Just Finished...mostly

[Guest]

This is my slightly modified 1982 GS850GL(Z?) I repainted the tank to sort of look like the later model 850G models, rebuilt the carbs, all the brake calipers, master cylinders, put in the aftermarked stator/regulator, etc, put flatter bars on it, I ditched the foam grips, shaved the seat and recovered it, new speedo and tach cables, etc, etc...

what is not right you ask...it sputters and pops when you let off the gas coming to a stop, shifting gears (slowly), going down long hills and sometimes even when cruzing at lower RPMs (3000 ish) doing 30 to 60 mph...under load and at higher speed it really goes nice. If I put the choke partway on, it runs a little smoother, but pops worse sometimes and better other times. When its cold, it pops less....any clues? Anyone?

Also despite having replaced and lubricated the speedo and tach cables, the speedo and tach still bounce around a lot, but only intermittantly. Any clues? solutions?

[buttercupairplane]

another picture

[rudeman]

Looks good!

Did you confirm the jetting while you had the carbs apart?

[buttercupairplane]

Good question. I do not know, I didnt do them myself. The idea of the wrong jets did cross my mind....would it be because they are too big or too small that would cause this?

[mrbill5491]

Sounds to me you have a air leak somewhere. When you let off the throttle, it is sucking in cold air and mixing with the hot exhaust which will cause the popping (could be carb related as well or a combination of both). Did you replace the exhaust gaskets or loose one with out knowing it? The sputtering sounds like a carb issue. Maybe the rubber intake boots, did you inspect them for being hard and cracked?

[buttercupairplane]

The carb boots are all new, as are all the o rings....I can't find any leaks in the exhaust and I replaced all the exhaust gaskets as well...none misplaced....everything seems tight, but I will check this again, because as we all know S#^T happens. Big question is, is it doing damage to the engine to keep riding it despite the annoying pop, pop, -pop-pop-pop, every time I let off the gas?

[Rob S.]

My kind of bike - no saddlebags, no windshield, no fairing, no luggage rack, no crash bars, no...you get the idea.

Very nice looking.

[buttercupairplane]

Thanks! I'm thinking about putting bar end mirrors on it too, just to make the look of slimming down complete. I think I shed about 30 lbs or more in rusty accessories.

[wymple]

The leaks causing the popping are more than likely from the gaskets under the engine where the pipes merge. When I fixed mine it was a world of difference. But I didn't replace gaskets, as things were a little rough down there. I converted it to a pair of 2 into 1 pipes with the help of my mig welder. My only gaskets are at the head.