sometimes it idles good and sometimes it doesn't, i don't know where to start!

[steve_crabb]

I have a 1981 gs550 and i just got it back on the road (thanks to all the awesome help you guys gave me) it is finally running and i'm able to ride it around but it seems like the idle is inconsistant! i start it with the choke till it warms up and then take the choke off. sometimes it will will idle at 900-1000 rpms and sometimes 1500 and sometimes when it warms up it is even more than that. i'm new at this whole motorcycle thing, this is the first bike i have ever had and so i'm not sure if this is normal or if i should be looking at something to stabalize it. i have adjusted the screw in the middle of the carbs underneath (the idle screw i think?) and i did this when it was warmed up. i also put in a new air filter and made sure there were no air leaks, i also put in a new petcock valve as well. i got new plugs in it also. i'm not sure if any of this info is relavent but i figured i would let you all know, any advice will be a big help thanks again guys for helping me get my bike back on the road this site is awesome!

[renobruce]

Sounds like an intake leak. Did you change your o-rings on the carb boots (the ones that attach your carbs to the motor)? Part #22 in this diagram:
http://alpha-sports.com/spst/1981%20GS550L/13.htm

[steve_crabb]

oops

no i didn't, i guess i should do that huh? ok thanks for your help i'll try to get to that as soon as possible. I did try to take them off one time but the screws were stuck and i couldn't take them off. any ideas on how to get them out withouth stripping them??

[renobruce]

Soak them with WD40 or the like, and use an impact driver. Replace the phillip head screws with hex (allen) head screws. Ace Hardware has them. Use some anti-sieze on the threads.
here's your o-rings:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...ghlight=orings

[tconroy]

no i didn't, i guess i should do that huh? ok thanks for your help i'll try to get to that as soon as possible. I did try to take them off one time but the screws were stuck and i couldn't take them off. any ideas on how to get them out withouth stripping them??

If you can get one of them out you can move the boot with a peice of wood and a hammer to loosen the other one,in the direction that it should turn and you should be fine.That what I had to do . Then replace those phillips screws with some allen head screws,6mm and torc them to 6ft.lbs and your set! You can get them at ace hardware in black, chrome, or stainless steel.

[mcblah]

i just went through this on my 1980 550 and I found a post on here that said to use a nail and a hammer and tap the screw 50+ times to get it to loosen up and it worked like a charm. you can actually hear the pitch change when it breaks loose. do a search on intake screws and you will find a more detailed explanation. I didnt have enough room to use an impact driver so this was an awesome tip for me.

another hint I got from here was to put a philips bit into a small socket to get at the inside screws. Using a bit from an impact driver works even better.

Using these two methods along with soaking the screws in wd 40 let me get all 8 screws out without stripping any of them.