I'm starting to get my GS ready for a work commute. But it still has a problem that I can't diagnose. And I'd like to get an idea of what you all thing before i give it to the mechanic for inspection.

There is wetness on the one cylinder that doesnt seem to want to go away. I'll post a picture tomorrow morning.  I believe its gas and not oil but when I post the picture I'll add what it smells like. The bike has lived in my garage for almost two years now. So it hasnt been exposed to the elements.

The bike runs fine. I had it out for a test ride last week. She was stubborn cold and didn't want to let go of her need for choke until it was really warmed up. Here are some things to add to this. One is that I parked it with a nearly full tank of gas last fall. It was bone dry when I pulled it out. But there is no puddle of oil or gas under the bike. There is the smell .. strong actually.. of gas in my garage.

Its 15 years old. But only has a little more then 7,000 miles on it. But I have been riding it a couple hundred miles each of the seven years I had it. I also have it inspected each of those years except for this year.  With gas getting to $4 a gallon its a no-brainer to turn the bike into a daily rider.

Thanks for the help in advance

We need more detail on where said wetness is located on the engine/frame.The floats in the carbs are good for hanging open and allowing the fuel to gradually drip out the over flow hose.This could also be a sign that the vacuum operated fuel valve on the frame may be going bad.When the engine produces vacuum the valve opens,allowing fuel to flow.If the valve is left in the PRI(PRIme) position,it may also slowly leak gas.

Wetness ... wetness, try a tampax brand tampon. Only tampax corks up the tightest little holes so well, there isn't any wetness ... yea ... 
Cool.
Srinath.

 

Wouldnt the tampax catch fire while riding? (jk)

ok if your sitting on the bike its the left cylinder
ok now get off the bike and look at that same cylinder and you are looking at the side of cylinder like this



This is just a random shop from the web not my GS500e. Again Im at work hard to take a picture of it until tomorrow. But it would be at the top left of that cylinder in the picture (am i using the right term? Hope so) and its about five cooling fins long

Possibilities= tachometer drive,valve cover gasket,head gasket=all of these are common issues that come up and usually a cheap DIY project.Head gasket is a little more envolved but with a manual and some mechanical abilities,should be achivable.

Head gasket was one of those things that i was thinking it might be. Because of the nature of the issues. I do have the manuals just really dont have the talent to do it. Im a computer geek who is learning how to fix his own bike still.

What would some of the symptoms be while riding it that I might notice?

Next thing probably should have brought up at first. I was getting a lot of white smoke from the exhaust after starting it up. I figured it was just left over gas and oil in the cylinders and the bike running rich from the choke. When the bike warmed up the exhaust did go back to clear.  The bike had sat for a year so I didnt think much of this.  I still don't think its connected but I thought Id bring it up


edited - generic edits to make it read better

White smoke is a sign of worn valve guides/seals.GS are famous for a small amount of white smoke.If it doesn't clear up soon after start up,there may be valve guide problems.If the head is leaking oil,the engine maybe loosing some compression.I would check or have the head checked for straightness to make sure it's not warped.If it is it can be shaved quite a bit before compression becomes to high.

if all that fule disappeared, CHANGE the oil immediately. there is a chance, some of the fuel and teh oil mixed

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on March 19, 2008, 08:34:47 PM
if all that fule disappeared, CHANGE the oil immediately. there is a chance, some of the fuel and teh oil mixed

Thanks for bringing this up.I total forgot to mention that.If the floats hang and the fuel doesn't make it to the ground thru the over flow,it goes into the cylinders.There it leaks into the crank case.Fuel in oil has been known to colapse piston rings and spin bearings..Fuel washes the oil off as it's pumped over,thru,and around internal parts.