Some one please help!

[Palerider957]

I have a 1979 GS850 and so far this bike has been nothing but pain.......

Big confession for me--- This is the first motorcycle I have ever owned, and I have never worked on a motorcycle before. I have worked on other mechanical things a bit (aircraft, HVAC, etc.). So I am not a red hot mechanic, but I am a quick learner.

I rode this bike for a few hours, then it died (flat bed home). Actually had the electrical harness mostly melt...that was fun.....(flat bed home). Did some electrical work and it started again..The prior owner admitted to using cheap gas, so I stepped up--flused the tank and have only used premium with seafoam.

The bike ran for a few hours then died (flat bed home).

Reading this site i tried to do all I could before sending this email, to date I have:

Replaced and gapped plugs.
Drained old fuel out, new premium and seafoam in.
Cleaned gas cap vent.
Sealed air box.
Changed engine oil to Amsoil 10W40.
Changed the fuel filter.
Done a ton of wiring as a lot of the old wiring burned up--added ground wire to RR, will add anohter one from RR to frame ground when I get this beast running.

Finally, I got up the nerve to PULL THE CARBS for cleaning. I down loaded the "carb cleanup series" and off I went. Soon I realized that the carb pictured in the series is NOT the same as the carbs mounted on my bike..undaunted, I continued removal and dissassembly.

I brought the carbs down to "parade rest," soaked them in carb cleaners, used the wire from a wire brush and compressed air to make sure the obstructions were clear (some were pretty clogged). Finally I put the beast back together.....

As the carb series had a differnt carb pictured, I had to interpolate my reassembly.

So now the carb is back on the bike and it seem like NO FUEL IS FLOWING to the bowls!!!

I have a clear fuel filter, so I see fuel to that point. When I crank the bike I do NOT see fuel moving (bubbles) through the filter, this tells me the carbs aren't drawing fuel in.

When I use some spray ether in the air box, the bike will star for about 2-3 seconds (sounds pretty good) then dies...grrrrrrrrrr....

What have I done wrong??? Someone help me, please.... I have only had a few hours of riding and many hours of pain from this bike.

I am grateful for any advice or suggestions.

Thanks!!!

 

[UncleMike]

What's your petcock set on?

 

[Davis550L]

did you hook up the vacuum line to the petcock?

 

[Palerider957]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

I have the tank removed completely, and have an improvised fuel bottle direclty attached to the fuel inlet "T."

I have a piece of tape over the vacumn hose opening.

There are three similar tube connections on the middle of three of the carbs. I have the vacumn hose on #2, with tape over the opening.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Palerider957]

Is it possible I have reassembled the carbs incorrectly?

I have the choke fully out, and I have cranked and cranked with the vacumn like taped and untaped...

No dice.....

Incidentally, I do have spark and I do have compression.

 

[Dave8338]

Remove on of the float bowl drain plugs and confirm either fuel or no fuel. If fuel is present, we will move on. If not, we will figure out why.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,


You have VM carbs on your bike (not CV). The rebuild guide you want to follow is this one.

VM Carburetor Rebuild Guide
(Courtesy of GSR and Paul Musser)


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Big T]

Also, you have a 79 with VM carbs

The vacuum port is the one just right of center, on the #3 carb

You're plugging up the overflow for 1-2

Also, you've answered your own question. There is fuel to the fuel filter, but not to the carbs

Take off the fuel filter and see what happens

I'm just guessing, but I bet it's an automotive filter made for fuel injection

PS, you're wasting your money using premium - it's not "better". GSes are designed to run on 87 octane

 

[Palerider957]

Wow, good stuff!

I will download the new carb guide, then and move my hose to the correct vacumn hole.

With the vacumn hose on the correct hole, will cranking the engine draw fuel into the bowls, or do I need to somehow manually fill the bowls with fuel?

Thanks!

 

[Rover]

Did you prime to fill the carbs after the carb cleaning?

 

[Palerider957]

Also, you have a 79 with VM carbs

The vacuum port is the one just right of center, on the #3 carb

You're plugging up the overflow for 1-2

Also, you've answered your own question. There is fuel to the fuel filter, but not to the carbs

Take off the fuel filter and see what happens

I'm just guessing, but I bet it's an automotive filter made for fuel injection

PS, you're wasting your money using premium - it's not "better". GSes are designed to run on 87 octane

Ok, I'll get rid of the filter. Yes, it's an aftermarket automotive filter.

Thanks for the info. re 87 octane, I guess I'm just trying to baby my "new" bike. Man, I will be happy when I can confidiantly ride this bike all day.

 

[Palerider957]

Did you prime to fill the carbs after the carb cleaning?

No, I didn't prime the carbs. I wasn't sure how to do that. Any thoughts? I have the tank off as I know I will have to balance the carbs. I have a balancing kit, that will be the next adventure.

 

[Guest]

Dude, you prime your carbs by setting your petcock to the prime position.

Check the plugs and see if they're wet. If they are you're getting fuel.
Hows the intake system, IE airbox, o-rings and such?

 

[Palerider957]

Dude, you prime your carbs by setting your petcock to the prime possision.

Check the plugs and see if they're wet. If they are you're getting fuel.
Hows the intake system, IE airbox, o-rings and such?

Yeah, I know the "PRI" position will dump fuel directly into the carbs..right now I have the tank pulled and "field expedient" system (jug and hose) for fuel storage and delivery. Since there isn't a petcock, I would assume this would just the same as the fuel tank in "PRI." Am I wrong??

I haven't checked the plugs to see if they are wet, but I have opened the bowl drain scews and they are almost totally dry. This is why I think fuel isn't even getting to the carbs.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I know the "PRI" position will dump fuel directly into the carbs..right now I have the tank pulled and "field expedient" system (jug and hose) for fuel storage and delivery. Since there isn't a petcock, I would assume this would just the same as the fuel tank in "PRI." Am I wrong??

No, you're correct. My bad, I kinda missed the no tank thing.

Did you "completely" dissassemble the carbs?

 

[Palerider957]

No, you're correct. My bad, I kinda missed the no tank thing.

Did you "completely" dissassemble the carbs?

No worries at all my friend.

I took the carbs apart as much as I dared. I did remove all of the jets, throttle body, etc. etc., and did find some debris. I am pretty confident the carbs are at least much better than they were before I started cleaning.

Now, did I put it all back together correctly and what are the settings...that's the real question~

 

[Guest]

If ya have to use the tutorial basscliff gave ya and take your time and make sure.
Those carbs are extremely touchy and if not PERFECT the bike will not run correctly.
Be VERY carefull to take great care and dont bugger up any of those screws, especially the jets. MAke sure your screw drivers fit and take your time. Read read read...

 

[Palerider957]

If ya have to use the tutorial basscliff gave ya and take your time and make sure.
Those carbs are extremely touchy and if not PERFECT the bike will not run correctly.
Be VERY carefull to take great care and dont bugger up any of those screws, especially the jets. MAke sure your screw drivers fit and take your time. Read read read...

I will re-read the carb papers and try to make sure all is well. Right now I would just be happy to get the beast running and ride it around the block a few times!

I'll put all of this new info to good use and report back my success (or lack therof).

Thanks again!

 

[Danjal]

Make sure your fuel line is connected to the right place. Did you redo your float heights? Are the needles and seats in correctly? IE not upside down?

The way you're running it verify the fuel is all the way to the line where it hooks up to the carbs. Just to be sure. After that its all internal to the carbs.

Check your externals first. Correct hose routing? Etc.