i cleaned my carbs without disassembly

[Steve]

i think it was equally hard to put them back on as it was taking them off if remember.

You should be thankful you have an 1100G, then. The 1000G is about the same, only the 850G is easier. About the worst is the 550 ('82 and earlier).

By the way, if it takes you more than 5 minutes to remove the carbs, you must have lost the tools necessary to remove the tank. If the tools are handily near the bike, it should not take any more than 5 minutes to put the bike on the centerstand, remove the seat and tank, then pull the carbs and have them on the bench.

.

[sedelen]

You should be thankful you have an 1100G, then. The 1000G is about the same, only the 850G is easier. About the worst is the 550 ('82 and earlier).

By the way, if it takes you more than 5 minutes to remove the carbs, you must have lost the tools necessary to remove the tank. If the tools are handily near the bike, it should not take any more than 5 minutes to put the bike on the centerstand, remove the seat and tank, then pull the carbs and have them on the bench.

.

I do believe he has an '82 GS1100EZ, a whole different animal. Couldn't find where he said he had a G.

[sedelen]

Clutch rattles are a common problem. You've been told about the nut that comes loose, but there's also some springs that hold on the backing plate that compress and cause a rattle. Sometimes those are "shimmed" with extra washers so there isn't any slop. But you won't know what you got until you get in there.
If your oil level is in the normal range, you can just put the bike on the sidestand and remove the cover without having to drain the oil.
Check out this link.

http://www.theflyingbanana.com/clutchhub.htm

[themess]

Mark 's GS is running and he's happy with it. Even if it isn't perfect, he's happy. Most people don't enjoy taking things apart and learning how to maintain carburetors. Knowing that the bike can run acceptably can be he incentive needed to upgrade performance by a thorough carb job when and if it is needed.

...
1) Those carbs or any carbs that sit for more than a year will need a break down and clean.

2)The ethanol effect eats rubber like nothing else.

3) All that has to happen to leave you stranded is a small chunk of varnish from 10 years ago to make it's way through the carbs and get clogged. ....

1) & 3) I stored a GS650G for three years when I lived in Mexico. A Suzuki dealer prepped the bike. Too much oil clogged the engine, and probably downed the plugs. But, with fresh gas, the bike ran very well, without touching the carbs.

2) Ethanol has essentially no effect on the fuel system component of any motor vehicle sold in the US after the late 1970s. "Gasohol" was being sold in several states by the late 70s. Fuel chemists, manufacturers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and small engines all designed ethanol compatibility in their products by then. Rubber compounds were tested and reformulated to insure ethanol compatibility. I know this because I worked in the rubber industry. I attended technical meetings where the data was presented. I, and many other forum members have used gasohol for decades without problems.

Methanol is a completley different beast. 10% methanol (wood alcohol) is highly corrosive to most rubber compounds. 1% methanol isn't very bad, nor is 100% methanol, but 10% is very bad.

[sedelen]

2) Ethanol has essentially no effect on the fuel system component of any motor vehicle sold in the US after the late 1970s. "Gasohol" was being sold in several states by the late 70s. Fuel chemists, manufacturers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and small engines all designed ethanol compatibility in their products by then. Rubber compounds were tested and reformulated to insure ethanol compatibility. I know this because I worked in the rubber industry. I attended technical meetings where the data was presented. I, and many other forum members have used gasohol for decades without problems.

Methanol is a completley different beast. 10% methanol (wood alcohol) is highly corrosive to most rubber compounds. 1% methanol isn't very bad, nor is 100% methanol, but 10% is very bad.

There's lots of folks out there that would beg to differ with you on the "negative" effects of ethanol.

http://www.motorcycle-accessories-wiseguy.com/ethanol-motorcycle.html

[Steve]

I do believe he has an '82 GS1100EZ, a whole different animal. Couldn't find where he said he had a G.

You are quite right.

Don't know where I got the "G", but his signature clearly says "1982 GS1100EZ".

Hey, Mark, ... about that '5-minute carb removal'. ... Never mind.

.

[exdirtbiker]

If your motor sounds like a bunch of bearing fell apart while you blip the throttle in neutral, I'ld say the springs in the basket are shot. Sounds like this: ( click on the pictures )


and this:

[1_v8_merc]

1.) Sure you can "spray" the carbs, but it's a 50/50 chance. How long did the bike sit? Were the carbs left with gunky gas in them? I've had bikes like this and you MUST dip them. But on the other hand, I've had bikes that were drained of gas prior to storage, or the bike only sat for 1 or 2 years...and I'll just spray the carbs very well, then blow compressed air.
(i have a 78 750 GS, sat for 5 years. The carbs were drained prior, so I sprayed them out, and I'm still riding it 2 years later, lol. I just came back from a 6 hour ride last weekend, ran absolutely flawless.)

2.) Most people who "shortcut" on the dipping are really just scared to rip everything apart and don't wanna be bothered with sync'ing the carbs and resetting the mixture screws, etc.
Trust me....we were ALL new to riding at some point, and you just want to ****ing RIDE, and you take shortcuts...i get it.
Take it from me....they get you nowhere fast! It will come back to bite you in the ass.

[themess]

There's lots of folks out there that would beg to differ with you on the "negative" effects of ethanol.
http://www.motorcycle-accessories-wi...otorcycle.html

Note the differences between E10 and E85.

The only problem with E10 for GSes is that, if enough moisture is absorbed, the water-ethanol mixture can settle out. A lot of water would need to be absorbed to for that to happen. Normal use prevents it. Draining the system, or the addition of a small amount of methanol (Heet) can fix it.

The advice on storage is good. I stored my GS for about ten winters with E10 in the tank, with no problems.

As far as gaskets and O-rings go, the person who wrote the web page just doesn't know what he is talking about, at least when using E10. The rubber compounds were reformulated over 30 years ago, when necessary.

...2.) Most people who "shortcut" on the dipping are really just scared to rip everything apart and don't wanna be bothered with sync'ing the carbs and resetting the mixture screws, etc.
Trust me....we were ALL new to riding at some point, and you just want to ****ing RIDE, and you take shortcuts...i get it.
Take it from me....they get you nowhere fast! It will come back to bite you in the ass.

Makes perfect sense for a neophyte to just ride for now. he can learn to take care of carburetors after the riding season ends.

[sedelen]

Note the differences between E10 and E85.

The only problem with E10 for GSes is that, if enough moisture is absorbed, the water-ethanol mixture can settle out. A lot of water would need to be absorbed to for that to happen. Normal use prevents it. Draining the system, or the addition of a small amount of methanol (Heet) can fix it.

The advice on storage is good. I stored my GS for about ten winters with E10 in the tank, with no problems.

As far as gaskets and O-rings go, the person who wrote the web page just doesn't know what he is talking about, at least when using E10. The rubber compounds were reformulated over 30 years ago, when necessary.



Makes perfect sense for a neophyte to just ride for now. he can learn to take care of carburetors after the riding season ends.

All I know is from what I've read about ethanol, supposedly phase separation starts after two weeks. The water building up and collecting on the bottom of my tank bothers me, rust! of course that goes through the carbs into the mufflers. Also, green stuff will start growing in that water eventually. I personally would prefer real gasoline.
At the bikes shops I visited there seems to be a post about ethanol and what you can do to counter those negative effects. Surely all those people can't be wrong. I think my world was better without it. My opinion though, just saying.
I guess I can stop buying seafoam, startron, and stabil, Not!

[Mad Mark]

you guys got me all paranoid and gave me motorcycle nightmares last night!

and i put stabil in with every tank of gas.

[sedelen]

you guys got me all paranoid and gave me motorcycle nightmares last night!

and i put stabil in with every tank of gas.

I have Marine Stabil which I have not used yet until I run out of this stuff.

[mrbill5491]

You have E10 and E15 which are blended with gas at a percentage. As for E85 it is straight use or can be used with what gas you may have in the tank, I don't know for sure, guess I need to read up on my manual on my work truck.

[themess]

You have E10 and E15 which are blended with gas at a percentage. As for E85 it is straight use or can be used with what gas you may have in the tank, I don't know for sure, guess I need to read up on my manual on my work truck.

E85 is not approved by the manufacturers for use in most vehicles. It is only OK in "Flex Fuel" vehicles. Changes are not only made to the parts in fuel systems that can be degraded by ethanol. Optimizing performance for high ethanol content is done differently than for low or no ethanol in the fuel.

Anything higher than E10 is not recommended for GSes.

[mrbill5491]

E85 is not approved by the manufacturers for use in most vehicles. It is only OK in "Flex Fuel" vehicles. Changes are not only made to the parts in fuel systems that can be degraded by ethanol. Optimizing performance for high ethanol content is done differently than for low or no ethanol in the fuel.

Anything higher than E10 is not recommended for GSes.

Yes I knew that, our work trucks are flex fuel. Though we have never used the E85 as of yet. Only a few stations carry it here and none of those are on our buy list. Though we do have some stations now that carry ethanol free gas or so they say. I would say 90% of the pumps here have a sticker on them saying at least 10% ethanol blend.