Alright, here's the situation:
I just bought a 2004 GS500f with about 13k miles. It hasn't run in two owners and about a year (got it for less than $2k). The guy I bought it from said he did nothing to it but had someone else put a different carburetor in (so I have two carburetors, one with an epoxied throttle position sensor that otherwise seems to work - checked the resistance). When I started to look at it, the spark plugs were hand-tight and carbon covered, so I replaced them- and tightened them. I charged the battery. The stator cover (right side) had all the bolts halfway out and I have no idea why - but the previous previous owner might have been trying something. We were able to get it to run for a few seconds by squirting some carb cleaner into the airbox.
I have pulled off the fairings and gas tank. I have also taken out the airbox. I can't get it to run (I'm trying without the airbox on though). I have hooked 93 octane gas into the reserve fuel line with a temporary tank, set the petcock to prime, tried it, turned it to reserve, tried it, set it to on (gas not hooked up) and tried it. Choke all the way, move the choke, etc. Nothing. Spark is fat and blue. I haven't checked timing, should I?
I know these run cold-blooded (it's 40-50 degrees here) and lean, and that I'm trying without the airbox. Do I now assume the problem is the carburetors? Clean the jets? Rejet (no filter without the airbox, but the filter is a K&N)? What jets?
I will greatly appreciate any help and/or suggestions. Next step is to pull of the carbs, I guess.
After the thing gets running, and I'll get back to this, the fairings were mangled, the rear taillight has been mangled to add the tail lights so that it has an "integrated" signal and break light. The front turn signals have been replaced with half-assed marker lights... I have some cosmetic work to do as well.
Thanks a lot guys.
I also have a 2004 GS500F, and it sat for quite a long time, so the gas went super bad in the carbs. It would start but needed full choke, searched for idle, and if you gave it any gas it would die. Last night I took the carbs off, and cleaned everything off with carb cleaner. The main jet in one carb was clogged, and a smaller jet in the other carb was clogged. Put it all back together and it runs great. Take the carbs apart, clean everything, and the jets.
Quote from: jrains89 on November 20, 2008, 10:05:58 PM
I also have a 2004 GS500F, and it sat for quite a long time, so the gas went super bad in the carbs. It would start but needed full choke, searched for idle, and if you gave it any gas it would die. Last night I took the carbs off, and cleaned everything off with carb cleaner. The main jet in one carb was clogged, and a smaller jet in the other carb was clogged. Put it all back together and it runs great. Take the carbs apart, clean everything, and the jets.
Allright, my next step will be to yank off the carbs and clean them. There are embedded plastic parts - do you just use a normal can of carburetor cleaner, or should I worry about melting the plastic and use something in particular?
Does yours start with the airbox off the bike (do I have to put the airbox on to see if cleaning the carbs worked)?