GS450 won't start after carb cleaning

[davidduarte]

you may or may not have been following my progress here: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...15#post1202715

I got the bike back together, but now it won't start. Brand new battery, it cranks just fine, clean carbs, new vacuum and gas lines, new petcock, new intake and airbox boots. I tried it with choke on and off, without the throttle, with open throttle, with throttle maxed out, with petcock on reserve and just on, but nothing. HELP!

[Guest]

You need to prime the bowls.
That's what the prime function on the petcock is for.

[davidduarte]

on the 80 GS450, there is no prime. The petcock has 2 positions, prime and reserve.

[tkent02]

Those 1980 petcocks suck, big time.
Not sure about the 450, but on the bigger bikes there is a hidden prime function, you have to put the screw head in the slot on the petcock to the little mark, and then suck on the vacuum line. Once the flow is started it will continue without the suction. Don't leave it there or fuel will flow after the bike is shut off.

At any rate, you need to fill the bowls, either by sucking on the vacuum line or by putting gas down the fuel line from a different source.

[davidduarte]

this morning, I took another crack at it. Still wouldn't start, but then I checked the gas line, and there was a kink in it. So, I trimmed it back until the kink was gone, and after a few tries, got the bike started. I changed the oil, checked the pressure in the tires, and took it out for a ride. Much rejoicing!