82 GS650L, FINALLY RUNNING... Some questions

[AudiA4_20T]

So here is my initial thread forever ago....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=142801&highlight=GS650L

Long story short, I never had any time to fix this thing so I was about to junk it when I get a call from someone who needed his Audi fixed, but was frustrated since he works on bikes all the time. PERFECT!

So I got...

1. New Tailight
2. New Mirrors
3. Carbs re-done
4. Dynojet Kit
5. No exhaust (just a collector for each side that dumps out under the pegs, love it.)
6. New Clutch Cable
7. Brakes bled
8. Treated the gas tank for rust

etc. etc.

Anyways, now that I got the bike going I have a bunch of questions

1. The bike in question is an '82 GS650L. Do I have a 6th gear? I can get into 5 rather easily but it seems like there is no 6 although there is a light for it on the dash

2. My turn signals don't blink and also don't turn on the "Turn" light on the dash. I heard that might be an easy fix?

3. What tires are good for this bike? Mine are pretty old and cracking, don't want to mess around with tires on the bike so I'm looking for some really quality ones.

4. My tach doesn't work. Any way to test what part of it is broken? (tach/sensor/wire)

5. Can't really tell since the tach is broken, but the bike idles pretty high at idle, and since I don't really have an exhaust this can get QUITE annoying when I'm sitting at lights next to people. The guy who fixed my bike thought it was the air screwd in the carbs (I think?) but I remember hearing about the boots causing this. Is there a way to check if I have any leaks?

Thanks!
- Clint

[Suzuki_Don]

So here is my initial thread forever ago....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=142801&highlight=GS650L

Long story short, I never had any time to fix this thing so I was about to junk it when I get a call from someone who needed his Audi fixed, but was frustrated since he works on bikes all the time. PERFECT!

So I got...

1. New Tailight
2. New Mirrors
3. Carbs re-done
4. Dynojet Kit
5. No exhaust (just a collector for each side that dumps out under the pegs, love it.)
6. New Clutch Cable
7. Brakes bled
8. Treated the gas tank for rust

etc. etc.

Anyways, now that I got the bike going I have a bunch of questions

1. The bike in question is an '82 GS650L. Do I have a 6th gear? I can get into 5 rather easily but it seems like there is no 6 although there is a light for it on the dash

2. My turn signals don't blink and also don't turn on the "Turn" light on the dash. I heard that might be an easy fix?

3. What tires are good for this bike? Mine are pretty old and cracking, don't want to mess around with tires on the bike so I'm looking for some really quality ones.

4. My tach doesn't work. Any way to test what part of it is broken? (tach/sensor/wire)

5. Can't really tell since the tach is broken, but the bike idles pretty high at idle, and since I don't really have an exhaust this can get QUITE annoying when I'm sitting at lights next to people. The guy who fixed my bike thought it was the air screwd in the carbs (I think?) but I remember hearing about the boots causing this. Is there a way to check if I have any leaks?

Thanks!
- Clint

Clint welcome back.

1. No you don't have a 6th gear, only five gears on the 650.

2. Your turn signals could be as simple as a blown fuse, otherwise remove the tank and side covers and trace the wiring with the ign and turn signals turned on (either left or right). You may need to remove the headlight as well to access some of the wiring. It could be a faulty flasher unit or corrosion in the handle bar switch.

3. I've found the Avon Roadrider to be a good tire. Just get them in the appropriate sizes. Hope we haven't opened a can of worms here. You can ask 10 people which tires are best and you will get 10 different opinions.

4. The tacho is driven by a cable from the valve cover. Easiest way to check if it is working is to undo it from the tacho instrument, crank the motor and see if the inner cable rotates. If so, then the drive from the engine is OK and the problem is in the instrument or a broken inner cable.

5. Sounds like the carbs are too lean, idle the carbs down using the large thumb screw between carbs 2 & 3. If the idle is still too high or wavers in idle speed then try adjusting the mixture screws to obtain a slightly richer mixture at idle.

Hope this helps.

[AudiA4_20T]

Clint welcome back.

1. No you don't have a 6th gear, only five gears on the 650.

2. Your turn signals could be as simple as a blown fuse, otherwise remove the tank and side covers and trace the wiring with the ign and turn signals turned on (either left or right). You may need to remove the headlight as well to access some of the wiring. It could be a faulty flasher unit or corrosion in the handle bar switch.

3. I've found the Avon Roadrider to be a good tire. Just get them in the appropriate sizes. Hope we haven't opened a can of worms here. You can ask 10 people which tires are best and you will get 10 different opinions.

4. The tacho is driven by a cable from the valve cover. Easiest way to check if it is working is to undo it from the tacho instrument, crank the motor and see if the inner cable rotates. If so, then the drive from the engine is OK and the problem is in the instrument or a broken inner cable.

5. Sounds like the carbs are too lean, idle the carbs down using the large thumb screw between carbs 2 & 3. If the idle is still too high or wavers in idle speed then try adjusting the mixture screws to obtain a slightly richer mixture at idle.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Don! A few more little things. The bike stopped running but I just saw that one of the plug wires came apart when I was towing it home, so I'm guessing that's what it was. Are there any advertisers I can order from? I'd rather give my money to them. Also, I need a front brake handle.

Thanks again

[1_v8_merc]

Don nailed it!

Avon Roadriders are definitely good tires, I have them on my 82 650g as well!
They are known for probably being the Best and Cheapest tires for bikes that will see A LOT of twisties!

Great in the rain too!

-----

Your High Idle problem could also be a loose-carb boot or something in the airbox that isn't sealed properly.
(anything that isn't sealed will allow air in....which Raises your RPM's or causes them to "hang" after you let off of the Throttle.)


But it could be something simple as an "idle adjustment".

The idle adjustment screw in UNDER your carb-rack, between Carbs # 2 + 3.......smack dab in the middle....it's a black knob and faces slightly Downward.


Start your bike up, let it warm up.

Then play with that knob, if your bike Stalls, you figured out Which Way Lowers the idle!.....you just turned it too fast! LOL

[tom203]

Thanks Don! A few more little things. The bike stopped running but I just saw that one of the plug wires came apart when I was towing it home, so I'm guessing that's what it was. Are there any advertisers I can order from? I'd rather give my money to them. Also, I need a front brake handle.

Thanks again

One of plugs not firing won't kill 4 cylinder bike- so guess again! Clutch and brake levers are available on ebay, dealers , cycle shops, etc.- just take your broken one off to match.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE. Read all about maintaining your GS motorcycle. Most of your questions can be answered from those links. There's a lot of information there. Take your time. Read. Learn.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[AudiA4_20T]

Ok guys, I've been really doing some work on the bike lately. Got it running consistently, it sounds good and rides good.

Now, onto getting the tach to work. I pulled off the back cover and I noticed this cable running into the back of the tach through the grey plug wasn't plugged into anything...



Also, I revved the bike up and it didn't move at all. Do I need a new cable?

[mjremington]

The tach not working is most likely the cable. Mine broke on my 82 GS750T. Easy fix. They just thread off and on. And I got my replacement OEM for 12 dollars.

[AudiA4_20T]

The tach not working is most likely the cable. Mine broke on my 82 GS750T. Easy fix. They just thread off and on. And I got my replacement OEM for 12 dollars.

PROBLEMS!

Ok got the tach cable on and the tach... "works" I guess you could say.

Still having trouble with the damn idle though. On a cold start I'll let the choke sit for ~1 min but the idle is so high I'm bothering the neighbors! It's up near 4000. So, once I go for a ride it's fine for awhile (~2500), but once it gets real hot it'll get up near 5000rpm to the point where I shut the bike off a few times at a light so the people around me could hear!

I'm going to order some new carb boots to rule out an air leak, and the main idle screw is doing nothing... Thoughts?

Also, where do I order the carb boots? I see the site to order the O-rings but that's it

[AudiA4_20T]

Ok found them on Z1... good stuff

[BassCliff]

Hi,

... the main idle screw is doing nothing... Thoughts?

It's possible that the main idle screw is turned out so far that it is now disconnected. Make sure it is seated in its screwhole so that it is actually adjusting the idle when you turn it.

There is an Air Intake Repair guide on my website. Have you seen it? Have you seen all of the parts vendors in your "mega-welcome"? Do you have a service manual for your bike?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[AudiA4_20T]

Hi,



It's possible that the main idle screw is turned out so far that it is now disconnected. Make sure it is seated in its screwhole so that it is actually adjusting the idle when you turn it.

There is an Air Intake Repair guide on my website. Have you seen it? Have you seen all of the parts vendors in your "mega-welcome"? Do you have a service manual for your bike?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Bass,

I've been asking a lot of dumb questions because I've only worked on newer cars so carbs and valve clearances (I had hyrdaulic lifters) are very confusing. When I spin the main idle screw counter-clockwise, that should be leaning out the bike or enriching it?

I have pods on the bike because the owner before me didn't have the airbox. I know this is not ideal but it's what I have for now.

I do have the manual and will be using it for valve clearances. For now, I'm going to order new carb boots and o-rings. The symptoms noted on your "mega-welcome" guides sound IDENTICAL to mine.

[tom203]

Bass,

I've been asking a lot of dumb questions because I've only worked on newer cars so carbs and valve clearances (I had hyrdaulic lifters) are very confusing. When I spin the main idle screw counter-clockwise, that should be leaning out the bike or enriching it?

I have pods on the bike because the owner before me didn't have the airbox. I know this is not ideal but it's what I have for now.

I do have the manual and will be using it for valve clearances. For now, I'm going to order new carb boots and o-rings. The symptoms noted on your "mega-welcome" guides sound IDENTICAL to mine.

Mr. Basscliff is refering to idle stop screw- this is located at bottom of carb bank in between carbs 2 and 3- this does nothing to lean or enrich, it only holds the throttle at an idle speed. It is a knurled knob maybe 3/4 inch in diameter.
You will find pods to be challenging- airbox/filter box assemblies come up on ebay regularly.

[AudiA4_20T]

Mr. Basscliff is refering to idle stop screw- this is located at bottom of carb bank in between carbs 2 and 3- this does nothing to lean or enrich, it only holds the throttle at an idle speed. It is a knurled knob maybe 3/4 inch in diameter.
You will find pods to be challenging- airbox/filter box assemblies come up on ebay regularly.

Hmm ok I'll have to check. Found out that my local Suzuki dealer has all the factory parts sheets online and can get everything next day so it's now my new spot. Boots and O-rings should be here Friday for the holiday weekend