Hi everybody!

I always wanted a GS500 but college and all costs too much, so I was happy to find out that a friend dad wanted to get rid of his, and I picked it up for basically free.

It's a 1992 Gs500e with 3998(! hasn't been ridden since 1993 I'm told !) miles on the clock. Everything is in perfect condition, very minor surface rust, always garaged, paint looks fresh and new. Only one problem, it doesn't run  .

I went ahead and bought myself a Clymer manual so I would know how to put everything back together after I took it apart. Following the instructions there and common sense, I replaced the battery, removed, cleaned, and reinstalled the carbs, replaced the spark plugs, and added new motor oil. Filled it up with fresh gas and gave it a try, but it doesn't even turn over. The starter coil seems to be ok so I suspect it is some mechanical issue that they never bothered to fix in 1993.

My question to you folks is, what can be causing it to not start? I've checked the electricals, and tested the spark plugs since then and all is well. The fuel is fresh, and I did a fairly thorough job on the carbs and hoses.

Help me out and you can save my 81 maxim from it's torturous daily duties!

Thanks.

Well, there's 3 elements of a running engine. Spark, fuel, and compression. You say spark and fuel are good. How's compression?

And welcome to the club! We'll do our best to get your bike running again!

Drain the fuel, take off the carbs, remove the jets & clean them up, reinstall and fire it up.

Easy peasy man.

Whoops, completely skipped over the compression test part, will do that now.

The jets in the carbs are clean as a whistle. It doesn't like me enough to not be more problematic, haha.

Welcome and congradulations!

Squirt some oil into the cylinders, and rotate the motor over by hand (actually, see if you can rotate the motor over by hand AT ALL!).  If you can't turn it by hand, the rings may have rusted to the cylinder walls, another reason to set-up a bike for storage properly.

If you say it wont even crank over, dont worry about the engine yet, because this is an electrical problem.  Double check battery connections, check starter button and wiring, look over and test wires that are involved in starting process. 

Welcome! 

have you tryed to bump start it yet?(by bump start i mean put it in 2nd pull in clutch run with the bike jump on the bike and release the clutch, make sure the ignition is on) be fore you do that put a couple of drips of oil in each cylinder (through the spark plug hole as the rings could be almost seized into place)
make sure your main fuse is ok (part of the starter relay) and the lights come on,
i suspect your starter relay is buggered (does it click when you press the start botton?) or the starter motor ,
good luck

"doesn't even turn over"....

You mean no "click", "snap", or anything?
System fuse?

Do the lights work?

You sound like a serious wrenching disciple so, we need a little more specific data.

The starter relay is on the RH side on the battery box. A spare fuse is visible on the starter relay mounting boot, BUT the fuse that is actually used is under the latching red cap that connects to the starter relay.

Here's a terribly old fuzzy picture of the early model relay/cap assembly with battery cable mounted:


Go forth and wrench more! You could be facing a non-working starter clutch. Ugggh.

did you check the killswitch ? 

Check the clutch lever safety switch. There are two conenctors right under the clutch lever housing on your left handlebar. Check for contact, corrosion, etc. They are the part of the GS failsafe idea (clever one for a beginner biker I must admit) -- the starter will not operate untill the clutch lever is depressed, the footpeg is up and the bike is in neutral. And of course the kill switch must be enabled.

Quote from: zOU on February 13, 2007, 08:48:25 AM
did you check the killswitch ? 

Geez! How insulting! 

I just tried to start my bike last Friday. It didn't turn over..not a peep...not a sound....I was panicking...after 2 1/2 years of riding, I still need to remember to get that kill switch where it's supposed to go! At least I didn't drop him (this time)!   

Quote
Squirt some oil into the cylinders, and rotate the motor over by hand (actually, see if you can rotate the motor over by hand AT ALL!).  If you can't turn it by hand, the rings may have rusted to the cylinder walls, another reason to set-up a bike for storage properly.

+1
Yeah, after sitting for 13 years the inside of the engine can get all rusted up. I'd try pulling the plugs and squirting a penetrating oil (WD-40 Free etc) into the cylinders and try turning it over by putting it into 6th gear, pushing it an poping the clutch. I"ve also heard that coca cola has an acid in it that disolves rust, and that you can pour it into your engine, let it sit for a day, then it'll turn over.

I had this happen to a bike of mine after sitting for 2 years and I could never free it up, so good luck. If you can't even rotate the engine manually, don't spend your time/money on electrical carbs or anything else. It'll need a new top end (minimum) first.

If after a bunch of swearing and forcing, it dose turn over, then it'll be an oil guzzler and smoker, but it's free!

Quote from: pandy on February 13, 2007, 02:09:04 PM

Quote from: zOU on February 13, 2007, 08:48:25 AM
did you check the killswitch ? 

Geez! How insulting! 

I just tried to start my bike last Friday. It didn't turn over..not a peep...not a sound....I was panicking...after 2 1/2 years of riding, I still need to remember to get that kill switch where it's supposed to go! At least I didn't drop him (this time)!   

I wouldnt skip over the small things like.. Was the side stand up? Clutch in?

Sometimes the small things are the best place to start


CONGRATS! on your (new to you) GS!

Congrats on your GS, I'm not especially mechanically inclined, but I did read an article where an individual freed up frozen engines using a penetrating oil known as Kroil.  He apparently managed to salvage and get running in good order with this product bikes that others had given up on.  I found this on a site about older bikes and not an ad for the product.  Sorry can't recall the site.  The name of the product stuck with me for some reason. Anyway just a thought.  Best if luck with your GS. 

Marvel Mystery Oil 



It sounds as if you could be headed towards a tear down. My 93 also sat for many many many years..infact it had less mileage on it than yours does. The valve seat in the head crumbled, must have been cracked or something when they put it in because theres no logical reason that should happen that early on, and caused all sorts of problems. If you feel like its hanging up STOP trying to start it, you'll cause more damage. The PO of mine dumped a ton of Marvel Mystery into it thinking it was just seized up...I had to get a new head.

Thanks for the help guys. I haven't had any more spare time this week, but tommorow will be completely dedicated to the bike.

I have the left hand crank case cover off (I was checking the seal because there was so much dirt and spider eggs in the front cog cover), so I will see if I can rotate the crankshaft manually. If that works, I'll worry about the electricals/ go through all of your other advice and let you know how it works out. What I meant by doesn't turn over is that I can hear the starter motor clicking but the engine doesn't fire, even though the spark plugs are good. I will definitely have to find a spray bottle for gas.

Thanks again!

Well, clicking rules out the kill switch.  If it's not the battery, then all the easy answers are exhausted.