1981 GS650G Starting Issues

[Guest]

Hi guys,

This is the first time I've ever run into this issue.

I've rebuilt carbs because the cylinders weren't getting fuel. Now we're getting fuel. While I hold the starter button down the bike stutters like it wants to start, but won't. On one occasion it had and ran well but definitely doesn't like to start cold.

Is there a method to check ignition coils and regulator/rectifier? Anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks,
Tony

[tom203]

Is this a new-to-you bike, or an old friend that you rebuilt carbs for?
Proper carb cleaning is an art on these CV carbs- how exactly did you do it?

It's easy to check ignition system, try this link

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/storagecliff/images/electrical_odd-n-ends.html#A17

The R/R -good or bad- won't interfere with starting. But you do need a decent battery.

Oh yeah, welcome- there sure are lots of 650's still around!

[Steve]

When is the last time the valves were adjusted?

If you don't know or simply can't remember, it's time.

.

[awilchiwsky]

It's a new to me bike. Had been sitting for years. All plugs have spark and all cylinders have fuel. Just doesn't look like a strong spark. Coils were getting about 2 volts less than what the battery produces.

[awilchiwsky]

When I did my resistance test across the coils I was getting values of only 5ohms. This seems very low compared to the help link provided. Thanks for the link by the way. I'll have to go through each item one by one I guess until the issue is resolved. Fortunately I have a 3 week old son that takes up a lot of my time now. I was hoping someone had the same issue and could point me in one direction. But from my investigation there are many cases of hard cold starting all of which have many variables.

[tkent02]

If it's a visible spark its good enough to run. I have seen some bikes with almost invisible sparks run just fine. I'd make sure the valve clearances are correct first, as that's the one that will do expensive damage if it's not right, as well as make it impossible to start. Then go step by step through the whole thing until the entire motorcycle is operating perfectly.

[purplemotoman]

My 79 GS850 has always hated cold starting right from the day I bought it in 1989. Suzuki said this was a common thing.

[tkent02]

It's not. You Suzuki shop didn't know what they were doing, you have been riding a bike with a starting problem ever since. Set up correctly they start with a momentary flick of the button every time, in any temperature down to the sub zero.

[Big T]

When I did my resistance test across the coils I was getting values of only 5ohms. This seems very low compared to the help link provided. Thanks for the link by the way. I'll have to go through each item one by one I guess until the issue is resolved. Fortunately I have a 3 week old son that takes up a lot of my time now. I was hoping someone had the same issue and could point me in one direction. But from my investigation there are many cases of hard cold starting all of which have many variables.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196338

Everyone here has had such problems

That's why someone put it all on one place

Pay close attention to the Top 10 Newbie mistakes, once you've eliminated all of those, you can zero in on any remaining problem

Happy reading!

[tom203]

"...Coils were getting about 2 volts less than what the battery produces. "

This is normal with 30 yearold dirty connections- and 5 ohms primary coil resistance is OK, most of ones that I checked were 4 ohms.