Please help :(

[smokydog]

Hi all,

Just did a valve cover gasket change and checked valve clearance. Got it all back together, started right up, but only ran till carbs were dry. Now it wont start checked fuel line its connected good, no kinks, and fuel tank is almost full. Should I try starting fluid? Please help, I worked hard on my bike all day yesterday so I could go riding today. Thanks Jerry

 

[Charlie G]

Did you reconnect the vacume line that runs between tthe petcock and the carbs? It has a vacume operated petcock. Set to prime position for 1 minute, to refill bowls and back to run.

cg

 

[Suzuki mad]

Spark, compression and fuel will make it go. Your missing one, fuel!

 

[smokydog]

how to set to prime ?

how to set to prime ?

How do I set to prime? I have no lever on my petcock, no way to switch to reserve, prime or run. The bike ran fine before I changed the valve cover gasket and started right up till it ran out of fuel in the carbs. The petcock has two hoses, one small fuel line to the carbs and one big i guess vacumn line to the crankcase. there is a long hose coming from a vacumn looking pod on the inside left side of the tank, where does it go? It was just ran down through the frame and I took it for a overflow? Thanks for the help guys please help me get it going, would starter fluid get it to prime?

 

[hampshirehog]

The fatter of the 2 tubes is the fuel pipe and the thinner is the vacuum pipe. They both run to the carbs. In addition, you should have 2 other 'fat' pipes which are carb breathers.

On your fuel tap you should have a slot about 3-4 mm long. Turn this with a screwdriver so that it is vertical - this is the prime position. When the bike fires up turn it horizontal. You myst turn it back to eliminate the risk of fuel leaks so don't forget.

The line from the tank is an overflow - it's in case your fuel sender in the tank starts to leak. Just drape this hose out of harm's way down towards the back of the bike somewhere.

 

[loud et]

How do I set to prime? I have no lever on my petcock, no way to switch to reserve, prime or run. The bike ran fine before I changed the valve cover gasket and started right up till it ran out of fuel in the carbs. The petcock has two hoses, one small fuel line to the carbs and one big i guess vacumn line to the crankcase. there is a long hose coming from a vacumn looking pod on the inside left side of the tank, where does it go? It was just ran down through the frame and I took it for a overflow? Thanks for the help guys please help me get it going, would starter fluid get it to prime?

the hose you mentioned coming from the left side of the tank is the fuel guage sending unit overflow hose just in case it leaked. it should be routed away from engine, exhaust, . On the petcock there are 2 hoses. the small one is the vaccuum, that opens the petcock and the large hose is the fuel supply to the carbs.
go to basscliff site to download a manual, it explains the prime process. Go to the Garage section and go through the carb rebuild series. it shows in pics all the proper line hook ups

 

[bonanzadave]

I have no lever on my petcock

Huh ? Is the damn thing on arse-backward and the lever is on the inside ? Is that possible ? Look at some good info in the holy scrolls offered by Mr. Basscliff....

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/storagecliff/images/hose_locations.html

 

[Flyboy]

The larger diameter pipe is fuel supply from the tank to the carbs, the smaller diameter pipe is vacum to operate the fuel tap.
The big one from the side of the tank is just a vent/overflow from the fuel gauge, as you said.

Sorry Guys, didn't mean to double post...you just beat me to it

 

[Flyboy]

Dave, I suspect he has one of those little ones without the lever that came standard on some of the 850L's, guess someone replaced it at some time and could not find/afford/be bothered to source the correct one.

 

[Charlie G]

Dave, I suspect he has one of those little ones without the lever that came standard on some of the 850L's, guess someone replaced it at some time and could not find/afford/be bothered to source the correct one.

The "Dreaded 1980 Petcock"

cg

 

[smokydog]

tried turning the screw still no luck

tried turning the screw still no luck

Hey guys thanks for all the input I tried turning the screw vertical and it did not help cranks over no prob, no go. All I did was remove the two hoses to the tank then put them back on after I did the valve cover gasket, I cant have them hooked up wrong they are different sizes. I went to BassCliffs website and checked the hose routing and its right, the big hose goes to the center of the 4 carbs and the small one goes the number two carbs. I am concerned that since it started right up on the gas in the carbs it should not need primed. You dont think starting fluid will help? Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks, Jerry

 

[Flyboy]

Jerry, that stuff is seriously bad for motors, I would shy away from it cranking on the starter will create enough vacum to open the fuel flow.
I can feel your frustration.
Now this may sound weird but hear me out, open your tank cap, create a seal with your hands and give a good hard, long blow into the tank, to pressurise it (sort of) but a good blow, till you turn purple, then try and start it again. Ask me how I know

 

[Charlie G]

On my 1980 450e, which has the petcock I think you have, the run position is at about 11 o'clock, off verticle. The prime position is counter clockwise turn of the screw. I don't know how many turns or partial turns it is to prime. I have only had to do it once along time ago.

cg

 

[Charlie G]

I'm ready for the happy ending now.ray:

cg

 

[smokydog]

tried everything

tried everything

I went one step further, used my aircompressor to put pressure in tank, still no go, I wanted to give you more info, the carbs on this bike were rebuilt and new boots 2,000 miles ago, and the bike ran perfect before I tore it down to do the valve cover gasket. I really am stumped because I fail to see the petcock failing just from the tank being removed and replaced and I only unhooked the two hoses from the petcock and the fuel sending unit and I could not have hooked them up wrong since they are different sizes. I made sure the other ends of those hoses are hooked up right and looked at BassCliffs hose diagram and all is as it should be. I think it needs primed, I just took the number 4 spark plug out and poured a little gas in it to see if it would start but it didnt even fire a bit. I checked for spark at the plug while I had it out and it is sparking fine.

Your right about the starting fluid probably not working, it should of primed when it started up. Is there any way I can see if fuel is coming out of the petcock, like putting a new hose on the vacumn hose to the petcock and sucking on it? So the little hose is the vacumn hose and the big one is the fuel line right? I am so saddened, I guess I should have just dealt with the oil leak at least I could still ride it Thanks for the help and please dont give up on me, I am trying everything you all suggest. Thanks, Jerry

 

[Suzuki mad]

These fuel taps are problems. Pull the lines from the tap and if you have a small pipe you can put on the vacuum side suck (gently) and see if fuel comes out of the other side.

I'm not experienced on 250's but the principle is the same as for the bigger bikes.

My GS1000 tap failed went when I took the tank off too.

 

[Charlie G]

Put it on reserve? Then prime.

 

[Flyboy]

I agree, pull the tank again, fit a pipe onto the vacum fitting (small one) of the petcock and give a good suck, fuel should flow from the larger fitting, that will eliminate the petcock.
If no fuel comes out you have a petcock problem, while the tank is off, you may want to rotate the little screw until fuel flows, make a mental note, that is your prime positon, just remember where ON is again.
Which gets me thinking, if the sucking on the pipe does not deliver fuel, try turning the little screw until it does star to flow.
is there any way at all that the screw could have been turned inadvertantly? maybe by someone while you were not in the garage, just exploring all possibilities?

 

[Suzuki mad]

Do you have a reserve bottle or another working fuel tank from another bike that you can jury rig up to this bike and make sure that it runs with fuel elimintating carb problems?

 

[smokydog]

gonna try sucking lol

gonna try sucking lol

I didnt adjust the valves, there were all dead on .005" . The reason my bike was leaking was the previous owner had the valves adjusted and carbs rebuilt and new carb boots and the shop he took it too didnt replace the valve cover gasket they just put it back on with the old gasket. I talked to the PO yesterday and he said now that he thinks about it thats when it started leaking oil right after he had the valves adjusted.

I am going to take the tank off and try sucking on the vacumn line while trying different positions of the screw on the petcock. I have to go to town now so I will let you know what happens later and I cannot thank you guys enough for all the input, Jerry