New GS500f owner and loving the bike but I have a quick question for the carb gurus.

I just bought a new GS500f..09'

I brought it home and it wouldnt start cold period. Took it to dealership and they found the choke cable wasn't hooked to one carb. They fixed it and it seems to start very reliably now. SOooo, I went on a first ride(about 100 miles) and a new issue has developed. The idle regularly "hangs" at anywhere from 3k to 4k rpm. I think the idle is right as it sometimes drops right down at a stop to about 1200. Sometimes it just takes a crank of the throttle and it's back to 1200 and other times it stays over 3k till I take off or when I can go again.

Bike has under 200 miles. Do I just take this into the dealership to fix or will it need rejetted or something? I have read that as a solution on the forumn. I just think it is something the dealership should fix as it is under warranty but wonderding if there is an easy way to fix or am I stuck hauling a brand new bike back to be serviced already yet again?

Any advice all? Thanks in advance..love this board and site:)


Doug

I'd take it back to them, but only because it's not money out of your pocket going into a few bugs from the factory that should've been right in the first place. 

Yeah, take it back.  They probably left something loose, considering they couldn't hook up the choke properly either.

Yea however the ocassional hang up coould be fixed wiht a 1/2 turn on air screw. Not somehting the factory will want the dealer to do under warranty.
Cool.
Buddha.

Has that hanging got something to do with it running so lean, Buddha?

Yes lean by just a hair, especially down low.
1/2 turn out on air screw will cover it ... sadly that air screw is under a brass cap, and you have to drill it ... which means it has to have the carbs pulled. The removal of cap will let you fiddle that screw without removing carbs.
Cool.
Buddha.

I figured it did. Even the small engines at work have the same exact problem- idle hangs because of lean running, leads to engine running hotter and lasting not nearly as long. 

Hmm...sounds like I need to take it to the dealership.

Not about to let something continue to happen that could shorten the life of my engine. Not on a bike with under 200 miles on it

I really don't care if the factory wants to do it or not. I will raise living heck until the fix it or get tired of me and do it to get ride of me. Heck. Even if I have to pay for half an hour of labor to resolve the issue it is all good.

thanks all for the suggestions. It gives me some talking points when I go to the dealersip and will help them now to worm their way out of it. Weird thing is on way to work today(15 minutes about 38 degrees out) Idle was fine but yesterday after about 100 miles straight on way home it was hanging at almost every stop.

Doug

oh, quick question. If they do give me guff at the dealership regarding warranty would it be worth it to buy a jet kit and have it rejetted at some shop? That should cure the lean issue I would think.
Thanks so much for the advice!

Doug

Doug,

Just a quick question.... you do make sure to turn the choke OFF when you're riding, right?

The throttle does go all the way back to its starting position, doesn't it?

Sure, people here talk about rejetting. But a bike that has Not even had its first service in its riding life, does Not Need to be rejetted.

The bike runs just fine in its stock configuration.

Assuming you do turn off the choke when riding, take the bike back to the dealer.

In fact, also keep a small list yourself of anything you think is Not Right or May Be Not Right. Ghost neutrals. Odd vibrations through the brakes, whatever. And present this list to them at the first service - keep a copy yourself. This is so you can prove you have been tracking something that later on may turn in to something - if the dealer doesn't look at it in service. Of course, ask here first to make sure it's not just your mind playing tricks with you on your new bike.

Michael

Great words of wisdom! Yeah, I will keep that list as I am already at item 2. I know the GS500 is a great reliable bike but it seems  just my luck to have issues early on. Oh well! I have a feeling once i get through the first service and work the kinks out I will have many happy years with her 

As for the choke, yes, I checked that several times to make sure it was off. It seems that the bike needs to be really really warmed up(I was actually hitting 60MPH when the issue occured) and that maybe my short little morning commute(40mph max) in chilly weather doesn't get it warm enough to cause the issue to occur. I had actually noticed it a bit on the way home from work before but htought nothing of it until the longer ride where it was at ever stop pretty much.

Will call tommorow and see what the dealership says. I really dont want to rejet a brand new bike...ugh!  

Doug

20 pilot jets works far better than a jet kit for the hanging idle issue.

I'd almost say dont get a kit its too complicated to get it to work.

Buddha kit is a mikuni pack, +1 all around and its a good option ... and includes the pilots.

So, swap pilots or do buddha kit or heck get them to do the air screw and you may be fine. And yes, hotter = bad. Obviously.

Cool.
Buddha.

For what it's worth, I have a stock 2006. I pulled the carbs, cleaned the jets and backed out the air/fuel mix screws 2-3/4 turns from seated all the way in. ( It had 800 miles on it when I did this ). She runs great and starts right up but I do have to tend to it while warming up.

When I open the choke all the way in the morning  it takes about 30 seconds or less for it to run up to 4K rpm, I back it off a little while I'm standing there, then as it warms up a bit more it jumps up again to 4K or so. I then back it off one more time and she settles down. This whole process takes about 1 minute. After that she is good to go. I then run the bike with the choke on slightly for about a mile or so then flick the choke all the way off. This is our morning ritual. Maybe bumping up the pilots to 20's might be a good idea but mine seems to do very well. I checked my mileage 3 weeks ago and was getting 60 MPG.

All stock bike will really be fine with that extra mix screw. Usually if it starts acting up is when you rejet.
Cool.
Buddha.

It's probably a lean mix issue like Buddha suggest but I'm not much for tearing into things if it's not necessary.  I had exactly the same issue with my 97 GS when it was new.  Would hang up to 3-4k rpm idle when hot.  I just reached under the carbs while sitting on the fast idling bike at a stop and turned the idle speed adjustment down a wee bit very slowly until the idle dropped off to normal.  Think I had to do it a couple times to get it right and it didn't affect the idle speed much when I was done.  Problem went away completely after I built up some miles.  That was 10 years ago so I don't recall the details exactly.  I put 80k miles on that bike and now have 77k miles on my current 02 GS without ever modifying the carbs on either.  If it ain't broke I don't fix it.  If you don't mess with your carbs they won't mess with you.

this happened with my brand new bike too, i would ride it around the parking lot (no licence) after it warmed up it would stay at higher revs 3-4 k then i would turn it off.. after it started it would go normal.... after i pushed it to my house across the street, i turned the idle adjustment to slow the idle..and now it idles perfect at 1200 no sticking    but get the dealer to look at it just for good measure 

Well, got word back from the dealer. They think they have fixed it. They say the idle was out of wack on one of the carbs so they adjusted it and synced the carbs and should be good to go.

Time will tell but it's probably the same carb that had the issue when it wouldn't start due to not having the choke cable hooked up to it.

Cmon Suzuki!!! Quality control peeps!

Thanks for all the advice!

Doug

Quote from: hambonee on February 03, 2010, 02:53:06 PM
Well, got word back from the dealer. They think they have fixed it. They say the idle was out of wack on one of the carbs so they adjusted it and synced the carbs and should be good to go.

Time will tell but it's probably the same carb that had the issue when it wouldn't start due to not having the choke cable hooked up to it.

Cmon Suzuki!!! Quality control peeps!

Thanks for all the advice!

Doug

Doug,

Before sending bikes out, Suzuki tests them ALL. They have Very stringent QC. BUT.... before you buy a bike the Dealer is Supposed to do a Once Over on the bike. It's during this once over that things can - and often do - go awry.

So don't be too hasty to blame Suzuki... but do be hasty to blame the dealer for Not carrying out their Pre Delivery correctly.

If you are not contracted to these guys, I'd find another mechanic to do the log book servicing. Because they stuffed it up twice now.

Michael

Ahh, I figured the bike came mostly assembled from suzuki and basically the dealership slapped a few pieces on and ran the initial checks.

I will say though I am now trying to find a new Suzuki mechanic in my area to do work on it if needed. Only thing I need to worry about is are they warranty authorized. Should nopt be an issue!

Bike idles much better now though. stays at about 1200 smooth. Will find out this Saturday when I get a good long ride on her. Can't wait!

Doug