Confused, bike runs in afternoon but wont start in the AM

[AJKnowles700E]

Alright, my 85 GS 700 will not start in the morning but will turn over but sounds like it is not getting fuel. However in the afternoon it turns over and runs beautifully and can shut it off and start it up again no problem.

Here is what works:
Petcock on tank works as it should
Carbs are clean and synced
fuel filter flows freely
vent on carb appears to be clear and working
battery is charged and new

Any suggestions? I am truly baffled and confused and aggravated. Thanks

[Steve]

Any suggestions?

Adjust the valves.


It's not on your list of things done, and is a primary cause of lack of starting when cold. I know, it sounds weird, but trust me.

[DimitriT]

So you apply choke but can't get it to start?

Are you priming the carbs before attempting to start it with choke?

[Jethro]

Agree with Steve, if your valves haven't been adjusted start with that, then troubleshoot. It's pointless to even begin until the valvetrain is in spec.

[Dave8338]

Agree with Steve, if your valves haven't been adjusted start with that, then troubleshoot. It's pointless to even begin until the valvetrain is in spec.

...and if you don't believe Steve and Jethro, ask Uncle Mike how much of a difference a good valve adjustment makes.

It is a GS MUST!

[Ohioan]

Well, what about a bad spark plug wire? I had that problem on my Honda Civic. My car wouldn't start in the morning, when moisture had collected on the inside of hood, and around the distributer cap/spark plug wires.

Get the bike running in the afternoon, and take a spray bottle and mist with water around the spark plug wires. Is there a distributer cap on these bad boys? if so, spray around there too. If it starts to run really rough, you have a bad seal somewhere.

[BassCliff]

Well, what about a bad spark plug wire? I had that problem on my Honda Civic. My car wouldn't start in the morning, when moisture had collected on the inside of hood, and around the distributer cap/spark plug wires.

Get the bike running in the afternoon, and take a spray bottle and mist with water around the spark plug wires. Is there a distributer cap on these bad boys? if so, spray around there too. If it starts to run really rough, you have a bad seal somewhere.

Hmmmmm.

My Suzuki Shop Manual doesn't show a distributor cap anywhere on my motorcycle. Where is yours?

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[rapidray]

Maybe your bike is out partying all night & just likes to sleep in! I have the same problem with my 18 year old. Ray.

[Larry D]

Maybe your bike is out partying all night & just likes to sleep in! I have the same problem with my 18 year old. Ray.

Me too, along with his 20 year old brother.......I did the same thing. Teaching someone not to make the same mistakes you did, is a difficult thing.

[Dave8338]

Hmmmmm.

My Suzuki Shop Manual doesn't show a distributor cap anywhere on my motorcycle. Where is yours?

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[UncleMike]

...and if you don't believe Steve and Jethro, ask Uncle Mike how much of a difference a good valve adjustment makes.

It is a GS MUST!

Damn right. As others have said, if you're not starting with everything in spec, you're working against yourself.

[AJKnowles700E]

Thanks for all the replies! I did forget to mention that the valves have been adjusted this year and are all up to spec. I have not tried to prime it since the night before I put on 100 miles and thought the float bowls would have been full also tried running fuel in through a funnel from a long hose to provide extra pressure. Tried again this morning and got nothing. It was only 50 deg. which I didn't think was that cold and it is stored in a garage (not heated). Again thanks and keep your minds thinking I still don't get it!

And, no distributor cap as you would have imagined.

[tejasmud]

If everything is in "check," the choke seems to work well on cool mornings.

Sometimes a little ritual becomes habit. This is a normal thing with cold engines that use carburetors, but an engine must be tuned so.

What time of year did you do the last tuning?

[AJKnowles700E]

If everything is in "check," the choke seems to work well on cool mornings.

Sometimes a little ritual becomes habit. This is a normal thing with cold engines that use carburetors, but an engine must be tuned so.

What time of year did you do the last tuning?

Engine was tuned a couple of weeks ago same weather/temps. Looked tonight after my father in-laws suggestion to see if the choke lever pulled the choke rail all the way out and it seemed that it pulled it almost all the way out and with my fingers I could pull it an extra 2mm not sure if that will be enough to make a difference but I am going to give it a whirl in the AM and see what happens. If not then I am still lost.

Does your 700 have vent "T"s between the 1&2 and 3&4 carbs or straight tubing? Mine does not have the vent ts like the 850 does and wasn't sure if that was something that had been tinkered with/changed by the previous redneck mechanic. Thanks for replies, the saga could end tomorrow morning!

[Zooks]

Maybe your bike is out partying all night & just likes to sleep in! I have the same problem with my 18 year old. Ray.

Me too, along with his 20 year old brother.......I did the same thing. Teaching someone not to make the same mistakes you did, is a difficult thing.

Me three.

Although, I don't have kids (thank god), it's actually me that hates mornings. I'm happy to be up till 3am but if I am don't wake me before 10 o'clock.

I do much better in the afternoon and evening. By then I am firing on all cyclinders.