**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************NEVERMIND.*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
* The book shows TWO fuel lines going INTO the carbs, labeled as such. *
* All of you know the TOP line is actually a drain. *
* Now I do too. I'll try again tomorrow. I'll assume the drain line just fell off at some *
* and led to gas dripping onto the filter, and causing a nasty filter, flooding, etc. *
************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Original Post follows:
98 gs500
K&N
Vance & Hines
I was told more than a year ago the carbs were jetted for the V&H exhaust.
Now then.
I THOUGHT I had a tankfull of bad gas, apparently it was something more.
The bike ran like shaZam! just above idle, or around 4K rpm, or wherever it felt like it at first.
THen it got worse.
and worse.
1) Now, I've looked at the book, and it shows TWO fuel lines one upper, and one lower going into the carbs. Mine only had the lower line attached, and the top was just a "T" with nothing attached. I knew that something was really wrong at this point.
2) I drained the tank completely, replaced all the fuel lines, made sure R and ON were properly attached, and cleaned the air filter. New plugs were installed also.
3) There is good fuel flow and good spark.
4) The oil level is correct.
5) THere are no unusual noises from the engine other than it not starting. (THis is very unusual in almost 15K miles of riding.
Symptoms:
1) It drips from the filter, so I'd assume the float height is wrong.
2) The plugs are soaked after just a short period of trying to start it.
3) If it does fire at all, it's only with the throttle WIDE OPEN but it will not idle or run at any throttle position.
I can only assume the top fuel line is now drenching the carbs with gas that IT HASN"T HAD FLOWING IN OVER A YEAR, BUT RAN FINE DURING THAT TIME.
So, where do I need to start to make it the great fun machine it was less than a week ago ?
There's another line leading from the back of the petcock to the left hand carb, it's not a fuel line though it's a vacuum line. ( A lot of people mess up the routing of those lines when I bought my bike they were completely f%&ked up it had the main fuel line from the petcock leading into the drain!!!! )
If your carbs are leaking fuel there is obviously something stopping the floats needle from seating.
- Might be dirty carbs
- worn needle valve or o-ring
- floats leaking
but first check the carb breather hose isn't blocked.
Yep, I just checked the breather line. It's fine and free. This afternoon I tried one more time to make it run. No dice. THe plugs are wet when I try to start it, it has spark, just will not start at all. Tomorrow I'm taking it to a shop and paying too much to have it fixed. I live in an apartment, and don't have the space to fiddle with stupid carbs. After it's running again I'm selling it. As I _was_ using this bike to commute, it makes no sense to have a carburated bike that requires constant attention.
The price will be cheap, around 1500 - 1800.
I won't buy another carburated _anything_ ever again.
Too bad there isn't a fuel injection system for this bike. I'd pay 500 for it to make things fun again.
Goodbye little gs. You've been great fun.