im going to follow his advice and check the air filter. as far as the battery is concerned. I was talking to a bike mechanic and he said to check the battery acid level. make sure its between or near the two lines of the case. you just unscrew the top and you check each chamber. if any are low you are supposed to put some distilled water all the way to the right level. As far as the stupid trickle charger is concerned, it works. I just dont like how you have to leave it on there for a while because i gotta leave it out in my appt garage and the only outlet is next to the elevator entrance. I can just see people going up to it and fkin around with it. i dont like leaving it in such a vulnerable state. may be different for you. im gonna go ahead and change the spark plugs for peace of mind.

QuoteSo...you hooked the charger up while the bike was running, and read the meter on the charger?

no i didnt do that. i was worried i was gonna get zapped. heh. but i took the trickle charger off and then tested it. it was a solid 11 and the 11.6 was flickering.

good luck. ill keep you posted on any improvements over here.

peace
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 30, 2005, 10:37:53 AM
doh!
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: Anonymous on May 30, 2005, 10:49:25 AM
Can I ask WHY you don't just take the battery OUT and bring it into your apartment to charge?

I think you have a gas starvation problem.  If the battery will start the bike it has plenty of juice to keep it running.
Title: Starts for a few secs then stops.
Post by: That guy on May 30, 2005, 11:03:37 AM
i have a cat and it can open doors.