I live in Central Ohio and my GS500 and due to the type of weather we have around here, I last rode her about 1 1/2 months ago.  I keep her on a battery tender while in the garage.  Gas tank is full and I've added stabilizer.   We finally had a nice day so I went to start it up and I couldn't get it to turn over to idle.  Choke was half on.  I also noticed, for the first time, the oil light came on.   So I checked the oil and found that to be reading low. 

As a new rider....Any tips on why this isn't starting?  Spark plugs were replaced about a month ago (asctually, the last time I road her)  I also have to learn how to do the maintenance on my own.  I'll be checking out the how to pages laster for the oil change information.  I'm not good at fixing things mechanically, but will give it my best effort.  I'd rather be riding!  or cooking!!

Any words of wisdom?  Thanks.

Annette

Quote from: gs500girl on March 03, 2008, 04:06:42 AM
... I'm not good at fixing things mechanically, but will give it my best effort.  I'd rather be riding!  or cooking!!

Although I can't help you with the specifics of your current problem, I will say this:  get your hands on a copy of the Haynes manual - if you can follow a recipe, you will have no problems following the maintenance guide. 

Are the carb bowel empty?

Turn the fuel valve to prime and wait for 30seconds to fill them, just in case. 

I have a Clymers manual if that is similar to Haynes version.   Will also check the fuel valve when I get home from work tonight.   I'll check into these.  Thanks for the tips.   
Annette

I live in NE Ohio and ride year round as much as possible, got out most of Dec this season, 11 days in Jan, and a half dozen or so in Feb.  It started up on it's own thru Jan but I had to jump it a couple times in Feb, started again on it's own yesterday to get Mar started off right.  I've done this for over 23 years and over 360k miles and it has been the same pattern for all six bikes I've used up.

Bikes aren't designed for use in this kind of weather, not enough battery to go around and when the starter motor pulls down the voltage to crank the cold engine with the cold heavy oil in it there just isn't enough voltage left to produce a hot enough spark to fire it up with old gas in the carbs.  Gas gets old fast in bike carbs and looses some volatility and if my bike has sat unused in the winter for more than a week or ten days I expect it to be hard starting.

Nothing wrong with the bike and a quick jump from the car battery and it starts quicker than you can snap your fingers.  Quickest and easiest way to get going and once it's running it will restart the rest of the day and most likely the next day too.

The oil light does not indicate oil level, it indicates oil pressure and if it came on there is enough oil to start up.  Warm the bike and then check the oil level.  It is quite common for the oil light to come on just cranking a cold engine that's hard to turn over.  Cold oil is very heavy and will hold pressure and keep the light on for a while.
If it checks low after starting and warming it up just top it up and go get your fix (ride).

Is there a reason you only had the choke half on? Try it full on  You should start it full on everythime you need it 

Quote from: gsJack on March 03, 2008, 06:56:18 AM
I live in NE Ohio and ride year round as much as possible, got out most of Dec this season, 11 days in Jan, and a half dozen or so in Feb.  It started up on it's own thru Jan but I had to jump it a couple times in Feb, started again on it's own yesterday to get Mar started off right.  I've done this for over 23 years and over 360k miles and it has been the same pattern for all six bikes I've used up.

Bikes aren't designed for use in this kind of weather, not enough battery to go around and when the starter motor pulls down the voltage to crank the cold engine with the cold heavy oil in it there just isn't enough voltage left to produce a hot enough spark to fire it up with old gas in the carbs.  Gas gets old fast in bike carbs and looses some volatility and if my bike has sat unused in the winter for more than a week or ten days I expect it to be hard starting.

Nothing wrong with the bike and a quick jump from the car battery and it starts quicker than you can snap your fingers.  Quickest and easiest way to get going and once it's running it will restart the rest of the day and most likely the next day too.

The oil light does not indicate oil level, it indicates oil pressure and if it came on there is enough oil to start up.  Warm the bike and then check the oil level.  It is quite common for the oil light to come on just cranking a cold engine that's hard to turn over.  Cold oil is very heavy and will hold pressure and keep the light on for a while.
If it checks low after starting and warming it up just top it up and go get your fix (ride).

Thanks for this info.  I'll try this out tonight. 

good luck, hope you get it running today. this nice weather we have isn't going to last. 

Quote from: scottpA_GS on March 03, 2008, 07:28:48 AM

Is there a reason you only had the choke half on? Try it full on  You should start it full on everythime you need it 

A friend of mine suggested starting at half choke.  I'm a bit new at all of this (obviously) so when I get home tonight I'll try to fire her up again.... full choke.  Should have thought of that one myself!!

Thanks for all the good tips, everyone.

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 03, 2008, 12:04:02 PM
good luck, hope you get it running today. this nice weather we have isn't going to last. 

Thanks! Looks like rain later today and tomorrow. 

Quote from: lamoun on March 03, 2008, 06:01:38 AM
Turn the fuel valve to prime and wait for 30seconds to fill them, just in case. 

+1

Turn the petcock to prime and go full choke and it should fire right up. 

Sorry for the delayed update but the weather here in central OH has been less than ideal to get my bike running so I can ride it.  Finally got it fired up, thanks to a kind friend who has a vast knowledge on bikes too.   We changed the oil, readjusted the fuel screws and float height.  Runs better than ever!   Tried to ride to work today...saddle bags were even packed.  Then listed to weather one more time before leaving,  forecast updated to include gusting winds.  Since I'm a new rider, I decided it wouldn't be wise.  I was sooo looking forward to the ride, too.


Thanks for everyone's feedback on this thread.