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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: jeremy_nash on February 07, 2008, 11:33:32 PM

Title: not starting
Post by: jeremy_nash on February 07, 2008, 11:33:32 PM
my 94 has fuel, has spark but will not start.  I have tried carburator cleaner, and starter fluid, but it won't start.  a brand new battery, and it spins it over nice and fast, so what gives.  new spark plugs too. 
oh and it only has 2589 miles, so I'm pretty sure it isn't the valves.
bike hadn't been ridden in a long time, then I bought it, cleaned the carbs and put a couple hundred miles on it.
thanks in advance
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: scottpA_GS on February 08, 2008, 10:14:54 AM

If the carbs were very bad when you cleaned them there is a great chance that they got more gummed up after your couple rides. I would pull em and check again... Did you give a thurough cleaning? take them all the way appart?
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: jeremy_nash on February 08, 2008, 11:01:08 AM
yeah, I took them back apart, and they were still spotless.  I spray starting fluid in, but it won't start.  even though it has spark.
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: houston_gs500 on February 08, 2008, 12:54:47 PM
Jeremy,

This is a frequently asked about problem here, you can find a lot of relevant posts by searching.  We need more details about what your bike is doing - are you getting the clicking from the relay for instance?  I am going through that myself right now, just ordered a new relay online.  (If you are getting clicking but not firing up your relay may be bad.)  It could also be vacuum related, lines may be blocked.  Also, it could be your battery even though you said it is new, cold weather can kill it.  There are many posts about battery tenders, get one and hook it up if you haven't already (I have new battery but need it hooked up to tender now and hell I am in Houston.)

Very helpful people here, look for some of there past comments and eliminate the possibilities one by one - that is what I am doing at the moment on mine.  Oh, and drinking beer while you work on bike helps for lack of patience :cheers:

Pete
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: Absolute Rescue on February 08, 2008, 02:14:46 PM
Like houston said, do a search. But just my $0.02, you said you are getting a spark but do you know if it is a strong spark? I believe in one of the threads about a bike starting hard Kerry mentions something about checking spark strength. May want to look at that before going to far, may be a bad coil or loose connection somewhere. Good luck, hope you get it fixed up and back on the road soon. :thumb:
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: bigfatcat on February 08, 2008, 03:07:41 PM
Same problem just this morning - spark yes, fuel yes, air yes -  but just would not fire.  Turns out I had misadjusted the throttle cable last night - just a small amount, but apparently doesn't take much open throttle and a cold engine just won't fire, even with full choke.  Finicky little beasties.
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: jeremy_nash on February 08, 2008, 07:37:08 PM
well I think I figured it out.........put in new plugs, and it started right up.  it's running better now than it ever has.  strange though, cause I only put 300 miles on the old set, but they seemed to have plenty of spark when I pulled them out and cranked it. 
so in sumation: 
    motor would crank but not start
    had spark but didn't start
    carbs had just been cleaned
    new battery with full charge
    turned out to be the spark plugs

hope it helps someone out

thanks for all the ideas
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: scottpA_GS on February 08, 2008, 08:26:23 PM

You cheated  :mad: You said it had "new plugs" If you hadnt said that I bet one of the first responses would have said plugs  :icon_mrgreen:

:laugh:
Title: Re: not starting
Post by: jeremy_nash on February 08, 2008, 10:27:45 PM
well, isn't 300 miles still new?  lol