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Hey all,
Guess my profile got purged a while back, I've been overseas for the Army so haven't had a chance to visit here.
I've been back for 6 months or so, and tuned my GS-550E back up after taking it out of storage. Ran just as good as it did a year ago, if not better! However, about a month after getting it back on the streets, I had a catastrophe. On the highway it overheated and dumped out most of it's oil from a few gaskets. I set to taking the bike down to the jugs, and replacing the gaskets and any hardware that got damaged.
For the most part, I think I dodged a bullet. No metal bits in the crankcase, no scoring of the cylinder walls, etc. I dressed the fella back up, timed it, and gave the carbs a good soak, clean and reassembly and put them back on.
When it was go time, I had crank, but no start. So I set to checking the basics, and the results:
Good spark, nice blue arc from each plug wire (also new plugs and wires)
Good fuel delivery, fuel in float bowls and fuel reaching cylinders (from the gas smell after pulling plugs)
Good timing, pulled off cam cover and double checked timing marks, not to mention making sure the engine cycled smoothly when turned by wrench before attempting a start
Head bolts torque'd to spec.
Then I performed a compression test. About 70-75 on each cylinder.
I should mention the bike sat with it's head off for 2 months, because I went on another short escapade for the Army, so I'm not sure if that had an effect on anything. Here's where you're free to call me an idiot.
I did not change the piston rings, but they seemed within spec, and I did not check valve clearances, because I felt I lacked the knowledge and quite frankly was antsy to get the bike running again. My conclusion is that it was the valves perhaps?
So, friends and wizards of GS bikes, is it a safe bet to say it was just my negligence to check the valves that is causing this conundrum? Or could something else cause such dismal compression ratings? I've heard that some bikes CAN start on 75 or so PSI, so I'm curious why I can't even get a single cycle, just turning on the starter ad infinitum.
Thanks, as always!
Guess my profile got purged a while back, I've been overseas for the Army so haven't had a chance to visit here.
I've been back for 6 months or so, and tuned my GS-550E back up after taking it out of storage. Ran just as good as it did a year ago, if not better! However, about a month after getting it back on the streets, I had a catastrophe. On the highway it overheated and dumped out most of it's oil from a few gaskets. I set to taking the bike down to the jugs, and replacing the gaskets and any hardware that got damaged.
For the most part, I think I dodged a bullet. No metal bits in the crankcase, no scoring of the cylinder walls, etc. I dressed the fella back up, timed it, and gave the carbs a good soak, clean and reassembly and put them back on.
When it was go time, I had crank, but no start. So I set to checking the basics, and the results:
Good spark, nice blue arc from each plug wire (also new plugs and wires)
Good fuel delivery, fuel in float bowls and fuel reaching cylinders (from the gas smell after pulling plugs)
Good timing, pulled off cam cover and double checked timing marks, not to mention making sure the engine cycled smoothly when turned by wrench before attempting a start
Head bolts torque'd to spec.
Then I performed a compression test. About 70-75 on each cylinder.
I should mention the bike sat with it's head off for 2 months, because I went on another short escapade for the Army, so I'm not sure if that had an effect on anything. Here's where you're free to call me an idiot.
I did not change the piston rings, but they seemed within spec, and I did not check valve clearances, because I felt I lacked the knowledge and quite frankly was antsy to get the bike running again. My conclusion is that it was the valves perhaps?
So, friends and wizards of GS bikes, is it a safe bet to say it was just my negligence to check the valves that is causing this conundrum? Or could something else cause such dismal compression ratings? I've heard that some bikes CAN start on 75 or so PSI, so I'm curious why I can't even get a single cycle, just turning on the starter ad infinitum.
Thanks, as always!
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