Seems like carb is running very rich. bike wont stay running

[jh_husker]

I really need help i do not know what to do. 1983 Suzuki GS 550E. It seems like my carbs are running really rich with fuel. I keep having to buy spark plugs just to get it to start and they last for about 3 starts. onces i start to ajust my carbs it starts running bad and dies and wont start because my new plugs i just put in are shot. I got down and smelt the exahst and it smelt like straight gas. if you have any ideas of what i am doing wrong please let me know. i cleaned the carbs out twice and the are clean. thanks for your time.

[80GS750]

check your airbox... sounds like your not getting enough air flow...

did you change anything when this started happening?

you can take a wire brush and clean the carbs when they foul like that you dont have to buy new ones....

try adjusting the side screw on the carbs, thats the fuel screw on your cv's

turning it in will make for less fuel, out for more fuel...

sounds like something is blocking your airflow though... not good

[jh_husker]

does anyone else have any ideas??

[Nessism]

A few of questions:
How does the bike run once you get it going?
Any smoke out the tail pipes?
Did you check the spark by holding a plug against the block and cranking the engine? Bright blue spark?
Condition of battery?

[jh_husker]

i get a blue spark yes but that only last for about 3 starts, battery is brand new just put it in and yes there is smoke that comes out of the pipe. some white and some black. It back fires alot. does that have to do with the timing. i just dont know what else to do. i can get it running and stay running but it runs horrible and really rich in fuel. i cant seem to get the mixture of air and fuel right. i have a k&n air in it so i should be getting plenty of air.

[Nessism]

Sounds like your carbs are causing the problem. Did you take them fully apart when you cleaned them?

[tkent02]

Those shot spark plugs are still good, you just need to clean them up.

[C.V.]

White (or bluish) smoke indicates burning oil, have you checked your compression? Low compression=bad burn=rich condition (as indicated by the black smoke). How many miles on the engine? Also, are you getting a good spark on all 4 cyls with a known good plug? I had a low voltage condition at the coils on my 79 850 that caused a intermittent weak spark, which can also cause a bike to run rich.

[jh_husker]

yes i did take the carbs all the way apart and cleaned them and the bike has alot of miles +45,000, and before i was only getting 2 to run hot and 2 were running ice cold but when i threw new plugs in the other 2 worked fine, i was either thinking it could be the timing chain or the coils, which one of the two do you think it could be. the bike is running like i have the choke on full. that is the best way i can describe it.

[jh_husker]

i am having a problem setting the floats do to i have to do it by eye because i do not have the tool to help me with it.

[rustybronco]

i am having a problem setting the floats do to i have to do it by eye because i do not have the tool to help me with it.

ya just need a ruler (6" pocket size, the one with a sliding tee), or you can take a piece of card stock and cut out a square in the corner with the proper height.