First off i would like to say this is my first bike so my knowledge of common issues is quite limited.
I recently purchased a '97 gs500e and now every once in a while while i'm drivng it will start to "chug" and will bring me to a slow stop and then will not start for appx. 10 or so minutes.
This situation has happened to me twice now, once when i was only down the street, and another time after a 100mi. trip. So distance doesn't seem to be a factor here. I was thinking maybe fuel, or carb. Not sure.
Has anyone here experienced this issue?
Thanks in advance for your knowledge.
Sounds like a fuel problem. Check the lines for blockages, as well as the screen filter inside the tank. Also, when you stop, are you putting the petcock in PRI?
Also, the bike did not come with a fuel filter, just the screen in the tank. If the previous owner put a cellulose filter designed for cars on it, then it will starve for fuel.
I always keep the bike in run (petcock down). i read the manual and i thought PRI was only used if after you fill up after running out of fuel it will allow free flowing gas to go to the carbs.
Also the lady who sold me the bike didn't have the seat key, so to take off the tank and look inside at the screen i guess i'll have to break the lock.
The seat should take the same key as the rest of the bike.
If not ... unbolt the rear fender and let it dangle and reach under and finger it open ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Welcome, blackey!
The seat key and ignition key are generally the same. Did you try the ignition key, or did the previous owner have to change the lock for some reason?
Your GS might also have a "fuel starvation" issue. Even when the bike has gas in the tank, the GS sputters, coughs, and can stop running (usually at higher speeds, but it differs from bike to bike).
Here are a couple of threads about fuel starvation:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=19375.0
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=18534.0
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=18253
If any of these threads sound familiar, there are a lot more where they came from. I did a search on fuel starvation, and pulled up a number of mentions.
The only way my GS would run consistently on freeways was to run him in PRI. I ran him using ON just fine on surface streets. :thumb:
Quote from: pandy on July 23, 2006, 10:28:48 AM
Welcome, blackey!
The seat key and ignition key are generally the same. Did you try the ignition key, or did the previous owner have to change the lock for some reason?
My '92 came with 2 different keys for the seat lock and the ignition from the factory.
I have seen 2 different factory keys if it had a problem with one or the other lock ... else ... monday morning assembly job you think ???
Cool.
Srinath.
Wow, thank you guys for all of your input, my current situation keeps me from riding as often as i would like because i'm afraid i'll get caught in the middle of nowhere and i wont be able to get it started. But it sounds as if this is common.
So let me get this straight, about the PRI position...
It's OK to have the bike in prime as long as the bike is running correct? I've never set the bike into this position because i figured it would flood.
Also the fuel screen inside the tank - What's the best way to make sure all is well? do i have to get a flashlight and look inside the tank from the gas cap hole? or take off the fuel valve (the one attached to the tank) and the screen should be on there?
Thanks again.
Quote from: blackey on July 23, 2006, 10:55:21 AM
So let me get this straight, about the PRI position...
It's OK to have the bike in prime as long as the bike is running correct? I've never set the bike into this position because i figured it would flood.
If you DO find that it helps to run your bike in PRI, make absolutely certain to turn the petcock back to ON when you park, because you don't want to come back to your bike and find a puddle of gas. I experimented a lot and found what combination of PRI and ON worked for me (ideally, I tried to run ON as much as possible and on PRI when necessary).
What I used to do was set the petcock to PRI if I knew I was going to be taking the freeway, and then I'd turn back to ON shortly before I got off the freeway and was going to be on surface streets.
Mine did that when it was brand new with only a few hundred miles on it. I started running it on reserve forever more and never had another single incident. But I keep a close eye on my trip odometer.
:)
If a bike is ridden in RES all day everyday will it use ALL of the gas? the normal tank and the reserve tank? This maybe a dumb question, but i don't wanna look into my tank and see gas, but not be able to run because i've used up all reserve or something..
Thanks.
Quote from: blackey on July 23, 2006, 10:11:59 PM
If a bike is ridden in RES all day everyday will it use ALL of the gas? the normal tank and the reserve tank? This maybe a dumb question, but i don't wanna look into my tank and see gas, but not be able to run because i've used up all reserve or something..
Thanks.
It sure will. Never run with the reserve on unless you need it or you'll eventually end up stranded.
And there is no reserve tank. It's all the same tank. The reserve just pulls gas from a lower point.
i had this problem with my 93, its a petcock issue, change it to an aftermarket (pingle) petcock and you should be good to go, its about a 50$ fix and its easy to do.
Or...you could just do what I did and get rid of the frame mounted petcock altogether and just run straight hose from the nipple on the tank to the carbs.
No reserve, but...I'd like my bike to actually work on the freeways.
Welcome!
Quote from: blackey on July 23, 2006, 10:55:21 AM
Also the fuel screen inside the tank - What's the best way to make sure all is well? Do I have to get a flashlight and look inside the tank from the gas cap hole? Or, take off the fuel valve (the one attached to the tank) and the screen should be on there?
You can see the screen from the cap, it's usually white, or turns tan with age. Best seen in the daytime, or with a flashlight, look into the tank from the right-hand side of the bike; look to the bottom, on the left, of the tank.
Hope that helps.
Assuming there is debris in the tank and attached to the screen, what's the best way to clean?
BTW i appreciate all of your input, it's nice to know there's a GSTwin community out there, it makes owning this bike that much nicer.
You have a 97? thats a good year.
Drain the gas and take out the petcock.