HELP!! 1981 gs1000l no spark

[fijidan]

run a wire from the positive battery terminal directly to the starter relay, make sure your fuses are in place

[psyguy]

run a wire from the positive battery terminal directly to the starter relay

i thought this is how they come from the factory, no?


foxx85, what are the symptoms now?

[foxxx85]

It won't fire. It will crank over, it has spark, when i pulled the plug out it was just barely wet. I checked the petcock and fuel flows. i tried spraying a quick shot of starting fluid into #1 and it popped a few times like it was thinking about starting. But it won't fire up and run.

[psyguy]

set the fuel tap on "prime"
pull the choke
make sure the battery is full (or jump it) and the starter motor is ok so you get a fast crancking
use new (or recent) fuel

that should do it, unless the carbs are like totally gummed up

[foxxx85]

I put the petcock on prime, full choke. The bike was last run in march. Before it was put back into the garage Fuel stabilizer was added. Should i empty the tank and refill it with new fuel?

[psyguy]

I put the petcock on prime, full choke. The bike was last run in march. Before it was put back into the garage Fuel stabilizer was added. Should i empty the tank and refill it with new fuel?

try first determine why the sparkplugs arent wet

you can take the carbs float bowl drain bolts off and set the fuel tap on prime and see if indeed the fuel flows through the bowls

but yes, a new fuel would help

[foxxx85]

i removed the drain to carb 1 and fuel came out. i changed the fuel in the tank ...still nothing. Also, the hose on the right side of the tank. I have been told on another thread that this is an overflow. however, when i just took everything off again i followed the hose and it goes to the vent connection between carbs 1 and 2. would this affect much?

[psyguy]

you need to drain the old fuel from all 4 bowls and confirm that the new fuel is flowing in

from the fuel tap the big hose is the fuel line to the carbs, the small hose is the vacuum line to the front of the carbs 1-2

inbetween the carbs 1and2 and 3and4 there are breather hoses - they do not connect to anything

one other thought - you do have the aibox with the filter element in, right?

[foxxx85]

Yes the airbox and filter are in. I did not connect the hoses i just followed them to where they went. Meaning, that is how i recieved the bike. there is no hose on the breather for 3 and 4. Where should the hose on the right side of the tank run to then?

[psyguy]

on the bikes i've seen that hose from the tank is never connected to anything, it is just routed inbetween the tank and the seat towards the ground

dont see what else to do with it... but if the bike ran before then that hose is not your problem anyway

are the plugs getting wet now (after longer crancking)?

[foxxx85]

I just removed the airbox and peeked into the carbs. I gave a quick shot of carb cleaner. I hit the start button and it fired and ran strong for about 20 seconds. i reconnected the fuel source (left the airbox off). if i hold the throttle open about 3/4 or full it will spit and sputter some and even run for a few seconds (but very weak) I get no fire at all if i dont hold the throttle.

[psyguy]

are the plugs getting wet now (after longer cranking)?

this is important as it tells you weather the fuel is getting to the carbs

if the plugs are not wet or only semi-wet you may have a gummed up carb pilot circuits

the equation is simple - properly sealed air intake and exhaust systems + fuel + spark = ignition (and you should have it even if the spark is weak and the fuel mixture is not ideal)

the bike wont start without the airbox

also, have you ever checked the engine compression and the valve clearances? cos if those are not good, they would contribute to the problem

[foxxx85]

I drained all 4 carbs and sent fresh fuel to them. i pulled the plugs again and fuel ran out. so there is gas getting to the bowls. I put the air box back on and tried to fire the bike... It would fire if i played with the throttle (about 3/4 of the way, but would die very shortly after it started. I checked the plugs and they were not very wet at all. Does this mean that i am going to have to disassemble the carbs and clean them (i hope not.) compression is good and i dont know how to check valve clearance.

[psyguy]

I checked the plugs and they were not very wet at all. Does this mean that i am going to have to disassemble the carbs and clean them (i hope not.)

i am affraid thats the only other thing not yet checked - the carbs pilot and choke circuits

for a start, as you take the carbs down, you can take the jets out and spray the carb cleaner through the passages to confirm they are open - but taking the carbs appart would be better
there is a tutorial for that on the gsr homepage
or ask if somebody on the forum may want to do it for you without charging the shop prices

i dont know how to check valve clearance.

look it up on "bikecliff" website - theres a fantastic tutorial/pictorial - you can download the service manual as well
checking the valve clearances is easier than taking the carbs apart so you may want to try doing that first

[foxxx85]

ok... here is the current status. i went out an hour or so ago and just for grins hit the start. It fired right up. I let it run for about 5 mins and it popped and cracked(and smoked out the left exhaust) for about 5 mins. then died. I hit it again and it fired up again but died after a few seconds. I realized that when i came in earlier i had forgot the cock on PRIME. I checked the fuel flow through the filter and even on prime...when the gastank is seated properly... there isn't much flow at all. If i lift the tank slightly it flows ok. So i filled the tank about half full and fuel flows a little better but it just seems like the line from the cock is so bent that it obstructs proper flow. I just need to figure out a good route i guess to allow good flow. Also. the Idle is horribly erratic. i start it once and it idles at like 3800. after a while i shut it off and start once more and it idles at 1200. i have no idea what that means. Sorry ...this post is kinda all over the place. But the bike will fire up now.