A fouled plug and Helibars- 1985 GS700e

[rkj2002]

So, after about 1000 miles on the bike I was getting ready to lay the bikes up for the winter and had the GS, with about a half a tank of fuel, dosed up strong with seafoam and wanted to run the rest of the tank out.

Before I go any further I should say that my bikes see service in the winter, not all that much, but I do ride every day it's civilized out there whether it's on the road or in the hills on the CRF.

So I usually treat all of them to a more than usual dose of seafoam and then fill the tank with a normal amount so they can sit for a while until nice days come along (which I usually get here on the east end of long island new york).

Okay, so I'm starting the GS and usually (but it's been getting much better) the motor runs on a few cylinders at first then the others join in and smooths right out and I can reel in the choke and make the idle a normal speed. This time I hear a backfire and then I've got a three cylinder, not as much fun...

I took the bike around the block a few times and when I saw the cylinder wasn't coming back I rolled it in and left it till today.

I couldn't do a compression test cause I don't have an end that has that small plug size in my compression tester box but I did give it a finger in the hole test and all cylinders seemed strong. I had all the plugs in their wires (I did not mix them up from the cylinders they were in and all sparked (although weak) but one, and that one was fairly dark, might have been dark enough to be fouled would not light up for me, so I plugged a new one in and she sparked well.

This is what I had;
outside left- fouled
inner left- less dirty
inner right- clean, a touch on the lean side
outer right- normal

I put a new set of plugs on the wires and grounded them on the valve cover and cranked the motor and all of them gave nice healthy sparks. I put some neversieze on the threads and put the new plugs in.

Now, I had a few thoughts; first was that I've been running a good amount of seafoam through this bike hoping to clear the carbs out and it has worked, in fact, if I had just run the bike with straight gas I'm sure the carbs would have worked themselves out fine because they were not that screwed up to start with... but maybe all that seafoam has tended to foul plugs because it is an upper cylinder lube also...

I've always used neversieze on spark plugs but maybe if the plugs are too coated they might not have a ground so they can spark never had that happen to me but just sayin.

Anyway, I'll cut way back on the seafoam and see how the plugs look after another 1000 miles! I am glad I didn't drop a cylinder from having real trouble; thank you Suzuki Gods.

Next up are these handlebars. I was building a pair of risers but in the end they just didn't cut it so after driving the machine those 1000 miles with the original E bars I rethought dimensions anyway and wound up getting the Heli bars for a late model Bmw 1200r, which were just the right height and width; they're about 2 inches higher and 2 inches wider, just perfect for me and my old aching back. AND, the best part is that I can use all the cables and wiring the bike came with, a real plus, so I can use normal cables!

If anybodies interested I can post a few pictures, and I still have plans to post those other road tests and all the information sheets I have been able to accumulate for the GS700's.

I've had kind of a rough holiday season with my ptsd and family stuff but I'm feeling better so lets see what happens and what I can do about getting this info up here. Some of it is golden....

Cheers, Rick

[kirkn]

Hey Rick,

I'm interested in photos of the bar set-up if ya get the chance. And specifics about what bars you ordered and how they fit.

Thanks,

Kirk

[rkj2002]

Hey Rick,

I'm interested in photos of the bar set-up if ya get the chance. And specifics about what bars you ordered and how they fit.

Thanks,

Kirk

Hi Kirk

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-08-BMW-R1200S-Heli-Bars-TracStar-Handlebars-/370253721022?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5634d76dbe

I used these, they come in a left and right set. I switched them because I wanted a little less pullback. A few minor modifications have to be made but it's no big deal. I set the bars up for 28 1/2 inches end to end which works for me, just the right leverage. The slight rise and width is just what I needed to enjoy this motorcycle. I'll try to post a few pictures in the next day or so.

Cheers, Rick

[Ranger]

Glad you got it worked out.

[rkj2002]

Glad you got it worked out.

Thanks Ranger, Yup-it's nice when a plan comes together.

[rkj2002]

Hey Rick,

I'm interested in photos of the bar set-up if ya get the chance. And specifics about what bars you ordered and how they fit.

Thanks,

Kirk

Hi Kirk

Lets see if this works (my computer broke, a pc. I'm on an apple loaner)

[rkj2002]

Thanks Ranger, Yup-it's nice when a plan comes together.

[Smokinapankake]

Very cool!
I did the same thing with my old Kawi GPz 750 using riser bars I made myself. Made it about perfect, and I wish I still had that old Kawi.

[Big T]

Rick,

Just a thought on your fouled #1 plug

If you're parking the bike on the kickstand, a leaky petcock or weak needle valve in the #1 carb can allow fuel to flow into the cylinder and cause an over rich condition

A not uncommon problem with old bikes

[rkj2002]

Rick,

Just a thought on your fouled #1 plug

If you're parking the bike on the kickstand, a leaky petcock or weak needle valve in the #1 carb can allow fuel to flow into the cylinder and cause an over rich condition

A not uncommon problem with old bikes

Thanks Big. I keep forgetting the downsides of the side stand, I know the petcock is working right but I'll try leaning the bike to the right on the wall for awhile.

Cheers, Rick