Hi everyone,
nice to see that there are other fans of the Suzuki GS500F! I got mine two weeks ago (brand new '04 GS500F) and it was going fine, no problems at all! But I had to leave for 2 days during the weekend due to seriously bad weather and when I wanted to take it to work this morning it wouldn't start :-S.... This is probably not a major problem, but I was wondering if any of you guys had tips on what might be wrong? I mean for heavens sake, two days shouldn't be that long?
Ok, a short checklist:
1. I checked the gas and it was fine
2. Battery seems also fine
3. The engine tries to start but fails (even with choke)
4. I've tried the differemt fuel settings (but not tried setting it on prime for several minutes, could it be a vacuum somewhere...?)
Any tips guys?
I hope this is enough info, I'll try and describe the problems the best I can as I am not an english speaking person :-)
I'm gonna check it again this afternoon with my brother who is a mechanic, but I wanted to get some tips from you guys.
It's supposed to get it's initial service on wednesday (already up to 1500km, should that make a difference?). I've been gentle with until the first service, and I don't think I've done anything wrong.
best regards
Dion
Stockholm / Sweden
dion..
i didnt see the starting related problem.. what is it doing?? any sounds.. etc etc..
my bet is that the battery has discharged a bit.. charge her up or jump it with a car that is NOT RUNNING (meaning engine is not running) and use that car battery to start up the bike.
Check the engine "kill" switch.
Unless you cranked it for a "very" long time I would forget about charging it. Don't worry it's new and it's going to run.
It could be the clutch safety switch or the side stand safety switch.
Good luck.
Unlsee Suzuki have changed the safety circuit, the GS wont crank if any of the safety switches is in an unsafe status.
Check the plugs. They will give you a good hint what may be wrong.
Are they wet (oily or fuel)
Are they blackened?
If plugs are wet with fuel, chances are you have flooded the engine. Happens easily when you crank it over for a long time, fiddling with choke and such.
If so, crank it over with plugs removed and throttle open, choke disengaged. Then try again.
Hi guys,
thanks for the tips! All the safety switches should be fine. The bike seems ok when I turn the key, so the battery should be fine, though it could still have a charge problem even though it looks ok. When you try to start the bike it sounds "normal" but the engine just doesn't "get started", if you understand what I mean. After a couple of tries I got the engine to almost start but it felt like it didn't have enough fuel or strength. The bike never presented a problem before, the engine was runnig fine and all the safety switches woked fine as well. My guess is that the caberatur is "empty" and there is no fuel coming to the engine (maybe because it hasn't been moved for 2-3 days), or that it has been flooded. I will check both this afternoon.
I'm not that worried that it won't start, I'll try and jump start it as well to see if I can get it going. Is it a good idea to try and start it with "the gear", e.g. going downhil and trying to start it with a gear? Or should I avoid that?
best regards
Dion
Push-starting a GS works fine. (2dn gear works best for me, I can do it in the flat, pushing the bike from the side. May be harder with the fairing, though.)
Only do this going downhill if you have help to get her back up if it fails ;)
If you have revved the motor for a longer time with choke I'd expect flooding rather than running lean. Also the Battery won't take start trials for too long before it begins to bog down. that aint no truck battery there.
A few days of inoperation don't empty the float bowls. Many bikes stand like this all winter, and what happens then is not that the bowls fall dry, but that the fuel can gum up in the jet orifices.
ok, thanks for the info :-)
do you perhaps have an idea why the bike should just quit on me like this after just two days of inoperation? Sounds strange to me... It was cold but not that cold during the weekend, plus I had the bike covered for protection so no rain should have reached any electrical or mechanical parts. You think the battery might have something to do with this?
I tried for like 25-30 minutes to start the engine, with choke most of the attempts. It is likely that it has been flooded, but I still, for the life of me, can't figure out why it wouldn't start in the first place...
I'll try and start it with the second gear this afternoon.
regards
Dion
Had the same thing happen to me when i got mine back from the mechanic in winter (I ride all year round). Carb adjustment was slightly different, which caused me to run rich (too long application of choke) After about two weeks it would not start on a cold morning. Some backfiring, and after a few minutes the battery was dead.
Checked the plugs and they were carbon fouled.
I don't claim it's the same in your case, but it might be. You write that the bike is in the break-in phase, so you probably have ridden her soft. that can lead to carbon buildup on the plugs. Plus, you'll get more oil in the cylinder during that time anyway.
BTW, after 30 min of start trials the battery is probably close to flat. Push-starting may be in order. If you have the opportunity, charge the battery.
If you want to ride the bike to the mechanic I'd have a look at the plugs. If you don't have to, have them do it.
If I were you Dion, I would simply get on the phone to the dealer you bought the bike from and get them to pick it up and fix it.
Here in the UK, all new Suzuki's come with 12 months free breakdown cover. Is that the same in Sweden? If so, just call them out.
:thumb:
you mentioned about it having "plenty?" of fuel, top it off if not already so. cause what sometimes looks like plenty is insufficient. causing what your post has just about described :dunno:
Tjena! ;)
It is a good idea to get a benzine can and fill up the tank. Also, take both spark plugs out and look at them; blow them off if they are wet.
Also, you can put the petcock in PRI and drain the fuel out of the carburettor bowls by loosening the screw (shown in yellow):
(http://www.carlsonpaanettet.org/~bcarlson/gs500/pictorial/float-check/drain-bowls.jpg)
This will hopefully remove any contaminated fuel in the carburetor, and it will also confirm that the carburetor has fuel in it, and is refilling from the tank (you can leave the petcock on PRI until the motor has started).
Even though the battery seems good, it is possible to have enough battery power to turn the engine, but not enough to make a fat, healthy spark at the same time. You can connect battery cables to a car and use the car battery to try to start (the car should be off when you do this). Starting by rolling down a hill will also work, because the battery does not need to work to turn the engine, but that not an easy thing to do if you have not done it before.
Lykke til!
Hi guys,
thanks for all your help and tips, I really appreciate it :-) The bike worked fine actually when I got home yesterday, and this morning it started without problems. Not really sure yet what the problem was yesterday morning, but it could be that it was a very cold night... that combined with it being parked for 2-3 days. However, it's going in for it's intial service tomorrow and I've already called them and described the problem and made sure that they check it thoroughly. The bike has warranty so any problems will be fixed at no cost for me.
Thanks again for all your help!!
best regards
Dion
good work
Quote from: dnikopNot really sure yet what the problem was yesterday morning, but it could be that it was a very cold night...
Probably cold and then flooded. That's the kind of problem that rectifies itself when you let her sit for a few.