So I have a 1997 Suzuki GS500 but, I have a small problem. I was hoping that the great community of gstwins could help me out. I have searched already on these forums and online with no luck to my specific situation, here's what happened.
I got my bike a while back from this guy who I vaguely remember telling me that he put some new fuel lines on. The lines were clear which I thought they were aftermarket parts but turns out were just regular rubber hoses and the gas ate them away, bursting on my ride back home! Well after wards I removed the old lines, tried some others lines (which were not the right size and gas was leaking) the bike turned over. I removed those lines and ordered the OEM parts from bikebandit.com. A few weeks later when I got them in I installed the lines and they fit perfectly I was so happy until, I tried turning the bike on. At first I got a few turn overs, but they were week and didn't last to long and it quickly progressed to nothing at all when i pushed start engine. The light works, turn signals work, neutral light is on, everything pretty much normal except that it didn't turn over. I have tried disconnecting the battery, I've put it in gear pulled the clutch and tried, I made sure the kick stat sensor wasn't interfering. I just don't know what is wrong, I did install the line correctly I'm sure of that and there is fuel flowing to the petcock. I'm thinking since the bike has been sitting there for over a month that it might be the battery? I don't know much about bikes so I was hoping that I could get some insight from you all. If you need any more information that I missed I'll post it ASAP.
Anyways any help ladies and gentlemen?

That sounds like it could be a bad battery. Is the headlight dim? And when you try and crank it does it get markedly dimmer?

so I just checked my bike, I had to wait for it to get dark and it does get dimmer. Should I try to jump it, and if so do I jump it with another bike?

probably not it but did you try putting it in prime?

by prime do you mean setting the petcock valve choice to pri? if so I tried all options on that valve no luck each time. =/ If that is not, then please explain I'm just not that savvy with motorcycles =/

Was running - new fuel lines, now it doesn't. Hmmmmmm.

1. Did you turn the fuel back on in the tank petcock under the tank?
2. Fuel lines going to the right place?
3. Vacuum like connected to fuel valve? (PRIme over rides it)
4. Pinched fuel line?

Quote from: Societyzombie on June 07, 2011, 09:08:09 PM
At first I got a few turn overs, but they were week and didn't last to long and it quickly progressed to nothing at all when i pushed start engine.

Unless I am not reading this right, I don't understand why you think it's fuel lines when you press the starter and get zip.

If your battery is FUBAR, changing the fuel lines won't do diddly.

Put your battery on a charger and see if it charges, then try. If that fails, jump the bike with your car. You just think it's fuel lines cause that's what you played around with while your battery was dying.

Michael

Do you hear clicking when you try to start, or nothing at all?

I would add to the above suggestions - after charging the battery (1.1A for 10 hours) - to pull both of the spark plugs before the first time you try to crank it and crank it a few times with them out.  It's probably nothing, but I'd just want to make sure the engine isn't hydrolocked. 

The cause of my concern is who knows what nasty crap is in your carbs now.  That dissolved hose went somewhere - right into your carbs.  Worst case, your float valves could be stuck open and if you put it on prime, fuel could have poured into the cylinders.  Just a possibility.

You may also want to consider cleaning your carbs, or at the very least running through a few tanks of gas with Seafoam.

Thank you all for the responses so far let me answer some questions

Thank you all for the responses so far they are very apreciated. I apologize now for the format I am sending this by my IPhone and I can't edit past a certain point. I do believe I will be cleaning out the carbs because initially when I did take off the old corroded lines there was this red clayish goo sitting on the bottom of the old line. It's. Good possibility it could be in the carbs.
Also here are some questions I could answer.

QuoteDo you hear clicking when you try to start, or nothing at all?

No I have not heard any clicking or anything at all after the few dying rumming sounds I got the last time

Quote
1. Did you turn the fuel back on in the tank petcock under the tank?
2. Fuel lines going to the right place?
3. Vacuum like connected to fuel valve? (PRIme over rides it)
4. Pinched fuel line?

1. I did do that it's now in the on position
2. The fuel line are in the correct position I went off the bike schematics I found online
3. I only replaced the two lines but the other line on the petcock is connected. I don't understand the last part of your question to well I assume you mean that the pri selection will override that problem?
4.The lines look fine I saw no flaws before or after installation and fuel is flowing to the petcock because I removed one line and fuel flowed out lol
To answer your question micheal

QuoteUnless I am not reading this right, I don't understand why you think it's fuel lines when you press the starter and get zip.

I don't think it was the gas lines, I just what explaining what I've done so far. I will be looking for a battery charger and trying again because when I did turn the bike the lights were dimmer than usual and it dimmed faintly when the start button was pushed.

Ive had the battery so low it wont turn the bike over, yet the indicators and headlight still come on, i would say most likely the battery. Go pick up a trickle charger from you local bike shop and put it on over night.

If you have a Home Depot nearby they sell a 6v/12v trickle charger for about $20.

It sure sounds like a flat battery, whether its FUBAR or not would need to be determined after trying to charge it.

BUT

I got caught in a stupid moment once (for about 30 minutes and a 1000 meter push), let me share, first check that you haven't flipped the stop switch (red) on the right grip.  If you have lights etc will work but no starter motor.

Quote from: evanc on June 08, 2011, 01:54:42 PM
I got caught in a stupid moment once (for about 30 minutes and a 1000 meter push), let me share, first check that you haven't flipped the stop switch (red) on the right grip.  If you have lights etc will work but no starter motor.

Similar - I must be getting old:  in gear ('cause I park it that way so she/he won't roll away) and side stand is down (too excited to ride and forgot to put it up). Even with clutch pulled in - won't start. Side stand: Doh! Not in neutral? Doh!