gs550 won't start... I am very sad... and need help!

[supergrafx]

I take back my previous comment about the engine only clicking. Sorry about my inaccurate testimonial. All the stress concerning the bike seems to have made me delusional. It is in fact cranking with the recharged battery. It was only clicking when the battery was almost dead. When the battery was empty, there were ofcourse no clicks. I printed out 400 pages up to model 81' of the 700 page gs550 from Basecliff's website for mechanical reference. Although I am a better learner when I'm shown how to do things hands on. I guess checking the spark plugs is next?...

 

[supergrafx]

I used to own it prior to Peter.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=129471

I totally missed that last part! That's f'n crazy yo! I've seen you posting in some other threads when I've been searching these forums for answers and never would have thought I'd touch down with the previous P.O. before the last. I recognize the rubber duckie pic from those prior threads. And you still have a GS! What made you get rid of the 550?

 

[cloudbreakmd]

Hi,
I meant the spark plugs. Sorry, I wasn't clear

Why did I get rid of it? I got the double whammie... Between getting very ill last summer and then getting scammed on ebay to the tune of $500 and needed to sell the bike to pay negative balance on Paypal... And Peter knew what I was building. So he bought the bike to build, but I still ended up doing most of the work. The LEDs and ignition switch relocation were my idea as well as the recessed taillight. He built the tail himself from scratch (I only helped build the plywood base) and he added the gas tank and grips as well as the sport stripe. He also added the front CBR600F2 master cylinder and bar end mirrors.

Lemme think what did I do to it?

• Cut Rear Frame
• Installed new petcock and screen
• Assembled/installed H4 headlight retrofit
• Front fork rebuild/replacement
• Changed both rims on the bike (the old ones were rusty)
• Installed new battery prior to him getting it from me
• Clip ons put on by me (but Peter adjusted them to that position because he liked the look---> I disagreed because I was worried about the tank)
• Replaced the exhaust studs and exhaust gaskets with OEM parts
• Rebuilt the carbs when he first got it but then it sat and his dad did them again
• He and I mounted/adjusted the gauges
• Cleaned and oiled filter
• Replaced the spark plugs with new NGK's
• Replaced the rear springs

And I swear there was a lot more but I can't remember right now. It was a nice looking bike when he was done. It needed fine tuning though for sure (with the carbs and the points needed replacement ---> get the Dyna S system).

You got a good bike but be careful with it. The steering with those bars is really twitchy, especially at speed. You might want to get a steering stabilizer (another item I suggested that was never implemented). Think something like a Daytona stabilizer to mount from the frame to the triple tree or something.

 

[supergrafx]

Hi,
I meant the spark plugs. Sorry, I wasn't clear

Why did I get rid of it? I got the double whammie... Between getting very ill last summer and then getting scammed on ebay to the tune of $500 and needed to sell the bike to pay negative balance on Paypal... And Peter knew what I was building. So he bought the bike to build, but I still ended up doing most of the work. The LEDs and ignition switch relocation were my idea as well as the recessed taillight. He built the tail himself from scratch (I only helped build the plywood base) and he added the gas tank and grips as well as the sport stripe. He also added the front CBR600F2 master cylinder and bar end mirrors.

Lemme think what did I do to it?

• Cut Rear Frame
• Installed new petcock and screen
• Assembled/installed H4 headlight retrofit
• Front fork rebuild/replacement
• Changed both rims on the bike (the old ones were rusty)
• Installed new battery prior to him getting it from me
• Clip ons put on by me (but Peter adjusted them to that position because he liked the look---> I disagreed because I was worried about the tank)
• Replaced the exhaust studs and exhaust gaskets with OEM parts
• Rebuilt the carbs when he first got it but then it sat and his dad did them again
• He and I mounted/adjusted the gauges
• Cleaned and oiled filter
• Replaced the spark plugs with new NGK's
• Replaced the rear springs

And I swear there was a lot more but I can't remember right now. It was a nice looking bike when he was done. It needed fine tuning though for sure (with the carbs and the points needed replacement ---> get the Dyna S system).

You got a good bike but be careful with it. The steering with those bars is really twitchy, especially at speed. You might want to get a steering stabilizer (another item I suggested that was never implemented). Think something like a Daytona stabilizer to mount from the frame to the triple tree or something.

I'm going to frame the before pics so I can have a before/after joint. I love the work you did to the bike. It is beautiful. I def want that dyna s ignition and a stabilizer. You know best. PM SENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jwhelan65]

Start simple

Start simple

I had this same problem....check all your grounds, mine had a wiggle lose wire at the AC generator. After secuing it my problem was solved. Check every single connection associated with your charging system, it will save you time and money.. and trust me on a 20+ year old bike you will probably head off other potential frustrations in the process.

Good luck

Joe