And so it begins...GR650 carb teardown

[oldrookie]

No, haven't jumped into the valve adjustment learning curve just yet. So many things to do, riding season goes so quickly.

And thanks for the encouragement, Pete!

I tried to take a few pictures, but I was really just too excited to get this rebuilt and see if it would run correctly. Not sure they are worth posting, but may give it a go later tonight.

Might see if I can get a video up so any interested inmates can hear the parallel twin doing its thing.

[pete]

I'll happily watch the video

You'll wanna do the valves for sure, there have been many reports of very large improvements after proper valve adjustments...

I do understand the riding season comment, although here it's 365 days a year... unless of course your bike is not on the road yet

[oldrookie]

Thought I'd throw this up real quick. This is after a short ride. No choke. The popping seems to be from the left cylinder.

NOTE: I did not change the float levels or check the gas levels. Ran out of time before being compelled to deal with other life matters.
The Air mix screw is out two turns on both sides as a starting point.

Valves have NOT been adjusted-plan to get to it, but hasn't happened yet.

The video compression did something strange to the aspect ratio of the video.

(Removed the original video and put a different video link in. This one is later in the process after I adjusted the valve, bench sync'd and mixture screw set better.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2myqX--jf0

[pete]

While I can't really comment on the popping (not a carb guru here, just know how to clean 'em ), that sounded pretty good to me!

It certainly sounds like it's running well, just needs a slight bit of tuning...

[oldrookie]

Well, more reading in the Welcome pages led me to try something. I had read, somewhere, that two turns out on the air mixture screw was a good starting point. That's how it was setup in the video.

Saw that the GS gurus recommend 3 turns out as a good starting point. Went out to the garage, turned each screw one more revolution and lit a fire in the old girl.

Revs up to redline easily now, wouldn't do it before and all the popping has virtually disappeared.

Trying not to interject a premature whoo-hoo, which I usually do when dealing with things of this sort, but it seems significantly better. One little pop on a quick chop of the throttle from the redline.

Going for a short ride to see if it has smoothed out under way.

[oldrookie]

Way better on the road, but not quite fettled just yet. Slight surging at steady throttle and it isn't entirely happy pulling beyond about 4k rpm. It'll do it, but it is slightly uneasy about it. May try half a turn more to see if a bit more flow will help it when under hard throttle. Suspect that'll be more than enough to see if the remaining issue is related to that setting.

[pete]

Mate you're making excellent progress

[oldrookie]

Sure feels like it! Now I've got to drop the project for a while to deal with some other things.

[pete]

Awww man! Just when you were getting so close! I'd knock those valve adjustments off real soon if you can spare the time, from what I understand it may just well be the icing on your tuning cake...

Unfortunately I never knew about valve adjustments when I was actually riding my 450, and going by how hard it was to start at times I reckon it would've run a decent amount better if I had've read up as much as I have now and adjusted the valves...

[oldrookie]

I know...but family first

I'll definitely check the valves, but this starts almost at the touch of the starter, so if they are out they are probably loose if anything.

[pete]

Yes very true!

With the valves though, the wear is generally to the seat, meaning the valves move up towards the camshafts, so wearing can only make the gaps smaller...

But yes, do what ya gotta do, I ain't gonna bust your balls over it, that's your significant other's job

[oldrookie]

Quick update: Spent last week with my feet in the Gulf of Mexico enjoying the cool breeze while my fellow Hoosiers sweltered, so not a thing got done on the bike.

Have been riding it a bit around the neighborhood (haven't left the subdivision yet) and getting used to how it handles and rides. I think I'm going to like it.

I've been pricing out the materials and parts needed to get the bike ready for the real roads. Thinking the following, brakes (Griffin checked out the fronts--down to metal), tires and valve cover gasket. Mechanically, I think the valve adjustment process needs attention and then a carb sync. I have to go pick up the new intake boots (ordered before vacation) and I'll install those this week too.

I will say, the carb cleaning that Griffin helped with seems to have done the trick. Starts almost instantly and runs very well. Pulls hard, but gets pretty "vibey" between 4k and 5k rpm. Not sure whether its the valves or the carb sync.

[pete]

Mate that sounds great! Holiday and a running GR

If you've been running with metal on the pads, I'd suggest a close look at the front disc as well in case it's gotten too scored or anything.

As to the vibe, yeah I'd be getting the valves done and carbs sync'd and you'll probably find it purrs all the way til it screams at redline

[oldrookie]

Here's hoping so, Pete! Very pleased to this point.

[pete]

Glad to hear it

I'm hanging so bad to hear mine running... less than 3 weeks...