Used to run, but now no start.

[BlizzakeV0]

I have only had my '85 GS700 for a month or two, and it has always had troubles starting. And I have been trying to do the general maintenance on it, and search for like problems before I really started to ask question on here. But now I just don't know what else to do.

Once I get her running and warmed up she seems to do fine. When it was cold there was some idle problems (stalling when I came to a stop). I thought that this might be related to the starting problems as well.

She runs really rich, I get about 20 mpg. I have rebuilt and dipped the carbs (I only replaced some of the o-rings because I couldn't afford all of them). I put in new spark plugs, and all are firing. I tested the coils, 22k across secondary on both, and they have 11V at the coil (maybe low?). Battery reads just over 12V with the key in the 'ON' and reads 10.3V while its cranking, and I can crank it for a good 60 seconds before the battery starts to slow down.
The petcock: I did the 'suck test' on it and gas starts to flow, but the gas does not flow in the Prime position, so I wonder if that needs to be replaced as well.

So from what I can tell, it's getting gas, power, and it's sparking. I just can't believe that I can't get it started. She used to be really easy to bump start, but it was getting harder and harder until two people pushing can't do it.

Other factors: When I put in the new plugs it started right up, after around 50 miles now, they are starting to get pretty black, again, running rich. It has air pods and I forgot to check the numbers on the jets I also live at around 6.5k ft. elevation, if that is a factor.

 

[Nessism]

Rebuild the carbs properly, take inventory of the jets in the carbs and compare to stock, adjust the valves before you destroy the engine, and go from there.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

You must really have some big jets in your carbs if you're running rich with those pods installed. I can't tell if that is a 4-n-1 exhaust.


Check out the maintenance lists in your "mega-welcome". You received it in your other thread in the GS Owners section.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BlizzakeV0]

Alright! Thanks for pointing out the obvious for me, the main jet was a #140 and the pilot jet was at #42.5, compared to the stock 122.5 and 37.5. So these need to be replaced. Now I don't know too much about carbs, and a 140 compared to a 122.5 seems huge (even though that might be one or two sizes up, i don't know ) So now the question is, with the pods and my higher elevation (it has the stock exhaust) what jet sizes would you folks recommend. Because since I don't know any better I would just go stock.

edit: Also, I REALLY want to avoid getting an entire kit, I am rice and beans broke SO i'm hoping just main and pilot jet replacements

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

With the Mikuni jets, a "size" is an increment of 2.5. In other words, one size up from a 122.5 would be 125. With pods and no pipe, I'd start with 4 sizes up (132.5) and do plug chops to see how they look. But at your altitude, you may need only three sizes up. Plug chops will tell you if you're running lean or rich. It will take some trial and error. Don't forget that you can be lean on one circuit but rich on another. So do plug chops at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and wide open throttle in order to see how each circuit is doing.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff