1982 GS850GL ...where do I go from here?

[RJordan09]

Hi guys,

So I have been working on a 1982 GS850GL that I picked up this fall. The good news is that everything is super clean on the bike, it was definitely stored well. The bad news is it looks like some basic maintenance has been neglected although I'm doing everything from square one.

The Problem

When I start the bike, it tries to go but doesn't fire. Spraying QuickStart into the carb/airfilter boots will get it to fire and roar for 1-5 seconds and then it will die again.

What I've Done

• Oil Change
• New Battery
• New Gas
• New Sparkplugs
• New Intake boots & o-rings
• Carb cleaned
• New K&N Air Filter installed
• New weatherproofing for airbox
• Valve adjustment bringing everything in range, on the .08 side.
• New gaskets where ever applicable
• Petcock checked and is working fine

Any advice would be hugely appreciated, I'm running out of places to look....

[Steve]

Everything on your list is good, but let's get some detail on the "Carb cleaned" part of it.

.

[Nessism]

In support of what Steve mentions, check the carb rebuild tutorial linked in my signature and see if you missed anything. Also, check the Newbie Mistakes thread.

[RJordan09]

Thanks for the replies!

For the carb cleaning, I did follow the tutorial along very closely. Additionally, the carbs have pretty obviously been attended to by the PO (I didn't clean any gunk out...they were already pretty much clean/clear). When I got the bike, the guy told me he'd taken it to a mechanic in Maine who looked at the carbs. I have the carbs off right now re-checking everything.

[Nessism]

Did you validate the choke circuit passages are open on the carbs? Passages in the float bowl and the pickup tube? Did you remove the pilot jets and hold them up to the light? Reason for asking is because the symptoms you describe suggest the carbs are still dirty.

[RJordan09]

Did you validate the choke circuit passages are open on the carbs? Passages in the float bowl and the pickup tube? Did you remove the pilot jets and hold them up to the light? Reason for asking is because the symptoms you describe suggest the carbs are still dirty.

I did see light through all the jets. I can't specifically remember checking the choke circuit tubing though.

I am going to re-dip just to be on the safe side. I will be meticulous following the cleaning guide. If it works after, I missed something in my initial clean. If not, it's probably not the carbs and the hunt will go on! haha


Thanks for the advice guys!

[Phred]

I had cleaned mine out with the dip and had the same problem. I then bought a sonic cleaner. Could not believe the crud that came out after sonic cleaning. Even though they had been dipped and looked clean, it was the sonic cleaning that did it.

[2BRacing]

I had cleaned mine out with the dip and had the same problem. I then bought a sonic cleaner. Could not believe the crud that came out after sonic cleaning. Even though they had been dipped and looked clean, it was the sonic cleaning that did it.

Did you use carb dip solution in the ultrasonic cleaner, or some other solution?

[RJordan09]

So I have done more work but am still having issues. I have now done a carb cleaning 100% in line with the carb re-build guide. New O-Rings from Mr. Barr, full dip in a brand new can of Berrymans. After the Berrymans, I also ran all the parts through an unltr-sonic cleaner to be thorough. I conducted a bench sync and have the vacuum sync kit ready, but cannot start the bike for that to matter at the moment. I have also installed a brand new petcock.

I had it running once, for about 30 seconds. I manually killed it then and I haven't been able to get it to run since.

I have reviewed the Top Newbie Mistakes thread multiple time and don't think I am currently guilty of any..

Here's an updated list of where I'm at:

• Oil Change
• New Battery
• New Gas
• New Sparkplugs
• New Intake boots & o-rings
• Carb cleaned - full dip in Berrymans, o-ring from Mr Barr, followed carb rebuild guide line-by-line. Pilot screws set to 2.5 turns, float heights adjusted
• New K&N Air Filter installed
• New weatherproofing for airbox
• Valve adjustment bringing everything in range, on the .08 side.
• New gaskets where ever applicable
• Petcock replaced
  
  

As always, advise is appreciated and will be taken extremely seriously!

[jsandidge]

Are you using the choke properly? Make sure the choke is full on, and don't touch the throttle. Prior to that, turn the petcock to prime to fill the carb bowls, then turn it back to on or reserve.

[RJordan09]

Are you using the choke properly? Make sure the choke is full on, and don't touch the throttle. Prior to that, turn the petcock to prime to fill the carb bowls, then turn it back to on or reserve.

Yes, that is how I have been using the choke and I did use the prime dial on the petcock to fill the bowls.

[RJordan09]

As the issue hadn't changed after the carb cleaning and it seemed to be a carb related issue, I figured I must have something adjusted incorrectly. I pulled the airscrews back from 2.5 to 3.0 turns and BAM, starts first time every time. Thanks for all the help guys! I would have turned away from the carbs a long time ago in search of an issue elsewhere but you kept me going back to them for good reason!!

[Sam 78 GS750]

When I start the bike, it tries to go but doesn't fire. Spraying QuickStart into the carb/airfilter boots will get it to fire and roar for 1-5 seconds and then it will die again.

Glad you kept at it and found the solution.
Just an fyi, i would avoid using ether on a bike engine...
http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/ether.html