Hello All!
I've been scurrying the forms for a few weeks, and I finally got myself a 95 gs500 for $1,000 a week ago, and have started taking it all apart to get it running great. It's been sitting for a some time, so lots of seals are dried out or failing. When I went to take a look at the bike, I was able to get it to idle after jumping it from my car and with the help of some starting fluid (not sure on the name, it was the sellers) but it just didn't seem to rev up. Thinking it was just some dirty carbs, I packed it up in my girlfriend's truck, and took 'er home. I've sence taken apart the carbs and found.... nothing wrong with them. I did have a stuck choke cable, thus the reason why it needed a bit of 'assistance' to run initially, but as far as the carbs themselves went- no rust in the bowls, no clogged jets... nothing. (I suspect now the previous owner may have drained them before storing the bike) I then worked backwards, taking apart the petcock, and it was ok too! (Although I ordered the Honda one in my large parts order from bikebandit, since I do NOT want to be stranded like so many others when that part fails)
I'm in the middle of college, taking waaay too many classes, so I don't have as much time as I would like to work on this beauty. But that didn't stop me from draining the tank and begin the acid washing process in between math studying today! When I drained the tank, I noticed that almost all the fuel was coming from the "reserve" side. I thought, hmm maybe there is a clog in the main line or something... and proceeded to drain the rest of the tank. I then took apart the tank petcock, only to find that it was clean and working fine. Then it hit me.
There was only about 1/2-3/4 of a gallon in the gas can.
I never tried to start or run the bike in reserve. :oops:
Seeing I had found the "main reason" why the bike was running crummy, I was both happy and embarrassed that I had made such an oversight. In my defense, I heard sloshing when I started it up originally (so it did have *some* gas :icon_rolleyes: ), and when I was maneuvering the tank, it felt like it had more gas in it then that. After I had drained the tank, I realized that these things arn't as light as they appeared. Anyways...
A little about me:
I'm in my second year of college as an electrical engineer. I'm holding down two jobs (I know, a lucky bastard), trying to make ends meet living on my own. I've been working on cars ever since I got my license, out of necessity and somewhat of fun. I'm use to European cars (a '78 volvo was my first car, followed by a bmw 318ti), so I'm use to automatic timing, and fuel injection (both mechanical and electronic). However, after taking apart the carbs, they don't seem that intimidating. A bit temperamental, but then again, if you get vacuum leaks anywhere past the MAF in a fuel injected car, you can have just as many crazy problems. I'm also use to expensive part prices. I was SHOCKED to find how much I could buy for this bike for so little $$. I did spend a good amount, ~$180, but I got pretty much EVERYTHING except tires and new fork seals. Working on this thing is actually FUN! I just wish I had more time... spring break is coming up though. :D
My bmw has 195k on it right now, and it needs a new clutch (first one, believe it or not). I've pored more money, time, sweat, blood (the lower intake manifold BITES), and tears into that godforsaken thing in the three years I've had it then I care to admit. But it has given me the experience necessary to work on this bike and pretty much anything with metric fasteners (or torx... don't get me started) with ease. But a new clutch will set me back more then I care to spend. Plus I don't have transmission jack, and I don't have access to a lift... but enough about that headache....
I got my motorcycle permit a few days before taking my MSF class (it's required for those under 21 in Cali). Now before the class started, I thought- eh, try it, maybe I'll like this...
I was HOOKED. BAD. I even wanted to buy one of those bikes that I used in the class, a little 135 Kawasaki cruiser. I didn't care about speed, I just wanted SOMETHING. However, lacking the funds (see college/living on own, above), I had to wait. It is VERY difficult to get anything decent as a first bike. Double that if your tall like me and shouldn't be riding on a 250 due to leg issues. I hunted and hunted craigs list like mad, but never found anything. Finally, I took the reverse approach, finding the right bike, then waiting for one to come in at the right price. I also rode my friends Katana, but after getting that thing up to 80 going up a hill in what felt like an instant, I knew I needed something with less power (although it probably fits me better then it fits him).
I had gone to a motorcycle shop, mission motorsports, to see if they had anything used that was as comfy as the katana, with less power and lower price. They didn't, but I did have a chance to sit on a gs500f on the show room floor. It fit nice, but I could do without the fairing, I thought. So I researched and researched some more, and found this site. I was impressed by the easiness of working/rebuilding these bikes. No German origami, funny tricks, weird fasteners, specialty tools, or anything like that. Just... a simple motorcycle. Eventually, I found the bike above, and well... I can't wait to get it going! :)
Jeremy
Welcome aboard! After working on euro-cars, the GS will seem as complex as a toaster. You may want to consider upgrading the fork springs when you replace the seals (btw...use oem seals).
Sounds good!
Spring and fall project bikes are always my favorites. :icon_twisted:
Quote from: I-Fly-Suzuki on February 28, 2009, 01:00:04 AMAfter I had drained the tank, I realized that these things arn't as light as they appeared.
Nope - it's the tank and the frame... if I could find a lighter tank, I'd be a happy gal. :p
Nice, sounds like you got a good deal! I had an E30 - the GS is definitely less of a PITA to work on.
ha! Grats from a fellow mechanical engineer. I just did some thorough maintenance on my baby. She's 17 years old so any original rubber or plastic is rotting off and I need to go over the entire bike periodically and replace a bunch of the seals. This time is was the valve cover gasket and the front brake caliper seals. I noticed my choke cable is torn open and exposed so that is also on the list.
GRATS ON YOUR NEW BIKE :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
Welcome! Glad to hear your project bike is coming along nicely. It sounds like you've got more than enough experience to get it running perfectly. I bought the GS in part to teach myself how to work on my own vehicle and I don't find working on it that intimidating, and I started not knowing anything at all. You should post pictures of your bike when you get a chance.
Well, I got my parts in from bike bandit at possibly the worst time for me, with midterms both this week and next week. :oops:
So, I just took the parts that I needed to finish up the carbs (just a couple of rubber bits that have cracked with age), a new headlight bulb, and a new tach light (sorry no LED's yet, but what I've seen by others looks promising!). I handed the other parts to my girlfriend and said simply, "hide them." :laugh:
I should have the carbs ready to go over the weekend (*cough* study break *cough*).
Thanks to all for the words of encouragement!
Jeremy :)
welcome!
Very nice story :thumb:
Pictures of your new ride are highly appreciated ;)
good luck and have fun!
Don't feel too bad. One of the young men on this board replaced his wiring harness at his mechanic's recommendation because he had a battery with a dead cell! :mad:
Welcome to the fold. Those who do their research and have respect for facts like ease of maintenance, economy, quality, and great handling with good power unless you're nuts gravitate toward bikes like the GS 500. They're easy to find here in Buffalo. I know, I'm on the other side of the country so that wouldn't have helped you, but there are lotsa good used bikes here for pretty cheap. I got my 94 E model last year for $1200 with 13000 miles and there's still nothing wrong with it 5000 miles later, except I replaced the cheap new chain it had when it stretched unevenly and switched to a 17- tooth front sprocket while I was at it. O-ring chains or nothing! Total bike search time, about 10 days. Seals don't dry out here. The downside is we can't ride in winter! :2guns: It warms my heart to read about a youngster using the head God gave him. So rare these days!
It was warm here today (50) Took her for a spin with my new V&H pipes. Got her up to 111! YEEEE- HAWWW!!!! :thumb:
I just learned an easy free solution to the fuel starvation problem our bikes are famous for. Ride it in the PRIME position, and park it in the ON or RESERVE position for safety. It doesn't starve in PRIME. It's not the petcock or the fuel valve, it's the DIAPHRAGM! :woohoo:
Ok so it's spring break for me so it's work/study/motorcycle. I'm in the middle of working two shifts today, but over the last two days I've put the carbs back on the bike, ran new clear fuel lines, and installed the Honda petcock. This afternoon I siphoned some gas out of my car (fresh), and....
ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!
But I tried to bring the idle up with the idle screw, and in the process, caused it to start rev-hanging, ie it likes to stay at 4k rpm, or 3 or 2 or 1.5 however far you twist the throttle. I will do some more finagling when I get back home after my second shift. And yes, I will post pictures then too!
:icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: Muahahhahah! :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: