Fouled Plugs... kinda...

[uudfourty]

Second time in as many months the 81GS550 has left me walking.

Both times, a roadside replacement of the plugs fixed the problem.

Both times, none of the plugs looked particularly bad.

New Dyna Coils and wires.

I'm up for a valve job-- it's hard starting when cold, but otherwise, the plugs read fine.
Then all of a sudden, one day when going down the highway (never 2 miles from the house) power lost, engine bogs, bike dies.

Nothing but new plugs fixes the problem.

I'm hoping it's the valves for some reason... I'll be changing the intake o-rings next month as well as the valves. We'll see.

[Nessism]

Are you sure it's not a fuel supply issue? Check the petcock lately?

[KRISTI'SGS550]

This sounds a lot like the problems I have been experiencing and I checked the petcock and it wasn't functioning properly.

[Steve]

When you say "valve job" do you merely mean an adjustment, or are you taking the head off to get it refurbished?


.

[SqDancerLynn1]

RUn it around the block until it quits. Put a spare plug in one of the plug wires & check for spark,

[Billyboy]

RUn it around the block until it quits. Put a spare plug in one of the plug wires & check for spark,

This is smart thinking.:-D

[uudfourty]

When you say "valve job" do you merely mean an adjustment, or are you taking the head off to get it refurbished?
.

Adjustment

RUn it around the block until it quits. Put a spare plug in one of the plug wires & check for spark,

Did this the last time it died on me (on the northbound shoulder of I-27) All were well.
#3 was a little weak and intermittent, but otherwise everything was OK.
Changed all of the plugs and let it sit for a minute (acted flooded) and off we went.

I'll look into the petcock-- easy troubleshooting.