I am having issues with my 2004 GS500F with approx 5k miles. When I first bought the bike, it was running idle at about 700 RPM, and would therefore die every time I came to a stop and even sometimes whenever I pulled in the clutch to begin coasting to a stop. I adjusted the idle screw to get it to idle at 1.2k RPM when the engine was warmed up.
However, I still have an issue where the idle will drop below 900 RPM every now and then when I am stopped, and will sometime die as a result. I notice that if I am stopped (in neutral or in gear with clutch pulled) and I rev the engine at all (anywhere from 2k RPM and up) and then let go of the throttle, the idle will drop back to 1.2k momentarily, then start to hesitate and drop even lower, sometimes to below 800 or 900, and sometimes will die.
Also, the RPMs will dip even without me turning the throttle at all. When I warm it up, I run the choke on full until it idles at 4.5k RPM, then I turn off the choke. The RPM will be at about 1.2k, but it will be jumping around a bit, from slightly below 1k up to 1.3k, with the engine sounds dropping and rising slightly.
Just to be clear, the bike runs like a dream when it is moving. The only issues I have are when the bike is not moving.
Please help me diagnose, as I haven't yet bought a Haynes manual.
Thanks in advance.
mines doing it too, if your carbs are clean it's probly time for a valve clearance check. Does it sound "chattery" (ha like these bike dont anyways) my bike ussually starts doing this when there's a valve out of spec. ussually (atleast for me) its caused when one intake on 1 cylinder is out and the exhaust on the other is out, but it will run like dog doo with just one out. also you might have a vaccum leak, mine did it for a long time before i found the fuel vac assist line was dissconnected and tucked away because the kid at the dealer said "i thought it was a breather, i wasnt sure so i tucked it away) Id check the plugs, spark test, clean the carbs, check the float height, inspect the boots, check the valve clearance (not that hard, 6mm allen and some feeler gauges) i know it sounds like alot of work but any one could cause issues, im about to pull my baby apart too its been happening like 4 times a day.
I think da602krew's advice sounds good. :thumb:
At 5000 miles, you're due for a valve clearance check.
http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Maintenance/MaintenanceSchedule
If that doesn't help, clean out the carbs.
And don't forget to follow up with the progress/results! :cheers:
Thanks for the advice. I ordered a Haynes manual yesterday, and I have a knowledgeable (and tool-ful) friend who offered to help me with the bike. I'll let you guys know as soon as I figure out what's up with it.
Just a quick update: I called the guy I bought the bike from, and he said for the last year+, he hadn't really been riding the bike more than once a week, and just that once a week to keep the bike "fresh", as he said. Are any of the possibilities more likely with that in mind? That the bike had been sitting in a garage mostly unused?
Thanks again.
Quote from: Rattor on December 04, 2008, 07:05:35 AM
Thanks for the advice. I ordered a Haynes manual yesterday, and I have a knowledgeable (and tool-ful) friend who offered to help me with the bike. I'll let you guys know as soon as I figure out what's up with it.
Just a quick update: I called the guy I bought the bike from, and he said for the last year+, he hadn't really been riding the bike more than once a week, and just that once a week to keep the bike "fresh", as he said. Are any of the possibilities more likely with that in mind? That the bike had been sitting in a garage mostly unused?
Thanks again.
When a bike sits for long periods, the gasoline tends to get old. The gas in the carbs can turn into a gunk or a varnish and block off some of the tiny passages. This would lead to poor running conditions (which you are now experiencing).
Under the circumstances, you probably need to clean out your carbs. You may also want to drain the old gasoline and replace it with fresh stuff.
What's the best way to check if the carbs need cleaning? If the explanation is too long, don't worry about it. I'll just check once I get my Haynes manual. Thanks for the pointer.
The only way i know is to pull them apart and physically check, i know its a pain more so if you open them and their clean. but you gotta do it, your gonna have to rule them out one by one. My gs spent not last winter but the winter before in the living room(wife just loved it lol!!) because i had to check everything one by one because it was too cold outside. I eventually concluded it was the valves and a vac leak for an improperly connect hose (courtesy of my local stealership who was paid to perform 2 valve jobs but didnt) Read "Blueskygals' thread (another GS Stalling, stumped) see if it sounds like what your dealing with?
Where are you?? I doubt you are but if you're near phx, az bring it by I'll check'em for you. Heck we can check it all, im about do go through my whole bike to find the very same problem. I'd almost bet my left nut we both have a valve&carb problem. this is the third time mines done this.
I'm a bit far from you. I'm in Houston, Texas. However, if you happen to find the problem, let me know and I can check the same thing. I guess the best thing to do is to start going through the list.