No start below freezing.

[Anonymous]

Thought I would write this post while I wait for my bike to warm up a bit.
She don't want to start when it is below freezing and been sitting for a few days. New Battery, Battery tender on.

Other wise new plugs, Dana coils, Compression, Carbs sync.
rebuilt petcock, around 140 all cyl. 40,000 miles.
Runs great once running.

Wonder if my starter is wearing down? It is original, never been apart.
What to do if worn?
I know with my diesel equipment. Cranking speed is critical. Starter seems to operate correctly.

I have my battery tender on her now and introduceing some heat. I remember (cold) touring on my CX500 in the winter and not knowing if she would fire the next day.

Any ideas?

Or do I have to wait for warmer weather. Keep parked in my basement etc.

Thanks,
Charlie

[Anonymous]

Hi me again,
Well in about the time it took me to write this post. I went back and tried her after running my little 1500 what disk heater under a tarp ( not much of a heat seal) . She fired right up. I guess a little heat goes a long way. It was in the upper 20's last night.

Gone riding!

Charlie

[daveo]

Your starter cranks it over at normal speed? Or is it slow? If it's slow, it may be time to replace the brushes.....if it's not slow, and you're using your choke, try giving it a shot of starting fluid into the air box. If it fires right up, it would seem that you have an issue with the choke circuit, stuck or binding linkage, clogged jets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Your starter cranks it over at normal speed? Or is it slow? If it's slow, it may be time to replace the brushes.....if it's not slow, and you're using your choke, try giving it a shot of starting fluid into the air box. If it fires right up, it would seem that you have an issue with the choke circuit, stuck or binding linkage, clogged jets, etc.

Thanks Dave,
Choke etc. is fine. It cranks over fine when warm, If brushes could cause it to turn over slower (when colder, taking into account oil thickness battery etc.) . I will change them out next time I tear into the bike for some reason. For now I ride.
Charlie

[Giblet]

Same problem

My 82 GS1100GK does the exact same thing. Just a little heat and it would fire right up. Only difference is mine would misfire under acceleration for the first mile or two. A buddy recommended a product called Seafoam (fuel additive) after I told him a carb cleaning was recommended by a GS website user. I had the carbs cleaned before I put it back on the road. Any way, the misfire seems to have gone away and I'll have to wait till next winter to see if the cranking gets better at freezing. You might try that or a couple of tanks of Berrymans B-12. Let me know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Steve,
I rode thie morning, then watched my U of Maryland team make a tremendous comback from 21 points down to win against NC.

Anyway, bike sat in the cold about 5 hours and was quite hard to start again. On a somewhat unrelated note, when I turn on reserve the bike seems to starve for fuel and will eventually not run on reserve. Seems to work fine in on or prime.

I had to rather recently rebuild the vaccumn petcock due to fuel being sucked into #2 cyl vacumn line.

Don't know if it is any way related.

For now the cheap and easy fix. Keep bike parked in basement when very cold out. And fill up before I get on reserve.

Charlie

[Anonymous]

You need some of this http://www.nulon.com.au/prod_SYB.htm

Insect spray works well. My father used it to start overhauled diesels when a can of ether wasn't handy. Essential for an air-start Mack when only 120psi is available or anything hand cranked.

[Anonymous]

Charlie, congratulations on your Maryland team winning. My Dayton Flyers lost to Xavier last night after being ahead most of the game. They went cold at the end, just like your 850.

I have a starter in excellent shape that spins motors quickly. You're welcome to borrow it and see if the starter is part of your problem.

The 850 should start immediately after only 5 hours outside on a day like yesterday. There's something wrong, and I suspect the carbs. Very often when I ask people if the carbs have been cleaned, they answer in the affirmative. What may happen is that the carbs haven't been cleaned properly and thoroughly, taken apart completely, and new o-rings and gaskets installed. Also, the boots between the carbs and the head crack up with age and leak; there's an o-ring there that also cracks up and leaks.

My GK starts immediately regardless of temperature. True, it's in the garage, but the garage isn't heated, and this winter it's been weeks before starts. The thing fires up instantly every time. I had the carbs done professionally when I first got the bike in late 1999.

Nick

[Anonymous]

Good points Nick,
I agree my 850 used to start instantly regardless. I may have found the problem this morning. Not sure the choke is being completely closed with cable. Seems like maybe I can get a smidge more. I have always had to have full choke when cold. Doug told me this morning at breakfast that your bike will start without choke. I have checked condition and height of floats etc. I have replaced boots and O-rings, sync carbs, checked needle and seat. No I have not completely cleaned carbs, but I have pulled them a bit apart to have a look see.

My theory on carbs: Last thing to pull apart until everthing else has been doubled checked twice.

Hopefully the choke is the culprit.

Harrison Clement and I had a very nice ride this morning touring the back roads of western Ho. Co. I grew up out there, so have a lot of fond memorys. Harrison was riding his very nice 79 GS 750.

Of course we were not carving up the roads like you do on your 1100.

I am riding down to my buddy's place in Silver Spring to watch Maryland beat Duke this afternoon

[Anonymous]

Charlie,

Doug Gardner exaggerates a bit. I do use choke when it's cold, but seldom does it need full choke. Only when it's t-shirt weather does my GK need no choke. We have a while to go before t-shirt weather sets in.

I'm glad Harrison showed up for the Lisbon breakfast. Hope others showed up as well.

Yep, check the choke first. Carbs are a pain to get into. I don't do carbs, just as some folks don't do windows...

For your information, my mechanic is Kevin Pohl, owner of TriState Motorcycle Service, in Funkstown, MD. Funkstown is just east of Hagerstown. Kevin's good at what he does. Been going to him since 1992. Phone number is 301-797-8130. Kevin's the one who cleaned my carbs and set up the GK properly when I bought it four years ago. I take it to him once a year for carbs and valves.

Nick

[Anonymous]

Nick,

Speaking of Doug Gardner, we figured out we had met at HCC from the GS resourses back in the 90's when Doug was still riding a GS 850. It was great to hook up with Doug again.

Yes the same crowd was there, we had a nice breakfast.

Thanks for the info on your mech. I will keep that in mind.

I did not get a chance to check out my choke theory yet. I kept my bike in the basement last night.
Charlie