Gs 650 Starting Problems, Help!

[ray12515]

Hi, I'm having some problems with my bike starting. It is almost impossible to start without using some ether, however after it's warm it's much easier to start. Also once it's running it will run all day and run great. I'm at wits end, I've cleaned the carbs checked to be sure it's getting fuel.. It is. I've tried starting it with the petcock on "prime" it doesn't help. There is a spark to all four cylinders. I have noticed though that when it's running the middle two cylinders (2&3) the headers get a lot hotter than the outside two. I don't know it that matters but thought I'd throw it out there. I just bought this bike to ride to class but it's so unreliable about starting that I can't even ride it there. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Nessism]

Did you adjust the valves?

Did you check the compression?

When you cleaned the carbs what did you do? Did you strip the carbs down and soak the carb bodies in carb dip and replace the various O-rings, including the intake boot O-rings?

Any mods on the bike? Changes to the exhaust or airbox? Carb jetting changes?

[Charlie G]

Ray,

Welcome! I'm sure many, much more experenced folks will come here with comments, but have you ......

1-dipped the carbs overnight?
2-changed the o-rings?
3-checked the air box is completly sealed?
4-Intake boots in good condition?
5-syniced the carbs?


Where are you located? Someone my be willing to help. Good luck.

Charlie G

[Charlie G]

You can't beat ED !!!!!!!!!!

[Steve]

First thing to do is THROW THE ETHER AWAY.

Next, adjust your valves. Hard starting when cold is a classic symptom of tight valves.

.

[chef1366]

Next, adjust your valves. Hard starting when cold is a classic symptom of tight valves.

.

And-or dirty carbs

http://www.thegsresources.com/gs_carbrebuild.htm

[duaneage]

When you cleaned the carbs did you take out the choke plungers and clean the brass tip off real good?

[Steve]

And-or dirty carbs ...

I was going on the theory that if it ran well the rest of the day, the carbs might not be so bad.

Besides, Chef, he said he cleaned them.

.

[ray12515]

I haven't checked the compression with a machine, I don't have one. But it does have enough to blow my finger off the spark plug hole. Everything is stock on the bike, no exhaust mods or anything else. However the previous owner had changed the air/fuel mixture screw settings so I don't know what the original setting was. I have them set at 1.5 turns out.
I haven't adjusted the valves, is it a difficult thing to do?

[tkent02]

I haven't adjusted the valves, is it a difficult thing to do?

It's a lot easier than replacing them.

Take your choice.

[jbs80106]

Are you using the choke?

My 650 is tough to start when its cold as well, especially if it has been sitting for a few days/weeks. She won't start unless the choke is fully open.....don't twist the throttle either.

Depending on where you live, have you put the fuel flow to 'prime' for a few minutes? the gas in the carbs can evaporate and take a while for the vaccum to suck gas down...

Just a few thoughts....

[Steve]

Depending on where you live, have you put the fuel flow to 'prime' for a few minutes? the gas in the carbs can evaporate and take a while for the vaccum to suck gas down...

Not sure what "Depending on where you live" has to do with it, but there is merit to the gas evaporating. However, if there are no other leaks in the carbs, you should not really need to use "prime" very much at all. I have left #2 son's bike sit for four weeks. Set the enrichener knob (the "choke"), turned the key and hit the starter. It starts every time. No need to use "prime". Can't imagine why anyone would need to use it any sooner than that.

Oh, and when you do use it, 15-30 seconds should suffice. No need to have it there "for a few minutes".
If you leave it there that long, you will be a mile or more down the road and can forget it completely.

.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. ray12515,

Hey! I'm glad you found us. We're kind of a friendly bunch and we don't smell too bad. You'll find lots of GS lovin' (and basic maintenance guides) on my website. Let me just say "Hi"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff