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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: RoadToRuin on November 21, 2006, 06:00:37 PM

Title: High Idling
Post by: RoadToRuin on November 21, 2006, 06:00:37 PM
So I bought a '93 gs500e about a month ago and finally got insured and plated last weekend. The bike is a blast, but the previous owner told me it idles really low and frequently stalls out at lights, etc. So I set the idle to about 3500-4000 and it seems to be fine. Is there any harm in having the idle set this high?

He told me I should have a tune-up done to fix the idle problem, what exactly would be involved in something like this?

Thanks.
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on November 21, 2006, 06:06:10 PM
Idle really shouldn't be any higher than 1500.

Try cleaning the carbs.
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: Mk1inCali on November 21, 2006, 06:41:11 PM
Tune-up would be new plugs, new gas in the tank, cleaning the carbs, new air filter (don't waste money buying a stock replacement though).


Things you can do yourself=all of the above, except for cleaning the carbs.  I'd wait a bit on that unless you've dealt with carburateurs before and are confident in following schematics/retracing your steps.  In that case, jump right in!
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: starwalt on November 21, 2006, 07:01:21 PM
I am dealing with a similar/same issue -- a fuel system purge and adjustment is usually the recommended first step.

The ritual is: (done in the spirit of "Car Talk" sound effects)

Some choke on...starts first bump. Hmmmbudahummmmbudhummmm.
A few minutes and she warms up: HmmmmMMMMMMMMM!
Back off the choke and try to throttle up slightly: HmmmWHAAAAAAAA (3k+ rpm)

The 3k+ stuff goes on and if the choke is backed off....silence.

We discussed this here last week or so. Scratch and others fingered dirty carb orifices and such.

In short - disassemble and completely clean the carbs and fuel system.

Heck, mine even decided to just quit while going down the steep hill of the road I live on. The dog that was chasing me just stopped when the engine stopped!  I just pulled in the clutch and coasted the rest of the way down hill, into my drive way, and right up to the garage.

Dead Stick landing with a GS -- how cool is that?

The "dead" part might be significant if you need the power to get away and she just quit.  :o
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: scratch on November 22, 2006, 02:09:52 PM
Welcome!

How long has the bike been sitting before the previous owner sold it to you?

If greater than a week, the carbs would benefit from a cleaning.

A tune-up involves replacing the sparkplugs and synching the carbs.
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: The Buddha on November 22, 2006, 02:28:59 PM
While you are cleaning it ... like rejet.
Oh ... its all stock ... then rejet.
What ... it has a pipe and UNI filter, then the answer is - rejet.
You have a cold. Rejet.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: dchrist on November 22, 2006, 03:14:23 PM
I had high idle and rejet workd good

don't fear the carb clean (also don't lose any of the little parts while you do it)

:thumb:
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: RoadToRuin on November 22, 2006, 05:37:39 PM
Thanks for the replies, here is a list of everything that was modified on the bike before I purchased it. It was also sitting for about a month before I got plated and insured, before that I was told it was a daily rider.

Recent and Aftermarket parts;
-Full Vance & Hines exhaust system
-K&N 'lunch box' clamp on air filter (replaces the air box and clamps right onto the carbs)
-Re-jetted with genuine Mikuni jets (new 40 pilots, and 150 mains)
-Real carbon fiber headlight fairing
-Small cat eye front turn signals (smaller but brighter than stock)
-Billet aluminum rear license plate frame with integrated turn signals (again bringer than stock)
-Goodyear Front stainless steel braided brake line
-Front brake caliper from 1996+ GS500 (better more modern caliper)
-'clubman' style handle bars for the clip on feel and riding position
-Pro grip grips
-Cool single bar end mirror mounted in stock mirror location on left side
-Red L.E.D. bulbs in the gauges
-Race tech straight rate fork springs with gold emulators
-Pirelli Sport Demon tires (best and stickiest rubber you can buy in these sizes)
-Brand new EK Gold X-ring chain
-Brand new front sprocket (-1 tooth)
-Brand new rear sprocket (stock size) (new sprockets and chain have about 600km on them)
-Brand new clutch end of last year
-Oil and oil filter changed about 400km ago


He changed the spark plugs the day I bought it from him. So I guess the only other thing to do would be add some fresh fuel and clean the carbs?
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: scratch on November 23, 2006, 09:31:30 AM
You could even add some fuel injection cleaner to help clean the carbs.
Title: Re: High Idling
Post by: Jughead on November 23, 2006, 09:48:16 AM
Quote from: scratch on November 23, 2006, 09:31:30 AM
You could even add some fuel injection cleaner to help clean the carbs.

Seafoam in the Pour Can. :thumb: