running rich

[rookie racer]

keith
thanks for all the info, ihave zero tools to tune a motorcycle, except for comp. gage and basic hand tools. sounds pretty complicated,ive been reading pasts post on rejetting, iam starting to get some of this stuff. i will try and finish the basics first. i also need a manual for this bike and a maual for the carbs.
scott

[80-81, GS 1100]

no iam not sure the valves are adjusted,the bike ran great when i first bought it other than plugs blackening, but no noise from the valve train.

If they are tight you won't hear noise, But you could
burn a valve. One reason I bought my GS 1100s is I
can adjust the valves without any special tools,
just feeler gauges and screw drivers.

[TheRedlineMan]

That pic you posted is a 2 valve, if noone had told you yet. And the valves are shim adjustment (more difficult), not screw and locknut (easy and quick to do).

Best to let Steve give you a hand to do them the first time, sounds like he knows what he's doing. One good thing is that shims don't need to be done anywhere as often as screw and locknut. He's also likely to pick up on carb problems faster than you will.

[rookie racer]

talked with the mech. at the suzuki dealership. he said he put 110 main jets in [115] is stock left the pilot alone.this bike is running worse than before. i called dynojet they do have a jet kit for my bike recommened a stage 1 kit. i cant even ride it now.

[195suz]

According to my book 125 psi compression is at the service limit how many miles do you have on this bike.

[rookie racer]

the bike has 24,6126 miles. i need a service manual, where can i get one. should i try to put a teaspoon of oil inthe cylinder and recheck compression?

[Steve]

talked with the mech. at the suzuki dealership. he said he put 110 main jets in [115] is stock left the pilot alone.

Definitely have a problem here. The stock jets were borderline too lean anyway, why would he put in leaner jets? Yeah, he was probably just reading the number and putting in something smaller, but I have seen too many posts by ambitious, but amateur, carb tinkerers that say "I drilled out the jets to make it richer..." It is possible that a previous owner had run something through the jets to clean them out, but in the process, reamed them bigger than Mikuni intended.

Keith Krause has some of the best advise around when it comes to carb tuning. Buried in the middle of his last post might be the root of your problem. Check the float level. If it is too high, the bike will tend to run rich in all ranges.


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[80-81, GS 1100]

the bike has 24,6126 miles. i need a service manual, where can i get one. should i try to put a teaspoon of oil inthe cylinder and recheck compression?

I get my service manuals from E-bay. If you don't like E-bay
try Amazon. Your model may be more rare than mine so
you may have to go somewhere that specializes in Old
bikes, like Z1 enterprises.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Keith Krause has some of the best advise around when it comes to carb tuning. Buried in the middle of his last post might be the root of your problem.
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BURIED in the middle...you saying my posts are too long?
I do have a bad habit of explaining and getting too much into detail I suppose.
It's obvious the bike is jetted wrong...at least the main. But I'm guessing the black plugs are from just typical puttin' around town, mostly on the pilot and jet needle circuits? If carb related, test as I said and let us know the results. It's possible a PO raised the jet needles. You did say the mechanic left in the stock pilot jets. So if your plugs burn black at approx' 1/3 throttle but burn better at minimal throttle, that suggests the jet needles are rich.
You do have some basics to check first though.
I'm also wondering if you have black plugs due to a weak spark, such as a bad ignitor. A basics check will help.

[rookie racer]

thanks guys for all the help, iam learning more as i go. steve is going to help me with this project.
keith, i dont think your post are too long . the more info the better.
we will check all the basics on the bike then tear into carbs.

[greg78gs750]

listen to keith

hey, i know almost nothing about motorcycles, but i have spent the last year pouring over every post on here and with that experience i can say LISTEN TO KEITH (keith, you are a carb god, im sure i will be needing you this winter....) and take steve's help (this forum is incredible and giving) and dont waste another dime at the dealership. and take lots of deep, cleansing breaths.

greg

[Steve]

BURIED in the middle...you saying my posts are too long?
I do have a bad habit of explaining and getting too much into detail I suppose.

It is that detail that we love to have. You have a vast wealth of knowledge on the subject of carbs, and it is obviously based on experience. That is what we really appreciate. \\/

Keep the details coming. I have not had to re-jet any of my GSs, but based on your posts, I have made suggestions to others.


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[TheCafeKid]

For sure Keith knows his stuff and Steve is a tremendous help too!! He's personally helped me with my 750B and not only was it some great learning experience, he's a hell of a guy to shoot the stuff with. Thanks again to both of you for all your help!!

[rookie racer]

running rich

Starting off, i owe Steve on this board a huge "thank you" for driving to my home from Dayton to help me on this bike.
He helped me dissasemble ,clean, dip,inspect and rejet and reassemble the carbs.
Then i took it upon myself to do the valves, with valuable advice from Mr. Steve.
We had a hard time hooking up for the start-up of the bike, so i fired it up my self, it was driping gas out of the #1and#4 carb.
We finally got a day to work o the bike and lo and behold, Steve thought that maybe the gas tank was to high and some 8 feet of tubing to the bike. it was causing too much head pressure, pushing the gas through the carbs, so we lowered the tank just about the same height as the tank sits on the bike.
Yes that was it, no more leaks.
We syncroed the carbs, adjusted the air screws. purrs like a new bike!
Mr. Steve also found my regulator was bad. so he led me to Duanege that has the new regulators.
So i just wanted to brag a little o n Mr. Steve Woodin , hae has been a wealth of knowlage to me.

[Steve]

Well, shucks, thanks.


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