So this winter I took apart the carbs on my K5 GS500, cleaned them, rejetted, and added a K&N drop in filter.  I put everything back together and got everything back on the bike.  AFter a couple twists of the throttle, I got her up and running.  Then the idle slowly died down and she stopped.  After that I couldn't get her to turn over.  I looked at the spark plugs and the tips of them were wet with fuel.  What did I do wrong?  How do I fix this?

It could be a few things, but the most obvious seem to be no spark at the plug or your carb is flooding -- most likely due to a busted float needle. I've heard poor compression can do this as well, but I haven't seen it, and I doubt it's the case here. The easiest thing to check first would be your floats to see if everything in there is kosher.

I really don't know much about this stuff, so what am I looking for when I check the floats? 

Quote from: jbanst on March 17, 2012, 01:43:57 AM
I really don't know much about this stuff, so what am I looking for when I check the floats?

Really isn't too bad. Remove the carbs and take of the float bowls. Then do as this says, http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Maintenance/FloatHeight

Edit: While you're down there check out the float needle and the o-rings.

Here is a good guide to the carbs, it will show you what you're looking for. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56601.0

Best of luck,
Legnd

Start with spark and compression. If you have a spark tool, use it. If not, take off the boot and plug on one of the cylinders connect the boot to that plug while it is out of the cylinder. Now this is important: MAKE SURE THERE IS NO GAS SPILLED AROUND YOU OR ON THE ENGINE. Touch the plug to the engine and try to start the bike. The plug should make a nice fat blue spark. If the spark is weak or there is no spark, either your plug is bad or there is something wonky in your ignition system. If it is fine, do the same to the other plug. If everything checks out move to compression.

If you have a compression gauge, use it. If not, you will be able to notice very low compression with your fingers. Take on plug out and put your finger over the hole to the cylinder. You should feel a good deal of pressure. Do the same to the other side (putting the other plug back in before you do). The pressure you feel should be good and equal on each side. If you notice any difference. I would suggest getting a compression gauge and taking a real measurement.

Now for fuel. Click the second link in Legnd's post and look at the guy's third post. At the start it will show you the float bowl opened with the float visible (the orange thing). If you've cleaned the carbs like you said in the original post, it wont be hard to find this piece. When you take off the float bowl, make sure the gasket is still good. It should sit in there snug and be nice and lively. Now, one thing you will want to look for is whether or not the o-ring that keeps the float in place was in there snug and unmovable. If it comes out easily, you'll want to replace it. Now check the needle that controls the float. the little piston on the top of the needle should have good bounce to it when you push it in and release it. If the spring is worn out, you'll want to replace the needle. Now connect everything back up if it checks out. Then go to Legnd's first link and check the float height. Adjust accordingly.

Let us know how things work out and we'll move from there.