standard plugs?

[Anonymous]

are spark plugs standard or are there specific ones for every bike? also if you leave the choke open and the bike isnt running does it mess things up? cuz thats what i think i did. whats average price for estimate of repairs at a bike shop?

[Anonymous]

Spark plugs vary by bike model. With the GS's there are some common plugs but you must check online or at your local bike shop. You can even get different heat ranges for plugs, just to get confusing, but I would stick to the standard recommended plug. If you have the original manual it will tell you which plug to use. Otherwise just ask the parts guy at the shop.

Bike shop prices vary. Estimates should be free. You can expect about $50/hr labor for an actual job but that depends on the shop and your location. If you're mechanically inclined I recommend getting a copy of the shop manual, good quality tools, and doing most of the work yourself. There will be some jobs that it's more convenient to have a pro shop do but the rest of the stuff will let you find out more about your bike.

[Billy Ricks]

Leaving the choke on while not running isn't going to hurt anyhting.

[Anonymous]

well then why isnt it starting? someone else told me that if u keep trying to start it when it doesnt start u can break the choke?

[Billy Ricks]

well then why isnt it starting? someone else told me that if u keep trying to start it when it doesnt start u can break the choke?

I repeat you cannot break the choke just trying to start it. It's not even really a choke, it's an enrichening device. It opens a passage in the carbs allowing extra fuel into the cylinders for starting.

If it's not starting it is either in a poor state of tune or your starting procedure needs tweaking. If the bike has sat for any length of time the carbs are probably gummed up and need cleaning. Low compression could be the problem as well. When trying to start it try this, with the bike upright put the petcock on prime for about 30 seconds so the carb float bowls will fill up with gas. Don't forget to put the petcock back in the normal position. Whack the throttle open a couple of times, put the choke lever on, crack the throttle just a tiny bit and leave it open, then try to start it. If it won't start like this you most likely need to strip and clean the carbs. From what I can tell by your posts this may be a little above your ability. There is a carb cleaning section you can get to from the homepage.

[earlfor]

It is not possible to damage anything by holding the choke/enrichener open. Your friend has no idea what he is talking about. The worst you could do if you left it on would be to soot your plugs a little bit.

The starting proceedure for my GS750 is turn petcock to prime for 15 seconds, pull out choke/enrichener about half way, dont touch throttle, push starter button. It fires up usually on the first turnover. Switch petcock to run. Let it warm up holding the choke at 1/2 for about 1 minute. Then reduce choke to about 1/4 and add a very small amount of throttle (about 1/10th) let warm for another minute.
Shut enrichener off and add another 1/10 throttle. Let warm up for another two minutes. Then feed in throttle progressively until it will accept 1/3 smoothly. Blip throttle a couple times to clear things. Ride off.

If it does not fire with the choke pulled out after a few tries, I would remove a spark plug and check to see if it is wet. I suspect it will not be. Its not going to start if the enricheners are not feeding fuel. If the enricheners are working, the bike will fire or at least try to fire even if all your other carb jets are clogged. I think most likely, your carbs are in dire need of a good cleaning, particularly the enrichening circuits. Have you checked that you have spark? Have you checked the static timing to see that timing is at least in the general range that the bike could run in?

You dont by chance have your kill switch turned to off do you? :-)

Earl

well then why isnt it starting? someone else told me that if u keep trying to start it when it doesnt start u can break the choke?

[Anonymous]

what is a peatcock? if all this is true, carbs being dirty, it should not have run before? they couldnt have become dirty in one day?

[earlfor]

The petcock is the fuel valve under the tank on the left side. I think the best thing for you to do is to take the bike to a cycle shop and have their mechanic find and fix what is wrong.

Earl

what is a peatcock? if all this is true, carbs being dirty, it should not have run before? they couldnt have become dirty in one day?

[Billy Ricks]

If you continue trying to start it use Earl's technique. I sometimes forget I'm running smoothbores with built in accelarator pumps so when I whack the throttle open it gives me a shot of fuel. Your CVs rely on engine vacuum to raise the slides. If you can't get it started soon it sounds like you do need some help from a bike shop as Earl suggested. If you aren't sure what you are doing you can make some expensive mistakes in a hurry.

[Anonymous]

followed earl's procedure and it started yipee

[Billy Ricks]

followed earl's procedure and it started yipee

Good for you ice, now go ride that baby.

[Anonymous]

so is it possible that i kept draining the battery as a result of starting it wrong?

[earlfor]

That depends on how much charge you had in the battery and how many times you tried to start it. However, yes, you can drain a battery with the starter fairly quickly.

Earl

so is it possible that i kept draining the battery as a result of starting it wrong?

[Anonymous]

If you rode the bike any distance with the choke on you have probably fouled the plugs. Put a new set of original plugs in and try starting it again. Oh ya, make sure there's enough gas in the tank.
Axel