Help. Stranded in Barstow, 2,500 miles out.

[GS-ESW]

I have given a longer explanation of my predicament in the fuel/carb section. I appear to be in a nasty pickle. The bike is weak, and exceptionally lean on all four cylinders. It's a 1980 GS 1100-E, and has run flawlessly for 16, 000 miles for me. It just started running weak while at highway speed, a little bit before the Arizona/ California border stop. It died when I downshifted to come to a stop for the checkpoint. I got it started, but had to rev it high to keep it from dying. I changed all the plugs, and they were white/lean. This has never been the case with my plugs before. I put the petcock on prime, and found no change in my problem. I ran this way for 150 miles to Barstow, California. I was planning to ride back up to Seattle, to complete my 4,500 mile looping solo-tour. I would appreciate any help at all. I am all by myself, and the bike was my rock. My cell phone is 425-753-1801. My name is Eric. I have been sweating an awful lot since this happened on Sat. It's Tues. morning, and I'm waiting for the cycle shop to open. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Suck on the vacuum line with the fuel line removed from the petcock and make sure you have a good flow. Those 80 petcocks SUCK!!!!

 

[chuckycheese]

Maybe so

Maybe so

Suck on the vacuum line with the fuel line removed from the petcock and make sure you have a good flow. Those 80 petcocks SUCK!!!!

EXCELLENT advice....(I've been 'lucky' enough to have a couple of them.)

By the way, if you don't have good flow, try putting a temporary hose on the petcock and blowing on it (back into the tank). You'd need someone to suck on the vacuum hose at the same time in order to keep the passage open. If you happen to have a bunch of crud clogging up the petcock filter, you could probably clear it long enough to get to where you can properly take care of it. If that works, be sure to 'gas up' and keep it pretty full. Good luck and let us know.

 

[GS-ESW]

Worst news possible from Barstow Motorcycle center

Worst news possible from Barstow Motorcycle center

I gave the bike to the shop this morning, and waited for the diagnosis. I got a call at around noon, that the engine had 10 pounds on cylinder 2, and 50 pounds on cylinder 3. The fix would cost more than the bike is worth. I had the valves, and compression checked four or five months ago, and had 150 pounds on all four. The engine only has 36,000 miles on it, but it's 30 years old. Three options: trade it in on a used bike they have, and continue on a motorcycle; junk it to them and rent a car home, or rent a van/truck and carry the carcass home. All options have a bitter taste. Thanks for all your responses.

 

[Planecrazy]

Check Rustybronco's advice on your other thread ... may be worth considering...

Regards,

 

[Guest]

HMMM seems unlikely the engine is blown
check cam timing
check for a blown head gasket
did it get hot? low on oil?

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Eric,

EDIT: Follow the good advice in your other thread before you give up on this bike, i.e. adjust the valve clearances and re-test compression.

I'm sorry your adventure took such a turn for the worse. It looks like you've got a decision to make and none of your choices will be cheap.

How badly do you want to keep/repair your bike? If you just gotta have it, then you'll have to rent a truck/trailer to get it home.

Is the bike they are trying to sell you going to get you home? Does it seem reliable? How much are they asking for it? What kind of trade-in, if any, will they give you for your GS?

The cheapest solution would be to sell it to the shop for parts and rent a car home. Does this bike shop seem honest and reliable?

Those compression numbers are quite disconcerting.

I had the valves, and compression checked four or five months ago,...

This concerns me because you don't mention if, when you "had" it "checked", the valves were properly adjusted within spec. I've read countless horror stories of bike shops doing "less than stellar" work on these vintage bikes. A lot of shops won't even touch a bike more than 10 years old. Don't get me wrong, there are a few old wrenches out there who love these old bikes as much as we do, but they are few and far between. Anyway, what I'm saying is... tight valves will burn. Did you adjust the valves yourself?

Does your bike have intake boot O-rings? Did you replace them at some point in time? On 30 year old bikes these parts will dry, crack, start to leak air, and cause a lean condition.

It's also possible that you got a batch of bad gas (with some kind of particulate matter?) which clogged your carbs and created a lean condition. Damage may have ensued because of the continued operation in this lean condition, engine runs too hot and burns valves or warps the head, etc.

Did the shop put a little oil in the cylinders to see if the compression numbers changed? I know you're kind of at their mercy. And I don't really have a "fix" for you. At this point I would recommend cutting your losses. Then try for another adventure sometime in the future with a bike on which you have done all the maintenance so that you know it's been done properly.

About all I can do is say a prayer for you and wish you luck. Do you have the means to get home? I can offer you a place to crash for a couple of days. I'm a couple of hours south of you.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff