My GS500E clean up

[MrSporrer]

Hello all, I'm 19 and bought my bike last winter off a craigslist ad, 1994 gs500e for 800 dollars. when i bought it the guy said it needed new float bowl gaskets and a boot for one of the sparkplugs. Close to a year later and i haven't gotten the thing to run. This is where i'm finally going to post my journey and hopefully by the end I'll be riding. Wish me luck!


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[GS500Schultz]

i love the white frame!

Looks like a fun project! These bikes are very simple so it shouldn't be long before you've got it running.

[J_Walker]

the white sure does look good! grind off the black paint on the tips of the cooling fins on the engine. it would look super clean with that white paint.

[MrSporrer]

Okay so I know i just opened this thread but i wanted to mention everything i've done since i bought it.

-changed sparkplugs
-new boots for sparkplugs
-float bowl gaskets (took a while because the bolts were practically locked on there)
-new float bowl cover, old one was cracked
-bled the brakes

After this i get all ready and hit the ignition and... nothing.  (PS: it turned over when i bought it)
so i grab a screw driver and connect the two ends of the starter and it turns over. so where's the problem? well after looking over the wiring diagrams it looks like it's either a faulty side stand switch. or side stand relay. both of which are now sitting in wait for me to put them on and try again.

Also the plastic in the throttle was chewed up and not allowing the grip to spring back into position so a new throttle body and cable are also waiting. I probably wont have an update until it warms up a bit. But when i do there will be pics!

[J_Walker]

Okay so I know i just opened this thread but i wanted to mention everything i've done since i bought it.

-changed sparkplugs
-new boots for sparkplugs
-float bowl gaskets (took a while because the bolts were practically locked on there)
-new float bowl cover, old one was cracked
-bled the brakes

After this i get all ready and hit the ignition and... nothing.  (PS: it turned over when i bought it)
so i grab a screw driver and connect the two ends of the starter and it turns over. so where's the problem? well after looking over the wiring diagrams it looks like it's either a faulty side stand switch. or side stand relay. both of which are now sitting in wait for me to put them on and try again.

Also the plastic in the throttle was chewed up and not allowing the grip to spring back into position so a new throttle body and cable are also waiting. I probably wont have an update until it warms up a bit. But when i do there will be pics!

after I rebuilt my engine recently my first start up failed because something wasn't connected. turns out it was the clutch safety sensor. the one that won't let you start the bike without it plugged in? yeah my bikes wasn't plugged in, because it didn't have the switch installed yet. so I just bridged the two connectors with a copper wire.

basically, make sure those two wires are plugged in.. lol

you can also bridge any of these "safety" features on the bike, just get use to not having them! Lol! 

[MrSporrer]

So i finally got some time the other day to do a little work on the project I started last summer, i installed the new throttle and it feels way better, the old one wasn't springing back as a result of the inside plastic being broken slightly. Went to install the new kickstand switch and the conectors were different, must be from a different year. So i'm thinking ill have to strip both sides and put some connectors on. In other news could someone tell me what these plugs are for? they are from the harness behind the headlight, all 6 seem to have no place to connect?
thanks

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[Slack]

I think the first 2 wires are for a turn signal- 2 of the second bundle of wires may be for a turn signal as well.

[MrSporrer]

Yesterday I got my motorcycle license and today I got the bike running, it took some cranks and throttle but she runs. Problem is if I just let the throttle go the bike stalls, I'm not sure why.  Any ideas?

[ShowBizWolf]

I am sorry I don't have any advice... I am sure others will chime in soon 

I just wanted to say that I admire the complete black and white look you've achieved!  What back tire is that?

And as your first post dictates... luck has been wished 

[MrSporrer]

Tires are kenda challengers, the guy I bought the bike off had them on but hadn't ridden them yet. Still have the nipples. And thanks I am thinking about some white decals on the tail too to balance the look.

[The Buddha]

You set the idle screw right ? You open that up to keep it "idling"
How about air screws. Set those to 3 out from lightly seated.

Off the choke in 30 sec in summer it should hold idle around 1300 (if you set the idle screw to 1300 ... and all the rest is OK).
Cool.
Buddha.

[MrSporrer]

Tomorrow i will try tuning the air screws and the idle screw and see if it helps, but as the bike has been sitting for a while i'd like to clean out the fuel line and petcock, anyone know of a thread explaining the steps to doing so? Thanks!

[MrSporrer]

Does anyone have a picture of where the air screws are? I need to tune the bike, the bike will not stall above 2500 but if I just let it drop below it'll stall. Uhg so close

[Janx101]

Don't quote me yet. . But aren't they the ones under the little brass caps in the sides? ... I think? ..  wait for someone to confirm that tho!

[MrSporrer]

found some pictures here http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=36354.0 so ill have to try unfortunately im having a second problem now.

Now the throttle seems to be sticking, like at 3000 rpm and up it stick and wont go back down, must be a problem in the cable since the throttle snaps back fine.

[MrSporrer]

back to cranking with no start, one step forward two steps back. Could this be the result of a cloged petcock? is there a screen up in there that catches junk from the tank? thanks for any help. Once i have the thing running properly i will start posting about cosmetic changes i'll be doing, then the thread will get more interesting.

uhg at least it's the prettiest statue in my yard at the moment.

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[SilnMe]

Did you try running it with a pony tank to eliminate the petcock? There are plenty of threads on here about how to test/repair them. I think the hanging idle could be the mixing screws are not set properly yet. Just working on my carbs at the moment and having some troubles myself. Try adjusting 1/4 turn at a time. Also check to see that the two lock nuts for your throttle cable are adjusted properly. I made that mistake too.

[MrSporrer]

Pony tank? I've never heard that terminology what is it mean? and yeah I suspect that the trouble starting is from gunked up fuel lines or carb, and then the idle is from fuel to air being off. I need the machine to be on so that i can tune it enough to drive it to the shop where my guy can do it with the necessary tools.

[J_Walker]

ill get back to this question on my phone later. Working on some truck brakes right now.

[SilnMe]

Try searching for Auxiliary fuel tank in Amazon. This should give you an idea of what I call a pony tank. Are you trying to start it with or without the air box on?