I have a Suzuki GS500E 1993.

I have noticed the engine wants to die if i travel at 90-100 mph for 5-10 minutes. The power just goes and the revs takes ages to build and it stutters. It's happened a few times and each time i've pulled over, killed the engine and let it sit for 5 or so mins, and it's back to normal?

I'm guessing it's overheating, is this normal for travelling at such speed with these bikes?

Quote from: CraiGDaniel on September 16, 2011, 04:07:48 PM
I have a Suzuki GS500E 1993.

I have noticed the engine wants to die if i travel at 90-100 mph for 5-10 minutes. The power just goes and the revs takes ages to build and it stutters. It's happened a few times and each time i've pulled over, killed the engine and let it sit for 5 or so mins, and it's back to normal?

I'm guessing it's overheating, is this normal for travelling at such speed with these bikes?

They're air-cooled. So no. Unless for some weird reason the ambient temperature isn't cooling your bike enough for how hard you're running it.

How long has it been since you changed the oil? Have you rejetted it? Both of these also contribute to overheating.

I don't think your bike is over heating. Sounds more like it is starving for fuel so it may be running very lean at high revs or some members here have reported similar issues when the get vapour lock in their fuel tanks. Best to check your vent hose on your tank to see if that is blocked or if the next time it happens open the fuel cap to see if it makes a "Psssshhh" sound.

There is a very tiny vent hole around the edge of the gas cap mounting. If it is plugged then air won't get into the tank very fast and that results in a partial vacuum. Fuel flows out via gravity, there is no fuel pump. A vacuum inside the tank will keep fuel from flowing out.

Like mentioned - try with the fuel cap open. The drain hose around the fuel cap is for water in that area so water doesn't get into the tank.

Another possibility is the fuel petcock inside the tank is dirty. There is a screen on it. If dirty, fuel won't flow out fast enough. For that you'll have to look inside. That screen is there as a first (and only) line of defense for crapola that falls into the tank when you open the fuel cap to fill the tank. You know - bugs, dirt, a leaf, junk on the end of the gas station pump. If dirty, you have to empty the tank then unbolt it, remove from the tank and carefully clean it (service manual or a Haynes tells how to do it.) Suggest new petcock gasket and the 2 special washers if you do that. You don't want a fuel leak under the tank. That's also a good time to put on new fuel lines if your lines are the originals.
(When I fill up, I point the fuel hose at the screen and give a few good squirts to knock any crap off of that filter and let it settle to the bottom of the tank. Then continue to carefully fill up without splashing fuel all over the place.)

If the fuel valve is going out or there is a leak in the vacuum line to it (vacuum opens up the fuel valve), try running on PRIME. That bypasses the vacuum valve in the fuel tap (that thingy with ON, RES and PRIME)

That should be enough to hopefully isolate and solve the problem.

Just see also while your at it doing all this your fuel is not contaminated. Worth a quick check while your at it.

Another option is to not ride your GS500 at 160km an hour (100mph) for 10 minutes 

Michael

I have a similar problem, Except it doesn't matter how fast I go, just how long I ride. Hot engine=dieing idle. A pop of the wrist keeps her alive at stop signs and lights.idle screw set at 1200-1250 rpm, 3 turns out on mixture screw, K&N lunch, 40-150 jets, open pipe(almost). In the morning she's perfect hot afternoon she's Bi**hY(the bike)..... lol....."BUDDAHA LOVES YOU"