Problem with my 79 GS550

[bmlbytes]

I have a 1979 GS550L that I bought a few days ago. The bike works great except when I first try to start it. I can start it with the choke on no problem, but if I give it a little throttle while the choke is on the engine dies. It takes it about 6 minutes to get to a point where I can give it a little bit of throttle. After that I am able to ride the bike with the choke and the throttle. I ride it about a block and I can turn the choke off, but have to keep the throttle going or it will stall when it idles. After riding it a few blocks the bike will idle normally and the throttle will work fine. It just seems like the throttle and the idle don't work properly when the bike is too cold.

If I have been riding it for more than 3 minutes or so, I can turn the bike off and back on, and immediately ride it since the bike is still warm. So I don't have to sit for minutes at the gas station.

Now I wanted to make sure that this was a carb issue. Someone on another forum suggested that some of the smaller jets in the carbs are probably clogged. I tried some Sea Foam in the gas, but that didn't fix it. Then someone on another forum suggested I burn the Sea Foam straight, without any gas. I did that but it didnt help. I even let the Sea Foam sit in the carbs for a few hours before starting it again. After that I filled the tank with some 91 octane gasoline (which someone thought would help for some reason).

Does this sound like a carb issue? Any suggestions on what to do next? I dont really want to pull the carbs off if I can help it, but I will if that is needed.

[cowboyup3371]

If Basscliff hasn't already welcomed you he will soon. Heed his advice and you'll have a prosperous ride. Go ahead and get started on those carbs and clean them right. Also, do what I'm doing and check your valves and go through the stator papers to make sure your electrical stuff is doing fine. Take the time now and it'll help out later.

[Adler]

Sea foam isnt a replacement for a proper carb cleaning, whether or not that is the problem, you should give the carbs a once-over.

[bmlbytes]

I've never cleaned the carbs in/on any vehicle. Anyone know of a good step by step guide?

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. bmlbytes,

I'll get right to it and dump a TON of information on you. Your "mega-welcome" contains a couple of maintenance lists that are pretty much mandatory to return these bikes back to their original safe, reliable, and bullet-proof condition. It also contains links to informational websites with "how to" guides, vendors, manuals, tips, and lots of other GS lovin'. Let's get started.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Larry D]

Sounds like it running fine after it gets warmed up, so, it's not the carbs or it would act like that all the time.

Hard starting is a classic sign of the valves being out of adjustment.

Adjust the valves.

[Big T]

Be sure and go down the list of things you should do in BassCliff's site

Assume the PO just neglected it and go from there

[headsbikesmopars]

Sounds like a lean mixture . Choke on with throttle until warm enough to carborate cleanly? Choke richens the mix. Rich mix makes for easier starting, not needed after warm-up. You didn't state if you were using the airbox. Removing the airbox and using pods will do just this thing. Try enrichening the idle circuit..let us know.

Terry

[bmlbytes]

I am using the airbox. When I got the bike someone had a piece of memory foam mattress in there, so I bought a piece of filter foam and some filter oil and replaced the mattress in there.

What are pods, and how do I use them?

[Big T]

I am using the airbox. When I got the bike someone had a piece of memory foam mattress in there, so I bought a piece of filter foam and some filter oil and replaced the mattress in there.

What are pods, and how do I use them?

Individual filters

Don't use them at this point, get your bike sorted out first

[bmlbytes]

I'll be pulling out the carbs tomorrow with the guide in BassCliff's welcome. Hopefully cleaning those out will make it start a bit better.