Hey everyone! I just bought '96 GS500 with about 8000+ miles and I might need to utilize some of your wisdom and advice. On my way from Boulder Colorado up to Fort Collins something went wrong and my bike died while I was upshifting. A few guys pulled over to help, brought me some gas thinking I was out, and after we filled it whenever it started it would idle, sometimes only with the choke on, and die whenever the throttle was rolled. They suggested, because the tank was in terrible shape(rusty fuel, and i believe a previous attempt at a Kreem lining) that something was clogging the fuel valve and filter that sits in the tank.
The guy I bought it from agreed and said he probably never had this problem because he only owned the bike for a short time and kept the tank mostly full. At home I took apart the carbs and cleaned them as best I could, rinsed out the tank with gas, cleaned out the fuel valve/filter, and replaced some of the fuel lines. Now it starts with the choke on, warms up, and idles but still begins to die when the throttle is applied too heavily.
My work must have done something because it starts up and sounds healthy, and it does cycle the fuel. The other day it actually revved up to 5000 RPM. However most times it dies out around 2000-3000 RPM. I'm working on finding a new fuel tank and perhaps some replacement filter/valve parts.
So if you have any guesses as to what else might be causing this issue(plugs are newish and spark/coils are fine) that would be great, any advice at all really, this is my first bike and I'm eager to learn.

thanks!

hayes

i would say you still have something plugged in the carbs when you had them apart did you look through the jets closing one eye and holding it up to the light or even just the sky works make sure you can see through all the holes.  i personally like to strip the carbs right down and spray carb cleaner with the little plastic line they give you through all the passages to make sure they are flowing good then stray with compressed air.

You have in-line fuel filter? Try without it. Also Check vacuum leaks from fuel liines and clean up carbs with compressed air, blow from inside to outside. Mine bike did same too and the reason was wery rusty tank= crab in fuel lines/ carbs...

This page has everything you need to know:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Troubleshooting.BikeRunsBadly

+1 to Josh, rusty tank = cloggged carbs

-Jessie

Somebody just posted a link to an ebay auction with an 89-00 tank if you are looking for a new tank.  not sure where it is but should be on the first two pages.

Just a heads up on that auction, they already declined my $100 best offer.

-Jessie

OK, took the carbs apart again and cleaned them, now it starts up fine and will throttle however it sticks at a high throttle and doesn't return to a lower RPM. Are my adjustments off? Theres also a bit of fuel spilling out of the carbs.

did you check for a bad oring and did you also check float height?