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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Kijona on December 18, 2011, 12:47:18 AM

Title: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 18, 2011, 12:47:18 AM
I know I posted about this in another thread but I kinda want a more in-depth answer about it.

1998 GS500E. 11k on the clock. Been sitting for a while in a heated/cooled garage. Clean as a whistle. Not a speck of anything on her.

Owner says last time she rode it it was really hot out and the bike would not run without the choke completely on.

Now, after sitting since for about 6 more months, the issue has worsened. It'll start up and idle at 3K all day with the choke on. Sounds amazing with just the right amount of valve noise and everything is good.

The moment you touch the throttle it dies. If you let it go quickly enough it'll go back to idling at 3K. Turn the choke off and it'll immediately die. So, obviously, this is a fuel starvation issue.

So, either the filter is clogged (inside of the tank looks relatively clean though), or it's got some funky gas in it or HAD bad gas in it?

Main jets gummed up? Diaphragms busted? Chunk of shaZam! stuck in one of the jets? Float stuck maybe? :(

Just gimme a hand here guys. Questions? Ideas? Thanks!
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: beRto on December 18, 2011, 02:29:50 AM
Since the bike has been sitting awhile, it's most likely the carbs just need a good cleaning. It's not a complicated process; you just need a little patience and some attention to detail.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Big Rich on December 18, 2011, 02:49:59 AM
Kijona, since you started a new thread I can't remember - did you clean out the carbs yet?
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 18, 2011, 07:46:24 AM
Quote from: Big Rich on December 18, 2011, 02:49:59 AM
Kijona, since you started a new thread I can't remember - did you clean out the carbs yet?

Not yet man. I was just trying to hone in on what it might be before hand. In fact, I don't have the bike yet! Haha. It just seems like a very specific problem with specific symptoms that somebody might be able to diagnose directly. :)
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 18, 2011, 07:51:10 AM
Bike sat, gasoline turned to crap, carbs got clogged, carbs need cleaned; don't know how much more specific we can get....   :technical:

-Jessie
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Paulcet on December 18, 2011, 07:53:28 AM
I don't think it's that specific. It is likely just clogged jets and/or emulsion tube.

Buying a used bike is a gamble.  One that doesn't run, moreso.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: craigs449 on December 18, 2011, 08:56:35 AM
Another vote for clogged/gummed carbs.  Can't go wrong pulling them off and giving them a good cleaning.  Be sure to note the jet sizes while you have it apart.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 12:09:52 AM
Quote from: craigs449 on December 18, 2011, 08:56:35 AM
Another vote for clogged/gummed carbs.  Can't go wrong pulling them off and giving them a good cleaning.  Be sure to note the jet sizes while you have it apart.

Will do ;)
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: ninja_steve on December 19, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
Go buy a .09 guitar string and get to cleaning those jets.  make sure the floats aren't stuck as well.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 08:20:11 PM
No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 19, 2011, 08:28:45 PM
Quote from: ninja_steve on December 19, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
Go buy a .09 guitar string and get to cleaning those jets.  make sure the floats aren't stuck as well.

Quote from: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 08:20:11 PM
No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.

Guitar string is actually an old school way of cleaning clogged up jets   Works great  :thumb:

-Jessie
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 09:21:53 PM
Quote from: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 08:20:11 PM
No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.

If the floats were stuck it would eventually stop idling, right?
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 09:27:49 PM
Not that I am not going to check that stuff. I was just asking. :)
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: Kijona on December 19, 2011, 09:58:18 PM
Well, here's a picture of her:

(http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5002/img20111219130430.jpg)

Can't help but smile when I look at how beautiful she is. In better shape than my '07 with arguably better looks.
Title: Re: GS500E - Won't Run!
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 20, 2011, 04:48:21 AM
Clean looking bike!   :thumb:

-Jessie