Carbs or airbox is suspect, maybe more.

[frijoles-and-beans]

Hi guys,

I recently rebuilt my carbs after cleaning them a couple of months ago to try to avoid the cost of the kits. Made me work twice! Dang it! I have a feeling that what is happening is related to the carbs or quite possibly the air-box and air-filter. I changed those out just a couple of weeks before taking the carbs out to rebuild them. I only mention the filter because I recall reading some post or other about putting too much filter oil in the filter, (I hadn't ridden it yet with the new filter so I took it off and daubed most of the extra oil off after reading that information, leaving a light coating as I had seen recommended. I led myself to believe that it needed a good solid coating, oh well. I did do the air-box refurbishment from Basscliff's website earlier this year so I am sure that the airbox is also sealed correctly.

Ok, so the actual problem is as follows-

It's been riding fine for a while now; you may remember me posting that my truck had broken down and I had to ride on the bike full time for a bit. I finally fixed my truck a couple of weeks back. You ever take out a flywheel from a 1984 GMC Sierra? It was a hard job. I had my friend help me out. I bought the beer; can't forget the beer right?

Well anyway, I was riding my bike up to the mountains yesterday and going up it did a super job, but coming back down later in the day, I notice that I could hear my engine, like, bogging down a bit here and again, not constantly but intermittent. About another 15 miles pass and the bogging has quite suddenly enveloped the whole engine and it turns off so I park off the side of the road. I had to call my daughter to come and pick me up with my truck. How's that for luck? Just a couple of weeks back I didn't have it fixed yet. I dodged a bullet there. Not a big bullet, but a towing bullet. I don't need the expense.

I'm about to go out there, crack the airbox open first, and maybe take a little more oil off of the filter. The seals are superb in the airbox, that shouldn't be it at all. I’ll pull it apart all the way to the carb intake boots if I have to, and I might. I still haven’t changed them out. I haven’t changed the air intake boots either. They both look like they’re in good shape. Maybe I should change the o-ring in the carb ones at least.

Well, here’s how it is, this is just almost speculation. I know a thing or two, but I’m sure several of you guys can tell me more. I posted this in the carbs section because that’s what I feel it is. What do you guys think? I’m about to dig in and would like a virtual hand with this. Does it have anything to do with the carbs or maybe seals not doing their job. It has been running well lately and this came out of the blue. I have narrowed it down to intake in my own little mind. Can anyone confirm?

The very first thing I thought when I stopped off on the side of the road is there was a kink in the gas line somewhere. I had just fixed a similar problem in my daughter’s Volkswagen Beetle about a month ago and I ended up putting in a new line and straightened it and also the filter and fixed it right up, but the lines look fine and it’s a motorcycle so it’s different. I can't imagine it's that different though.

I doubt it's anything electrical. It provides a strong spark and the headlights are bright. I didn't check the volts, but I'm sure it's not that.

Oh yeah, before I forget; I have a 1983 gs850gl. Look at my signature and be amazed!

Ricardo

[cowboyup3371]

How much gas was in it? Had you already gone on the reserve tank when it did it?

[frijoles-and-beans]

No, it had approximately 3 gallons in it at the time. What are you getting at with the question? Like a fouled pet-cock screen or something? I cleaned the inside of the gas tank with that tutorial on Basscliff's website about a month ago. It's spotless. Unless that wasn't even what you were getting at. I don't know. lol

I just took the air-box off so far and started on the filter. Tomorrow I'll start taking it further apart unless someone has a bright idea. lol

[nickr234]

Yea that sound like a starvation problem. if you did rebuild the carb with new o-ring and stuff a couple of months ago they should be fine, it is when they are 2 years + they MIGHT give you some trouble like this. so i really don't think it would be the carbs. if the air box it sealed then it should be OK because the more you would ride it the less oil would be on the air filter because of the air passing through it. So it should have gotten better not worse.

So this bring us to the petcock. Turn it on prime just to make sure that it passes through the petcock without needing vaccum. Also have you replaced your ignition coils? This doesn't really sound like it would be them, but bad coils can also make it seem like it is bogging down (this happend to me and i also thought it was the carbs at first).

Hope these ideas help,

Nicholas

[hikermikem]

What conidition was your battery in at the end of your day?? Sounds a little like a charging issue perhaps ?? Have you throughly checked it out ?

Are you running a fuel filter? Check your vacuum line for cracks/leaks...

[frijoles-and-beans]

Yea that sound like a starvation problem. if you did rebuild the carb with new o-ring and stuff a couple of months ago they should be fine, it is when they are 2 years + they MIGHT give you some trouble like this. so i really don't think it would be the carbs. if the air box it sealed then it should be OK because the more you would ride it the less oil would be on the air filter because of the air passing through it. So it should have gotten better not worse.

So this bring us to the petcock. Turn it on prime just to make sure that it passes through the petcock without needing vaccum. Also have you replaced your ignition coils? This doesn't really sound like it would be them, but bad coils can also make it seem like it is bogging down (this happend to me and i also thought it was the carbs at first).

Hope these ideas help,

Nicholas

Those sound like very sensible suggestions. I will try them tomorrow and report back. Well, I'll look at the petcock tomorrow.

So you experienced your engine bogging down, you thought it was your carbs, and it turned out to be the coils, huh? Hmm, I will have to look into that. It sounds just like my situation. Did it happen suddenly? I mean this bike was doing just fine all day long until the last few miles something funny was bogging it down and then just poof, the engine's off.

The carbs are in perfect spotless condition. I took them apart and dipped them in Berryman's and then a couple of months later (They were giving me trouble still) I took them apart again and bought 4 rebuild kits for it and cleaned it again. lol I think that I can narrow that down anyway. The air-box refurbishing is on point too, so I guess I can rule that out.

So let's see, we have the boots, the petcock and possibly the coils. This gives me several good places to start. I will begin tomorrow and let you know.

Thanks Nicholas

[frijoles-and-beans]

What conidition was your battery in at the end of your day?? Sounds a little like a charging issue perhaps ?? Have you throughly checked it out ?

Are you running a fuel filter? Check your vacuum line for cracks/leaks...

I didn't check it. It seems to be going strong judging by the the sound it made cranking the engine and the bright headlight. That's about as technical as I have gotten with that part of it so far. I'll go ahead and put that on my list of things to check tomorrow.

I have a fuel filter. From what I understand these models don't have one. Am I right? Someone with an 83' 850L chime in and let me know what you have.

I'll check the lines too.

Thanks

[esj001]

Sounds like it might be a spark issue too me also---meaning coils or battery or charging system

These bikes didn't originally have an inline fuel filter but many have added them with no ill effects---the screen in the petcock is very fine mesh and should filter your fuel just fine

When you say "rebuild kit" do you mean that you installed one of those kits that has new aftermarket float valves and orings and bowl gaskets----or did u get the oring kit from robert barr and do a good clean and dip and blow out with compressed air and set the float levels and new bowl gaskets and pilot jet plugs and mixture screw orings.--all on basscliffs site

Def do boot to head Orings if you have not already

[frijoles-and-beans]

Sounds like it might be a spark issue too me also---meaning coils or battery or charging system

These bikes didn't originally have an inline fuel filter but many have added them with no ill effects---the screen in the petcock is very fine mesh and should filter your fuel just fine

When you say "rebuild kit" do you mean that you installed one of those kits that has new aftermarket float valves and orings and bowl gaskets----or did u get the oring kit from robert barr and do a good clean and dip and blow out with compressed air and set the float levels and new bowl gaskets and pilot jet plugs and mixture screw orings.--all on basscliffs site

I originally just took it apart and decided to be cheap and just clean it according to basscliff's website. Later I found out I still had issues. I did the more thorough (and expensive) second option. I accept Basscliff's site as cannon. It has never lead me astray. lol

Let me know what you guys think here, but the leading hypothesis so far is that something is wrong with my electrical. Interesting that it was the farthest thing from my mind. I even made it a point to bring it up as not being the cause. Show's how much I know. Well, I guess tomorrow is another day and I shall find my answers soon I think.

[esj001]

change those boot to head orings if you havent yet for sure

Petcock would be a good thing to start with if its suspect

have you seen this new carb guide by Nessism?

http://www.mediafire.com/file/zx5unr...Tutorial-2.pdf

[frijoles-and-beans]

change those boot to head orings if you havent yet for sure

Petcock would be a good thing to start with if its suspect

have you seen this new carb guide by Nessism?

http://www.mediafire.com/file/zx5unr...Tutorial-2.pdf

Yeah, I've thought about changing those o-rings for a while now. Since I'm going to be tearing things up anyway I should really order one. I'll do it tomorrow.

I'm going to go over the petcock, but I suspect that it isn't the problem. We'll see over the next couple of days.

Wow, I like this new carb guide. It goes in such clear detail. You go Nessism!

[hikermikem]

I had a very similar issue with my "now sold" 650, turned out to be a clogged fuel filter I had put in the line. Even though I could see, fuel sloshing around in the clear plastic housing, it wasn't letting enough through. Is your tank clean? That super fine rust-powder will clog a filter in no time. However, I would guess where you live rust isn't too much an issue... didn't you buy a tank recently?

Good advice to lose that external filter, ya don't need it & it may cause you pain down the road.

Yes, fuel and/or electrical problems can sometimes be difficult to distingush from each other - both have the same symptoms. Need to check out your electrical system and cross that off the list first.

It's like I always say, "It's the same thing, only completely different..."

[allojohn]

Sounds like your fuel filter has taken 3 months to clog up - could be an easy fix!

[frijoles-and-beans]

Ok, here is an update:

I checked the battery first. It is at 12.75 volts. Looks good to me.

I replaced the fuel line with a continuous one that doesn't have a fuel filter.

I took off some of the oil on the air filter. The drain hose had a slight coating on the outside of it, so I thought that might signal that there is too much oil on the filter.

I ordered the carb boot o-rings today. They'll be here in a few days. I wonder if that's it, but somehow I doubt it? It'll be good to replace them anyway, so there you go.

I haven't checked the coils yet, but I am narrowing things down and that's up next. I just bought one of those multimeters at AutoZone that check for resistance, charge and amperage. I see a lot of coil tutorials on Basscliff's website, but nothing on how to check them. Let me know.

I'll be checking the coils tomorrow and I guess next up would be the r/r and the stator. I was kind of hoping it was the fuel filter. I was trying to will it to reality. lol

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

Edit: hikermikem, I did buy a gas tank recently and refurbished it with Basscliff's tutorial on cleaning out the inside with that rust remover liquid. I can't remember the name off-hand, but it turned out an excellent project with no signs of rust on the inside of it.

[cowboyup3371]

How did it ride with just the fuel filter off? If you aren't already, you might want to test it one change at a time to ensure you find the right issue.