Yay. I'm a noob. I stopped riding my motorcycle for 2 weeks but unfortunately, that stretched to 2 months. During that time, I wasn't able to even get to the bike to start it up. Now, I can't get it to go. It was sheltered but not started, nor had any gas stabilizer put in the gas tank. I didn't even get a chance to turn the fuel switch to off.

I tried the old push-start technique but it doesn't want to go. The battery is recharged now. The oil was changed before I stopped riding so it's clean. Is the only problem gummed up carburetors? If so, if I followed the Haynes manual for carburetor cleaning, will I get my bike going again? I ride it a lot (8,000km in about 6 months) so I really really really miss my bike.

Thanks.

Yeah, try cleaning the carbs and flushing out the old gas by draining your tank and refilling it with fresh fuel. Clean the carbs first though, as that is the most likely culprit at this stage.

Try this before you invest too much time possibly chasing the rong problem...there are vac lines on the carbs.  Pull one off and take a can of B12 or starter fluid to it.  Give it a good 5-second squirt.  Then try to start the bike.  She should fire up, maybe run a couple seconds, then die.  IF that happens, start digging those carburetors apart.  If that does NOT happen, then you need to check ignition, compression and air flow.

Okay. I'll try both. Thanks. I saw some carb cleaning instruction on GStwins modification section plus I read the Haynes manual. Is there a carburetor cleaning kit available? The Haynes manual suggested replacing some o-rings that I don't have.

Makenzie71, just to clarify what you wrote, the vac lines are in the carburetors or attached to the carburetors? I see one line in the Haynes manual diagram. Also, pardon my ignorance, what does the vacuum hose do in the carburetor?

Sorry about all of the stupid questions. This is my first bike and I don't have any friends who ride motorcycles so I have to learn by making all of these mistakes on my own.

The best place to get the carb rebuild kits is www.partsnmore.com .  They're $12 ea. and you need two.  This place does have a $35 min. order so add some oil filters or small tools to get you there.  Shipping is free, and fast. 

My bike had been sitting for over 2 years when I bought it.  The old gas completely stuck up the carbs.  Both float valves were completely frozen, as were the throttle plates.  A little carb cleaner and the partsnmore kits fixed them up good as new.

I followed the procedure in the Haynes manual for removal and disassembly.  The Chilton book should be similar. 
See here for my post about a tool I made to remove the piston guide: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24036.0
See here for information and synchronizing the carbs once they're working properly: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=3521.0

-M

Parts 'n More doesn't have carb kits for our model GS. They have it for the older model (the early 80s one) but not our style.

sure they do:  https://www.partsnmore.com/motorcycle-carb-rebuild-kits.php?make=suzuki&category=carb_kits

Select the third one down in the drop menu.  I just got mine last week so I'm fairly certain they're still available.

-edit These kits are good for up to the 2000 year model.  I don't know if they'll work on the 2001+ models with the changed carbs.

Quote from: Mandres on February 24, 2006, 11:51:58 AM
sure they do:  https://www.partsnmore.com/motorcycle-carb-rebuild-kits.php?make=suzuki&category=carb_kits

Select the third one down in the drop menu.  I just got mine last week so I'm fairly certain they're still available.

-edit These kits are good for up to the 2000 year model.  I don't know if they'll work on the 2001+ models with the changed carbs.

Hey! Neato!

They won't work on the '01+ models though.

Isn't B12 bad for rubber parts, like o-rings, the slide diaphragms, the rubber vacuum hose?

Quote from: scratch on February 24, 2006, 12:16:36 PM
Isn't B12 bad for rubber parts, like o-rings, the slide diaphragms, the rubber vacuum hose?

Thats what I thought as well.. I wouldnt do that...

Also there is (1) Vac line not (lines).. as far as I know 

I would stick with taking the carbs appart for cleaning.. Im a noob and I did it.. My bike sat for 10 years!!! With gas in the tank, and I got it running! its easy.. follow the directions on here and you wont have any probs... 

Hey man,
2 months of a sit down shouldn't be a problem with gas. IT might but shouldn't.

Give us an accurate rundown of your symptoms.
what happens when you turn the key? 

I'd be inclined to agree, two months isn't enough to cause fuel to gum up.  It would be a big bummer to tear apart and clean the carbs only to have a bike that still didn't fire.  Give us some more deails.

-Turd.

A jumpstart from a car battery (car not running), plus a shot of "starting fluid" (ether) a few seconds before you crank, will start just about anything. It's not the nicest on the motor, but once or twice a year is not too bad.

2 months shouldn't be a problem bro. There will be some hesitation and whatnot but that will go away after idleing the bike for a few minutes and slowly riding it...then when i starts responding taking it up to speed.

The only issues i had when i left the bike for 2 months was a dead battery...the battery was already dead though even before i left it..

I got the bike in June. I rode it until the first week of December, the first day of snow. It was running great until then. I wasn't able to get to the bike to start the engine every once in a while. When I came back, the bike wouldn't turn over. I recharged the battery and here's what happens when I try to start the bike:

1) Insert key, headlights go on.
2) Set to neutral, pull clutch, hit starter, bike turns over but does not start.

No unusual sounds.

I had my brother give me a push start several times. I set it to 2nd or 3rd gear (I tried both gears) and let it drop into gear. Nothing. It churned a little bit but I never got the bike to fire up.

It could be something else?

Nick

Hey, I got my bike to work! I built off what some of you said about the battery and decided to try jumpstarting it. It tooks about 9-10 attempts but I managed to get it going after a few minutes of trying! Thanks to everyone for helping out, I'm very glad I don't have to try to take apart the bike.