GS 1000 L Hard starting did a test

[Guest]

I have a 1979 GS 1000L, 17 k miles. It has a very hard time starting, The petcock is a two position petcock. Run, and Reserve, to the right side of it it has a brass screw srew out for fuel in to stop. I screw it in when not running it to shut off fuel flow. It is a one hose percock as someone had me check, no vacuum line to it.
Here is my problem, when I go to restart the bike I open up the screw let it stand for a minute and then try, it doesn't have any fuel and takes about 15 minutes to get it started. This is the same scenario over and over again, full choke wide open throttle noting.
Test time I left the fuel screw open and two days later I had time went to start it and bingo it started as soon as I hit the starter button.
Does it sound like the fuel is draining out of the carb float bowls?
I don't think they have ever been worked on as this bike seems pretty much stock. The bike sits in my folks garage and you can smell gas in the air. The line you see is the only one that can attach to the petcock, Thanks

[Larry D]

I've never seen a petcock like that.....of course I haven't seen many. Have you found who manufactured it ?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Please take this with a grain of salt.

That looks like the stock petcock. According to the parts fiches I've looked at, the stock petcock for your bike is a two-hose petcock. The port on the bottom of the petcock, pointing toward the right side of the bike, is the fuel line (in the pictures we can see your fuel line connected). There is another port on the back of the petcock, nearer the top, pointing forward (as you sit on the bike) which is the vacuum port.

Is this how your assembly looks? All I've got are pictures to look at.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[sachsaca]

I just checked, the hose you see connected points inwards going under the tank and is the fuel line. The only other line is connected to the fuel gauge running inside and up to the fuel meter inside the tank. I looked before as you said to and did again to make sure and the line you see is the only fuel line leaving out it points towards the frames spine.
It looks stock due to the dirt and fit under the tank, But who knows the deeper I get the more I see bugered up.
I need a manual on this thing bad and need a manual on VM 26 carbs so I know how to run everything and what hoses go where. Any idears?
How does the fuel drain out of the float bowls, I looked and there was a trail of fluids dried up and strong fuel smell.

[Big T]

1. That's the wrong petcock for your bike
2. Go to BassCliff's website for a manual and carb info - look down near the bottom of his post above - read everything there
3. What is on the vacuum port on the #3 carb?
4. Your floats are stuck if you're leaking gas - have you cleaned your carbs?
5. Has this bike ever been running well while you've owned it?

[sachsaca]

1. That's the wrong petcock for your bike
2. Go to BassCliff's website for a manual and carb info - look down near the bottom of his post above - read everything there
3. What is on the vacuum port on the #3 carb?
4. Your floats are stuck if you're leaking gas - have you cleaned your carbs?
5. Has this bike ever been running well while you've owned it?

1.Ok wrong pet cock, Bass Cliff kinda eluded to that earlier. Will it make a difference to have a stock one.
2. Will go to BassCliff's site
3. I have no idea whats on Vacuum port three, I'm learning this as I go hense the manual I need. There is though an empty nipple sticking up in that area, BassCliff said he thought it should go to the petcock as a vacuum actuated petcock. But my picture does not illude to much so I hold no one to task.
4. Just got the bike and wife just broke her foot so I barely have had time to work on it.
5. Actually it runs pretty descent but rich, the plugs are black, Bosch Platinum 4 contacts. It needs an air filter box which I just scored on ebay, put bands on the carbs connecting to the volume box. The person that had it didn't think to replace the stuff he took off so I'm putting it back. I am new to working on motorcycles, have done car stuff but not bikes so it is a steep learning curve for me and I want to get it right. It's not too bad needs some lovin and rubbin on and I want to learn. Thank you

I went to BassCliff's site as recomended and found the service manual and the carbs, wow. This will be a great help, and no per the manual it is not the stock petcock.
Larry D no sir I haven't found who manufactured it. Just made in Japan
Big T thank you I did go to Bass Cliff's web site.
BassCliff thank you for your time and effort in the web site, it is a great help for a newb motorcycle messerupper like me.
I've always flown by the seat of my pants, guess thats why I messed up so much. Evil Knievel