78 GS750 Kickstart issue

[StoneGekko]

Just bought (yesterday) a 78 GS750 and the electric ignition doesn't work ( i'm thinking its the starter, but thats a future issue )

Just wondering if theres any tricks to kickstarting this beast, i've got it going a couple of times but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason, and i'm already sick of smashing my shins

i'm kicking it with about 1/3rd throttle and in neutral on the centre stand... i've tried it cold, i've tried it 10 times in a row, i've tried kickstarting it with the ignition off a couple of times and then turning the ignition on and kicking it...

any help would be appreciated... thanks in advance

[hampshirehog]

Should just fire up cold with the choke on and no throttle. However, every one of these beasts is different. You need to check if you've got a spark and then if you're getting wet plugs to narrow down why it won't start.

[tomo]

No real trick to kickstarting a Jap four, unlike say an old brit single or twin. However, sometimes worth leaving ignition off, and giving a couple of swings on the kicker. Turn on ignition then try kickstarting it again. If the bike has been stood a while, try turning the petcock to the prime position for a minute or so first, or give a couple of puffs into the carb breather tubes.

[greg78gs750]

shouldnt take any throttle, but choke on. where are you? when it is cold out, my 78gs750 doesnt like thinking about starting, sometimes, especially when bringing her out of hibernation, i will put a heat lamp on it for an hour or so to physically warm things up....makes a huge difference, esp. on that first spring go. i also put it on prime for 10 sec or so, esp if i havent run it in a few days/weeks.

kick it like you mean it.

[greg78gs750]

Should just fire up cold with the choke on and no throttle. However, every one of these beasts is different. You need to check if you've got a spark and then if you're getting wet plugs to narrow down why it won't start.

yes, does it, in fact, run? cause, if things are off, you can kick it all day and all you might get is a sore leg.....

[StoneGekko]

yes, does it, in fact, run? cause, if things are off, you can kick it all day and all you might get is a sore leg.....

HAHA.. already got the sore leg... but i have got it running a few times...
haven't tried sucking on the vacuum tubing yet.. might try that later today...

i'm getting spark, but going to rip out the plugs to to check them to see if they're getting wet


Thanks for all the info.. new to the whole bike thing and haven't picked up a haynes manual yet.. LOL

[StoneGekko]

oh and when it's running, it seems to run good... sounds good.. just have to adjust the idle properly (dies when theres no throttle)

[greg78gs750]

HAHA.. already got the sore leg... but i have got it running a few times...
haven't tried sucking on the vacuum tubing yet.. might try that later today...

i'm getting spark, but going to rip out the plugs to to check them to see if they're getting wet


Thanks for all the info.. new to the whole bike thing and haven't picked up a haynes manual yet.. LOL

well, you are in the right place.

i got my bike a few years ago, and ran it for 3 yrs with no problems, i just this winter took some of it apart...which has made me wonder if it was really running so great to begin with.

i am sure others are going to chime in to tell you this, but a valve check and carb going over is considered "requisite" stuff to do when you first join the cult....er....community of gs owners.

let us know how it is going!

[tkent02]

There's a downloadable Suzuki service manual for your exact bike, don't bother with the Hayne's. Think it was linked through Bascliff's site or somewhere.
Tight valves make for hard cold starting.

[jknappsax]

blowing into the vent tubes

Though I've never had to, you blow into the vent tubes, not suck. and, is that you Alvaro? Your profile doesn't say where you are, but these posts are VERY familiar! (Except the electric start on the 1978 GS 750 I just sold definitely works!) As to why the electric start might not work, make sure that the plate that the starter relay has a good ground; to test this, run a jumper wire from the negative terminal on the battery to the plate under the left sidecover where the relay mounts, then try the starter. Mine did this after I took the plate and battery box off to pull the carbs and airbox to replace the rubber o-rings and manifolds, and that solved it. The plate sits in two slots on the outside of the battery box, and bolts on at the top of the box, which sometimes doesn't provide a good ground after some corrosion forms. When I took the assembly apart, I disturbed the ground, which SHOULD have been restored when I reassembled. I felt a direct-to-negative ground connection was more reliable.

[StoneGekko]

There's a downloadable Suzuki service manual for your exact bike, don't bother with the Hayne's. Think it was linked through Bascliff's site or somewhere.
Tight valves make for hard cold starting.

I'll have a check... i found one for a 77, but it wasn't as informative as i would have liked....

[StoneGekko]

So i checked the spark plugs... well... the oustide 2 spark plugs...
the one on the right side was wet and the one on the left side was dry.

i blew on the vacuum hose i think... there were 2 hoses coming from the carb? and wrapped up over and were both sticking down over the back of the air intake.. were those the right ones?

[Zooks]

Your carbs will almost certainly need cleaning. Do a search and read some of the old threads on carb cleaning (there are hundreds).

[Go Mifune]

I always check the simple stuff first. Key in the proper ignition one position, Run button in the Run Position, Good amount of gas in the tank, then turn the fuel valve to prime for about 10 seconds then turn it to the 6 oclock position, choke lever on and let it rip with a few good kicks. No throttle and what I do to avoid hitting my shin is I turn my big toe away from the bike and use the center of my foot right at the arch of my foot. Also when you get it running you can adjust the throttle with the little white knob between the 2 center carbs beneath the tank.

[Taflet]

Probably a really obvious thing to check, but should be on the list anyway:

Make sure your battery is charged - and holding a charge. My starter wouldn't do anything on my 78 GS750 and it turned out to just be a bad/dead battery. New battery, instant starting.

But I do agree with previous suggestions: Turn the ignition off, kick it over 3-4 times. Ignition on, choke to half or 3/4, and a flick of the start button should have it race to life pretty easily.