So yesterday I went out for a little trip around the neighborhood since it's been the first half way nice day in 3 days. Unfortunetly, I ran out of gas. After I finaly got some gas into, the bike stalls out on idle. Infact the only way I can get it to start is by holding open the throttle, and then when it starts, it chokes and sputters.. and it stays at about 1000RPM, with the throttle full open, so I rock the throttle untill finaly it seems to break out of that 1000RPM's and start reving like normal. As soon as I let the throttle idle off, it dies. I was going to look for the idle adjust, but I have no idea where that even is. So if any one can give me an idea where that is too and what my problem is, that'd be awesome.
Thanks
Adam
Sure, no problem; picture: (http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/DSCF2431_Idle_Drain_Mixture_Screws.jpg)
Your idle should be set to 1200rpms, after the bike is at full operating temperature (usually after about a 15 minute ride).
Does your throttle snap back? http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=29842.msg323916#msg323916
Yeah, it does snap back. Funny thing about that other post, the problem has seemed to go away now.. It doesn't idle high, and I didn't do anything. I'll play around with the idle adjust, see what I can figure out..
Thanks for the picture
Ok, so here's what is going on now...
(http://www.onemorefrag.com/nudegs500.jpg) (Yes that's my Nissan 240SX behind my naked GS500)
I kept trying to start it, and it'd just stall out.. Suddenly my friend notices that he smells gas, sure, the gas is flooding the engine, and leaking back out into the intake, and leaking out the drainage hole. Great, well so I'm flooding it, it's still not starting, I've backed off the idle adjust and still nothing. So then I take the key out for a moment because we're going to grab some more tools from the basement, and I come back up and try to start it once more... nothing.. No click.. no.. anything.. Battery is fully charged.. so I check the fuse.. fuse is fine. Head light works etc.. Just nothing from the starter.. so I think I burnt out the relay for the starter.. Because that would normaly click.. and you should be able to hear that. So I'm not having good luck on what this could be.. I'm tihnking it's just not getting any air because the air filter is just sucked full of fuel. But now I can't test that, because I can't start it. I'm going to try and grab a new relay tomarrow.
I started taking things appart slowly, and noticed something...
(http://www.onemorefrag.com/gs500carb.jpg)
So this picture above is my air intake/carb on the right side of the bike. The little metal door that you can barely make out in there, that goes strait up and down (Can you tell I have no idea what they are?), I noticed when you pushed it half way up it got stuck! but it didn't to that on the right left side! So I took off the back top there, and checked out the spring, which was bent, and wasn't put in all the way.. So I fixed that and it works moves fine now with out getting stuck.. Could this of had been my problem with my high idling? Also, what is that.. What is it for... Most likely a very stupid qusetion to ask I'm sure. XD
Thanks
Adam
I'm no expert, I've only been working on my bike for a few weeks now but I am/was having some of the same problems you are. Take my word for what its worth - I'm new to this.
If you are actually spilling gas out of the carbs then I would think it was the floats in the carbs. When I took my carbs apart one of the floats got stuck in the down position. When I turned the petcock to on I started leaking gas. A couple good taps with a screwdriver on the bowl of that carb loosened it up and stopped the leak. If things are gummy in there then maybe it got stuck open when you ran out of gas letting the floats drop below their normal level.
Too much gas would explain why you could only start the bike with the throttle open - this was allowing more air into the bike to offset the tons of gas you were getting. That stuck butterfly (the "metal door") would set your carbs WAY off balance. If I were you I would probably go over the carbs and clean them well if you are comfortable and know what you're doing (theres a few good tutorials you can find by searching). You already have it apart this far so it seems reasonable. Make sure the float levels are set correctly while you're in there. With the carbs back on the bike see how its running, If the problem continues check for vacuum leaks using the WD-40 or Starting fluid test.
As for the bike not turning over - don't forget the basic/obvious stuff. Is the kickstand down while the bikes in gear, etc. I can't count how many times I've been working on the bike, gone to start it up and then wondered why it didn't start and it was because the bike was in gear with the kickstand down. After scratching my head for a second or to I realize I did it again and then hit myself with the heaviest tool at hand for forgetting.
If you haven't already, BUY A CLYMER MANUAL. Theres a link at this sites homepage so you can help the gstwin out as well as helping yourself. The clymer was the best 20 bucks I have spent. It covers troubleshooting and tells you how to do everything I've suggested. While you're waiting for the ups guy to bring that you can use the search funtion on the site. I've realized that just about any question I can ask has already been answered.
Good Luck.
Do both sparkplugs have spark?
Mini 12 has good advice. If fuel is spilling out of the carb into the airbox and/or the engine, your floats are stuck. Take the carbs apart and clean them out really well and set your float height. They could just be stuck or there may be dirt or rust on the valve, not allowing it to fully seat, so be sure to put a fuel filter on your fuel line when you but the thing back together to prevent this from happening in the future.
When trying to start the bike, let the starter and battery rest for a while after cranking. Make sure ylour battery is fully charged before buying a new relay.
Good luck. :cheers:
Haha, Duc??? MINI???? Mjy pride is hurt. Its MJN as in my initials. See if I send you those jets now!
(I'm only kidding, well except for the pride)
:laugh: sorry about the pride mjn 12. :laugh: I didn't mean to make you feel small. with the underline, the j looks like an i j i
later :cheers:
ok, so I'm still working on this. >_< so here is what is up. Carbs really arn't that bad, but I'm cleaning them up a lot, just to re-assure myself that it's not the problem. But, I ran into another problem.
(http://www.onemorefrag.com/gs500carbs1.jpg)
Ok so this is a little copper nub, that comes out of my carbs on the bottem. Nice isn't it. (Note red arrow pointing to it.)
(http://www.onemorefrag.com/gs500carbs2.jpg)
This is the little copper nub, that falls out of my carbs when I turn it upside down.
(http://www.onemorefrag.com/gs500carbs3.jpg)
In red is the hole for the copper nub.
The other side just doesn't fall out. Why does this side? How dos it stay in place? How can I get mine to stay in place?
Also, what is the screw that I have the blue arrow pointing to?
Thanks
Adam
wow that seems like a lot of work for what was likely a minor problem.
Ok if the bike ran fine before you ran out of fuel, then that should have been the only problem. Floats do stick occasionally and it can cause flooding and running problems similar to what you discribed because you're basically dumping a tremendous amount of raw fuel down the cylinder. This is usually best fixed by lightly knocking on the carb bowls with a screwdriver handle or something...not complete disassembly of the bike.
After you get the carbs cleaned up, spray that hole out with some carb cleaner, then pour some rubbing alcohol in it. After it dries...superglue. I onl suggest this because I have no idea what that thing is...so the more knowledgeable may object.
Blue arrow is slow mix...leave it alone.
Also, as far as the bike not turning over, make sure you didn't accidently unplug anything. Check your kick and clutch switches, mainly. Destroying a starter relay is rather difficult and it would manifest it's self in the form of a constantly closed circuit or a charred mess.
lol...I do know that if you continue to attack problems in your current fashion you'll be broke or bikeless rather quickly.
By the way, replace both of your spark plugs. You've done them no favors lately and they're cheap...with everything off the bike they're easy to replace, too.
Good news! After a few days of cold weather, I finaly got out there, and got the carbs back on the bike, and it runs, and after a bit of tweaking runs really good. I did burn out the starter relay, I tested it, and it's not triggering.. I must of either used it so much that I burnt it out. Now it starts everytime, first time!
Thanks for everyones help on this. I'm happy to say, I'll still do a little more riding this year before it gets to snowy here in Minnesota.
Quote from: scratch on September 24, 2006, 08:12:11 AM
(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/DSCF2431_Idle_Drain_Mixture_Screws.jpg)
How do you add text, circles, and arrows to photos?
Chilly
Kerry made that photo. But, I believe that you can add text and circles in paintbrush, so you'd have to copy it into a .bmp file.
or .jpg
Cool. As the saying goes, "a picture's worth a thousand words"--especially when you're limited to the all-purpose "thingy" for describing motorcycle parts.
Chilly