yes, all of the shims in the bike currently spin freely

maybe a little gunky feeling, but nothing that feels like metal being forced past metal

Quote from: maddietheblond on October 14, 2013, 05:48:55 PM
maybe a little gunky feeling, but nothing that feels like metal being forced past metal

OK well, put a thinner shim in it, just so you dont have it tight in a few 100 miles. But likely not causing your problem.

OK so does the bike spin up nice and fast when you attempt to start it ?
If so, do a compression test.

If not - and your battery is charged - you have a starter that seems to be on its last legs.

Cool.
Buddha.

the started may be going, but it does spin up nice and fast. it also pulls quite a bit of voltage. When I put the multimeter on it and started it the voltage dropped from 12.3 to 6.1. did a basic (finger over the hole) compression test, of which it passed.

Quote from: maddietheblond on October 14, 2013, 05:56:43 PM
the started may be going, but it does spin up nice and fast. it also pulls quite a bit of voltage. When I put the multimeter on it and started it the voltage dropped from 12.3 to 6.1. did a basic (finger over the hole) compression test, of which it passed.

You got me ... maybe that 6.1 is too low for the battery, how good is its recovery - you let go of starter and how fast does it get over 12 ?

I dunno you may have a bad ignitor - never seen that happen on a GS. Yamaha yea all the time.
You may have a bad crank trigger - that will probably produce weak spark.

ooooh wait you change the spark plugs ? try the old plugs if you have em.
Fuel filter ? You say you got fuel ...

I'm Stumped.
Cool.
Buddha.

at one point I attached it to the battery on my suburban. I literally removed the bikes battery from the consideration. I did put the plugs agains the case so it grounded, and solid spark on every rotation, both plugs. I even checked the gap! all was good.

The one time I did get it started as of late it ran for about 30 rotations, then bogged down even as I pulsed the throttle. white smoke as well, but obviously from one cylinder.

I went back out and rotated the ones that measured .0015 or less, and they did spin freely.

OK put the right shim in that one under .0015.
And I have no clue.

You have blow off your thumb compression right ?

Did you change spark plugs ? It may need the old plugs, I've seen new spark plugs not make spark.

Cool.
Buddha.

I have 100% verified that they are getting spark out of compression. I put my thumb on with force and it did force it off. Pulling both spark plugs the motor spins completely freely when I engage the starter. I can say it gets spark and gas gets to the carb, which I have cleaned thoroughly. Maybe there is something I need to adjust for better fuel getting into it?

I just realized that I didnt pull the 2 screws (needle jets?) that are on the air box side of the carb inlet. Should I pull those and clean them? and then I guess I need to tune then back to a certain bit?

   I had a simular problem the o-rings between the motor and the rubber carb manifold were leaking. I also sync. the carbs made a world of improvement. I set the valves at 10mm on the ext. and 8mm on the intake. Good luck     Rickm1819   1993 GS500E  7354 miles on the bike.

so I am going to do another cleaning, put the valve cover back on since its not hitting, and re assemble and test again.

So I re-assembled everything, and decided to delve into the carb a little. Figured out that I had the needle valve pin in the vacuum bit reversed, so now the needle is actually going into the needle valve. Lets just don the "shade tree mechanic idiot" hat, and continue. found as well one more clog, dealt with that. now there is a thorough gas smell coming from the exhaust, so I know its working well. Still no start though. hooked it up to the car battery, turning over wonderfully, nothing. pulled the plugs, turned it over a few more times, put the plug to the case to check for spark and plentiful there.

so now I am completely flummoxed. we have figured out the valves are not hitting the cam, the carb is completely clean and its getting fuel, and the plugs are firing. what the heck can I check now? air box is sealed up tight, filter installed. fuel filter is off, petcock is working perfectly (brand new to replace one with a blown baffle). fuel line is un-crimped. I really dont want to use starter fluid, but it may be a good way to test if it is a valve issue or is a carb issue. any takers on the idea?

OK what is your fuel level ? I cant help but think its still carb.

Now one time I was worknig on one GStwinners bike after stopping by his place and seeing him fit an exhaust on and doing some other light work, and test riding it ... it ran fine, he was gonna jet it after I left ... and ... the bike didn't start after he jetted it.
He trucked it to my house, where I killed myself over it for a week. It had spark, it had compression, it ran with the stock jets in it ... I rode it ... now it wont start.

Turns out he put new plugs in it ... in addiotn to jetting it.

I saw spark ... but somehow it didn't light it up. I put a old set of plugs in and instant vroom vroom ...

There can be new spark plugs that spark, and look perfect to all possible tests does not light up. That's all I got ...

Cool.
Buddha.

BTW the same stupid thing happened to my MZ.
However I suspect its alternator rotor spun on the crank changing the timing for the spark. Its seemingly sparking 1/2 way through the intake stroke ...
No cant happen in the GS, its timing is form the other side from the igntion advancer, and that cant spin on the crank. OK fine if you want to be sure, take off that round cover on the right and see the advancer and the crank is nicely pegged to it via the little pin. If that is the case, you're golden.
Cool.
Buddha.

so I was a idiot and threw out the plugs when I changed them like 2 weeks ago. This has been a ongoing project. I am going to do the float bowl test with fuel height again tonight, as well as pick up a new set of plugs. maybe it was just that brand, but I am dubious it was that simple

Quote from: maddietheblond on October 15, 2013, 06:02:11 AM
so I was a idiot and threw out the plugs when I changed them like 2 weeks ago. This has been a ongoing project. I am going to do the float bowl test with fuel height again tonight, as well as pick up a new set of plugs. maybe it was just that brand, but I am dubious it was that simple

Did it start after the plugs were changed ?
If it did, its not your problem.
Cool.
Buddha.

it has ran with the plugs in, and but I am going to buy another set just in case. nothing wrong with having a spare set. But I think I may have found the problem. Finally found a screwdriver small enough to get the pilot jet out, and it was clogged fully. I also did test on the floats to see where the fuel was sitting, and it was way low. so I have re-done the floats and clean the pilot jet out completely. going to re-install them all tonight.

I've done this before.....I think you swapped the plug wires to the wrong cylinders

Quote from: robfriedenberger on October 15, 2013, 02:45:47 PM
I've done this before.....I think you swapped the plug wires to the wrong cylinders

That is not possible on a GS500. They aren't long enough. And with a coil on each side of the bike, it would be obvious ifyou ran the left coil to the right and vice versa (if they would even reach that far).

Quote from: maddietheblond on October 15, 2013, 09:31:55 AM
it has ran with the plugs in, and but I am going to buy another set just in case. nothing wrong with having a spare set. But I think I may have found the problem. Finally found a screwdriver small enough to get the pilot jet out, and it was clogged fully. I also did test on the floats to see where the fuel was sitting, and it was way low. so I have re-done the floats and clean the pilot jet out completely. going to re-install them all tonight.

Bingo ...
Choke sucks through that pilot jet, and the air screw too ...
Cool.
Buddha.