• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

HORRIBLY stupid question re:85 gs550e

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
OK, get your laughs out of the way first. I need to remove my (rusty) tank and carbs on my 85 gs550e. It will be my first attempt at any work on my own as this is my first bike. I know the carbs have a vacuum tube and a tube from the fuel petcock. Is the vacuum tube the one on the outside of the carb? Basically I have a full tank of gas that I need to drain and I really don't want to spill gas all over my driveway. Can someone give me a step-by-step on how to do this? Thanks![/b]
 
The smaller of the two is the vacuum hose, connects to the intake side
of the #2 carb. If the petcock is working properly you should only loose a teaspoon or two of gas when you disconnect the fuel line and remove the tank . If you need to drain the tank, Run a length of hose from the petcock to a container and put the petcock on prime
 
Thanks for your response! I'm so new, though, that I need more detail. Do I partially remove the tank first before draining it? When you say the vacuum hose connects to the intake side of the #2 carb, is that more on the inside or the outside of the carb? Each carb has what appears to be an identical hose on the outside of the carb. Remember, this is the one with the two dual throated carbs. Sorry to be so green at this, but I just want to make sure I do this part right. Thanks again.
 
With the handlebars facing forward put some bricks on either side so that the wheel doesn't turn. Then undo the bolt(s) on the back of the tank (seat off) and tilt the tank forward. You want to disconnect the big line (only two connected to fuel tap) and put a line from the tap to the filler of your car and set it to prime. If your tank is above the car filler it will drain on its own. It won't be fully empty. to get it completely empty you'll need to remove the tank and tilt it around. Don't worry about the carb connections, you'll be in a world of trouble if you have big hands and want to put them back on. :P

Steve
 
So when I remove the big line, do I want it on run or reserve, and then move it to prime to start the draining once I have a line into a reservoir (I'll be draining into a 5 gallon can)?
 
Run to disconnect, prime to drain. If your tap is broken it'll drain even in the run position so work on the grass.

Steve
 
Thanks! OK, another quickie. To get the gas out that remains in the carbs ... what do I do there? Sorry for my ignorance, but I have to start somewhere.
 
There is not a lot of gas in the carbs, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just take the carbs off, When you remove the float bowls there will be a small amount of fuel drain out. There is a drain screw/bolt on the bottom of the fuel bowl, if you want to do it,
 
Last question, I promise. The line that I run from the tank to my gas can ... how big? Just big enough to capture the fuel, similar in size to the fuel line?
 
I always just pull both lines off and put the tank on a bucket. I have never spilt a drop this way.
 
OK, thanks for the help! Got the tank off with no problems and very little gas spilled, actually none! The carbs, however, are still on the bike because ... OMG! They are impossible to get off! It's an 85 gs550e and I've heard this can be the case. It's like they built the bike around the carbs! Very frustrating. I tugged, pulled, pushed, wiggled, you name it, I did it, and they're still there. Any tips? I'm thinking now of just taking the bike somewhere since I've done some of the labor already.
 
Unbolt the airbox, loosen the boots from the airbox to the carbs, and slip the airbox back in the frame as far as it will go. You won't gain much clearance but it will help. Loosen the clamps that hold the carbs to the manifiolds. Wiggle the carbs up and down while pulling them back.
 
Thanks, but I already tried that. I might give it a few more minutes tomorrow, but not too much. I may end up taking it somewhere, as it has a few other things and it's new to me, so I might have someone give it a once over while doing the carbs. At least I've done a bit of the labor.
 
When I had to remove the carbs from my GS850 I had to use length of 2x4 and pry them out, the rubber boots were dry and did not want to let go of the carbs. Had to fiddle to get them back on too
 
That's part of the problem, although I have them mostly out of the boots. The space is just so compact that I am having a hard time getting them that last bit out of the boots and, honestly, I'm not sure I want to deal with getting them back in. The money might be well spent.
 
I got the carbs out finally! I feel pretty stupid about it, actually. After yanking on them for over an hour Saturday, I removed the boots to the airbox and the carbs were out in about a minute. I'm not sure why I didn't try that in the first place, but it was my first time. I'll know better next time. Thanks, everyone, for your help!
 
Back in the honda riding days I have removed carbs on cb650Custom 20 times on and off in one day. Here was my secret. I used an old broom handle. It was soft enough not to damage anything and strong enought to push the airbox out of the way and pop out. I spilled Blood and Guts untill I did it, but it felt so good to know how to do it. And even once i figured it it was still pain in the ass!

Anyway, try to do it yourself with more patience. Everyone here will help you a ton!

So find some wood and try pushing out one end at the time...

I am so happy with the engine and carb design on my gs850. So easy to do anything.
 
Back in the honda riding days I have removed carbs on cb650Custom 20 times on and off in one day. Here was my secret. I used an old broom handle. It was soft enough not to damage anything and strong enought to push the airbox out of the way and pop out. I spilled Blood and Guts untill I did it, but it felt so good to know how to do it. And even once i figured it it was still pain in the ass!

Anyway, try to do it yourself with more patience. Everyone here will help you a ton!

So find some wood and try pushing out one end at the time...

I am so happy with the engine and carb design on my gs850. So easy to do anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

adam83
Fuel Petcock interchangability for a 1983 GS1100E?
Replies
0
Views
80
adam83
adam83
R
79' GS550 Will run on starter fluid but die after a few seconds
Replies
11
Views
273
Cipher
C
NateDogg83
Old Bike, new rider, same ol' problems - 1980 GS550E
Replies
17
Views
365
gtem
gtem
SamLack99
[1982 GS750T] Pilot Screw Adjustment and Vacuum Sync Confusion...
Replies
10
Views
256
rphillips
R
cdahl383
GS300L starts and idles but bogs with throttle
Replies
17
Views
338
salty_monk
salty_monk
Back
Top