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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: MArkRD on August 03, 2007, 01:33:33 PM

Title: Some newby questions
Post by: MArkRD on August 03, 2007, 01:33:33 PM
Gentlemen,

Lately i've been working on my '89 GS500E to get it in shape. One of the things i had to do was change the fork seals because they were leaking badly. I changed the fork oil with 15W but i havent got a clue to how much oil to put in the forks. I stopped at 150 cc for each fork but it feels pretty soft. How much oil goes in each fork?

Second, i've got a carb problem (i think). After warming up the engine and riding it the idle rpm gradually climes to +/- 3000 rpm. Throttle response is normal in this situation. Where do i start? Is this an air leak somewhere or a sticky float needle?

Hope you experts out there can help me on this one.

Thanks,

MArk
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: scratch on August 03, 2007, 02:52:28 PM
377cc for each leg.

A gradually climbing, as it gets warm, idle makes me suspect the valves.

When was your last valve adjustment?
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: CndnMax on August 03, 2007, 02:56:06 PM
check the choke is turning off properly and if it always moves up to 3k warming up then adjust your idle screw b/w the carbs.
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: scratch on August 03, 2007, 03:10:24 PM
Ah, thanks CndnMax, I shall expand on your idle screw idea!

Set the idle to 1200-1300 after a 10-15 minute ride.

And, only check your valve clearances on a cold motor.
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: MArkRD on August 04, 2007, 02:29:57 AM
Haven't checked valve clearance yet, but i will do that. I found the "how to" on this site.
370 cc per leg?  :icon_confused: ok 150cc is waaay to low. I'll correct that to.

I started the engine just this morning and idle seems good right now. a steady 1300 rpm with good throttle response.
Choke seems to work properly.

I'm gonna spend some more time adjusting and correcting and post results here.

Thanks a lot guys!
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: MArkRD on August 05, 2007, 08:16:37 AM
And here i am. Spent all afternoon fiddling with the engine.
Valve clearance checked and found ok. Choke circuit = ok.
Took a look at float levels and found that left float was about 3 mm higher then ride side. Adjusted that, tested and all is back to normal.

Oh and filled up the forks to specs. :icon_rolleyes: . Now the forks actually work ;)!
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: scratch on August 05, 2007, 09:19:33 AM
Great!
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: pandy on August 06, 2007, 12:13:13 PM
I'm no gentleman, but welcome!  :icon_mrgreen: :cheers: :thumb:
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: groff22 on August 06, 2007, 12:17:46 PM
Good work... Welcome to GStwin!
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: MArkRD on August 06, 2007, 12:53:15 PM
Thank you, thank you.  :thumb:

To continue the "newby questions". Who has info about the fuel economy of this bike?  MPG or ltr/km. I bet it's quite good but can it be improved by changing jetting and/or ignition ?  :dunno_white: Just curious about what's possible and what's not.
My GS5 is stock, no mods whatsoever.

btw, after last day's fiddling i'm surprised by the way the engine is constructed. It's a real treat to work on. I might start to like 4strokes after all  ;)

Thanks,

MArk
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: groff22 on August 06, 2007, 01:06:15 PM
SuzukiFuel.com claims the GS500 gets 58MPG... Depending on how you ride, this isn't too bad for our little bike!

Cheers,
J
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: gs500girl on August 07, 2007, 05:22:23 PM
I'm new here too and found this post quite helpful.  You guys are great. 
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: pandy on August 07, 2007, 06:36:02 PM
Quote from: MArkRD on August 06, 2007, 12:53:15 PM
I might start to like 4strokes after all  ;)

Me, too! LoL!  :laugh: :thumb:
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: simon79 on August 11, 2007, 02:31:49 AM
Welcome from another EU member :icon_mrgreen:
Mine is a 2001, stock, bought used last March. 29000 kms currently.
My fuel economy ranges from 17 to 19 km/l (=circa 50-52 MPG), usually shifting at 6-7000 rpm, in town and outside.
Anyway, I'm planning on a valve check and will probably clean the carbs soon, so I expect things to improve (except if I mess something up :icon_mrgreen:)

Lamps!
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: ambisinister on August 11, 2007, 05:20:12 PM
Bought mine new in 2005 "F" style. I see abot 200 miles a tank before I hit reserve, if I'm not flogging it out. About 160 if I am
Title: Re: Some newby questions
Post by: MArkRD on August 12, 2007, 01:42:41 PM
Refueled the GS today. I got an averaga of 1:22 (lts/km). It took about 270 km to get the tank empty.

I re-adjusted the float's today. Again :mad:! I still have trouble with idle rpm.
The left carb kept overflowing. after adjusting the float 4 times it turned out the o-ring that seals the float needle housing was leaking.
After replacing o-ring things went better in a hurry.

Question: Are overhaul kits available for the carbs?