Won't Start

[Etcheberri]

Uhm. Did you wring the filter you submerged in water out? Is it dry?

Before you do anything. At all. I highly suggest you find and download a shop manual for your bike.
Being that you're not all that mechanically inclined, and this is your first bike, I wouldn't suggest touching anything just haphazardly. It is very easy to screw something up without direction or guidance and the bike may never run again. Without a manual and a basic knowledge of mechanics, reading here alone isn't a good idea...

i agree with you, a manual is absolutely vital, that being said the manual won t help him troubleshoot the problem that much.

he needs the manual combined with help from people like you with a lot of experience to find the solution.

as long as he doesn't go crazy and start unbolt the whole engine out i do not see what could break the bike down to a ''never running ever again'' state, by doing a basic list of checkups i mean, fuel/spark/compression. yes?

i mean it s no mystical science, even if it tends to be scary when you first start learning all that

got to jump into it to learn,

[GS650E_81]

Delhi.

I got a garage and a decent set of tools.

Anyone up for a complete rebuild

What part of Cincy are you in?

[GS650E_81]

Exactly. I am trying to learn the basics of troubleshooting problems. Plugs,fuel, etc.

Like I said I have only added premium fuel with seafoam, and cleaned the air filter since I got it. Which was yesterday.

Then all of a sudden tonight, it will not start.

i agree with you, a manual is absolutely vital, that being said the manual won t help him troubleshoot the problem that much.

he needs the manual combined with help from people like you with a lot of experience to find the solution.

as long as he doesn't go crazy and start unbolt the whole engine out i do not see what could break the bike down to a ''never running ever again'' state, by doing a basic list of checkups i mean, fuel/spark/compression. yes?

i mean it s no mystical science, even if it tends to be scary when you first start learning all that

got to jump into it to learn,

[Etcheberri]

yeah...
you checked your fuses?

[GS650E_81]

No, let me check them...

I saw some in the rear by the back light. Are the others in this same location or towards the battery?

yeah...
you checked your fuses?

[Etcheberri]

i d say check in your pdf manual, read a bit through it first anyway.
not just the owner one by the way, the service manual of course

look at Mr Bass Cliff 's website!
you ll find a lot of things on that awesome website

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

you should be able to find the location of your fuse box by yourself,
that would be a good exercise/start

pop your seat open!

do you have any electrical knowledge by the way?

[GS650E_81]

I appreciate everyone's help with my problem. I will check my fuses later this morning, as for now I am heading to bed.

Thanks again!

Jason

[nahoo7]

the fuse box is behind the right side cover the choke is situated on the left hand side of the handle bars.you have the turn signal switch below that the horn and below that the choke lever.if you have no choke cable and suspect the choke is on look at the carbs from the left side, if the choke is on the choke rail should be poking out just below and in front of the the square top of the first carb push the rail in and the choke is off. cheers hope that helps

[tom203]

......

I just bought the bike yesterday and rode it for an hour or so.

Oil level is good. I added 2.3 gallons of best grade gasoline and a couple ounces of SeaFoam this afternoon.

Not sure if this is the cause or not. It smells like gas heavy in my garage. I don't see fuel leaking anywhere. I am not very mechanically inclined, and this is my first bike.

Cheers for any suggestions.

The motorbike is a 1981 GS650E.

After putting gas in this new to you bike and enjoying a ride, I'd suspect petcock failure since you smell gas in garage- likely in crankcase oil also. Recheck oil level- has it gone up, does it smell like gas?? Choke lever came stock in between bar clamp bolts but someone could have substituted a left handlebar switch with choke there. Sort things out, before you go leaping to pulling stuff off. Having the bike run for an hour is a good sign- even it starts right up today, I'd do alot of checking before I'd run it much again- you never know what the PO has done (or not done).

[Rover]

If you have been trying to start your bike a lot your battery may be run down.You will need a charged battery to attempt more starts.

[GS650E_81]

Well I found were the gas smell is coming from.

The tank is leaking. A small leak on the tip of the tank on the ride side closest to the seat. How do I fix this???

Here is a pic



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[GS650E_81]

I really hope I didn't buy a lemon.

Bike still won't start gas tank is leaking.... AHHHHHH!!!

Picture of handlebars with no clutch cable or button



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[GS650E_81]

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[Octain]

Kinda late on this one on this one but...

Looks like ya got some work to do(and money to spend)

Your fuses are under the right side cover(IIRC). Take care when removing the covers, ya dont wanna bust anything.

Ya need a choke cable but there is a way to choke it without one. Sit on your bike, grab the carbs with your left hand. This is the left side of your bike. Poke around the carb with your fingers and you'll notice a little part that moves a little bit. Pull on it, hold it out, choke is on. Let it go, choke is off.

From your pic, your bike needs some work, dude. Intake boots look very rough. Is that a crack on the outer right one? If so I'm surprised your bike even ran.
Obvioulsy the intake orings have never been changed unless someone put the old screws back on(doubtful).

I agree with most of the other posts. Dont mess around with it too much till ya do some reading and get a very good understanding of what you're dealing with.


The 650E is a pretty neato bike. Would be nice to see it come back to life.

[GS650E_81]

Now the hole is big and squirting gas all over the garage. I taped a shirt to it to help.

Well I think I am going to sell it. Pretty bad shape.

Any takers??

LOL damn this bike