Acceleration Problem

[BigD_83]

The fuel filter is not necessarily a bad thing, although it is usually unwarranted as the fuel pickups should have a filter, and there is a second basket filter in some (maybe all?) of the petcocks as well. Of course, a PO could have messed with those, so the inline filter as a temporary precaution is not a bad choice right now.

Like MrBill says, an inline filter could restrict flow if it causing a kink in the line, has too little volume/pipe diameter, is put in the wrong way around, or is itself clogged.

It is easy to determine if any of those are an issue at idle, but not so easy to see if there is a fuel flow issue as you get on the throttle, under load (i.e. your 4-7k stumble).

Pods are a nightmare on a motorcycle with little known history, even for guys with a lot of wrenching experience. You really would be better off getting an airbox and starting again, just to get the bike back to baseline. I guess I'd be asking myself why I wanted pods in the first place...looks? Performance gains? Ease of access to the carbs? There are solid arguments against pods with your models on all three fronts.

If you do stick with the pods, you will be in and out of the carbs a bunch trying to get the jetting spot on.

[BigD_83]

The service manual is really good at explaining the valve adjustment. The hardest thing about it is making sure you hold the adjustment in place while you set the locknut.

This one is showing a Honda Rebel, but it is essentially the same thing. If you start at about the 5 minute mark, you will miss all of the preliminary stuff that is not relevant. Note the adjustments are being done at TDC (top dead centre), on a stone-cold engine. You'll have to look at your manual to see where your TDC mark is for each cylinder.

Also note that the beam-type torque wrench the guy is using is not necessarily the best tool for torquing down the locknuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZxB7sUG_O4

Like I said, it is not a Suzuki engine, and it is not a substitute for a service manual, but it does show how to get the proper feel for clearance.

[mrbill5491]

Oh yeah a word of advice on the valve adjustment, might want to order a couple spares of the lock nut and the adjustment screw itself. Sometimes because of age, wear etc, the lock nut can start binding on the threads, adjustment is impossible then. I've had that happen a couple times and had to get some new ones to finish up the job. This way if it does happen, you got some spares on hand already and not have to wait on the parts to get to you. I have about 4 of each as spares now in my parts box.

[Anthony]

I think adjusting the jets would be easier then trying to find and for out money for an air box, unless you have a suggested place where I can get one, complete.
Edit: Also, where can I get extra locknuts and adjuster screws? Just my local Suzuki dealer?

[BigD_83]

I don't have a source off the top of my head, but there are a number of EBay sellers (mrmonkeyclaw- a bit expensive and georgesfix come to mind) that have plenty of GS parts. Paul Miller Motorcyle is another off the top of my head.

All of the vendors I previously mentioned are good sources. A quick Google search found them at Partzilla, and G&S Suzuki here:

http://suzuki.gssuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=94935&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1982&fveh=2138

To save money on shipping, put together an order of a bunch of parts you'll need.

Oh, and the $50.00 price? That includes the rocker arm. You just need the nuts.


Your local Suzuki dealer ought to be able to get them for you. $1.75/each.

Do you have a dealer nearby?

[Anthony]

I do have a dealer near me, 45 minutes. So I'll ask them for prices and maybe see how decent the prices are for doing these things for me, might as well. But i'll probably end up doing myself, except for the carb sync, which the tool for it is as expensive as it would be to have a mechanic do it for you.

[BigD_83]

Do NOT take your bike to the dealer to get any work done. There is very little normal maintenance you can't do on your own. You have a vested interest in your ride, and they have a vested interest in your money.

DO see if they'll match online pricing for parts. DO try to build a decent relationship with them, because they can make a difference in how long you wait/how much you pay for parts.

I know a carb synch tool (the gauge) is expensive, but it pays for itself the first time you use it. I recall reading someone paid a mechanic stupid money (around $400, IIRC) for some carb work, AND the dealer mechnic broke a float post or cracked a carb body in the process.

I'm not sure where Radford is, but a member with a Carbtune might be in your neighbourhood.

[Anthony]

Well the only thing is that the local dealer charges less for a carb sync than what the tool is worth, so that's the only issue I have. I will do the valve adjustment and carb re-build myself, but the crab sync might save me money to have done at the dealer. Other than that, once I get those three things done, I'm sure they can adjust the jets for the right fuel mixture, as I've heard that is a royal pain in the butt.

[tkent02]

Well the only thing is that the local dealer charges less for a carb sync than what the tool is worth, so that's the only issue I have. I will do the valve adjustment and carb re-build myself, but the crab sync might save me money to have done at the dealer.

BBWAAAAhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahha

[chuck hahn]

But the tool is cheaper by the 2nd or 3rd time your into the carbs as the years progress..just sayin.

[Anthony]

This is true. I thought about that, for sure. It's kinda like an investment for that tool really, because I'll have to do it at another point in time. I just need to be able to fork out 64 British Pounds for the Morgan CarbTune Pro :P

[Phred]

The tools are well worth the investment. Every time I buy a tool I look at it as so many cartons of cigs or bottles of whisky. Which will last longer? Buy good ones and they will last a lifetime. When I did my carbs I must have taken them off a dozen times before I got them right. This year I started using Shell V power gas- after several tankfulls I am starting to notice a real difference in performance. This gas has cleaners that clean the valves, and no ethanol. I am not sure but I think they are also keeping the carbs clean as well. My bike had not run for 20 years and I rebuilt it a few years ago, but did not tear down the engine. The valves looked dirty but next time I pull the carbs off I will look again to see what difference the V-power gas makes. The first time you do some of the work it may seem intimidating, but you will eventually gain a particular knowledge that most of the new school of modern motorcycle mechanics do not have.

[Anthony]

The tools are well worth the investment. Every time I buy a tool I look at it as so many cartons of cigs or bottles of whisky. Which will last longer? Buy good ones and they will last a lifetime. When I did my carbs I must have taken them off a dozen times before I got them right. This year I started using Shell V power gas- after several tankfulls I am starting to notice a real difference in performance. This gas has cleaners that clean the valves, and no ethanol. I am not sure but I think they are also keeping the carbs clean as well. My bike had not run for 20 years and I rebuilt it a few years ago, but did not tear down the engine. The valves looked dirty but next time I pull the carbs off I will look again to see what difference the V-power gas makes. The first time you do some of the work it may seem intimidating, but you will eventually gain a particular knowledge that most of the new school of modern motorcycle mechanics do not have.

Thanks Phred for the insight! Definitely worth noting.

[tkent02]

Do a couple of your buddy's bikes for a small fee and it's paid for. Even better let them pay you in beer and they will keep coming back to give you more.

[Anthony]

Do a couple of your buddy's bikes for a small fee and it's paid for. Even better let them pay you in beer and they will keep coming back to give you more.

Genius! Haha that's quite a good idea actually. I will report back with this problem if it continues after the maintenance.