1979 GS1000L hard starting after setting.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
I have trouble starting the bike after it sets for a few days. I have checked the petcock for vacuum and all seems fine. It flows fuel when I apply a small amount of suction on the hose. The only way I can start it is to use starting fluid in the air box to the carbs.
The bike starts fine it I use it daily but if I leave set for a few days--no start without starting fluid.
The bowls all have fuel in them when checking the drain plug.
Any suggestions?
Thanks all
Bud Geuvens

[focus frenzy]

put your petcock on prime for about ten seconds before trying to start it. these carbs are sensitive to the fuel level in the bowls, and being vented carbs over several days the gas in the bowls will evaporate off enough to lower the fuel level in the bowls making it more difficult to start.

[Guy]

Yep!! That's exactly what happens to my 850.

[gremlin]

most gas stations have a blind of 10% alcohol, in there gas to add o2 so it will burn cleaner.

on hot days and with your bike hot it will evaperate realy fast. it does not sound like a lot. given a few days sitting your carbs will dry out.

the bad news is, if you only ride a day or two every other week you end up cleaning the carbs more. the gas will start building up deposits in the idel passages.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I'll try your idea. One more question though. The petcock on my bike only says "on" in the straight down position, is the "prime" position forward? It doesn't mention it on the petcock. That's the only way it will move except for the down position.
Many thanks
Bud

[Katamaniac]

Thanks guys. I'll try your idea. One more question though. The petcock on my bike only says "on" in the straight down position, is the "prime" position forward? It doesn't mention it on the petcock. That's the only way it will move except for the down position.
Many thanks
Bud

On all three of my Suzukis, Prime is pointing to the rear of the motorcylce (turning counter-clockwise from on). Reserve is the 180 degrees from prime.

[focus frenzy]

I have been told that the 79 1000L is one of the few GS that for some odd reason Suzuki left the prime feature off of.
all it has is on and reserve.

[Buffalo Breath]

gas

The 79 gs1000L's an few of the others do not have a prime, pull the choke full on with the gas wide open then as the motor starts to turn over close the throttle slowly it should fire, if not you may have to check the pet cock it has a small check valve /flapper valve that helps in preventing pulsing and vac bleed off it may be bad, and is not holding the the main valve open at cranking speeds, if its bad you have to buy a valve from the dealer as there are no repair kits for it or go with a Pringel valve, its a very small 1/8 inch round neophren plug looking thing off to one side in the petcock housing

[KEITH KRAUSE]

My factory manual shows the '79 1000 "L" model has the prime position.
The '80 models had that stupid petcock without a reserve. All had a prime as far as I know though.

[Buffalo Breath]

prime

I own a 79 1000l they DO NOT HAVE A PRIME, READ MY LIPS NO PRIME

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Re: prime

I own a 79 1000l they DO NOT HAVE A PRIME, READ MY LIPS NO PRIME

You're so right. My mistake. NO HARM DONE. RELAX.