previous owner blues

[gk45011]

I removed and inspected the intake boots. replaced theo ring daskets and reinstalled them. I was going to install pods so I removed the float bowls and purchased 122.5 mains (as good of a starting point as any and i wanted to make sure I didn't end up starting to lean.

Now heres the interesting part. The mains I removed "seem" to be bigger than the mans I am switching to. The size is unreadable. It had what was left of the origional airbox (it was in poor shape), and retains the origional header muffler setup. I can't imagine a reason why the PO would have made any changes, but I have never seen mains with no size stamp. Anyone have any ideas?

Gary

[Confused]

jet kit possibly? Again, not sure why with a stock setup?

[gk45011]

??

jet kit possibly? Again, not sure why with a stock setup?

But why would the PO have jetted up with no changes to the setup?

I'm confused too..LOL

Gary

[Steve]

But why would the PO have jetted up with no changes to the setup?

Probably for the same reason that people post here without mentioning the bike they are working on.


Because of that, we have no way to guess whether your 122.5 jets are a good choice.

If your current jets look bigger, it's possible that your lovely "previous owner" drilled them out, then, because he had a conscience, filed off the size numbers, knowing that they were wrong.

And, are you SURE there were no changes? maybe he did make some changes, but kept the original parts and put them back on when he sold the parts.

.

[gk45011]

83 gs450LD

[QUOTE=Steve;1706202]Probably for the same reason that people post here without mentioning the bike they are working on.

LOL I guess I deserved that. I would have swore the 83 GS450 L was my first sentence. I obviously was talking to myself in my head.

I never considered the fact the the PO may have had changes before and through things back on before selling. Him drilling out the previous jets would explain. Then again maybe it is in illusion and I am truely loosing my mind. Would the 122,5 be a decent start point for this bike?


Gary

[cowboyup3371]

Probably for the same reason that people post here without mentioning the bike they are working on.

LOL I guess I deserved that. I would have swore the 83 GS450 L was my first sentence. I obviously was talking to myself in my head.

I never considered the fact the the PO may have had changes before and through things back on before selling. Him drilling out the previous jets would explain. Then again maybe it is in illusion and I am truely loosing my mind. Would the 122,5 be a decent start point for this bike?


Gary

Course if you throw your bike info in your signature you'll never have to remember to listen to those voices.

[Steve]

Would the 122,5 be a decent start point for this bike?

That would be three sizes up from stock. Pods usually require about 3-5 sizes up, so yeah, that's a starting point, but be prepared to change, if necessary.

If you would put your bike in your signature, you would not have to remember to mention it every time.

.

[gk45011]

Thanks guys. I ended up with my bike info under location and not as a sig. I think I have it fixed. I can always jet up as i go. How do I tell if I am rich or lean? Do I just have to do plug chops, or can I tell by hanging idle or other tells?

Where would the adjustment screws be on the bs34? The setup with the enrichers is much different than what I had on my xs11.

[Steve]

Thanks guys. I ended up with my bike info under location and not as a sig. I think I have it fixed.

OK, you made it half way. The sig is good, so now you can remove the bike info from your location.

I must say, though, that this forum has almost 5,000 members, just over 1900 of them are labeled "active", and yours is the only one where I have seen the bike info in the location.

I can always jet up as i go.

True, if the bike survives. Running lean means running HOT. If you run too lean for too long, you can melt pistons.

How do I tell if I am rich or lean? Do I just have to do plug chops, or can I tell by hanging idle or other tells?

Plug chops are the quickest and easiest. A hanging idle is only an indication that the pilot circuit is too lean. Depending on why it's too lean, it might not affect the other circuits, but it also might. For example: if your mixture adjustment is off, it will only affect the pilot circuit. However, if you have leakes in the intake boots, it will affect ALL the circuits, because the leaks are there to lean out the mixture ALL the time.

The procedure for doing plug chops is well-documented, and is available on BassCliff's site. If you don't have that site bookmarked, you should. You will need to do three runs to check the pilot circuit (idle and low-speed), the needle circuit (mid-range) and the mains (full throttle).

Where would the adjustment screws be on the bs34?

The "idle mixture adjustment screws" are just that: IDLE MIXTURE adjustment screws, and they are on the top of the carb outlet. You already know how to change the mains. To adjust the needles, you will need to remove the diaphragm/slide assembly, take it apart, change the thickness of the spacer on top of the clip at the top of the needle. Again, that is well-documented on BassCliff's site.

This picture is on an 850, but the screw location is the same on your bike.

The setup with the enrichers is much different than what I had on my xs11.

Do you mean the activation method or how it works?

Activation method varies, even among different GS models and years, so that's no biggie. How it works is pretty universal, though. Apply some enrichment ("choke"), do NOT touch the throttle, pull the clutch, press the starter button. Adjust cold idle speed with the enrichment mechanism.

.

[gk45011]

The pic was a big help Steve. AS I remove and clean parts the easier it is getting to find the pieces that I am looking for.

What part of SW Ohio are you in occasionally?

[Steve]

Just up the road from you, southern suburbs of Dayton.

I'll be there mid-September.

I am going to be in your neck of the woods picking up some bike parts when I get back. Need some help or pointers?

.

[gk45011]

If I haven't pulled my hair out by then i may be up to the final carb synch tutorial stage. I have never done it on my own. Hoping to find someone in the area who can walk me through it on person so I don't have to bug, trailer, pay every time I make a change.

Seems as though everytime I think i am fixing one problem I am coming across two others that need attention. I got the bike running (barely). SO many issues that need addressed one by one. I just keep marking down a priority list as i go. I am far from the motercycle mechanc so some of the advise, diagrams etc, I get. Other times I am left scratching my head.

Only way to learn is to read a ton before acting, and then getting my hands dirty and figuring it out. Some things are just much easier than others.

What electrical parts are in the stock headlight bucket? I know I should probably switch forum areas, so if i get no answer I'll shuffle it over. I heard someone say to clean up the headlight mess and they weren't specific on what or how. I can't find anything under headlight, headlight mod etc that fits the cleanup.


I injoy the work and have seen so may of these vintage bikes become beautiful. I am determined to learn the GS now and see what I can accomplish.

[Steve]

Inside the headlight bucket you will find the headlight (duh) and a LOT of electrical connections. Virtually all of the wires that go to the switch housings on the handlebars come to the headlight housing to plug in to the main harness. It is generally considered a 'protected' area, but far from waterproof, so it is suggested that you open it up, remove each connection (one at a time), clean it out (there are threads on how to do that), add a dab of dielectric grease, put it back together, move to the next connector.

You may find a few more connectors under the tank and a few more under the seat. They should all get the "clean and grease" treatment. Your bike will thank you for that, which will, in turn, make you a happy rider.

.