• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

my 78 is having some problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter shaunayk
  • Start date Start date
S

shaunayk

Guest
Hey guys I could use some help!
I have a 78 gs550. I bought this bad boy for a deal and she was running like crap. Spitting oil like crazy. The gear shift shaft was bent to hell. So here's what I did.
Pulled the motor, replaced the valve cover gasket, head gasket and oil pan gasket. Got a used gear shift shaft and seal. Cleaned the carbs (three times I think) soaked the jets in carb clean (had to replace the o-rings on the mane jets ooopss) I went to go replace the sparkplug wires and was told they should un-screw from the coils..... Ripped one right out.... Luckily there was a older Kawasaki 550 with some coils that fit. I sealed the gas tank added an inline filter got her all tied back up and she started right up and ran great took her to the store she had plenty of power sounded awesome no problems. Well on my way home it was like the bike wasn't getting fuel she slowly lost power and died. Now the bike won't start. I figured it was the petcock so I removed the fuel line and gas was flowing just fine. Maybe it was over headed? No let the bike sit over night and nothing. Mind you this is my first bike and its been one hell of a learn curve but in hooked hard on this baby and very determined to get her running great.
 
Welcome
You've been busy! But this......
"so I removed the fuel line and gas was flowing just fine. "

Let's start with checking petcock for correct operation. Still got a vacuum petcock?? With petcock in "on" or "res" spot, fuel should NOT flow with motor not running. If it does, fuel will overwhelm carbs and find its way to crankcase causing unpleasantness like PO likely enjoyed.
 
To start with, what is the battery voltage right now when the key is off? key is on? while pressing the start button?
 
Thanks for the reply!!
Now that I think of it I can't remember what the petcock was set to when I was seeing if she was getting fuel I feel a little dumb now ha! I'll look at that when I get home and let you know.
 
I know I have a bad battery. I jumped it road it to the store and it kicked over fine. I love the kick start on these babys you think the bad battery would cause it not to run? Like I said I'm new to this!
 
Steve said:
And get rid of the inline filter.

.
Click to expand...
I'll give that a try I just didn't like the looks of the screen tube looking thing on the petcock so I figured I slap a filter on there. Think it has to do with lack of flow or something threw am added filter?
 
tom203 said:
Welcome
You've been busy! But this......
"so I removed the fuel line and gas was flowing just fine. "

Let's start with checking petcock for correct operation. Still got a vacuum petcock?? With petcock in "on" or "res" spot, fuel should NOT flow with motor not running. If it does, fuel will overwhelm carbs and find its way to crankcase causing unpleasantness like PO likely enjoyed.
Click to expand...
What kind if unpleasantness and what do you mean PO?
 
PO - Previous Owner

The screen thing on the petcock is the filter for the bike; most inlines that you can buy are too restrictive for gravity fed systems.

Start from a good baseline with the battery and your petcock settings and start troubleshooting from there
 
I love the kick start on these babys you think the bad battery would cause it not to run?
Click to expand...

Yup. The battery is an integral part of the electrical system on these bikes. If it's not charging properly (and especially if your R/R isn't working right... which is probably isn't), then the bike doesn't run. Or doesn't run for very long.
 
cowboyup3371 said:
PO - Previous Owner

The screen thing on the petcock is the filter for the bike; most inlines that you can buy are too restrictive for gravity fed systems.

Start from a good baseline with the battery and your petcock settings and start troubleshooting from there
Click to expand...

Its not getting to much fuel due to the inline I put in. I'm not taking it off until I get a new tank cause there is some shmegma in the filter I might just buys new petcock to see if that helps first. Its my first bike so I want to learn clutching smooth and what not. If I tip the tank up title get gas. Haha. Enough to play around in first gear in the back yard. My roommate owns a palette shop so we have a huge paved slab out back for doughnuts and what not. Thank you for all the help I greatly appreciate it! I'll post some pictures when I'm close to finish. Love this bike I'm hooked!!
 
eil said:
Yup. The battery is an integral part of the electrical system on these bikes. If it's not charging properly (and especially if your R/R isn't working right... which is probably isn't), then the bike doesn't run. Or doesn't run for very long.
Click to expand...
R/R?? Thanks for the input! I'm getting a new batery today the one on the bike is probably older than I am! Haha
 
Look up Stator papers on here do all the tests and post what you get. If your regulator/regtifer (r/r) or stator are bad new battery won't last long!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top