new to me GS1000G will only fire with starting fluid.

[Guest]

I just bought my bike from my future father in law, he said it ran last summer, but only started it once in a while to take it down the road and back and park it. The choke cable is stuck, so you have to choke it by hand on the side of the engine. I drained the gas, put in 93 octane, and added the recommended amount of seafoam, and it started for a few minutes, but died, and never started again without the help of starting fluid. Checked the air filter, its clean. do these things have a fuel filter that might be gummed up, or should I suspect the carbs are the problem?

[JTGS850GL]

Standard procedure... Rebuild the carbs (without using carb kits) and adjust the valves. These are a MUST for a new purchase that wont run.

Go here for the procedures on how to do both and a lot more:

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

Here is the carb rebuild tutorial:

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

and here is the valve adjustment:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/gs850valve_adjust.pdf

Here is the factory service manual for your bike:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/gs850valve_adjust.pdf

Good luck and have fun with your new ride.

[Steve]

And get rid of the 93 octane.

You only need 87 for it to work properly.

.

[shameless]

ok, allow me some slack here as I show my ignorance...I know barely anything about fuel delivery systems once you start unbolting things. I fully understand the need for the carb rebuild, but why the valves? What do they do that would need adjusting?

[JTGS850GL]

The valves on an 8 valve GS tend to tighten as you use them. Once they get past spec they cause start ability issues and potential damage to the valves. Without proper maintenance they can cause permanent damage. It's one of the primary reasons that GS bikes are scrapped.

[shameless]

Wow, I really hope that's not the case here, it's in too good of shape to have to get rid of it.

[spyug]

Well if the bike ran a little while ago it is highly unlikely you have a serious problem. More like gummy carbs. Follow GTGS's advice and direction and you will be able to get her going again.

Carbs and electrical issues sideline more bikes than anything else so address these first. Carb rebuilding seems overwhelming, I grant you, but it really is not if you are organized and thorough.

Give it a go.

Good luck with it and let us know how you make out.

[Nessism]

Check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature. Lots going on here. Too many assumptions.

[tom203]

If you find the carb rebuild stuff intimidating, consider using a forum member to do it. You remove carbs, send them out and voila , they come back ready to reinstall. Yes, it costs money . Meanwhile you get to play catch up on other maintenance issues.

[Steve]

If you find the carb rebuild stuff intimidating, consider using a forum member to do it. You remove carbs, send them out and voila , they come back ready to reinstall. Yes, it costs money . Meanwhile you get to play catch up on other maintenance issues.

Chef1366 and I probably do most of the carb work here, but there are a few others. I am just on the other side of the state from you, so am reasonably close.

Here is my "ad" in the Parts and Services forum:
Carb Cleaning and Polishing service.

.

[shameless]

I found a guy local that will do all the work, from taking off the bike, carbs, valve's and re-installing them back on the bike for $350-$400, is this reasonable?

[mvalenti]

I would trust a member here more than any "local guy"... as for valves... this is definitely something YOU can do yourself, and should.

[bwringer]

I found a guy local that will do all the work, from taking off the bike, carbs, valve's and re-installing them back on the bike for $350-$400, is this reasonable?

Only if he knows exactly what he's doing.

Ask him which carb rebuild kits he's planning to use. If he scoffs and says "as you can learn on theGSresources.com, the kits suck -- I'm ordering o-rings from Robert Barr at cycleorings.com and cleaning and re-using the original jets and parts", then he probably has the GS-specific knowledge needed.

If he tells you he's using any brand of carb kit or parts , then run far away and don't let him convince you otherwise -- he has no idea what he's doing and the bike will never run right.


Also, odds are very high that you will also need intake boots and o-rings, and it's dead certain that you will need to seal the airbox. If the "local guy" hasn't mentioned these, he does not have the knowledge to do it right.


You are hurtling headlong toward many of the "newbie mistakes", and it would be a shame since that's such an amazing bike when it's sorted out properly. Read the newbie mistakes link thoroughly, and if the work required still scares you, do whatever it takes to make contact with the many knowledgeable GSR folks in Ohio.



Also, throw that starting fluid in the trash. It's dangerous, completely useless garbage.

[shameless]

thanks for all the input, that's a lot to study and take in. lol I've used this guy before, he redid the carbs on my 95 katana, they are a 4 carb setup as well, he's a pretty strait shooter from my experience.

[Fjbj40]

Did you run it before you drained it and added the seafoam? Maybe the seafoam dislodged **** and now your petcock screen is plugged.

Try and drain some fuel, if it does not drain then it may be plugged. Did you remember to hook up the vacuum line? If not she will run for a few minutes until the fuel in the bowls is exhausted. Then she will run no more because of the forgotten vacuum hose. You said you were not the best with these systems and the vacuum line is a simple mistake.

If you have a local guy that you are comfortable with, use him! There are plenty of good mechanics who know just as much and more than the claimed pros, just because they are not a forum member does not mean they do not know what they are doing!