So the other day I ran out of gas (apparently a quarter of an inch at the bottom of the tank isn't even enough to get around the block). I hadn't done that before, so I wasn't sure what to do. Tried changing the fuel input, that didn't work. So I walked it home.
I got some gas in it and it started up fine.
Next time I went riding, it started up okay, but it was jumpy. I went around in first gear for a while, thinking maybe it just needed to get the air out of its system. This seemed to work and it rode fine after about five minutes.
Second time riding it after I ran out of gas, same thing happened. I warmed it up for a few minutes. It stayed jumpy for about five as I rode around in first gear. Once it was warm, it rode just fine for about fifteen minutes.
Then all of a sudden it just lost it. It went jumpy again. The engine would stall as I slowed down for stops. I'd have the throttle open all the way, and it was hardly moving (like I was lugging the engine). Then it would kick in, speed up, jump again, and stall.
I'm guessing it's a fuel issue.
But there's another part to all of this.
My fuel selector is off. If it's like a clock face, "Prime" is at 12:00; "Fuel" is at 3:00; "Reserve" is at 9:00. Nothing's at 6:00. But I can't get it to go to Fuel. It stops at Prime going clockwise and at the 6:00 position going counter-clockwise.
I think this just means that everything should be moved over by 3 hours (or fifteen minutes, pick your favorite) counter-clockwise, so that "Fuel" is at 12:00 and so on. I'm pretty sure the former owner told me to just keep it in Prime.
But am I wrong in this?
Sorry that this is so long, but I wanted to be as clear as I could.
Anyone have any suggestions? Any help is appreciated...
"fuel" isn't a setting, but rather just a label for the petcock. The 6 o'clock position is "On", and should be marked as such.
-M
Sounds like you have a newer fuel petcock. The old school was labeled "ON", "PRI", and "RESERVE".
From the old owner's manual:
- using the short part of the handle as reference -
ON and PRI are opposite each other. ON is short part pointing approx. 11:00 - PRI is short part pointing approx. 5:00.
RESERVE places the short part approx. 2:30 (90 degrees from either ON or PRI).
I know we've got some photos of this somewhere. Kerry has discussed this previously. I wonder how his webpage directory is layed out...?
Mandres is probably referring to the long part in his reply. That's just the other end of the lever and would make my references 180 out.
Now regarding the poor operation. If you are uncertain of the heritage of this GS, your carbs may be full of crap. Check out the pics HERE (http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-starwalt) to see some really dirty carbs. That rust crap will plug your carbs up.
You might try a simple bowl draining to flush the sediment/rust out of the bowls. Do you own a service manual of any type?
Quote from: LotN on March 15, 2006, 06:48:43 PM... I'm pretty sure the former owner told me to just keep it in Prime.
But am I wrong in this?
I
do not recommend keeping the setting in PRI. You will flood the carbs eventually and may even discover gas on the floor/ground if left in this state.
PRI is to fill the bowls if they are empty or if you wish to flush the bowls as I mentioned before. The owner's manual explicitly warns against leaving the setting on PRI.
Another thing you might consider is the possibility your vacuum diaphragm is bad. Check out Kerry's fuel hose routing page
HERE (http://www.bbburma.net/FuelHoseRouting.htm) to make sure someone hasn't installed a problem for you. :)
So I should have it set to 6:00, then?...
what year is your bike? Mine is a '00 model and according to the owner's manuel and the markings on the petcock when the long arm of the lever (which has an arrow mark on it) is pointed at 6:00 that is the 'on' position. Yours might be the same or, as starwalt indicated, you might have a different style petcock.
-M
Next time you run out of fuel so close to home, set it to PRI, lean it over to the left for some time (or even just put it on the sidestand). That should give you enough fuel for a few hundred yards.
And, yeah, the GS is notorious for not finishing its drink properly.