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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: whosthatkid on June 22, 2005, 11:47:20 AM

Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: whosthatkid on June 22, 2005, 11:47:20 AM
Hello everyone.  Great forum here.  Recently got a 96 GS with about 4K for $1800.  Enjoying the bike, riding, and this forum.

Anyway, I have a couple of problems/questions.

1)The oil light always comes on when the ignition is on, but goes off once the motor starts.  Is this normal or indicating a problem?

And a more serious problem,
2)The bike starts up fine with choke on then idles good at about 1100rpm with choke off.  After riding for abour 10 minutes, the bike sputters and dies when not accelerating.  Then the bike won't start with choke on/off.  The engine turns, but won't start.  After waiting 5-10 minutes, the engine starts (after several tries) with choke on, but dies again after about 1 minute.   Once the engine is totally cooled off, the engine starts up fine again.  This problem began after not riding the bike for 2 weeks.  There is gas in the tank, petcock is on, and oil level is ok.  How come the motor runs/starts fine when engine is cool, but dies when it is hot?  Anyone know what the problem could be and/or how to fix it?  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.
Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: Cal Price on June 22, 2005, 11:56:05 AM
The oil light is perfectly normal, no worries.

The other issue, I suppose you have got your "ins" and "outs" the right way around?

Could be a fuel thing, try running on PRI for a while and if OK switch back to "on"
Title: oil light
Post by: scottpA_GS on June 22, 2005, 11:58:16 AM
Hey,

I can answer the oil light.. Its supposed to turn on. Once you start the bike though, it should go off.
Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: raylarrabee on June 22, 2005, 01:06:32 PM
your idle speed should be adjusted to around 1200 rpm with the engine completely warmed up.  With stock jetting, I think it can take 10-15 minutes to get the bike fully warmed up.  during warmup, you may need to ride with the choke for a few minutes and then slowly ease it back out as the bike warms.  Under choke, the idle will be higher.

once warmed up fully, adjust the idle (using the large, vertically-oriented screw in the middle of the carbs) so the bike idles at 1200-1500 rpm.

This might be the culprit.  If not, you might have a fuel problem, and those are beyond my area of "expertise."
Title: Problems fixed
Post by: whosthatkid on June 24, 2005, 12:58:31 PM
Hey guys.  The problem went away after filling the tank with gas.  I thought there was plenty gas, but obviously not...  Thanks all...
Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: gazingwa on June 24, 2005, 01:08:32 PM
NO NO NO.... don't admit to not having gas....

Example: Well after consulting many people on the cause of my problems, I concluded that the Mr Fusion system needed to be re-modulated for optimal performance.  Not trusting any shops around to work on my bike, I decided to do this myself.  After 2 hours of touch and go surgery, I'm happy to say my GS is on the road to recovery :) From now on I will have to make sure that it maintains a healthy diet of petroleum products.
Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: nisus1 on June 24, 2005, 01:17:10 PM
you don't know how many people this happened to... not me of course, but many people...  :thumb:

welcome to your new life.
Title: bad bad bad
Post by: funwithtwins on June 25, 2005, 12:44:52 PM
i agree never admit to not checking fuel level just pretend you figured out you had a bad fuel line leaking or somthing  :guns:
Title: newb with bike problems
Post by: Roadstergal on June 25, 2005, 12:48:42 PM
Quote from: gazingwaNO NO NO.... don't admit to not having gas....

Well, if he just got it, it might also be an old tank of gas in there... I had half a tank that had been sitting awhile when I bought mine and it ran like crap.  Topping it off with new gas made it all happy.