1982 GS 550L not firing...can anyone help me?

[CrazyFazy]

i think my petcock is doing what you say....is there a rebuild kit for this or do i need to replace the whole thing?

[mike_of_bbg]

Reports of success with rebuilds are rarer than failures. There was a recent thread discussing some successes, which might be attributed to lightly polishing the bore to remove any scratches or pits. A rebuild kit is about $23:

http://www.z1enterprises.com/Petcock-Repair-Kit-Suzuki-1507.aspx

OEM-style replacements from Z1 are $58 + S/H:

http://www.z1enterprises.com/Petcock-Repair-Kit-Suzuki-1507.aspx

You might prefer this one, though it seems to be out of stock:

http://www.z1enterprises.com/Petcock-vacuum-Suzuki-1716.aspx

The second one is cheaper and has less reserve. Unfortunately the 550LZ has one of (if not) the smallest tanks in the GS line at only 3.2gals - 1 gal of which is reserve with the OEM petcock. So "extra" reserve might not be such a good thing. You can call Z1 to see if it will fit and when they're expecting more to come in.

OEM petcocks are still available from Suzuki. G&S Suzuki has the 550LZ variety for $56 + S/H.

[CrazyFazy]

ok let me see if i am understanding this right. If i put the lever on reserve or on and the gas runs out the hose then it is bad? If so then i am assuming that if you sucked on the vacuum hose in either state it should flow? Is this correct? And in the prime position it will just constantly fill the line with fuel?

[mike_of_bbg]

You are correct sir: fuel in ON or RES only with vacuum applied. PRI should flow fuel always (it uses the reserve tap, BTW). Fuel should never go down the vacuum line.

ok let me see if i am understanding this right. If i put the lever on reserve or on and the gas runs out the hose then it is bad? If so then i am assuming that if you sucked on the vacuum hose in either state it should flow? Is this correct? And in the prime position it will just constantly fill the line with fuel?

[CrazyFazy]

ok thanks mike you are truly a great help with this and i thank you! someone painted mine so i will need to scrape the paint off to see where on/reserve/prime are located on the petcock. I will report back tomorrow. Once again thanks for every ones help.

[mike_of_bbg]

If it's OEM style, ON should be down, RES forward, PRI rearward.

[CrazyFazy]

ok mike then i have been running mine in the prime position....because i could not read what it said i just turned the knob until gas came out and always left it there....lol I love learning new stuff!!

also mike where can i buy the rubber pieces that go from the head to the carb? I found the o-rings and the bolts but not these. Is this a factory item??

[mike_of_bbg]

Yeah, those are OEM parts. About $25 each. If the rubber is crumbling around the metal or you can move the rubber relative to the metal flange, they're bad and need to be replaced. There are two each of two different parts: left hand and right hand side intakes. G&S Suzuki is one of the lowest-priced OEM parts places around (them and Boulevard Suzuki). Parts # 18 and 19 on the Cylinder head fiche:

http://www.gssuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=93299&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1981&fveh=2112

You might want to go to the User CP link and update your profile with your location, and put your bike in your sig (no big deal here, but eventually you'll post a question and forget to put what bike you're working on, then people will give you cr@p). There might be members near you, or folks can suggest vendors which might be geographically advantageous to you.

[CrazyFazy]

soi read the carb rebuild instructions but how do i get the plug out for the pilot jet? And does this plug need reinstalled or was this put there because they didnt want us tampering with it?

[mike_of_bbg]

Are you looking at Mr. Nessism's guide? You say pilot jet plug, but maybe you're talking about the idle screw plug? The pilot jet plug should pull right out with the float bowl off. Mr. Nessism's guide has 4 pages of pictorial instructions on removing the idle screw plug.

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

[CrazyFazy]

mike could you share the link i need to rebuild my carbs......i have way too many windows open and cannot seem to find the one you are referring too.

[mike_of_bbg]

That's the PDF file in my last post.

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

Here's the old guide:

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/mc_maint/GS_CV_Carb_Cleaning_Series.pdf

Also available in HTML format from the GSR front page:

http://thegsresources.com/gs_carbrebuild.htm

[CrazyFazy]

mike you are right i am going to have to weight the pros and cons of fixing this bike. Heck i can probably get more by parting it out on ebay. I will have $400 to $500 tied up in the bike plus the initial cost of $100. I have some thinking to do...i like the bike but not sure if its worth that much of an investment. You have been a great help and appreciate everything you have done for me. I will let yas know my decision soon. Thanks,,,,eric