hard starting ideas ??

[north49]

Howdy folks...Can the gurus weigh in on my problem ? I have an `80 GS 1000 that is really difficult to start when cold. Six months ago I rebuilt the carbs and installed new spark plugs at the same time. In the past week or so it has become VERY difficult to start when cold. When it finally starts, it runs and idles perfectly. It`s like the choke circuit isn`t working but I don`t really believe that. I tried blowing into the carb vent tubes to see if it helped starting but no difference. The battery turns the bike over very well but it won`t start or even fire on any cyclinders. Could this be a bad battery problem or ? ? ? Thanks for all your comments and ideas.
regards Les S.

[tkent02]

Poor cold starts are a classic symptom of intake and exhaust valves that need adjustment.

[GQROD]

Did you use Stabil or seafoam in the tank before you put it away for six months?

If not your choke circuit is clogged, this has to have the smallest orifice of all the jets so it's easy to clog from varnished gasoline.

Is your choke cable adjusted properly?

As mentioned are your valves properly adjusted?

Take your battery to wal-mart or auto zone or Pep Boys and have a LOAD test done on it to make sure when it's starting that it is pulling the correct amperage.

Are you getting proper voltage to your coils?

Did you check for spark by putting the plug with wire attached to the head and turning the engine over?

Did you vac sync your carbs ?

Are the plugs gapped properly?

Is your idle speed correct in conjunction with your fuel/air mixture screws?

Did you do plug chops to confirm your mixture settings?

Sounds like a lot but a lot can go wrong if all these things aren't right.

[posplayr]

Measure the coil voltage

Mine was at about 9.5V and just would not start , but ran fine after charging the bat for a while. Coil mod was the solution. Now runs about 0.5V below the battery and starts instantly with full choke and no throttle.
Pos

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. north49,

Have you been using a battery tender? What kind of shape is your battery in? You'll find valve adjustment and coil relay mod information on my website. I also highly recommend both. Keep us informed.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[spyug]

Two things:

1) valves need adjusting
2) less than optimum spark. Check over the coil relay mod....makes a huge differences!

Both of these procedures are fully detailed on Bass cliff's website. They will make starting a whole load easier.

Cheers,
spyug

[Steve]

I agree with the previous posters, but I put more emphasis on valve adjustment.

.

[BassCliff]

I agree with the previous posters, but I put more emphasis on valve adjustment.

Definitely. When I bought my bike, I don't think the valves had ever been adjusted (at 13,800 miles). It made a huge difference, easier starts, smoother running, less vibration, quicker to rev up, etc. I also got taller, grew more hair, was more attractive to the ladies, lost weight, and lowered my cholesterol.

Of course, you have to use the tappet tool to get the extra benefits. None of this "zip tie" nonsense.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

... I also got taller, grew more hair, was more attractive to the ladies, lost weight, and lowered my cholesterol.

Of course, you have to use the tappet tool to get the extra benefits. None of this "zip tie" nonsense.

On the other side of the issue ...
I'm already 6' 5", so I don't need to be much taller.
Still have a full head of hair, so don't need to grow any more.
The ladies couldn't stand it if I were more attractive.
I obviously haven't lost any weight.
My choleseterol is in the tolerable range.

... and I use the zip-tie method.

.

[bwringer]

Agreed on all points, especially the valve adjustment. A GS should start instantly in any weather.

At every GS rally, there's always one guy. The guy who finds it easier to get up a half hour early every morning to start his GS instead of ADJUSTING THE FREAKING VALVES...!!!

wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbapoot

wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbapootpoot

wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbapootpatootpoot

wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbapatootpoot pootpootpowpowpowpowpowpowpowpatootpoot

wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba (what kind of über-battery does this guy have, anyway?) wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba
wubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubbawubba wubbawubba

wubbawubbawubbapatootpootpootpowpowpowpowpowkerpow powpowpowpowpowpowpowpwopwopwopwowpowpowpwopowWAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAA
(this is the part where he leaves it running on full choke at 4,000 rpm for 15 minutes as an acrid miasma of half-burned fuel envelopes the parking lot and half the county.)


Aaarrrrrrggghhh!

Tight valves screw up the vacuum "signals" the carbs need to mix up the right amount of fuel and air, and cold starts become more and more difficult.