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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: mybikesucks on January 19, 2008, 10:58:59 AM

Title: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: mybikesucks on January 19, 2008, 10:58:59 AM
i have a 2004 with under 4000 miles on it that i picked up real cheap from a friend looking to get rid of it quick.  at first i was hesitant because in all my years of riding bikes i had never been on or owned a crotch rocket before.  after 8 months of trouble free riding and a whole lot of fun the bike grew on me.  that all changed a few weeks ago.  i had the same problems that i have read about here several times. 

going to work one morning, the bike just stalls out about a mile from the house. i cranked up the choke, flipped the petcock to PRI and hauled ass the rest of the way to work.  that evening, the same thing happened, i get about a mile or so and it just stalls out and dies. 

i have it at my workshop right now, stripped down and it will idle just fine, but dies when i give it any kind of throttle.

thanks to yall who answered most of my questions without my even having to ask.  i bought the honda petcock, new plugs and wires, vaccuum and fuel lines and i'm giving the carbs  a thorough cleaning, then while shes down, i'm gonna hack that hideous rear fender off. hopefully by tonight i'll be able to ride again.

thanks again for all the help, this site is a godsend.

wish me luck and i'm sure i'll be back if i have more questions.
Title: Re: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: The Buddha on January 19, 2008, 11:25:44 AM
A Bonda petcock ... who gave you that answer ... cos sure as hell, I have no clue what Bonda will fit. I routinely swap Suzi petcocks into kawi's so I know those interchange, but the suzi is 1000 times better there, no reason you'd want kawi ones in yours ... but the bonda petcock is news to me.
As to the rest, dont be surprised if it all has little to no effect, you're randomly swapping stuff that is OK for newer stuff that is OK ... anyway, that is what mechanics routinely do ... so ...
BTW, in 48K miles on my 89 you know how many sets of plug wires I went through ... right ... 0 - Dont remember if I ever changed wires on a suzuki ever, the steel core wires are near indestructible. Usually I only swap them on bikes where I think I need to re route it cos I moved the coil too far away in an attempt to modify it ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: ohgood on January 19, 2008, 12:03:38 PM
Quote from: mybikesucks on January 19, 2008, 10:58:59 AM
i have a 2004 with under 4000 miles on it that i picked up real cheap from a friend looking to get rid of it quick.  at first i was hesitant because in all my years of riding bikes i had never been on or owned a crotch rocket before.  after 8 months of trouble free riding and a whole lot of fun the bike grew on me.  that all changed a few weeks ago.  i had the same problems that i have read about here several times. 

going to work one morning, the bike just stalls out about a mile from the house. i cranked up the choke, flipped the petcock to PRI and hauled ass the rest of the way to work.  that evening, the same thing happened, i get about a mile or so and it just stalls out and dies. 

i have it at my workshop right now, stripped down and it will idle just fine, but dies when i give it any kind of throttle.

thanks to yall who answered most of my questions without my even having to ask.  i bought the honda petcock, new plugs and wires, vaccuum and fuel lines and i'm giving the carbs  a thorough cleaning, then while shes down, i'm gonna hack that hideous rear fender off. hopefully by tonight i'll be able to ride again.

thanks again for all the help, this site is a godsend.

wish me luck and i'm sure i'll be back if i have more questions.

Gas all crapped up with water/rust ? Crappy petcock ? The lines are likely fine, provided they aren't leaking like a sieve or clogged with varnish and water. ;)

Cleaning out the carbs might be needed, but you've covered that. Maybe you've left a bit out here or there ?

BTW - your original symptoms sounded like the petcock. BUT you gotta keep in mind having a decent slosh in the tank doesn't mean you're getting fuel. Between gravity feed, crappy petcock and a partially blocked screen, ya, it'll run like crap.

:) Good luck !
Title: Re: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: scottpA_GS on January 19, 2008, 12:15:51 PM


I recall someone using a Honda CRF petcock on a GS before  :thumb:
Title: Re: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: frankieG on January 19, 2008, 12:31:23 PM
me too but for the life of my i can't think of who it was
Title: Re: s.s.d.d. from the new guy
Post by: nastynate6695 on January 19, 2008, 05:57:32 PM
do we have a list of petcocks that can be swapped out floating around the site somewhere????