Man in Big trouble

[EricWoods]

Hi everyone. Well stuck the new ignition into my 1981gs55oT.Still struggling to get this machine to start. I previously striped the carbs down and cleaned the pilot jet/main jet. Set the new ignition system up. BOYER BRANSDEN. Setup rotor between the magnetic pickups to top dead centre.TDC. Attemped to start bike. No Joy. At this stage i feel like scraping the bike. Feel Like an idiot. Spent way more than the bike cost me between a new clutch cable, new feul petcock, and a complete new ignition and still no joy! Getting chessed off at this stage recharghing batteries only to find i wind her so much i wear down the battery and still no joy! Can anyone help me b4 I burn this machine. Shes a 1981 american import GS550T that already had electronic ignition B$ i stuck Boyer Bransden on her! Yes she has spark. Yes she has compression. Yes shes set at TDC as per boyers instructions before setting final timing but no rumble. Please help a very ****ed off dublin lad with a really nice GS sitting at the side of my house!

Help!
Eric in Dublin
Ireland

[Joe Nardy]

Eric,

Was the bike running before you cleaned the carbs? Was it running after you cleaned the carbs? Was it running before you changed the ignition? Does it try to fire at all? Does it backfire through the carbs? If you're sure it has spark and compression that would indicate a possible fuel problem. Is there fuel in the carb float bowls?

Sorry to ask so many questions but this will help everyone help you troubleshoot.

Thanks,
Joe

[EricWoods]

Hi thanks for reply

Bike was running when i bought it. Left it lie for about a month. Found when i tried to start it that i would have spark then no spark. Was very hit and miss if i got spark or not. First thing i did was remove the carbs. Cleaned puilot jet and then main jet. Did not go near air screws as the covers where on the caps. So re fitteted the carbs. Then bought a complete new igntion from boyer bransen in the UK. Still no joy. I defo have fuel in fuel bowls as when i loosen off fuel bowl nut the fuel flows out. Got spark on all 4 cyylnders. No fire though!

Almost a GS550 T on sale

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twr1776]

After you crank it for a bit are your plugs wet with fuel? Is the fuel cap on the gas tank? (don't ask me how I know) Good Luck

[49er]

Hi everyone. Well stuck the new ignition into my 1981gs55oT.Still struggling to get this machine to start. I previously striped the carbs down and cleaned the pilot jet/main jet. Set the new ignition system up. BOYER BRANSDEN. Setup rotor between the magnetic pickups to top dead centre.TDC. Attemped to start bike. No Joy. At this stage i feel like scraping the bike. Feel Like an idiot. Spent way more than the bike cost me between a new clutch cable, new feul petcock, and a complete new ignition and still no joy! Getting chessed off at this stage recharghing batteries only to find i wind her so much i wear down the battery and still no joy! Can anyone help me b4 I burn this machine. Shes a 1981 american import GS550T that already had electronic ignition B$ i stuck Boyer Bransden on her! Yes she has spark. Yes she has compression. Yes shes set at TDC as per boyers instructions before setting final timing but no rumble. Please help a very ****ed off dublin lad with a really nice GS sitting at the side of my house!

Help!
Eric in Dublin
Ireland

Hi Eric
Don't let that bike beat you! I fitted a BB system to my '79 850. It runs great.
Did you buy a new or second hand system? If new, you should have installation instructions that were specific to your model. On the 850, it would have been easy to connect the black and white stator wires up incorrectly. I was changing from points to electronic and had to reverse the wires so that it matched the BB wiring instrustions. If I hadn't done that, I would still have had spark, but it would have been timed incorrectly for each cylinder. Re-check your setup in case you have your wires crossed.
The other thing that might be causing problems is possible dirty pilot jet passages. You should remove the pilot fuel and pilot air screws to ensure that those passages are thoroughly cleaned.
How much running has the bike had since it was imported? If very few kms/miles, the carbs probably need serious attention!
Keep us informed of your progress so we can help get it running.