When i first got the bike every once in a while the choke would stick and stay on after leaving it alone for a while it would go back to normal. If i pushed the choke little lever thing to engage the choke it would get stuck choking even when i released the lever and let it go back down. So finally i messed (adjusted lol) with the cable and it doesn't randomly stick anymore but i can't manually choke it either. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this because it's getting cold and it takes me like 8 tries to start my bike and then it's gotta warm up for min or two before its good to go. Additional info my bike is a 1995 model suzuki gs500. Any help greatly appreciated

Quote from: loki7714 on November 23, 2008, 02:03:26 PM
When i first got the bike every once in a while the choke would stick and stay on after leaving it alone for a while it would go back to normal. If i pushed the choke little lever thing to engage the choke it would get stuck choking even when i released the lever and let it go back down. So finally i messed (adjusted lol) with the cable and it doesn't randomly stick anymore but i can't manually choke it either. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this because it's getting cold and it takes me like 8 tries to start my bike and then it's gotta warm up for min or two before its good to go. Additional info my bike is a 1995 model suzuki gs500. Any help greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

Julian Arceneaux

I think you may be describing a hanging idle? If I understood correctly, the idle remains even after you closed the choke? There is a thread in the FAQ that gives some ideas to help cure a hanging idle:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=41199.0

If it's not a hanging idle problem (your description sounds like this only happens at start up?), you may have a stuck choke cable that needs to be lubricated, a stuck choke plunger, a bent choke bracket lever, etc. It would help if you described the choke "adjustments" that you made to fix this

Also, it's normal for the bike to need a couple of minutes before it's good to go.

Not quite sure what the whole hanging idle thing is but i am absolutely certain it has something to do with the choke because i adjusted cable tightness (i think) and i don't have the problem with it choking anymore but now i cant manually put it in choke. Also took apart box the choke lever is in and everything looked fine in there.

Bump

Quote from: loki7714 on November 23, 2008, 05:02:24 PM
Not quite sure what the whole hanging idle thing is but i am absolutely certain it has something to do with the choke because i adjusted cable tightness (i think) and i don't have the problem with it choking anymore but now i cant manually put it in choke. Also took apart box the choke lever is in and everything looked fine in there.

How did you adjust the tightness of the choke cable? I don't think there is an adjustment for this cable.

Follow the choke cable to the carb side and look for the plunger at the end. When you move the choke lever, can you see the plunger moving in-and-out?

Does the choke lever move freely, or is it rough and difficult to move?

You said the bike is a '95 model - how many miles on it?

Here is pic of what i "adjusted" the silver part on cable with the nut in front of it

Here is pic of the plunger... i guess... followed the cable to this. It wasn't moving at all when i moved the choke lever and it moved freely... perhaps a bit too freely.

idk how many miles but i'm sure it's not an extraordinary amount.

Quote from: loki7714 on November 24, 2008, 11:10:33 AM
Here is pic of what i "adjusted" the silver part on cable with the nut in front of it

Yup, that's right. Sorry, I forgot the choke cable has that adjustment screw. 

Quote
Here is pic of the plunger... i guess... followed the cable to this. It wasn't moving at all when i moved the choke lever and it moved freely... perhaps a bit too freely.

That does look like the plunger bracket, but the picture is very small and difficult to see - any chance you could upload a larger size?

In any event, the manual states that the choke cable should have a "small" amount of freeplay. If the plunger doesn't move at all, you have 100% freeplay. You need to readjust the cable so that the choke lever move the plungers in and out of the carb bodies. You should be able to move the lever a little bit before the plungers start to move (i.e. freeplay). After that point, the plungers should move smoothly. There should also be a spring that helps to close the plungers when the lever is pushed up.

Slide the plunger bracket back and forth with your fingers to check that the plungers move freely.

Also, it looks like there is an open nipple on the carb?

Quote
idk how many miles but i'm sure it's not an extraordinary amount.

I don't understand. Doesn't the bike have an odometer? 

Didn't come with one (odometer) had to nab one after market. Open nipple lmao maybe i'm just a little bit immature but idk what that means past the funny meaning lol. I can get a larger pic on by tonight but will need my digital camera so can't do it til tonight (friend has it [that was a cell phone pic]). What you're saying is i need to re-adjust the cable. Sounds like good idea. Maybe it was just to tight before and it does have the spring you were talking about.

Alright was gonna post new pics but i think i found prob. Pushed plunger in and it didn't wanna come back out. Is that because the spring is old or because the plunger is grimy or something? Basically, how do i fix it

Quote from: loki7714 on November 24, 2008, 09:06:53 PM
Alright was gonna post new pics but i think i found prob. Pushed plunger in and it didn't wanna come back out. Is that because the spring is old or because the plunger is grimy or something? Basically, how do i fix it

That's a good start. Did you push the plungers, or the bracket (brass coloured piece) that holds them?

Also, is the bracket straight? I'm asking because mine was bent, which messed up the movement and led to some choke problems.

Do the plungers come out if you pull on them, or are they stuck closed? I would start by cleaning up the plungers. Pull the plungers out and use some carb cleaner on a toothbrush to wipe them off. You probably don't want to overdo it with the carb cleaner, because there must be some rubber seals on the plungers and the cleaner may damge the rubber. You can probably rinse off the carb cleaner with WD-40 and then apply a light lubricating oil. Do this for both plungers.

Check manually to confirm that the plungers are moving in and out more easily. If so, check if the spring is strong enough to pull the plungers out on its own. If not, you will need a new spring.

I don't have a bike to check right now, so I can't give advice on how easily the plungers should move. I think the spring should be enough to push them in on its own, but it would be best if someone could confirm this.

I hope this helps - keep updating on the progress! 

Cant do anything til friday cause im at dads house will try then though thanks so much for all the help 

Solved prob by manually choking thanks for the help
One more thing fixed 

Quote from: loki7714 on December 04, 2008, 02:43:01 PM
Solved prob by manually choking thanks for the help
One more thing fixed 

That's good, I guess. 

What do you mean by "manually choking"? Do you manually push in the choke plungers when you start the bike, and then pull them out when the bike is warm?

If that gets to be a hassle, the choke spring and choke cable should be very inexpensive parts and are easy to replace.

Yeah i'm going to fix it eventually  just not right now (too lazy  ) and you were exactly right on my method of manual choking.