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Won't idle. Runs fine on choke?

  • Thread starter Thread starter airportcop
  • Start date Start date
A

airportcop

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My 1980 GS 550L will start and run on idle but as soon as you reduce the choke it idles down and dies. If you try giving it throttle it tries to choke out or die until you give it enough gas to get it into the higher RPM range. Is this a carb problem? I have no carb experience at all. I'm sure I can remove them but how hard are they to clean? Help! Thanks.



Kevin
 
You have what sounds like either a clogged pilot fuel circuit and/or an air leak. If you search these forums there's plenty on info on how to diagnose and clean and fix both. Take your time and you'll be fine. To me, the worst thing on that model is getting the carbs off and on.
 
Before you start tearing things apart ... is your idle adjusted correctly?

Could be something really simple there. Try raising the warm idle speed to see if that helps. When the choke is used, it tends to raise the idle speed, so that might be masking your problem. 8-[


.
 
Could also be battery related and connections. If not try running some Berrymans Chemtool in your gas.
 
I have run most of a tank thru it with seafoam in the gas and it is no better. Will check the other items mentioned such as idle screw, air leak or God forbid dirty carbs! Thanks
 
If it is a problem that just sprung up unless you have rust in your tank chances are it may not be carb related.
In my experience carb problems become progressively worse and not all at once.
Did you check the petcock screen and flow?
 
I have not checked the petcock screen but will do so after I adjust idle speed. Thanks all!
 
airportcop said:
I have not checked the petcock screen but will do so after I adjust idle speed. Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Wondering if you had any progress on this issue. I am having the exact same
issue with my bike. Will only run with choke on and gas kills it. Wondering where to start. Thanks
 
Mine had the exact same problem after sitting for 4 years. I took it to the shop and the technician cleaned the carb and found the jets were partially clogged. After a good cleaning, it runs great and idles just fine. It cost a bottle of carb cleaner and two hours labor.
 
Messed with the idle screw and had no luck. Decided to dive in and dip the carbs.
Should be done and reassembled tonight. I'll find out tommorow if it helped.
 
Mr. airportcop,

Does it run any better once it gets warmed up? When was the last time you checked your valve clearances? Just curious.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Well no luck. dipped the carbs and put it all back together and it didn't fix the problem.
Adjusted the idle crew and got it to start and run with the choke completely
off. Still have the same problem with the throttle. Any time I try to give it gas, even
with the choke all the way off it kills the engine. Not sure what to do.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
 
silverkrown said:
Well no luck. dipped the carbs and put it all back together and it didn't fix the problem.
Adjusted the idle crew and got it to start and run with the choke completely
off. Still have the same problem with the throttle. Any time I try to give it gas, even
with the choke all the way off it kills the engine. Not sure what to do.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
Click to expand...
What year and model of bike you got?
 
Yeah I took everything apart. Followed the carb cleaning guide on this site
(which made it alot easier). I didn't replace the o-rings because they looked ok and the PO said he had replace them.
Not sure if that could be it. I ordered new o-rings so maybe I'll have to try it again when they arrive.
Is there something else beside the carbs that could cause the
engine to kill when I give it throttle?
 
You are dealing with a carb problem almost certainly. The only other issue could be electrics but from your description, I can't see it.

How are the slide diaphrams? If there are any pinholes you are going to have a problem in the mid range. slides won't lift. The engine will bog and die.

The funny thing with carbs is you really have to clean them to the Nth degree.

I had a set on my XS that i cleaned and rebuilt about 5 times before they ran right.

I think you need to clean them again. A pain for sure but there is likely some crap in a passage that is causing the problem. Alternatively maybe you can get another set and try them.

My GS, which I got this spring, had a set with #4 carb air/mixture screw stuck. I couldn't budge it during cleaning. The bike ran rich ( you could smell the fuel), it wouldn't idle at stops and generally ran crappy.

I got a set from Kingof Venus (great guy) jetted for pipes and pods. Slapped them on my stocker and she ran and idled at 1100 rpm with no fiddling on my part. Mine are going into my pro wrench this week for a rebuild.

My point is try another set and perhaps save more frustration.

Let us know what you find.

Good luck.
Spyug.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'll try cleaning them again. Maybe see if I can find another set somewhere. I'll let you know how it works out.
 
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