"Winding" Noise Under Clutch Cover

[sam000lee]

I previously posted this but am changing it to give better information.

Heres the story. My stator was burnt out last fall and I put my 1981 gs450L in the garage for the winter after running some seafoam through it. I'm now in the middle of fixing the bike up to be road worthy and am having some problems with my acceleration that I think may be due to my clutch adjustment or oil. I'm pretty new to this and would appreciate any suggestions.


So in the past week I switched out my burned out stator and in doing so removed the clutch cover which was COVERED in grime on the inside, put in a new oil filter and filled the bike back up with Rotella T 15w 40. I cleaned out the clutch cover (not spotless but huge improvement), and ended up having to drill out one of the screws of the clutch adjustment plate to readjust the clutch.

Anyway, started the bike up again and took it down the street and noticed that the acceleration was slow and unresponsive. In third gear, I was maxing out with full throttle at about 35mph at 5k rpm (previously if I was going up and down the street there was not need to ever use full throttle). It feels like there's no zip in the acceleration. I can also hear a noise coming from the clutch cover (maybe discs slipping)I think from traveling in higher gear at slower speeds which is again happening because my shifting timing is used to a more responsive acceleration.

I double checked my clutch adjustment and then figured I should clean out the carbs for the fun of it and maybe that would prove useful. I was glad I did since I got some good gunk out of a couple of jets but the slow acceleration still remains.

Any suggestions?

[sam000lee]

Just noticed that even with the clamps as tight as they will go, the boots on the air filter side of the carbs are a little loose could this be the result of a lean mixture? Going to get new ones today to see if it makes any difference.

Thoughts?

[78550GS]

I am working on the same issues with my 78 550. Check the intake o rings. I will be replacing mine soon. also make sure the boots to the airbox are still malleable and fit securely as well.

And run a stock filter if you aren't already.

[sam000lee]

I replaced all O-Rings, including intake O-Rings, courtesy of cycleorings (love that by the way). Just put new clamps on airbox side so they are nice and tight. I didn't notice any difference after that, however some more fiddling with the clutch did improve it a little bit. In third gear I max out at 40mph with full throttle which tops out at 6.5k rpm.
Still doesn't feel as lively as it should though...

I am running the stock airbox/filter setup.

[78550GS]

Did you pull the pilot fuel screws when you cleaned the carbs? were they seated GENTLY when reinstalled?

My 550 had all 4 seated too hard by PO and were broken off. Waiting on money for carb bodies now. the tips break off very easily and are near impossible to remove.

[sam000lee]

Yup, I took them out carefully and cleaned out the passages, replaced the o-rings and put them back carefully, too.

[sam000lee]

I just got off the phone with my local dealership to order new boots. I talked with one of the mechanics also who told me that it could be a carb issue but really wanted me to bring the bike in to have them look at it for an hour.

At $90/hr (which $10 more than its going to cost me for the boots), I really don't want to do this and would far rather the satisfaction of doing it myself but I'm getting frustrated since my attempts so far have done little.
Any other ideas of whether the lack of power could be from something besides the carburetors? Was my original clutch suspicion valid?

Thanks for any suggestions!