1980 GS850G Won't Start After Winter

[Guest]

Hey all!

I had an original account on the page from a few years back, however didn't have time to work on my machine/keep update with the bike until this Summer and the account has since been deleted.

My '80 GS850G has been kept under a tarp all Fall/Winter long and when I unveiled it, it wouldn't start up. Battery was dead initially, so I charged it up. The starter will crank forever but the engine shows no signs of life. I checked compression and have 120 psi in all cylinders, there is a spark for all plugs and there is fuel. The fuel could be old (~7 months of weathering may do that?) and the air box is not sealed well, however that never gave me startup troubles last year. Carbs were cleaned by the previous owner about 2.5 years ago and haven't been touched since then.

Where do I go from here? Thanks!

[tom203]

"Carbs were cleaned by the previous owner about 2.5 years ago and haven't been touched since then."

you'll be doing the carbs again to check his work! Did you use the enricher at full pull, and remember to NOT use any throttle during cranking.

[Steve]

Before you covered the bike with the tarp, did you add stabilizer to the gas, then run it through the carbs for a while?

If not, then YOU will be going through the carbs, unless you send them off to one of the several of us that will do them for you.

If you choose to do them yourself, be aware that there is more to "cleaning the carbs" than simply dropping the float bowls and sprizing some spray around.

.

[fixmybrokecomputer]

Dump all of the old fuel. Today's crapenol fuel won't take sitting that long. Dump all of the old gas and use fresh fuel from a clean gas can. As was mentioned earlier, you might be going through those carbs.

[busbis]

Beautiful! Thank you all for the quick responses

Tom203, what do you mean by "use the enricher at full pull", like fuel stabilizer? (in that case, no I did not). I have been using full throttle during cranking, I will stop that. Does it flood the carbs or something when I'm doing this?

Steve, I did not use stabilizer. I didn't think it'd be my last ride when I did and I didn't think about it until this Spring. I'm completely unknowledgeable about cleaning carbs, however I do remember seeing posts about people with "ultrasonic cleaners" and such. I'd like to try and learn myself off of YouTube/BikeCliff's, but if I mess up, is this something another guy can retrace my steps and clean/reassemble?

Fixmybrokencomputer, I will dump the fuel before I tackle the carbs in hopes that I can get it running. If I do get it running, is there already too much buildup in the carbs to where I'll still need to clean them to prevent further issues this Summer?

Also, it's seeming like the air box seal is not that big of a deal or is sealing it a step I need to take before expecting her to run again?

[NavyDad]

Did you use the enrichener at full pull asks if you had the choke fully on. Stabilizer is pretty much a must have in areas where we store our bikes for months at a time because of the gas these days. If you have no clue how to do a THOROUGH carb cleaning I suggest you leave them alone and get them to one who knows the business. If you damage them or cause more issues it is going to cost you more in the long run. Dump the fuel, add some fresh gas and see what happens. Maybe you'll get lucky, but don't count on it. Repair the air box because the bike is not running properly with it not being sealed. It may seem to be okay, but it could be much better if working as it should.

[Redman]

............................... there is a spark for all plugs and there is fuel. .................

Welcome back to GSR (Yah, your logon name expires is dont logon in a few months).

I too suspect old fuel.

But let me ask, when you say "there is fuel" do you mean is fuel in the tank, if so; I ask if you put the petcock on PRIme before trying to start.

If you mean the plugs were wet, ... well then that supports the old gas idea.

When you say you charged the battery, how do you know it was fully charged? If not fully charged, it could turn over seemily fast but voltage low enough to not operate the ignition.
You say you have spark, but maybe that was with all plugs out.

.

[Steve]

The "enrichener" that is being mentioned so often is often wrongly called the "choke". A true "choke" has a plate that blocks the air at the intake of the carb, our carbs don't have that. What they DO have is a separate circuit that meters a set amount of fuel and air that is considerably richer than normal, so it acts like a choke, but does it differently.

To use the "choke" (notice the quote marks?), start by making sure there is gas in the float bowls. Turn the petcock lever so it is pointing to the back (the large part is the pointer) for about a minute or so. Move it back to the bottom (the RUN position). Pull the "choke" knob out all the way. Squeeze the clutch lever (unless you have bypassed the "safety" switch). Make sure the kill switch is in the RUN position. Turn the ignition key ON. Push the START button. KEEP YOUR HAND OFF THE THROTTLE. If the engine starts, and races to more than 3000 RPM, move the "choke" knob in a bit until engine speed is between 2000 and 2500. Still, KEEP YOUR HAND OFF THE THROTTLE. The enrichener circuit needs the high vacuum of a CLOSED throttle to work. Opening the throttle AT ALL will destroy that vacuum and it will try to start on the 'normal' jetting, which is nearly impossible.

If that does not work, you will likely need to clean the carbs.

.

[Wingsconsin]

Steve, I did not use stabilizer. I didn't think it'd be my last ride when I did and I didn't think about it until this Spring. I'm completely unknowledgeable about cleaning carbs, however I do remember seeing posts about people with "ultrasonic cleaners" and such. I'd like to try and learn myself off of YouTube/BikeCliff's, but if I mess up, is this something another guy can retrace my steps and clean/reassemble?

While I applaud you the desire to learn to do it yourself --
I caution you that the knowledge is hard to come by - not that it is not readily available (because it is)
But the proper application of this knowledge is the challenge ---
I personally have rebuilt 4 sets of carbs for a variety of bikes successfully including a GS650GL
When it came to my 850 -- I could not seem to get it right...
I chased issues with the carbs for months -- cleaned them, rebuilt them, redid them, and again
WITH an ultrasonic cleaner and new o-rings, and carb dip and all the tools with practical experience in using tyhem previously.
I finally acquiesced and sent to to STEVE and he had me running well in short order.
I could get the bike running with my skills and technique - just not fully at peak performance.
That is the great separator in my opinion -- how to get the carbs working WELL..
YOU can get there - but at what cost in time, energy, money and frustration ?
IF you are patient and willing to dive in and learn (a lot) - YOU CAN DO IT !
But for a more instant solution -- STEVE will do them at a reasonable price

[greg78gs750]

first and easiest thing to try is new fresh fuel......it does matter.

[busbis]

NavyDad, yes, I always had the choke on full pull. I think for this first run I may send the carbs to someone to have them cleaned well.

Redman, sorry for the confusion. There is fuel in the tank and in the fuel filter, is it wrong to try to start the bike while it's on prime? In the past I left it on prime for the entire time while I started and allowed the bike to warm up. Plugs were not wet however I never once thought that the battery wasn't up to full voltage if it cranked the engine that fast. Everyday I learn something new about my bike Also, when I tested spark, it was with each plug pulled individually.

Steve, very valuable information here. I needed to know this because I railed on the throttle everytime I'd try to start it up before. I will give it another shot here in the next few days (depending on if it's still raining in SE Ohio with class projects and finals), but I will likely be messaging you about cleaning the carbs!

Wingsconsin, I really appreciate the input. I will likely not touch the carbs and send them to Steve in that case! I will be out of classes this summer to learn how to clean the carbs, but I'm starting an internship and foresee the carbs causing distractions or getting "pushed off until later" in the never-ending projects pile.

[Redman]

............................. is it wrong to try to start the bike while it's on prime? In the past I left it on prime for the entire time while I started and allowed the bike to warm up. Plugs were not wet however ................

No, Is not a problem to leave on PRIme when start the bike. It is just that I do not trust myself to turn it back to ON when I get involved with other things. Do not want to leave it in PRime for hours or days, and I am concerned I will forget, so I stand there with my fingers on it for a while then put back to ON. So, You can leave it on PRIme when trying to start the bike, or while it is running. Just dont forget to turn it back to ON sometime before you park the bike.

When you say "fuel in the filter": I gather you mean an aftermarket in-line filter someone has added. Okay, if gas in there, then know is flowing thru the petcock. (weither or not you need the extra fuel filter is another discussion).

You say the plugs were dry. Ah, that seems consistent with carb problems.
Some folks say to avoid the "starter fluid", and for good reason. But if a small spritz, by the air box snorkel, causes it to fire up for a while; that will then give you better confidence that you do have a carb problem (or I should say carb problems, problems with each of the 4 carbs).

Athens OH. HAve been there, enroute to daughters crew event in Marietta and visit friend at ... er... um... Ohio University (is that the name?). It was kinda difficult to drive thru that part of the state in a van towing a trailer with a bike I had bought near Columbus ... had to stop and get it out (despite minor details of licencing).

I see that Athens is not too far, well, a little over 2 hours, from "The Steve" mentioned before. But, ah, lets try some fresh gas first.

[greg78gs750]

humor me, will ya? charge the battery, drain the old gas, drain the carbs, put fresh 87 octane in, prime for 2 minutes, full choke, no throttle, press start. Just for giggles. Just to see how it feels.