78 GS750- ran two days ago, now no start

[SortaFast750]

Hey everyone...this is my first technical post and my first issue (within 4 days of having the bike eek!). I did a quick search but didn't find anything specific to this vintage, some stuff in the 80's and whatnot, but anyways here's my issue...

The bike has been meticulously maintained by the previous owner.

SUNDAY- brought the bike home, started on first kick (dead battery), rode a few laps around the block, parked it.
MONDAY- re-installed the baffle, started on first kick, rode around the block, parked it.
TUESDAY- kicking like a maniac, no start. fuel smell.
WEDNESDAY- more kicking, no start. same fuel smell.

What could have possibly changed in a day?
What are common things I can inspect/test?

[tkent02]

The bike has been meticulously maintained by the previous owner.

This is the first thing I would question...

OK, why is the battery dead? UNless it sat for months and months, it shouldn't be. It could be bad, or dry, or not getting charged, or there's bad wiring or corrosion someplace, find the reason. Well maintained GSes do not have bad batteries.

Where is the fuel smell coming from? Did you or the PO leave the petcock on PRI?

And when has this meticulously maintained GS last had it's valves adjusted and it's carburetors cleaned? When were the points and condensers last checked and adjusted? What do the spark plugs look like? When has it last been ridden A LOT?

Not meaning to bust your balls, but I have only ever seen one GS for sale that was truly well maintained.

[SortaFast750]

This is the first thing I would question...

OK, why is the battery dead? UNless it sat for months and months, it shouldn't be. It could be bad, or dry, or not getting charged, or there's bad wiring or corrosion someplace, find the reason. Well maintained GSes do not have bad batteries.

Where is the fuel smell coming from? Did you or the PO leave the petcock on PRI?

And when has this meticulously maintained GS last had it's valves adjusted and it's carburetors cleaned? When were the points and condensers last checked and adjusted? What do the spark plugs look like? When has it last been ridden A LOT?

Not meaning to bust your balls, but I have only ever seen one GS for sale that was truly well maintained.

I believe it's a bad battery...had it on the tender overnight and all I get is a faint click from the starter relay...
Fuel smell is coming from the exhaust, and a little bit from the carb/filters area.
According to the PO (obviously nothing to bet on...) the valves got adjusted every oil change (which seems like a lot of work to do so frequently). He also mentioned changing the points and condenser pretty recently. The plugs don't look bad, I mean, they're not brand new but they're not fouled out either. He rode the bike pretty frequently, he says.

I guess this weekend I will check the above components with my own eyes.
This all sounds like pretty basic stuff though, could these make the bike go from running strong to no-start in a day?

[tkent02]

Could be corroded connections keeping the battery from working, or it could be bad. Is the acid at the correct level?
Fuel smell from the exhaust means it's flooded. This will give a no start for sure, especially if you are kicking it.
How did you try to start it? Choke, throttle, etc?

[SortaFast750]

Could be corroded connections keeping the battery from working, or it could be bad. Is the acid at the correct level?
Fuel smell from the exhaust means it's flooded. This will give a no start for sure, especially if you are kicking it.
How did you try to start it? Choke, throttle, etc?

Well I thought it was flooded which is why I let it sit overnight, but it should have started up after 24 hours or so...

Choke between 3/4 and full on, almost no throttle, maybe a light blip at first but not after the first try...

[tkent02]

Try less choke next time, and you can un flood it by taking the spark plugs out and kicking it over fast until no fuel sprays out. Do it with the ignition off!
Then try starting it with no choke at first until it's firing OK.

Confirm the petcock is not on PRI?

[SortaFast750]

Petcock is on fuel, not reserve or prime.

[SortaFast750]

Wellllllllllll I feel like a jerk. It was simply flooded.

A buddy of mine told me about these nifty little drain screws on the bottom of each carb, so I drained the carbs, pulled the plugs and cleaned them, threw it all back together...and with one light blip on the throttle to about 10% she started with one kick!

Just goes to show you- basics first. Don't overthink.