Starting problem & fuel leak

[wjkiic]

I replaced the stator 2 months ago and i haven't had any issues until now. I rode my bike until it ran out of gas to see how many miles i get on one tank because my gas gauge doesnt work after i put gas in it, it didnt want to start that battery was getting weak so i popped the clutch and got it started and it ran fine after that. Recently i was at a stop light and when i tried to switch to the reserve tank the bike shut off and when i tried to start it the battery the battery was drained and i had to jump it to get it started when i got it home i noticed fuel was leaking from the tube connected to the airbox. i put more gas in it and moved to switch on the petcock the next morning there was a nice sized puddle of fuel under the bike i tried to start it and it refused to turn over. so i jumped it again it idled really high for about 1 min and the rpms went back down. the bike ran fine for 2 min and then it shut off so i went to restart it and it didnt start. so i jumped it again and it shut off after 2-3 min after the third time i adjusted the idle and drove it for about 5 min. Yesterday i drove it and it started fine. Today i had to jump it again I have no idea where to start to fix these problems i'm new to working on bikes so any and all help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Steve]

You started a thread just like this one yesterday, except it also had some chain issues.
Just like yesterday, YOU DID NOT TELL US WHAT BIKE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

Please take a few moments to add your bike to your signature.



It appears that you have a couple of problems with your bike (whatever it is).
1) Not starting. Based on your description, you have a bad battery. It could be very old and simply needing to be replaced, or it could be drained because it is not being charged correctly.

Have you read through your "welcome" from BassCliff? I know you got one, it came about 2 1/2 hours after your very first post. There is a section there that deals with common problems in the charging circuit.

Also, when "jumping" your bike, do NOT connect to a car that is running. You will probably destroy the voltage regulator on your bike in the process. Also not good to use one of those "jump boxes". Sometimes they boost the voltage so they don't have to deliver as many amps. THAT will destroy your voltage regulator, too.

2) Gas leak. There is no ON position on your petcock. There are three positions on most of the petcocks (unless you have the dreaded '80 model, but we don't know that, do we?). With the lever pointing forward is the REServe position, used to get the last gallon or so from the tank. Pointing down is the normal ON position. This is where the lever should stay unless you are out riding and need to use the REServe to get to a gas station. The lever pointing back is the PRIme position. This is only needed to prime the carbs when they are empty. Unless you just put the carbs back on the bike or have not ridden the bike for over a month or so, there should be plenty of gas in the float bowls to start the bike.

With a properly-operating petcock, the RES and ON positions are controlled by engine vacuum. That is, when the engine is running, the petcock will be ON. When you stop the engine, the petcock will turn OFF. The PRIme position will flow gas regardless of the engine. If you moved the petcock to the PRIme position thinking that it is and OFF position, you may have flooded the engine with gas. Check your oil to see if it smells like gas. Better yet, just change the oil and filter to be sure. If having the petcock on in the PRI position flooded the carbs and engine, you also have at least one float valve in the carbs that is not working properly. Sounds like it's time to go through the carbs, too.


.

[wjkiic]

i have a 82 GS550L the petcock is always in the normal position pointing straight down the only time i put it in prime was after i cleaned the carbs. other than that it stays in normal or res when I need to get more gas. please forgive my motorcycle ignorance I'm just learnig i work on jet engines and car engines. i can trouble shoot those easy since i've worked them before. motorcycles seem a little easier to work on (less components to deal with) but i'm still dealing with a different animal. How do i find out if my voltage regulator is bad? I checked the battery while the bike was running and its getting a charge. Ive change the regulator rectifier before i change the stator. Id like to fix all of this myself but i'm lost and dont know where to start and what to look for. how do i add a signature

[Steve]

... the petcock is always in the normal position pointing straight down the only time i put it in prime was after i cleaned the carbs. ...

There was something about the following statement that made us think otherwise:

... i put more gas in it and moved to switch on the petcock the next morning there was a nice sized puddle of fuel under the bike ...

... How do i find out if my voltage regulator is bad? I checked the battery while the bike was running and its getting a charge.

It sounds like you may hove done the first set of checks. The quick and easy method is to simply check the battery voltage before you start the bike. It should be over 12.5. Turn the key ON, it might drop to about 12.0. While cranking the bike, it should not drop lower than 10 volts. After starting, the voltage should rise, then stabilize. How quickly it rises will depend on engine speed. Once stable, the voltage might be anywhere from about 12.5 to 14 at idle, but when the engine speed is increased to about 1500, you should definitely see close to 14 volts. As you increase the engine speed to 4-5000 rpm, the voltage should not go over 15.

If this is not what you are seeing, go back, read the welcome that BassCliff sent you, there is a section there for troubleshooting your charging system.
(If you are lazy, like I am, just click on these links.)

... how do i add a signature

Up in the upper left corner of your screen, just under the GSR logo, is a blue band. The far-left item is called "User CP". That stands for "User Control Panel". Click on that, scroll down just a bit, you will see the "Settings and Options" group. In that group is an item called "Edit Signature". Click on that. Now it's just like typing a post here, just keep it simple at first. All it really needs is " '82 550L". Later, when you get more comfortable, you can get fancier. You can add a small picture or make the '82 550L a link that will show your bike, like I have in mine. Yes, all those bikes listed in my signature are links that will show you my bikes, but for now, while you are asking questions about how to work on your bike, just mention the bike.

.

[Danjal]

4 stroke car motors work the same as a 4 stroke bike motor. Theres slight differences in what they use though to accomplish it. Like EFI vs carbs. CDI ignition etc.


It sounds to me like you have a bad battery and a bad petcock. Remove the battery and charge it fully. See where it is over night. Record your voltage charged, then after say 12+ hours. Batteries drop on voltage a bit when sitting, this is normal. Batteries do not completely drain over night though. But before you do that, take it for a few laps around the block and check the voltage on it. That'll give you an insight into your charging system being weak.

For your petcock take your vac hose off and see if its full of fuel if it is replace the petcock, if not test it see if its working properly. If thats not your issue id check your carbs, namely your seats and needles. They might not be sealing properly.

[wjkiic]

Ive taken the gas tank off numerous times and everytime i need a gas can to catch my fuel it just flows out. is that normal?

[cowboyup3371]

No unless the petcock is on prime.

[Steve]

Ive taken the gas tank off numerous times and everytime i need a gas can to catch my fuel it just flows out. is that normal?

No, assuming you are leaving the petcock in the RUN position (pointing DOWN) or the RES position (pointing FORWARD), it sounds like your petcock is due for a replacement. There are rebuild kits available, but the success rate with rebuild kits here on the board is only about 10%, so just go ahead and get a new petcock and be done with it.

With your petcock ALWAYS flowing fuel like that, you are relying on your float valves to stop the fuel. If any one of them (and you have FOUR) leaks, it can flood a cylinder, if its intake valve is open. Havaing liquid in your cylinder is BAD for a couple of reasons. One, if it just sits there, it will leak down around the rings, into the oil, diluting the oil. Two, if you hit the starter, that cylinder will be going UP next and will try to compress the liquid gas. Nope, doesn't work. You can do some SERIOUS damage that way. Please replace your petcock before that happens.

.

[Danjal]

Steve covered it. Sounds like a petcock failure. If its on run or res and leaking fuel.. its shot. If its not leaking fuel and in pri.. its shot. If its leaking fuel out the vac hose, its shot. If its not leaking fuel out in run or res, then suck on the vac line. See how it flows. If it has good flow in run and res while you're sucking on it then its good to go. If it keeps flowing in either after you stop sucking then its shot. Sometimes they stick open.

This will address your fuel running while the bike is off. After that it should not flow into the carbs until the bike is on, so it seems like you have a leak past the petcock too. Also.. change your oil. If any gas seeped into your oil you need to change it.