So, I've had my 04 GSF for a little over a week and have run into two typical GS "problems" already.

1) The cam shaft play that honestly scares the bejeebus out of me even though I know it is harmless.

2) Even after cleaning the carbs and knocking the floats the bike will begin to cut-off after it's been on a little while (typically while riding and going into first gear), becomes extremely difficult to start without rolling on the throttle (unless it's on choke), and cutting off at idle after being on for a little bit. It can't be the jets because I had cleaned the carbs, and I adjusted the idle screw. I've got abour 1 1/2 - 2 gallons of gas. It's getting to the point where I am thinking of selling her already! E

I am in need of a pep talk from other gs owners and suggestions. I don't want to sell it because I love her when she works!

Well... you've only had it for a week, do you know how the previous owner treated it? I.e., did it sit for awhile before you got it?

I know you said you cleaned the carbs, but the jets can be blocked by very small particles. Run the bristle from a wire brush through them.

Also, you say it cuts off at idle after being on for a little bit.. how long are you leaving the choke on? Stock jetting is lean, and it'll take a while of running on choke for it to warm up fully. Experiences range from 2-8 minutes, depending on the bike. If you cut the choke too soon, that explains it wanting to die. It sounds to me like a rejet/filter would cure your problem.

I know that it did sit for a while because the owner was deployed and then she became pregnant. I actually have the tool with different sized "punches" to clear out the holes. Filters all look clean as a whistle, and there wasn't any gunk when I went to clean the carbs out, but I cleaned them anyway since it sat. I had been letting it warm up for a few minutes. The problem seems to be after it's warmed up...

You said it does it after it is warm but heres some thought for ya anyways  .

Make sure that the fuel petcock is turned to "on" and not prime. Set the choke wide open then start it. Let it run for 3-5 minutes adjusting the choke to keep it within 3-4 K idle.  There only little twins and depending on where you are or what its like outside, it may take a while to get fully warmed up. These bikes like most bikes will die before you can even get it out of first gear if there not warmed up properly.

IF not you also said the carbs have been apart a few times. I would take them apart again and recheck everything. Make sure jettings acurate , set everything to stock , check floats and make sure your needles are set and everything is moving freely.

Good Luck.

Quote from: gsbarry on December 10, 2006, 08:45:27 PM
You said it does it after it is warm but heres some thought for ya anyways  .

Make sure that the fuel petcock is turned to "on" and not prime. Set the choke wide open then start it. Let it run for 3-5 minutes adjusting the choke to keep it within 3-4 K idle.  There only little twins and depending on where you are or what its like outside, it may take a while to get fully warmed up. These bikes like most bikes will die before you can even get it out of first gear if there not warmed up properly.

IF not you also said the carbs have been apart a few times. I would take them apart again and recheck everything. Make sure jettings acurate , set everything to stock , check floats and make sure your needles are set and everything is moving freely.

Good Luck.

Lol, I wish I were that mechanically inclined, but I can say that everything is stock. The jet settings haven't been touched and the air/fuel mixture screws still have the plugs in them. I guess riding around for about 5-10 minutes after letting it warm up a few minutes may not be enough.

Well than try warming up how i described. Take your time and dont rush it.

That is a good thing that everything is stock and nothing has been adjusted. An 04' shouldnt need to be messed with yet.  So i wouldnt start. Just try the warm up again. Sounds like its dying out from being cold.

Could be it, it has been freeeeezing around here lately, although today it is in the 50's I would guess? Thanks for the help; it is my first bike so I am a tad paranoid. Once I get a bit of cash on me again I am going to buy a carb rebuild kit, take everything apart, and soak it in a nice carb cleaner bath along with the jets.

Yeh no problem. You can rebuild the carbs if you want. Not to sure that an 04' would need it quite yet. When you took them apart how dirty were they ?.  Was it getting "gummed up" inside or was it just stale gas ?

Have you tried draining the gas and filling it with fresh gas ?

and also throw some new plugs in it.

I did all of that last weekend, lol. They didn't look dirty at all, but I'm paranoid and love my baby.

yea just let it warm up a little .. i have an 05 i live in texas and here lately its been getting kinda of cold .....  now where looking at the 70's to 80 again this week .. darn texas weather .. but when it gets cold out you have to let it warm up for a while ,when its on stock settings .. even if you have good gas in there .. i'd say drain it . go to the gas station and get you some mid grade or the high grade gas for it and just run that in there for a tank to see how it  runs .. i run super in my bike just beacuse thats how i am .. you dont have to if you look around and search you dont have to put anything but  regular unleaded in it and it will run just fine . running super in it will give you no extra help ...... but it never hurts stick in there give it a little time .. if it  has sat for a while it just has to get back in to things .. have you changed the oil and filter in it ?

I'm just waiting for a crush washer and filter to come in trhough the dealer. The auto parts stores here aren't much help. I had to get a battery through the dealer as well. I do believe I have premium in it at the moment.

+1 on the warming up advice already given....I live in MD where it was 17* last week and now it's 45* today and I took the bike out for a little spin....It takes about 10minutes to fully warm up here in the "warm" weather. Right around freezing it will take chocke+a bit of throttle to get it to fire, then the choke is sufficent.

Depending on your mechanical skills you should sooner or later put in 40pilots, and if it was me I'd also put in new jets too, because their opening is so small, it dosn't take but a grit of dirt to block one. Double check your float height too after you get the carbs bolted back on and all the hoses hooked up.

Quote from: Jace009gs on December 11, 2006, 01:36:17 PM
+1 on the warming up advice already given....I live in MD where it was 17* last week and now it's 45* today and I took the bike out for a little spin....It takes about 10minutes to fully warm up here in the "warm" weather. Right around freezing it will take chocke+a bit of throttle to get it to fire, then the choke is sufficent.

Depending on your mechanical skills you should sooner or later put in 40pilots, and if it was me I'd also put in new jets too, because their opening is so small, it dosn't take but a grit of dirt to block one. Double check your float height too after you get the carbs bolted back on and all the hoses hooked up.

Good place I can get the bigger jets? Also, what pilots are stock on it? Since it is a 2004 there are 3 jets on it and I am not sure if the gstwin rejet page would apply to it.

It will apply, or get you close, at least.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12928.0

The idle may be set too low.

How does it idle after a good 15 minute ride?

Set the idle to 1300rpms after the ride.

Quote from: scratch on December 11, 2006, 04:52:36 PM
It will apply, or get you close, at least.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12928.0

The idle may be set too low.

How does it idle after a good 15 minute ride?

Set the idle to 1300rpms after the ride.

I've got my idle set at about 1300-1500. I think I have it figured out. It was a combination of not warming up properly and not necessarily fuel starvation, but not enough gas in the tank to leave it "On." On REServe or PRIme it works fine. I got a fenderectomy done to it and once it's titled in my name I am going to pimp it out. The list so far that will be done to it is a bandit rear wheel, single seater tail from hot bodies (I think it is). suburban machinery handlebars, gsxr front end, sv650 shock fits in the 04 GS, CBR900 rear sets, turn signals coming off (don't need them in virginia), and progressive springs in front. I may pull the fairings off and put Dominator dual black headlamps on it.

http://www.flyncycle.com/acatalog/_Dominator__Twin_Headlights.html

If the problem is at idle, there could still be some clogging from old gas in the pilot jets or the air-bleed screw orifices.  The pilot holes are VERY small and are most succeptable to clogging.  A shot of cleaner may not get it...  If necessary, clipping off a single strand of copper stranded wire makes a good "poker" to get the gum out of the pilots. 

Also, if the caps are still in the bleed screws, that means you didn't take them out and clean the internals there that can be affected my gunked-up gas.  When disassembling, there will be a spring, a washer, and an o-ring in there in that order.  Typically, the spring will fall out when you remove the screw, but the washer and o-ring will still be in there.  It's a good idea to remove these with a dental pick or something before attacking the carbs with the cleaner spray and compressed air, lest you lost them forever.  Oh, and before removing the screws, turn them in and count how many turns it takes to bottom them out.  This is how many turns you will need to turn them out at reassembly.

Best of luck!   

Quote from: Wondertwin on December 11, 2006, 07:06:26 PM
If the problem is at idle, there could still be some clogging from old gas in the pilot jets or the air-bleed screw orifices.  The pilot holes are VERY small and are most succeptable to clogging.  A shot of cleaner may not get it...  If necessary, clipping off a single strand of copper stranded wire makes a good "poker" to get the gum out of the pilots. 

Also, if the caps are still in the bleed screws, that means you didn't take them out and clean the internals there that can be affected my gunked-up gas.  When disassembling, there will be a spring, a washer, and an o-ring in there in that order.  Typically, the spring will fall out when you remove the screw, but the washer and o-ring will still be in there.  It's a good idea to remove these with a dental pick or something before attacking the carbs with the cleaner spray and compressed air, lest you lost them forever.  Oh, and before removing the screws, turn them in and count how many turns it takes to bottom them out.  This is how many turns you will need to turn them out at reassembly.

Best of luck!   

Thanks, I got it worked out. I think it was just a fuel problem. Apparently the GS's get finicky with only a gallon - 1 1/2 gallons of gas. I have a nifty little tool made for different size holes in different jets that I used after spraying carb cleaner.