Can't start the bike up at all!

[Pianoman33]

Hi there. I am completely new to motorcycles and just got my license. I bought a 1978 GS550 and it was running perfectly. I made the mistake of not letting the bike run after I started it up with the electric starter... I did that twice of starting up and then shutting off... Like I said I'm new. Except now I can't start the bike at all even with the kick starter. It did kick start a few times but now it won't turn over at all. There is gas in it and I thought the oil was low which is was so I filled it with out and it did kick start and turn over however, the bike died a few seconds after... This happened a second time and now the bike won't even kick start. The battery appears to be completely dead but from what I've read I should be able to still kick start it. Please let me know if you can help at all or have any ideas. I'm stuck!

[GateKeeper]

I can lead to some of the answer if you are willing to follow and read.....

Greetings and Salutations,

Every once in a while I will miss a new member or two and they may not receive their proper greeting. If you are here you probably have a 30 year old motorcycle that needs about 20 years worth of maintenance. In the links below you'll find maintenance lists, documentation, wiring diagrams, "how to" guides, vendor links, tips, tricks, and a whole lot of GS goodness. This is your "mega-welcome". Let's get started.

Let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. This is what NOT to do: Top 10 Newbie Mistakes. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...



Please Click Here For Your Mega-Welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

More links to helpful threads in the forum:
Help! Your Bike Won't Start
DON'T DO THESE THINGS
Help! Your Bike Won't Run Well
Oh God! Pods!


Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[tkent02]

If you are completely new to motorcycles you really need one that works correctly.

It sounds like you have a LOT of work to do. Bikes made thrty five years ago needed quite a bit of maintenance compared to a modern bike, but even new bikes need some work. With most of them the maintenance is about thirty years behind by now.

No it won't kick start with a completely dead battery, it needs a little bit of power to make a spark.

[bonanzadave]

Put the battery on a trickle charger for a few hours. Turn the kill switch to ON. Fuel switch to ON or PRI. Dump some FRESH gas in it (a gallon just to be sure). Try it again.

[chuck hahn]

Have a multi meter handy and have the battery exposed so when it starts you can check for charging voltage. Use the DC voltage setting.

Heres how..Put the leads on the respective battery terminals and see what the reading is at idle. Then rev it up to around 4500 and see what he meter reads then...and note what it does as the RPMS increase as well.


IF it is charging, youll see the voltage go up and should peak around 13.9 to 14.2 volts. If it doesnt show around those numbers..OR it doesnt change at all, you have a charging system issue that needs to be sorted out. Theres no sense in recharging the battery a hundred times just to find the charging system is crappped out. resolve the charging issue and then worry abiout the battery. I would suggest you go withan AGM sealed battery...no acid leaks to get on the battery box, swing arm, and frame.

[Pianoman33]

Thanks so much for the replies. You guys are giving me good stuff to try out that will hopefully work! This is going to be a stupid question but... How do I take the seat off? I can't seem to find anywhere for specifically a 78 GS550 and I don't have a manual even though yes I know i should invest in one but from the sound of it I might just have to get rid of this one and get a newer bike that will be easier to maintain so I haven't bought a manual but I'd like to get this running to sell.

[tkent02]

Remove the cotter pins and pull the hinge pins out. Do you have the seat unlocked yet, or not? If not there's a key lock under the right side of the seat about half way back.
Post a location, there is probably someone on this forum in your local area that might at least help you figure out what you need to do to it.

[GateKeeper]

get the manual here

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

I did give you the whole Welcome package......

but I guess you did not have time to read it

.

[chuck hahn]

Sounds like he wants a ride it till I ruin it bike..so why would he even bother himself with reading the mega welcome?? Just sayin.