So I have a 2002 GS500H and it runs at 4000 rpm stationary when warm. The choke cable has recently been replaced, same for both gas cables. I tried adjusting using the idle screw but it doesn't seem to go any lower. The choke also refuses to go off, I have to manually take it off on the bike itself most of the time. It barely starts which might be an unrelated battery issue, and it doesn't run smoothly (rpm fluctuations when stationary, jerks while riding. What could be causing these problems?

Well seeing as though cables have recently been replaced, it's almost certainly to do with the cables.
(What was it like before?)
I'd disconnect the choke cable first, (after running and warming up the bike for a few minutes), and if it still persists, adjust the throttle cables so there's plenty of free-play. You'll need to re-set the cables free-play and synchronisation once you've got the tickover sorted.
But also, check the cable routing, any tight curve can cause the cables to hang-up.

Are you certain you are turning the idle screw the right direction?
Has anyone messed with the fuel mixture screws?

If you just replaced the choke cable and it still doesn't move the choke but you can turn in off on the carb then the problem is with the installation of the choke cable.

Quote from: Joolstacho on June 03, 2019, 05:04:29 PM
Well seeing as though cables have recently been replaced, it's almost certainly to do with the cables.
(What was it like before?)
I'd disconnect the choke cable first, (after running and warming up the bike for a few minutes), and if it still persists, adjust the throttle cables so there's plenty of free-play. You'll need to re-set the cables free-play and synchronisation once you've got the tickover sorted.
But also, check the cable routing, any tight curve can cause the cables to hang-up.

The cables were replaced to try to fix this particular problem, so they're probably not what's causing it.

Quote from: Bluesmudge on June 03, 2019, 05:08:08 PM
Are you certain you are turning the idle screw the right direction?
Has anyone messed with the fuel mixture screws?

If you just replaced the choke cable and it still doesn't move the choke but you can turn in off on the carb then the problem is with the installation of the choke cable.

Yeah I managed to get it down from 4000 to 3500 by turning in this direction but I can feel the screw doesn't want to go further below that. The rpm goes up if I turn the other direction. I haven't had the bike for that long so the previous owner might have changed the fuel mixture screws.

I did consider it might be running rich since there is a gasoline smell when stationary and it backfired once. It also makes a knocking kind of sound, but I don't know what actual engine knocking sounds like so I don't know if it sounds like that. I'm not too familiar with how bikes work though so I'm not entirely sure how accurate these symptoms are.

The mixture screws have brass caps from the factory. If those are not in place, they have been messed with. If the caps are not in place try resetting the mixture and then syncing the carbs.
The engine "knock" is probably normal. Especially if it's more of a tick tick tick. These engines are noisy at idle.

The choke doesn't automatically go off. If it idles at 3500 with no choke then odds are the choke is stuck on, not going off. Likely due to the cable replacement.check that then move from there.

Quote from: mr72 on June 04, 2019, 04:27:32 PM
The choke doesn't automatically go off. If it idles at 3500 with no choke then odds are the choke is stuck on, not going off. Likely due to the cable replacement.check that then move from there.

That's the thing though, the reason the choke cable was replaced was because it was idling ridiculously high. Pushing the choke up on the carb also doesn't lower the rpm.

Changing the choke cable probably wasn't related to the cause of the problem then. I'd just pull the carbs, tear them down and refresh them like my blog post says, then you start from a known good place. Dozen things could be causing this. You might have established it's not the choke.