It just won't start. Any ideas?

[TBucket32]

Hi folks.

I bought a 1983 GS550 ES last summer. It ran like a dream all year. Over the winter I rebuilt the forks, got better brakes and shined it up all pretty.

The bike was rode in Nov of last year then parked while I did my work. During a nice day in Jan, I took the bike out for a short ride. I took it out again at the begining of Mar. The March trip was to the bike shop to get fresh oil for the year. I got home, changed the oil and parked the bike. Up to this point I haave had no hint of problems with the bike.

This past weekend it was BEAUTIFUL weather. I spent 3 hours trying to get the bike to start. It wouldn't even bark. It spins over like crazy, but no fire. I ended up flooding it and getting mad. The plugs are clean and I have spark. I'm getting plenty of fuel because I can flood it (and it's fresh fuel because I filled up when I went out in March).

Any ideas what might be my problem?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Casey Linn

[motorcyclemodeller]

Well a motor needs three things to start.

Air/fuel mixture
Spark
Compression

Even if your timing or spark is off, it sould still pop or backfire.

So something is missing here.

Spray a little quick start down the carbs, if it starts there is a fuel delivery problem. Probably plugged pilot jets.........did you drain your carbs prior to storage?

If it dosent start, it is electrical..........weak spark, timing off, coils, etc....

Try the quick start with the choke wide open, see what happens. Then we can work from there.

:? Andre N. Bouchere:?

[TBucket32]

I did not drain the carbs prior to storing. I have ridden the bike since it has come out of storage too, with no problems. I rode it 2 weeks before I had these problems.

I have spark, but I'm not sure of the strength. I called the local Suzuki dealer and they didn't feel that it is a coil problem.

The '83 ES has electronic timimg that can't be changed.

The bike has always required full choke for the first start of the day, even on a hot day.

I have tried quick start...sometimes it will cause the bike to bark, but usually not.

This issue is really perplexing me. Like you said, fuel, air and spark is all that you need to start a fire.

Casey

[smithbm]

I'm no expert, but you could try this. Put the petcock to "PRI" for 30 seconds and then turn it over with only 1/2 choke to start (maybe even 3/4). Full choke may just be a little too rich of a mixture. Once it's running turn the petcock to "ON". Like you said, you have both fuel and spark... must be the air.

[TBucket32]

smithbm:

I tried that on the weekend and ended up with liquid fuel in the cylinders. singed the hair off the back of my hands trying to burn it out.

When it wouldn't start at first, I quickly assumed that the carb bowls were dry from sitting, so I did exactly what you suggested.

Casey

[flyingace]

It's possible that your battery is marginal. What with sitting a lot, its state of charge can deteriorate. Just because the starter turns and there's a spark doesn't mean the spark is adequate to ignite the mixture.

Jump start the bike with a NON-RUNNING car and see if it starts then. If that's not it, at least you know it isn't the battery.

[TBucket32]

I just got home and tried the quick start with minimal choke. I got it to backfire on cylinder 3 or 4 (pop came from right side exhaust), but no hint of catching.

Flyingace:
I have left the charger on the battery overnight. I have used one of those booster packs. Unfortunately, nothing.

[tconroy]

I just got home and tried the quick start with minimal choke. I got it to backfire on cylinder 3 or 4 (pop came from right side exhaust), but no hint of catching.

Flyingace:
I have left the charger on the battery overnight. I have used one of those booster packs. Unfortunately, nothing.

hAVE YOU TRIED PULLING A PLUG AND USING STARTING FLUID?aRETHE PLUG WIRES IN THE RIGHT ORDER. Just throwing out some ideas.

[TBucket32]

What do you mean by "pulling a plug and using starting fluid"? I have checked each plug. They are all clean and dry. I have sprayed fluid into the air box.

The plug wire order would also make sense, but I have not changed them. I only ever pull one plug at a time.

The worst part about this is that I have done all the logical things that I or the mechanic can think of and still no luck.

[morbidphil0622]

This might or might not work, but it is worth the effort regardless. I had the same problem when I first bought my bike (had been sitting for a while). I tried everything but pulling the carbs. Find the air screw on top of the carbs facing the airbox and turn it clockwise one or two times. The screw might have contracted or something like that while it was sitting, doing so would most likely cut off air to the motor. I am still a novice so I could be way wrong but it worked for me.. You never know, sometimes it can be the most simple of things...

[flyingace]

Flyingace: I have left the charger on the battery overnight. I have used one of those booster packs. Unfortunately, nothing.

I don't know what a booster pack is. But if your battery won't hold the needed voltage, you can charge it all year and it won't do you any good.

Cannot emphazise enough the importance of eliminating the battery as the source of the starting problem. I gave you a way to do that - take it or leave it.

[tconroy]

What do you mean by "pulling a plug and using starting fluid"? I have checked each plug. They are all clean and dry. I have sprayed fluid into the air box.

The plug wire order would also make sense, but I have not changed them. I only ever pull one plug at a time.

The worst part about this is that I have done all the logical things that I or the mechanic can think of and still no luck.

pull a spark plug and spray starting fluid directly into the cylinder and put the plug back in then try to star it.it should fire up.but maybe wont stay running if there is a problem.what kind of carbs do you have and did you do anything to them.check allthe lines and make sure there in the right spot.

[arveejay]

Is your kickstand up, clutch lever in, kill switch to run????????. Does the choke cable fully engage the chokes, reach down with choke cable pulled and see if you can pull them out farther by hand.. Idle stop may need adjusted. Air screws about 1 1/2 turns out. Just some ideas.

[TBucket32]

flyingace: I went out to the garage in the dark last night with a flash light. It appears that the fluid level is down in my battery. I will try a new one on the weekend.

I have not touched the carbs, but am going to pull the air box on Saturday to see if there is fuel and air going through them. While I have things apart, I'll check the lines, choke, air screws, etc as suggested.

If it's a coil or ignitor problem, any ideas about how much this might cost? Maybe the old girl is telling me it's time for a new, lay-down-go-fast bike.

[Doctor Shifty]

This is a bit of a hobby horse for me (it was the cause of similar behaviour in my bike) but have you replaced your plug boots?

These things deteriorate over time and just give up. It's unusual for them all to go together, but my bike had your symptoms, including intermittent backfiring. New boots and it was up and away.

They are cheap and easy to replace. If they are more than five or ten years old, chuck them out. It costs me 28 bucks to replace all four.

OTOH it might be something completely different. :?

Kim