This is a fairly recent issue that's been popping up more in the last month.
When I first start the bike, I let it warm up and then go on my merry way. Whenever I approach a stop I will engage the clutch and the bike will return to idle and then die. The bike will start right back up when I hit the starter and I'll continue on my way. I come to the next stop and the same process repeats itself. This will continue for a couple of stops and then the bike works perfectly and the problem goes away.
I stopped at a local dealer yesterday to pick up some parts and when I asked about the issue they said that by pulling in the clutch too quickly I was likely flooding the engine and killing it. Does this make sense? It doesn't to me because if that were true it would be a constant problem, not just one limited to startup.
Any ideas?
Could be running a little lean;air leak,mixture screws,check your s/plug colour.poss` tight valves have the valve clearences been checked lately?
1. ^+1
2. Your dealer has the intellect of a flea's ball bag.
Seriously, why do people knock dealers all the time. I've never had anything but positive experiences with them the past 4+ years.
Try adjusting the idle screw while the bike is warmed up wear a glove it gets rather hot down there!
Mary
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on January 30, 2011, 05:45:09 PM
Seriously, why do people knock dealers all the time.
Because the salesmen do not know the product and the mechanics dismiss obvious problems as "all these bikes do it", "standard on these bikes", "pull clutch too quick" WTF? and so on and so forth. And biggest... they out and out lie (salesmen and mechanics), period.
Of the five closest dealers to me I have respect for only One saleman. He is knowledgeable about the product and NOT pushy and he is helpful outside of an immediate sale - without wearing a stoopid fake smile on his face the entire time or using "sales school" cliches.
I've had my bike serviced at 3 of them and never again. One just changes the oil and lubes the chain and says they've serviced it according to the manual, the other does a little bit more than that, but otherwise not doing everything they are charging for. The third, like the first, Claims to have done Valve checks but the seal is the same seal and you cannot properly check the valves and do a complete service in 2 hours from a just ridden Hot engine. The fourth one, while I haven't had a bike Serviced by them, acquired a bike Serviced by them and they NEVER changed all the park plugs, used a too small oil filter (incorrect oil filter) and some other stuff. Same dealership put a moped spark plug into a Kwaka WTF?
THAT is why I give them a hard time. And that is why I get my bikes serviced by a guy who did his apprenticeship at BMW headquarters in Germany and who often has to head into the local BMW dealership to show the head mechanic there how to do things. My bikes have never run so good since going to this guy. Dealerships be stuffed.
Michael
This problem has been cropping up a lot lately. Has the US got a bad batch of fuel or something?
Quote from: hokierower on January 30, 2011, 03:08:11 PM
I stopped at a local dealer yesterday to pick up some parts and when I asked about the issue they said that by pulling in the clutch too quickly I was likely flooding the engine and killing it. Does this make sense? It doesn't to me because if that were true it would be a constant problem, not just one limited to startup.
Any ideas?
Did the brain surgeon who volunteered this answer work at the parts counter or were they an actual motorcycle mechanic? My local dealership (which is terrible) has marginally (at best) helpful people at the parts counter.
Funny, how the first thing one always brings up is " the salesmen" after he sold me the bike I never talked to him again. Why should I? The service department that I go to employ MMI graduates that go through the Suzuki training. My roommate is doing the training now and it is pretty intense. I stop over at the local Kawi dealership and talk with their service department all of the time too and they have been very competent as well on helping me with some of my "not necessarily Suzuki spec" questions. What, I'm afraid of in this area is all of the MMI drop outs that do get employed by the smaller shops and don't know their head from a hole in the ground. The only "non suzuki" place I will even think about stopping at is the Motorcycle Clinic and a good many of those guys I knew from the dealership.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion I just think that it is wrong to stereotype in any form.
Mary
I agree with you Mary, some dealers and mechanics are great, I was specifically referring to the idiot who thought you could stall a bike by pulling in the clutch too fast. Why can't people who don't know a carburettor from their a$$hole just say "I don't know, I'll go ask a mechanic for you"?
I agree, it didn't sound right, especially when the problem only happens when the bike's engine is cold/warming-up. That's why I came and asked you guys for your input.
This isn't the place I bought the bike, I just stopped in to pick up a couple of spare bulbs and 2 new spark plugs and figured I'd ask the guy working the parts counter.
If only when warming up, sounds like you're taking the choke off too soon.
I've had that happen. Makes me say "Hmmmmm..... took the choke off too soon."
The only people that Truly know anything about a bike at the bike stores I mentioned are the mechanics. The guy at the Service Counter is NOT a mechanic, he is a Clerk and nothing else. Just the guy to take your booking or sell you a part. He knows diddly. The salesmen know jack. And they aren't going to drag the mechanic out to answer a question. And if by any chance the Head mechanic is using the computer to order a part and you can get to speak to him, you discover how little they know about GS500s.
One mechanic tried to tell me the GS SHOULD be able to start without using a choke. When I told him this is a Cold Blooded bike and it Needs a choke he said in a superior tone, "Is that what you read somewhere on the internet?"
So you walk into the bike store, the first people to approach you are the salesmen and they Offer to help. If you can get past them to the parts counter clerk, you've encountered a parts salesman and booking agent and nothing more. Both will give you BS as if they Know when they don't. How can they when the mechanic doesn't even know about the bike fully?
I am sure there are some good dealerships out there, *I* haven't encountered them though.
Michael
Quote from: adidasguy on February 01, 2011, 09:34:13 PM
If only when warming up, sounds like you're taking the choke off too soon.
I've had that happen. Makes me say "Hmmmmm..... took the choke off too soon."
+1
+2
:whisper:Where I go the parts counter is typically the guys who just graduated from MMI and are working their way up to make it into the service area. So, yeah I expect them to know their stuff esp if they ever want the chance of touching my bike. I know there are "stealerships" everywhere but not all of them. So, I'm gonna stick up for my guys that have been nothing but amazing for me. I think it depends on your location. I also believe you should know enough about your bike or have the intelligence like the OP did here and ask when they are not sure about something. I will never trust anyone's opinion blindly. That's just how I roll!
Mary
How many miles on the bike? Could be the valves if they have not been checked in awhile. My bike is having the same problem and I think thats the case, but I have been too busy/lazy to order shims.
If it is cold out and you have the stock jetting, the bike may just need more time to warm up, or more choke if you just want to start riding.
8k total miles on the bike, stock bike.
It might be because it's been colder out. Problem started about a month ago when it started getting cold at night (below 35 or so the night before) and then when I ride they're up to 50+ degrees.
No, I haven't checked the valves recently.
Definitely sounds like the choke is coming off too soon. My bike is the same way. If I don't let it warm up completely, if I give it a quick rev up to 5-6k and then let off the throttle, it will drop straight down to 0 rpm. Just needs to warm up.
On my stock '07 I went up one size on the pilots and mains, 3 turns out on the mixture screws, that shortened the warm up time and increased the throttle response and I can still get 69.8 Mpg under ideal conditions
(+1 on the countershaft sprocket also)