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Hello all knowing GS Resources!
Here's my first GS and my first post!
I got myself a little project over the summer to keep me busy while I wasn't able to work. I've never worked on a motorcylce before, however I wanted to learn about engines and mechanics etc as I thought it would be useful in my life as a commercial diver (if it's broke, you fix it! So better know how to fix stuff!). And at the end of it I wanted a bike to ride up the West Coast!
I picked up this sorry looking GS850 from craigslist. The previous owner got it as a free bike thrown in with the purchase of another GS, a parts bike! It had all the vetter jazz on it, however the previous owner had already sold it all before I got it:
Here's how I got her:
I was very dedicated to getting her fixed up when I first got her and got some good deals courtesy of Chef1366 and was introduced to the great forum.
From then I have been trying to read the relevant topics and trying to understand stuff! Thank you so much BassCliff for your awesome website!! It has been invaluable!
So far I have:
Replaced the battery
Installed a headlight bucket and ears
Installed and and bled a new front brake system
Cleaned the rusted gas tank with the VINEGAR method! Worked a treat for me! Copied this guy mainly http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Removi...s_tank#Vinegar
Installed new intake o-rings and allen screw set
Replaced the spark plugs
New airbox boots
New Uni air filter and weather stripped the airbox
Tried to rebuild the carbs but the rail screws we in sooooo tight I couldn't get them out! Not even heating them and spraying PB blaster could free them!
So I cleaned them with the pinesol method and anything that I could fit in the ultrasonic cleaner and the carb dip! Replaced all the o-rings I could get too.
Got a nice tail light lens!
Tried to get a petcock but was for the later model GS850's so didn't fit
The only one's I can find are the ones that don't come with a lever?!?! What good is that? Where do you get a lever to turn the petcock to prime and reserve? If anyone know's I'd appreciate the info http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-deta...roduct_id=1004 *TAP LEVER NOT INCLUDED* eh?!
So that's about where I am now! When I reinstalled the carbs, the bike was only running on 3 cylinders think number 2 wasn't firing (header was cold). So I was dissapointed and had bought another bike project so was working on that as well (Honda CB750F) and my father-in-law went and bought 3, yes I said 3, Honda CB900C's for me to rebuild for him since I was doing my own! And yes none of his run either! So it was safe to say I was over my head in bikes!
Then I was finally able to work and have been working my ass off since! 120-150hrs every 2 weeks! So haven't had much free time!
I have now had a second wind! I tried to start the GS850 a few weeks back for the first time in months and couldn't get it to go, so sprayed a little too much starter fluid in the air intake and she ROARED into life again!! And this time she was running on all 4 cylinders, blew that crap right out her carbs I guess! Yey ether!
So took her for a spin finally!
However, at idle if I move the handlebars hard left or right she idles way up, to >4000rpm so I guess the throttle cable is too tight or something so have to buy a new one?
And my biggest problem now is that she won't hold a charge
After a short 30min ride around the neighbourhood once I turn her off she has no juice to crank herself back to life.
So I guessed it was a stator or R/R problem since there is a lot of talk about it on the forums. I went and bought a multimeter today and I'm a little lost! I know nothing about electronics. I followed the wires from the stator to the R/R and found one wire wasn't connected, so thought that may have fixed it, so plugged them back together and crossed my fingers! But to no avail! She still didn't hold her charge. I did notice another wire that wasn't connect and I can't find where to plug it in! It travels with the other wires towards the starter cover it just reaches inside the cover but isn't connected to anything. It has a small plastic clip in style connector but I can't find anything to clip it into
any thoughts?
I tested the battery after I took it off the charger. It read ~12.3V. Started it up and at idle it read ~12V and when I revved it up to 4000rpm and higher it went back to ~12.3V but didn't climb any higher. I know all these values are lower than the anticipated values you should get, but it doesn't seem like the characteristics of a stator or R/R problem since the Voltage didn't drop. Am I correct or just plain confused?!
The wiring on the bike is all over the place cause of the horribly spliced in vetter wiring and my hack job to remove it! So could a short or something be draining my battery?!
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Sorry for the life story about the bike and my rebuild haha!
Thanks for reading it all!
Andrew
Here's my first GS and my first post!
I got myself a little project over the summer to keep me busy while I wasn't able to work. I've never worked on a motorcylce before, however I wanted to learn about engines and mechanics etc as I thought it would be useful in my life as a commercial diver (if it's broke, you fix it! So better know how to fix stuff!). And at the end of it I wanted a bike to ride up the West Coast!
I picked up this sorry looking GS850 from craigslist. The previous owner got it as a free bike thrown in with the purchase of another GS, a parts bike! It had all the vetter jazz on it, however the previous owner had already sold it all before I got it:
Here's how I got her:
I was very dedicated to getting her fixed up when I first got her and got some good deals courtesy of Chef1366 and was introduced to the great forum.
From then I have been trying to read the relevant topics and trying to understand stuff! Thank you so much BassCliff for your awesome website!! It has been invaluable!
So far I have:
Replaced the battery
Installed a headlight bucket and ears
Installed and and bled a new front brake system
Cleaned the rusted gas tank with the VINEGAR method! Worked a treat for me! Copied this guy mainly http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Removi...s_tank#Vinegar
Installed new intake o-rings and allen screw set
Replaced the spark plugs
New airbox boots
New Uni air filter and weather stripped the airbox
Tried to rebuild the carbs but the rail screws we in sooooo tight I couldn't get them out! Not even heating them and spraying PB blaster could free them!
So I cleaned them with the pinesol method and anything that I could fit in the ultrasonic cleaner and the carb dip! Replaced all the o-rings I could get too.
Got a nice tail light lens!
Tried to get a petcock but was for the later model GS850's so didn't fit
The only one's I can find are the ones that don't come with a lever?!?! What good is that? Where do you get a lever to turn the petcock to prime and reserve? If anyone know's I'd appreciate the info http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-deta...roduct_id=1004 *TAP LEVER NOT INCLUDED* eh?!
So that's about where I am now! When I reinstalled the carbs, the bike was only running on 3 cylinders think number 2 wasn't firing (header was cold). So I was dissapointed and had bought another bike project so was working on that as well (Honda CB750F) and my father-in-law went and bought 3, yes I said 3, Honda CB900C's for me to rebuild for him since I was doing my own! And yes none of his run either! So it was safe to say I was over my head in bikes!
Then I was finally able to work and have been working my ass off since! 120-150hrs every 2 weeks! So haven't had much free time!
I have now had a second wind! I tried to start the GS850 a few weeks back for the first time in months and couldn't get it to go, so sprayed a little too much starter fluid in the air intake and she ROARED into life again!! And this time she was running on all 4 cylinders, blew that crap right out her carbs I guess! Yey ether!
So took her for a spin finally!
However, at idle if I move the handlebars hard left or right she idles way up, to >4000rpm so I guess the throttle cable is too tight or something so have to buy a new one?
And my biggest problem now is that she won't hold a charge
After a short 30min ride around the neighbourhood once I turn her off she has no juice to crank herself back to life.
So I guessed it was a stator or R/R problem since there is a lot of talk about it on the forums. I went and bought a multimeter today and I'm a little lost! I know nothing about electronics. I followed the wires from the stator to the R/R and found one wire wasn't connected, so thought that may have fixed it, so plugged them back together and crossed my fingers! But to no avail! She still didn't hold her charge. I did notice another wire that wasn't connect and I can't find where to plug it in! It travels with the other wires towards the starter cover it just reaches inside the cover but isn't connected to anything. It has a small plastic clip in style connector but I can't find anything to clip it into
any thoughts?I tested the battery after I took it off the charger. It read ~12.3V. Started it up and at idle it read ~12V and when I revved it up to 4000rpm and higher it went back to ~12.3V but didn't climb any higher. I know all these values are lower than the anticipated values you should get, but it doesn't seem like the characteristics of a stator or R/R problem since the Voltage didn't drop. Am I correct or just plain confused?!
The wiring on the bike is all over the place cause of the horribly spliced in vetter wiring and my hack job to remove it! So could a short or something be draining my battery?!
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Sorry for the life story about the bike and my rebuild haha!
Thanks for reading it all!
Andrew
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