Rebuild kit for a 1985 Suzuki GS550E

[timbaux]

Its the four cylinder with the two 2 barrell carbs... i need a rebuild kit and cannot find one.

Anyone can point me to one, i appreciate it.

[Steve]

Cycleorings.com for the o-rings and Berryman's Carb Cleaner dip from your local auto parts store.

You don't need (or want) "kits".

You will need to strip the carbs down to little bits and pieces to do the job properly. If you don't feel comfortable doing that yourself, there are a few on the forum that offer that service for a modest fee.

.

[timbaux]

I was hoping to get new needle and seats and some new pilot jets as the previous owner really messed up the top of the pilot jets.

The problem i am having is the bike will start on choke then die out real quick. does it over and over,,, after the first two or three times, it has to spin over a few times them it starts and stops immediately again. I know its either the choke circuit and maybe pilot jets are stopped up. I took the carbs apart and put it all back together after cleaning out the choke circuit and blowing out the jets ,, used carb cleaner in the process... put it all back together and same problem. I pulled the first spark plug and it is firing. Not sure what else it could be.. the spark plug itself was dark but not black, didnt seem wet. .

[Steve]

If it starts on the "choke" circuit, your problem is likely not the "choke" circuit.

Your problem is likely in the pilot jets and/or the passages between the jets and the pilot adjustment screws.

Spritzing some spray in there is not enough to clean the passages, they need to be soaked overnight in "the dip".

.

[timbaux]

If it starts on the "choke" circuit, your problem is likely not the "choke" circuit.

Your problem is likely in the pilot jets and/or the passages between the jets and the pilot adjustment screws.

Spritzing some spray in there is not enough to clean the passages, they need to be soaked overnight in "the dip".

.

It doesnt always start on the choke circuit, why did you put that in quotation marks, is there another words for it? ha.. I am Deaf i dont really know the lingo Hearing peoiple use. I understand that the choke cable is called the "starter" cable and i know, unlike a car, which blocks off air, on a bike, the choke actually does not block air but allows gas to be introduced from the float bowl via that brass tube with the tiny hole in it.

I am going to pull it all apart again tomorrow and they got an agitator i think, i dont know what it is. I will put in there for a while and see if that clears it up. In new orleans, gas is often either contaminated with water or mud or something else that dont belong.

[Steve]

On a true choke, you have a plate that covers the intake of the carb, like on an older car. It literally chokes the carb intake. The increase in vacuum when the engine is pulling against that choke plate pulls more fuel through the regular jets, richening the mixture to enable starting in colder weather.

On our carbs, there is no plate at the inlet of the carbs. The richer mixture happens because there is another circuit that is enabled when you move the lever. There is a tube that reaches down into the float bowl to pull a metered amount of fuel, and a separate air passage that is downstream of the throttle butterflies. Together, they provide the richer mixture for starting and are known as the "enrichment circuit". Many people still call it a choke system, but since it doesn't actually cover the intake, I put the quotes there. The enrichment circuit does essentially the same function, but in a different manner.

That brass tube with the tiny hole that you mentioned is the fuel pickup for the enrichener. If you look on the engine side of the carbs, you will see a hole (about 3/16") that is the air feed. You should know that, when using the "choke" to start the bike, do NOT use the throttle. The "choke" circuit needs a high vacuum to pull the fuel through the tube, opening the throttle destroys that vacuum, forcing the engine to try to start on the regular (leaner) jets.

.

[timbaux]

On a true choke, you have a plate that covers the intake of the carb, like on an older car. It literally chokes the carb intake. The increase in vacuum when the engine is pulling against that choke plate pulls more fuel through the regular jets, richening the mixture to enable starting in colder weather.

On our carbs, there is no plate at the inlet of the carbs. The richer mixture happens because there is another circuit that is enabled when you move the lever. There is a tube that reaches down into the float bowl to pull a metered amount of fuel, and a separate air passage that is downstream of the throttle butterflies. Together, they provide the richer mixture for starting and are known as the "enrichment circuit". Many people still call it a choke system, but since it doesn't actually cover the intake, I put the quotes there. The enrichment circuit does essentially the same function, but in a different manner.

That brass tube with the tiny hole that you mentioned is the fuel pickup for the enrichener. If you look on the engine side of the carbs, you will see a hole (about 3/16") that is the air feed. You should know that, when using the "choke" to start the bike, do NOT use the throttle. The "choke" circuit needs a high vacuum to pull the fuel through the tube, opening the throttle destroys that vacuum, forcing the engine to try to start on the regular (leaner) jets.

.

Thanks for the explanation i knew there was a vacuum element involved, And wanted to add that the bowls do fill up. It is going to be some kind of freak situation, i forgot to pull the gas cap off and see if it makes a difference. I got the carbs off already and going to put them in the agitator or whatever that barrel does. The battery went dead, as well, and i will charge that up. I should know something this afternoon.