I think I might have a carb problem but I am not really sure since I am a newbie . I hope the GS Oracles and Sages can help me out.
I have a 96 GS500 and I am experiencing problems keeping it running. First of all it when it starts up I have to keep the choke on for a while and have to keep adjusting it ,then it starts revving real high ( between 4 and 6k) even though I am idling , its like the throttle is stuck. I have to adjust the choke get it back down. Eventually I can get it to move it seems to sputter then it runs for a while and eventually dies when I am coming to a stop. It takes a while to get started again.
Please break any diagnosis down to me like I am a two year old since I am a novice when it comes to these beasts (motorcycles) and I am not the most mechanically inclined person in the world.
Thanks
Keith
in my experience, my choke behaves the same as yours. the bike doesn't like to start without it, so i have to use it everytime, even in warm weather. then after a few secs it revs to around 5k, so i have to adjsut it down. i heard to warm the bike up well you need to keep it between 2-3k with the choke. (that's how i did it in winter anyway). so i think your choke's behaving normally, unless i have a problem that i'm not aware of myself. :cheers: as for dying immediately afterwards, i'm afraid i'm not sure. could be carb related, but i'm not the one to ask about.
:) could be plugs?, bad gas maybe, but my carbs behave like yours, it idles a bit low though once i turn off the choke. put some new plugs in and see what happens :thumb:
trying turning your idle screw to get that idle up, might help a bit.
Not to worry. It's just a cold blooded pig.
It's normal for the idle to revup as it warms up. Just back off the choke to bring it down to a normal level. You can ride it with the choke slightly on for awhile. That should help with it dying at a stop. It takes awhile for everything to get good and warmed up. If it still idles too low or too high after you ride it with the choke off. You can adjust the idle kob. This sticks out between the carbs, below the float bowls.
Look at the bottom of the carbs and you'll see it. Turn this in or out to change the idle.
Sometimes after a hard run or highway drive, the idle is fast.
You can reach under the carbs at a stoplight and adjust the idle kob.
The same goes when it idles too low when it's cold. The idle tends to fluctuate on the GS, so get used to making quick adjustments. It's easy.
Thanks for the quick replies and the advice I will see if your suggestions work and let you know.
Thanks once again
Keith
You may want to clean your carbs. Mine used to just randomly rev up and i had to keep the choke on somewhat all the time, and i had to use the choke to bring it back to idle. Cleaned the carbs and problem fixed.
Not sure of your confidence level regarding removing your carbs. The hardest part is taking off the tank and the lines and cables are easy if you make notes of where they go. I suggest a digi camera if you got one. If not paper and pencil or numbered tape (like electrician use - avail at Home Depot etc..)
If you decied to try it, I suggest you re-jet them while your there. Very easy to do, just be careful not to strip the slot on the pilot jets. There are different sizes for verious applications. i.e. air filter and exhaust pipe. You can buy or order the jets from your local part place. Get the Makuni ones.
Check here on the board for the mod stuff. Very informative.
Paul
You can clean your carbs wihtout taking them off.
Yamaha carb cleaner, some hoses and a radiator overflow tank off another bike or car will be needed. 1 parts carb cleaner to 3 parts gas. Mix in the overflow can...make sure its clean BTW. And use only yamaha Carb cleaner. Its in a round black 1 qt bottle and costs ~$8. Follow instructions on it. BTW you can re use the thing so hold on to the liquid you drain from the carbs. Then drain your carbs, drain the gas tank via the carbs. The tank needs to be empty cos this method you wont be taking it off. Drain it on the side stand too so you'd get the fuel lower in the tank. Then put it on centerstand and disconnect the reserve hose from the lower petcock. Connect the hose off the overflow can to the reserve in the lower petcock and put the petcock in prime. That will fill the carbs and you hang the over flow can somewhere off the handle bar with zip ties. Let it sit for 24-48 hours. Shake the bike regularly atleast every few hours. Then drain the thing. re connect the reserve hose and fill the tank with fresh gas. Then put it in prime and fill the carbs. Then shake the bike a few times and drain the gas from the carbs to get the residue of the cleaner. Then it should be clean.
Cool.
Srinath.
I managed to get the bike running smoothly thanks to everyone for their advice it appears that the bike just need to run for a while to get warmed up but I run into one problem..
When I come to a stop and pull in the clutch and break the engine dies. It happens when coming to a complete stop. A couple of times I had to let out the clutch to prevent it from sputtering to a stop I was forced to make my turn as I was coming to an intersection ( I did make sure no one was coming though.) I am not sure what the reason is for this but If I could get some answers I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Keith
keith,
I had that on hard emergency braking... dont ask me why it does that.
Keith,
Just taking a guess here but is it possible that your idle is set a little low? Such that when warm it idles low and dies when stopping. That's what I'd check if that happened to me. Try adjsuting the idle when warm to about 1200.
Also, once your engine is warm even a little bit of choke can cause what you're experiencing. Make sure it's all the way off (forward) after the bike warms up.
But otherwise, what Pablo said. If you're wearing gloves you can reach down with your right hand and adjust the idle "on the fly". I've been doing that a lot lately: adjusting the idle up as I leave the house (because I can't stand to wait for the engine to warm up all the way, but I don't want it to die at stops) and then adjusting it back down when I stop a light a mile or two down the road.
Thanks Pablo and Kerry
I will check out the idle screw and see if that does the trick. Keep up the good work you guys I am learning a lot from members who have had a lot experience with this bike.
Thanks
Keith