1980 GS 550 hard start

[dfinnegan71]

Every time, every time I go to ride the ol girl it takes a lot of cranking over so much so I worry about draining the battery. After many many hits of the start button and fiddling with the choke, she fires up.
Starts right up after I've been running it for a while. Clogged pilot jets? valve adjustment? what do you guys think?

[JTGS850GL]

When was the last time you did a valve adjustment? If you don't know then it's probably way past time for that.

When was the last time the carbs were cleaned? Don't know, then same as above.

Basic list for hard starting would be: Check for good spark, clean carbs, adjust valves, check/replace plugs and clean/replace air filter. Make sure that everything on the intake side back is sealed up tight.

[spyug]

Sorry, you haven't given us much to go on. The common issues for hard starting are a) valves out of adjustment b) dirty carbs c) weak electricals ( lack of voltage to the coils). When were valves last adjusted? How about cleaning of carbs with fresh O-rings? Have electrical contacts and grounds been cleaned ?

Generally, situations like this are not as a result of one thing but combinations. Weak spark and tight valves often are at fault and I'd start by looking at these. Carbs too can be an issue but usually other symptoms occur like problems with idle and flat spots on throttle up etc.

Tell us more and we'll try to narrow it down a bit.

cheers,
A.

[dfinnegan71]

thanks for your reply's. I brought this bike back from the dead about this time last year. I got it for $150 bucks and the guy who had knew nothing about it. I dip the carbs (each one disassemble and sat in the dip overnight) I de-rusted the tank and lined it. I have a feelling my intake boots are'nt 100% installed on there right. that was a P.I.T.A. getting those back on! Anyway, Put it all back together and it fired up. I've been riding it all season this year in said condition. No one knows when the valves where checked last. I don't even know how to adjust them....I let it sit last winter with gas in it but did add Sta-Bil. is there a tutorial on adjusting these valves somewhere?

[tkent02]

No one knows when the valves where checked last. I don't even know how to adjust them....

It's easy, just wait until the valves burn and replace the head.

[dfinnegan71]

It's easy, just wait until the valves burn and replace the head.

LOL!

[Steve]

is there a tutorial on adjusting these valves somewhere?

Uhh, ... yeah.

Have you looked in the library, otherwise known as BassCliff's website?

Scroll down the left column, you will see an article called Valve Adjustment (8 Valve).
Right below that is another article called Zip Tie Supplement. Many of us use that, too.

Of course, these are in addition to, not instead of, a service manual for your bike.

Click on the links above, then have some fun reading and wrenching.

You may also feel free to accept the invitation in my sig for another 'tool'.

.

[dfinnegan71]

Thanks Steve!! Basscliff's site is on my homepage forever as of right now!! Thanks agian and thank you BASSCLIFF!!

[Nessism]

Sell the bike and buy a Toyota.

[JTGS850GL]

Anything you do to get the bike running right MUST include checking and adjusting the valves if out of spec. A bad valve adjustment will show up as a number of drivability issues. As stated earlier, tight valves can lead to burnt valves and require extensive repair.

Just dipping the carbs is not enough. Did you verify that all the passages where clean? There are a number of small passages that simply dipping will not remove the blockages. The choke and pilot circuits are very prone to blockage and need to be mechanically cleaned out.

[Steve]

Thanks Steve!! Basscliff's site is on my homepage forever as of right now!! Thanks agian and thank you BASSCLIFF!!

Did you not receive his MegaWelcome?

If you had introduced yourself in the GS Owners forum not long after joining, you probably got one.

Not sure how you could have possibly not remembered it.

.

[dfinnegan71]

Did you not receive his MegaWelcome?

If you had introduced yourself in the GS Owners forum not long after joining, you probably got one.

Not sure how you could have possibly not remembered it.

.

I might have but I have a serious case of CRS brought on by years of not remembering ****. But I forgot how that happened!