GS650 Removing Carbs

[Octain]

I don't distinctively remember how I removed the carbs from the 650 that I owned for a brief time. BUt I do distinctively remember how difficult they were to remove and install.(had to do it twice) So much that I turned down a purchase of another 650 a while back. I didn't wanna contend with the carbs.

Have fun!

[Seaking]

I hear ya! I only want to do these ONCE and do them up properly so they will not require removal anytime soon! These carbs are enough to make a grown man weep.. Really makes ya consider a twin cylinder engine for the next time.. unfortunately I already have my eyes on an 85 GL1200 in a couple of years.. But gotta get this one done first.

[Wingsconsin]

I hear ya! I only want to do these ONCE and do them up properly so they will not require removal anytime soon! These carbs are enough to make a grown man weep.. Really makes ya consider a twin cylinder engine for the next time.. unfortunately I already have my eyes on an 85 GL1200 in a couple of years.. But gotta get this one done first.

That GL1200 has 4 carbs too....
And tough to get out too...(been there done that)
The easiest carbs I have done are the CX500 twins ...

[Seaking]

GL1200 = 4 carbs.. hence the 'unfortunately' that I have my eye on one lol

My 2nd Gen Venture is 4 carbs but it's a breeze to pop off.. once you get everything and the kitchen sink removed first.. carbs will be coming off for a cleaning next year when the valves get adjusted.

My 05 customized VStar is the only bike I've not taken the carbs off of..

Cheers

[Steve]

My 2nd Gen Venture is 4 carbs but it's a breeze to pop off.. once you get everything and the kitchen sink removed first.. carbs will be coming off for a cleaning next year when the valves get adjusted.

I guess your definition of "breeze" and mine are considerably DIFFERENT.

I pulled the carbs on my son's bike to rebuild them and adjust the valves. I really hope everything went back together right.
If it didn't, I have told him that we are selling the bike. I do NOT want to go through that again.

Any tips on removing the starter?

.

[Seaking]

I guess your definition of "breeze" and mine are considerably DIFFERENT. I pulled the carbs on my son's bike to rebuild them and adjust the valves. I really hope everything went back together right.
If it didn't, I have told him that we are selling the bike. I do NOT want to go through that again.

Any tips on removing the starter?
.

Starter on a 2nd Gen Venture? Never had to do that one yet.. Just about everything else..

[1_v8_merc]

If you think 4 is bad, try doing it on a Honda inline-6.

But yes, the 650's are probably the hardest GS to remove carbs from.(they are absolutely the most complained about bike, in that category)
I've removed them over a dozen times, and it's easy...you just get used to doing it so many times, it becomes second nature and you kinda get in the zone to hurry and get it done, lol.

[SVSooke]

If you think 4 is bad, try doing it on a Honda inline-6.

But yes, the 650's are probably the hardest GS to remove carbs from.(they are absolutely the most complained about bike, in that category)
I've removed them over a dozen times, and it's easy...you just get used to doing it so many times, it becomes second nature and you kinda get in the zone to hurry and get it done, lol.

Bahh ....you guys haven't lived till you've tried to get the carbs off a 83-6 GS700/750.Took me 2 days to get them back on my 85 750 the first time.You can't get the airbox back either.

[Seaking]

If you think 4 is bad, try doing it on a Honda inline-6. But yes, the 650's are probably the hardest GS to remove carbs from.(they are absolutely the most complained about bike, in that category)
I've removed them over a dozen times, and it's easy...you just get used to doing it so many times, it becomes second nature and you kinda get in the zone to hurry and get it done, lol.

I think the issue I was having is how much man-force I had to use to wrench the beggars off. I was a little too worried about ripping boots and stuff that I was being a tad too gentle with it..

Well, now sitting waiting for parts, shims and such.. cold fog rolling in today so meh no ride.. time to polish up some side covers.. yeah, I'm that bored waiting

[Wingsconsin]

Mine was worse ....

Well...if we are making this into a complaint threaad about carbs...
we did my sons friends honda magna v4 this summer ....
NEVER AGAIN ! ?..

[Steve]

I am getting ready to head out to the garage, might have to pull the carbs off the 650L to check the cam chain tensioner.

Will verify what steps are necessary and the time involved.

.

[Seaking]

I am getting ready to head out to the garage, might have to pull the carbs off the 650L to check the cam chain tensioner.
Will verify what steps are necessary and the time involved..

in YOUR case, few steps and 30 seconds.. ?

Cam chain tensioner, that's a new one on me.. I'll have to look it up.. (still have the carbs and valve cover off...)

[qisteve]

I have found that warming up both the intake boots and air box boots with a heat gun or hair dryer makes this job a little easier. When re-installing the carbs, spray all the rubber pieces with a dry silicone lubricant and pre-heat again. Carbs will usually just "pop" back in. This works great on my ZN1100b, another notorious biotch.

[Steve]

in YOUR case, few steps and 30 seconds.. ?

On my son's bike, yeah, it would only take about 30 seconds or so to pull the carbs, due to having pods installed.

However, this is on someone else's 650L, and it's all stock.

Took about 10 minutes to remove the rear master cylinder from its bracket, remove three mounting bolts for the air filter box and slide it to the rear (into space recently occupied by the master cylinder), loosen the clamps on both sides of the carbs and slide them out enough to remove the cables.

Not real quick, but not too bad, overall.

Installation, though, ...

Took about 5 minutes or so to slide the carbs in (after attaching the throttle cable), then another 10-15 minutes just to get them into the airbox boots. After they were in the airbox boots, it only took a couple more minutes to get them into the intake boots and get all the clamps cinched up and the air filter re-attached to the manifold and the master cylinder re-attached.

Not sure how 'new' these boots are, but they are reasonably supple and pliable, so they are not a problem.

The more I work on other bikes, the more I appreciate my larger shafties.

.

[Seaking]

Gees, and I was trying to pull mine from a partially stripped bike..

After doing these, I'll complain at how hard the carbs are to pull on my RSV either..! piece of cake in comparison!

And it's a great incentive to make sure to do a 100% proper job on the carb cleaning and such before putting them back on.. ONCE is enough, thank you very kindly! =)

cheers