RE: 1980 GS 1100 16 vakve Carbs Leaking out vent tubes

[chewbacca5000]

I have a GS1100 that against all odds have brought back from the dead. It had mud and crap all over it when I got it and the PO filled the cylinders with ATF which shot everywhere after pulling the plugs. #3 Exhaust had broken exhaust bolt that I re-tapped and still needs a heli coil or weld/ retap in other hole. New exhaust gaskets and hardware.

Got all the sludge out of the crankcase, new oil pan gasket along with new generator gasket. Had to replace starter as water got in there.

New petcock and found out I have pin hole in tank. Prime position does not pour gas out like I think it should? This bike is really fighting me! New oil, new filter.

Now carbs are back together adjusted floats to 22.4 as I read here. 2 1/2 turns on air / mix screws. O-rings on needle valve are sketchy at best on all 4 carbs. Needles and seat are in fair condition, but they leak out the vent tubes! Also looks like they are leaking out of some jets on the air box side? Never seen this one before.

Any help to get this thing to stop leaking would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.


Edit: Solved. The problem was that I accidentally bent the jet retainer clip and the floats were hanging up. Bending it back solved the problem.

[rwnielsen]

"needles and seats are in fair condition"
Those need to seal, completely, or you'll have overflow and leakage

[chewbacca5000]

Much Thanks! Can you recommend a good source for these? I will put in my order now. Was considering partsnmore.com

Also, where do I take the float height measure measurement from?

Found a great carb rebuild guild for BS32, BS34, and BS36 carbs if anyone needs it.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/Mikuni_BS-CV_Carburetor_Rebuild_Tutorial.pdf

[JayWB]

1980 GS550 petcocks are pretty strange, and I think the same strangeness applies to all other models that year as well.

Even in "Prime" you have to apply vacuum to the vacuum line before any fuel will flow. The difference is that in "Prime" even after the vacuum goes away the fuel will continue indefinitely until moved off "Prime" or until the tank is empty.

[chewbacca5000]

1980 GS550 petcocks are pretty strange, and I think the same strangeness applies to all other models that year as well.

Even in "Prime" you have to apply vacuum to the vacuum line before any fuel will flow. The difference is that in "Prime" even after the vacuum goes away the fuel will continue indefinitely until moved off "Prime" or until the tank is empty.

Thanks for the great info. Good to know. Can these bikes be converted to a normal On / Off petcock using the BS34 carbs?

[chewbacca5000]

Much Thanks! Can you recommend a good source for these? I will put in my order now. Was considering partsnmore.com

Also, where do I take the float height measure measurement from?

Found a great carb rebuild guild for BS32, BS34, and BS36 carbs if anyone needs it.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/...d_Tutorial.pdf

Other than having good needles & seats with proper float height is there anything else in the BS34 carbs that can cause an overflow situation? Thanks!

[Spyderman]

the tutorial that you posted is from Basscliff's website he is a well known GSer and take a look at his site it has everything you need for just about any repair you could want to do to your GS

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

[chewbacca5000]

the tutorial that you posted is from Basscliff's website he is a well known GSer and take a look at his site it has everything you need for just about any repair you could want to do to your GS
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Thank You this is most helpful

[chewbacca5000]

Solved! I must of accidentally bent the jet retainer clip / spring when taking the seat out to clean it. The float was getting hung up on the jet reatiner clip / spring so the fuel just kept flowing. Thanks for all the help. Hope this helps someone else.

All four carbs were dumping fuel and this was the cause not the needles.

[Spyderman]

ok so you had all 4 carbs dumping fuel you need to change your oil because it has been contaminated with gas which has thinned it out

[chewbacca5000]

No smell of gas in oil, and it is not all thinned out and watery the way oil gets when it is contaminated. Thanks looking out for me much appreciated.

[Guest]

Jet retainer clip? You talking about the main jet in the middle? The only retainer inside the carb is for the needle and seat portion. You going to need a o-ring kit from Robert Barr cycleorings.com gotta have these if you are going to clean the carbs RIGHT. Probably need to new rubber carb boots front and rear. Fair condition for the needle and seat isn't something I would trust, they need to be in excellent condition. If you had any gas reach the carb throats and trickle into any one of the cylinders and sat for a bit, you can count on gas in the oil. As for a replacement for the "dreaded 80 vacuum petcock" kind of iffy, Pingale may have something though pricey. Most of us just buy a new OEM petcock. As you can see, there is very little extra room between the bottom of the petcock and the chrome piece on top of the air box and the mounting on the tank is an odd size to other GSes it is a 52 mm where the others are 42 or so.

[chewbacca5000]

Jet retainer clip? You talking about the main jet in the middle? The only retainer inside the carb is for the needle and seat portion. You going to need a o-ring kit from Robert Barr cycleorings.com gotta have these if you are going to clean the carbs RIGHT. Probably need to new rubber carb boots front and rear. Fair condition for the needle and seat isn't something I would trust, they need to be in excellent condition. If you had any gas reach the carb throats and trickle into any one of the cylinders and sat for a bit, you can count on gas in the oil. As for a replacement for the "dreaded 80 vacuum petcock" kind of iffy, Pingale may have something though pricey. Most of us just buy a new OEM petcock. As you can see, there is very little extra room between the bottom of the petcock and the chrome piece on top of the air box and the mounting on the tank is an odd size to other GSes it is a 52 mm where the others are 42 or so.

Thanks Mr Bill,

Think I am going to put this project on hold for a few days until new needles arrive, and yes was talking about the needle seat clip. It got bent and the float would not close. Don't think I am going to get anywhere without those needles. Springs in needles are a bit weak as the float tang depresses the spring.

I was able to get it adjusted so it fires on all 4 at idle with even heat across all 4 pipes, but stalls out when you give it throttle. I will pick this up when I get the needles. Can't go any further without them.

[Katarat]

I have a Pingel on mine, you just need the adaptor plate for it

[Guest]

Thanks Mr Bill,

Think I am going to put this project on hold for a few days until new needles arrive, and yes was talking about the needle seat clip. It got bent and the float would not close. Don't think I am going to get anywhere without those needles. Springs in needles are a bit weak as the float tang depresses the spring.

I was able to get it adjusted so it fires on all 4 at idle with even heat across all 4 pipes, but stalls out when you give it throttle. I will pick this up when I get the needles. Can't go any further without them.

Okay got'cha on the retainer. Aren't you replacing the seats as well? "stalls out when you give it throttle" do you have the air box and air cleaner installed? If not, there is no way you're going to get it to throttle up. You might get 2,500 rpm out of it. It's gotta have that air restriction.