Can't reach redline

[WilliamGLX81]

Well. It started bogging today in the rain at only 4-5K, so it appears it's not related to an issue with the ignition advance.
Any suggestions?

[rudeman]

Did you check your various adjustments and jetting?

[BigD_83]

Well. It started bogging today in the rain at only 4-5K, so it appears it's not related to an issue with the ignition advance.
Any suggestions?

Remind me, did you change your coils to Dyna Greens?

[WilliamGLX81]

Remind me, did you change your coils to Dyna Greens?

Negative. They're stock (I assume) whitish coils with new wires and new plug ends. I cleaned the terminals on them.

Did you check your various adjustments and jetting?

Not since a few days ago. I *think* I checked the jetting when I rebuilt them and they all matched, but I didn't write it down or anything, so I can't say "oh yeah, it's this".

My next step is to eliminate the fuel filter, but I really don't think that's it.
I have one fuse that gets much hotter than it should - the fuse on the far RIGHT, which is a 10-amp fuse. The fuse on the far LEFT is 15, if I'm reading the manual correctly. I wonder if that's related.
Also, my battery is getting tired. If it sits for more than 4 hours or so, I have to turn off the headlamp to get it to crank. If I've just gotten off the bike after a ride, it cranks with the light on.

[WilliamGLX81]

Fuel filter didn't make a difference. Replaced the starter relay to battery + and battery + to fusebox wiring, but it didn't have any effect.

[tom203]

Make sure the air filter box intakes (on top facing battery ) aren't blocked . If you got adequate fuel delivery, plus airflow, should take off. Your battery sounds no good, but have you checked the charging system to make sure voltage is not falling off at higher rpms ?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?164993-Charging-System-QUICK-TEST/page2&p=1272192#post1272192

[WilliamGLX81]

Dangit. Just checked the charging system. About 12.6V at idle (1100), but it never got up above 13.25V even at 5K+. Dangit. Voltage after shutting if off was actually higher than before key-on, but still.

[BigD_83]

Unfortunately, that does not bode well. You have some further investigating to do to get to the root of the problem.

[WilliamGLX81]

Holy bologna. These connections are SO corroded. I've never seen it this bad on anything before. Time to invest in some DeOxIt. I don't want to spend hours scrubbing these clean and possibly breaking things to remove spade connectors.

I'm having trouble finding the stator leads though. I see leads to and from the R/R and igniter, but don't seem to be tracing them right.

[WilliamGLX81]

Wow. All right. Cleaned some extremely corroded connections. Now I'm getting better voltages - about 13 at idle, going up to 14, but not above 14 until I let off the throttle. I think this means I have more bad connections.

By bad, I mean that when I set my ohmeter to 200 ohms and put both on the same spare, it read infinite ohms.
Think I can use DeOxIt, or should I just replace the spades? The spades I have won't fit into the connector, and I'll lose the connector and its organizing the leads.

[BigD_83]

AFAIK, DeOxIT is not a panacea for heavy corrosion, but would be helpful to use once you have cleaned up the connectors mechanically, and a yearly cleanup. There aren't too many short paths to success when it comes to electrical. I use a few different grades of sandpaper to get the connections shiny. Those that remain dull, or have brittle wires get new connectors.

PS- much better charging numbers now, but I do not understand why the volts jump when you let the throttle off

[Big T]

Go to vintage connections and order a kit

Replacing is easier, faster and gives better results

[Chromedome]

Hi, interesting, having similar problims, last summer went to Scotland for a week and it rained most of the time we were there, 82 Gs1100L went like a pig and very very hard starting, generally goes real sweet, just fine. When we got home I renewed the plugs which were new anyway, plug caps, sealed with polyurethane sealant not silicone the HT end of the coils and sprayed the other end "front" with ignition sealer, job done I thought. 6 weeks ago id a same day 632mile round trip to Cork, interstate/motorway temptation got the better, id go for the redline @ 7650rpm 85mph LOL the legs just left her like id let go the throttle I thought it partial seizure, she recovered instantly, I didn't and went about 30 for a while. Then tried another twice with exactly the same result and all with no filter in a large id line "not a tight tight fit on petcock or carb" no sharp bends. Last sat morning decided wed have a few days away so sat night she sat out with no rain but a heavy dew, sunday morning she would not not not start lucky we parked on a long steep hill "embarrassing" Sunday night sat out again no rain and no dew but sprayed loads of WD40 in around the coils before and after breakfast. Started instantly. Got home Monday, "removed" the coils which were not sealed properly, removed the sealant, dried them with hot hot hot hair dryer to remove any internal moisture and resealed with Aeraldite "epoxy" with polyurethane over the top, nipped another1/2" of the plug leads, then re-syncted the carbs which were not bad anyway. Valve shims had been done 3000miles ago and were not bad, total mileage is almost 22,000. Stock other than K&N air filter. So im thinking your problem and mine is damp in the coils as you have been damp weather issues to not dissimilar to mine but giving all the detail incase someone can suggest something other. Love to hear more, but hope this helps!

[RGM]

Not sure if your bike has points but I was getting similar symptoms and turned out to be a bad condenser.

[Steve]

Not sure if your bike has points but I was getting similar symptoms and turned out to be a bad condenser.

An '81 GS will not have points.

.