leaking carbs

[geewiz]

Okay guys, some help please....I pulled my GS1000 out of its 12 year hibernation. Replaced the stator (which was the reason I put it away years ago - got tired of run and jump starting), cleaned the 12 year old gas out of the tank, cleaned the tank, put in fresh gas. Changed oil and filter. Changed fuel line. I had drained the carbs before storage.

I was pleased that it started up right away and sounded good. I was suspecting gummed up carbs, but everything sounded great at various rpm's. Then I noticed...gas was dripping out from the carbs. Hard to tell where from exactly - in fact seemed to be coming from the carb boot to head joint, but that must be unlikely. I thought maybe it was the float bowl gasket, but it seems to be leaking higher up.

I am thinking that the gaskets and/or o-rings have dried out and shrunk. Now that there is gas in there, would they expand at all?

Or would my floats/needle & seats be stuck? Would overflowing bowls leak the gas outside the carbs? I will tap on the carbs with a piece of wood to see if that helps loosen them up.

Any other suggestions? (I know, rebuild the carbs, right?) I couldn't even get a stator cover gasket from the local dealers - they tell me there are none in all of Canada - it would need to be back ordered probably from Japan! So I made a gasket and it seems to be holding fine. So getting parts from the dealer is either 1) hugely expensive, or 2) long delay.
Any suggestions for part sources. I also should replace the 8 rubber carb boots and the o-rings, if I can find reasonably priced ones.

thanks for your suggestions, guys!

[chuckycheese]

Needle valves

I think one or more of your needle valves is stuck. That's a really common occurrence when a bike sits. It can even happen to bikes with no gas in the carbs. Often, the little spring 'freezes' up. You really should pull them and give them a good cleaning because I believe you're going to end up doing it soon anyway.

As far as your "O" rings swelling again, they might or might not depending upon how badly they've deteriorated. You'll want to put in new ones when you clean the carbs anyway. Since it seems to run fairly well, you should be on the road in no time!:-D

I''m curious about parts availability....can't you just order stuff from a dealer in the U.S.??? (We can buy things from Canada very easily.)

[Nessism]

Go straight to the carb cleaning and change all the o-rings with a kit from cycleorings.com Replace the intake boot O-rings as well since they are sure to leak considering how old they are. Build a solid foundation and you won't have to mess with the carbs for years to come.

[geewiz]

I''m curious about parts availability....can't you just order stuff from a dealer in the U.S.??? (We can buy things from Canada very easily.)

Well, I have ordered quite a few parts for my snowmobiles from retailers in the USA, but haven't tried Suzuki dealers. I will have to dig up some addresses of dealers/email addresses. I will be in Minneapolis in a month, so maybe a little time in dealerships is in order! (I can see my wife's face now...)

Dealing with Canada Customs can be aggravating, but things seem to be getting a little better with those usually miserable folks. Now that our dollars are close to the same, it is getting more reasonable to pay the extra shipping and handling, duties, taxes and Canada Post Charges (if sent by USPS).

The shipping charges are much higher to cross the border - I ordered a part and the shipping charges were $40. To ship the same item to northern Minnesota (I live 60 miles north of Minnesota) is $8. Crossing the line is expensive for some reason...and you do NOT want to get a brokerage firm involved...minimum $35 processing fee, plus a fee per item!

[Nessism]

You might want to contact Robert Barr at cycleorings.com to find out about shipping to Canada. Most likely, no problem.

[mighty13d]

You might want to contact Robert Barr at cycleorings.com to find out about shipping to Canada. Most likely, no problem.

It'd probably be the same as sending a letter since he puts his in normal envelopes. Simple, fast and easy!

[doctorgonzo]

You should be proud Nessism, after seeing it so many times I finally broke down and ordered a set of o-rings from cycleorings. I've never taken my carbs off the rack, but probably do it this winter, so getting prepared. Now I need a cheap parts set so I can replace my one slightly torn diaphragm.

[johnbtrask]

Leaking Carbs

I went thru the pretty much the same thing several months ago with my GS1100 ES.

While it is possible for the floats to stick open or for one or more of the flouts themselves to be filled with gas (so it doesn't flout) the most likely problem is the O rings on the fuel cross feed pipes are leaking. This was my problem.

I suspect that its good idea to rebuild the carbs if your having problems after a long time in storage. Buy the O rings from the site listed in the carb rebuild section, and be especially careful to make sure all the air, and fuel passages and jets are not blocked or clogged before re assembly.

[jadesystem]

Just buy a complete carb rebuild kit. It is only $75-$80 and you'll have
all the parts to do a complete job. 12 years is a long time of just sitting idle.

[Nessism]

Just buy a complete carb rebuild kit. It is only $75-$80 and you'll have
all the parts to do a complete job. 12 years is a long time of just sitting idle.

I’ve posted this photo several times before so for the old timers here, please forgive.

Bottom photo is the bike after I got it running.

My 550E sat for 27 years in the original owners garage – with the petcock in the PRIME position.:shock:

Did the rebuild using an O-ring kit from cycleorings.com and new float bowl gaskets. All jets were reused, as were the float needle and seat. Only problem was I destroyed two pilot fuel screws because I screwed them in too tight – my fault.

Ordering a complete carb rebuild kit is unnecessary, but hey, if it makes you feel good…do it.






.

[lurch12_2000]

.

Looked like the underside of the ocean docks covered with crustaceans...and I'm ashamed of you for riding around with paint chips off the stator cover emblem!
eerrrhhh...do you think you can get my G engine clean like yours too??8-[

[mighty13d]

HOLY CRAP Nessism, the outside of mine looked similar to that when I pulled them off, but the insides looked GREAT despite the bike sitting. I can't believe the transformation your carbs took!! wow

[geewiz]

That photo is incredible! You could tar that road with that gunk!
Congrats on getting them clean and installed on that very nice looking bike.
-GW

[simon kuether]

When I got my '79 S back on the road after taking 12 months to refurbish it,my carbs leakeded until all the new carb gaskets swelldeded.As part of my start up ritual, I twist my throttle to about 1/4 and release(just to bounce everything) before I turn on the fuel.Doesn't sound like there's to much wrong with your old thing if she started that easily.Having said this,if she's been sitting for that long ,as others have said,it would be worth going through the carbs THOROUGHLY ,then pretty much forget them and move on to the next thing that annoys you.Good to hear another good old girl has been returned from the brink.Cheers,Simon.\\/