1978 GS550 Stalls - Fuel Starvation? Distance on one tank?

[2wheelN00B]

For what it's worth, my 81 gs750l was having the same idling problem last night. Put some fuel cleaner in and new gas (low on gas for a couple weeks) worked the new (good) gas into the system, and is now running 90% better,

[Joneman]

Carb cleaning a success + Other questions

Thank you all for the help!

Yesterday I cleaned my carbs and check my gas tank flow..
My tank flows pretty good (but I am have nothing to really compare it to) Heres a link to the video (I think the tank was close to empty when I shot this movie) and some other pictures on my blog: http://1978gs550c.blogspot.com/.

Heres a picture of the "gunk" out of one of my carbs.. they were all pretty much the same as this





I fully drained the gas tank, and it was pretty clean inside... Once everything was back together, I put 5L of supreme gas in her and I ran her 10kms into town to a gas station, no problems getting there, and filled her up to the brim with supreme. I figure I'll try and run some higher grade gas in it once a month or so.

With the front tire in bad shape (its pretty "scalloped") I will wait for a longer trip, as those were the ones with the problems..

Thanks again for all the help : )

Oh a few other questions..

What is the hose coming out of the bottom of the carb float bowl? Also, should the small amount of gas (leak) worry me?




What is this wire going into the plastic head in the following picture? It seems to be able to just slide out



Is there way to clean the plug threads, or anything I can drop in here to clean it up?

[prosolar]

It's impossible to see the threads on your cylinder head, but if need be you can run a thread chaser (very carefully) or tap to clean up the threads. Make sure you buy the right thread size and pitch. I'm thinking 14mm X 1.25mm? Fuel flow looks good and donating that gas is a good idea. That may be why your plugs look so bad.

[prosolar]

P.S. the right side cover off my GS550E fell off yesterday! I went back out and found it but it's a little beat up, or I should say more beat up! Here's a picture of my girlfriend next to it when she rode it on a trip to the Olympic peninsula.

[Calvin Blackmore]

Thank you all for the help!

Yesterday I cleaned my carbs and check my gas tank flow..
My tank flows pretty good (but I am have nothing to really compare it to) Heres a link to the video (I think the tank was close to empty when I shot this movie) and some other pictures on my blog: http://1978gs550c.blogspot.com/.

Heres a picture of the "gunk" out of one of my carbs.. they were all pretty much the same as this





I fully drained the gas tank, and it was pretty clean inside... Once everything was back together, I put 5L of supreme gas in her and I ran her 10kms into town to a gas station, no problems getting there, and filled her up to the brim with supreme. I figure I'll try and run some higher grade gas in it once a month or so.

With the front tire in bad shape (its pretty "scalloped") I will wait for a longer trip, as those were the ones with the problems..

Thanks again for all the help : )

Oh a few other questions..

What is the hose coming out of the bottom of the carb float bowl? Also, should the small amount of gas (leak) worry me?




What is this wire going into the plastic head in the following picture? It seems to be able to just slide out



Is there way to clean the plug threads, or anything I can drop in here to clean it up?

just run good god fearing ESSO or Irving regular fuel
you may want to follow up with a shot of in tank cleaner and run ti through in one drive
follow up with a top of of fresh regular gas

Are the plug threads messed up by cross threading or do the plugs spin in easily unitl they are nearly seated?
you can chase the holes with a tap but I think you need one specifically for the purpose as the holes are likely tapered.


im not sure about the float bowl tube but the connector is likely feeding the indicator light for your oil pressure indicator

[Suzuki_Don]

The float bowl tube is an overflow tube to bleed of excess fuel if the float bowl overfills. The wire is to the oil pressure switch.

[Joneman]

Threads

Prosolar - Does that gas look bad?? and im glad you found your cover

Calvin - are you saying that supreme gas is worst than regular for the motorcycle? and for the tank cleaner, I have a bottle for my car.. how much should I put in my motorcycle and are all kinds safe? and the plug threads are not damaged just dirty (with soot)

And thanks Don and Calvin for the info -

Hope everyone is having weather as good as it is here! I just ordered my front tire 100/90H-19 BW S11 (Spitfire) 64.19 + taxes + levy + shipping from moncton to fredericton (200kms?) for 99$ from G-Bourque in Moncton - anyone in NB they have great prices 30 or 40% off retail -

Cheers

[Calvin Blackmore]

Prosolar - Does that gas look bad?? and im glad you found your cover

Calvin - are you saying that supreme gas is worst than regular for the motorcycle? and for the tank cleaner, I have a bottle for my car.. how much should I put in my motorcycle and are all kinds safe? and the plug threads are not damaged just dirty (with soot)

And thanks Don and Calvin for the info -

Hope everyone is having weather as good as it is here! I just ordered my front tire 100/90H-19 BW S11 (Spitfire) 64.19 + taxes + levy + shipping from moncton to fredericton (200kms?) for 99$ from G-Bourque in Moncton - anyone in NB they have great prices 30 or 40% off retail -

Cheers

well being as there are no electroncis or sensors int he fuel system go ahead and use a commercially available bottle

I have used laquer thinner in the past and had no ill effects
machine worked like a bastard but I got the stuff pumped thorugh in less than half and hour and had fresh gas in system quickly.....

premium fuel is needed to prevent engine knock in higher compression vehicles so is unneeded in your bike
it may arguably contain some cleaners etc.
but its not worht it unless you need it.

soot in the plug holes is pretty normal if you can readily install and remove your plugs then do not worry about it.

G Bourqe is a great spot for tires and such
have fun witht he install
its not hard but there is a knack to it
use irons if you can get em
cause you realy scracth the chrome on your box-end wrenches using them as levers.

[Joneman]

Now waiting for tire...

well being as there are no electroncis or sensors int he fuel system go ahead and use a commercially available bottle

I have used laquer thinner in the past and had no ill effects
machine worked like a bastard but I got the stuff pumped thorugh in less than half and hour and had fresh gas in system quickly.....

premium fuel is needed to prevent engine knock in higher compression vehicles so is unneeded in your bike
it may arguably contain some cleaners etc.
but its not worht it unless you need it.

soot in the plug holes is pretty normal if you can readily install and remove your plugs then do not worry about it.

G Bourqe is a great spot for tires and such
have fun witht he install
its not hard but there is a knack to it
use irons if you can get em
cause you realy scracth the chrome on your box-end wrenches using them as levers.

Thank you Calvin for the great info! I am going to order a manual soon... any ideas on a good canadian supplier? Shipping from US stores kind of gets pricey..

I don't think i'm going to tackle changing the tires.. The guy I bought the bike said he'd do it for free at his workplace... I might just tackle taking the front wheel off, but am kind of hesitant considering I might mess up the brakes somehow. Right now im painting the center stand I got.

Where in NB are you from Calvin? I wonder if there is enough NB GS owners to have a rally... haha

[Joneman]

Driving again

So I finally got the front tire changed 45$ for change and balance at Sutherland Honda in Fredericton, NB, which is 10$ cheaper than Macleans -

I decided to check my chain's movement with a ruler, and lo and behold my eyes know nothing - it has 2.5 inches of movement, so I will try and tackle tightening my chain.

[Calvin Blackmore]

So I finally got the front tire changed 45$ for change and balance at Sutherland Honda in Fredericton, NB, which is 10$ cheaper than Macleans -

I decided to check my chain's movement with a ruler, and lo and behold my eyes know nothing - it has 2.5 inches of movement, so I will try and tackle tightening my chain.

2.5 inches while your on the bike or off?
you should likely take the chain off and inspect it for binding links

oh and be careful, losing a finger is easy when mucking about with sprockets and chains

[Joneman]

2.5 inches while your on the bike or off?
you should likely take the chain off and inspect it for binding links

oh and be careful, losing a finger is easy when mucking about with sprockets and chains

2.5 inches when I am off the bike - I will take off the chain this weekend and inspect it thanks I still dont have a haynes manual, or torque wrenches though - Could I manage anyways?

[Calvin Blackmore]

2.5 inches when I am off the bike - I will take off the chain this weekend and inspect it thanks I still dont have a haynes manual, or torque wrenches though - Could I manage anyways?

you should not need a manual
this bike should be a master link type so that makes thing easier
unless the clip flys off into space and gets lost

be careful with that

you can check the chain by pulling at it on the perimeter of the rear sprocket as well

hell if it isnt rusty and doesnt pull much its likely just in need of adjustment.

[Joneman]

Back Again

Thanks for the info Calvin. I finally tightened my chain, and took it out for a spin on Sunday. Was it ever cold out! haha

The bike works 100% better now, with now having an actual response to throttle.

I also painted up a center stand I bought and installed that, which really made tightening the chain easy. One thing I would mention is attach your spring first! I had to take my stand off to hook the spring on.

I'm look forward to the warmer months. I would like to make a road trip to Montana sometime soon too.