82' GS650 Sooo Close!

[pancakeshake]

Alright.

We have ANOTHER project bike going.

82 GS 650 L. We bought it running. Brought it home and did a few laps around the neighborhood. Seemed to run pretty decent. We didnt have a key for it so we had to wire up a switch to make it run, which meant we also couldn't get into the gas tank.

After about 20mins on the bike is started sputtering.

So we decided seeing it had been sitting for a while before we bough it, we would clean the carbs and ge into the tank.

- Got the tank open with force, looked good inside'
- Got the carbs off, nice and clean
- Put air through the carbs to make sure they were all free'd up
- Put the carbs back in the bike, new gas, brand new plugs..........bike wouldnt start

We put some starter spray in the heads and the bike fires up immediately, but then dies out quick.

So we determined the gas isnt getting into the heads.

The float bowls are full of gas, so the floats arent stuck or jammed. And all the jets were cleaned.

WHY WHY WHY would there be no gas getting to the engine?

[tom203]

Since you've been around for a few months, you must have noticed the carb cleaning lectures along with other stuff. It's a good sign that it ran briefly, be happy, but put away the starter fluid- it can't tell you anything more. Does this bike have an airbox and air fliter box? Any clues to how long it's been waiting for your arrival?

[pancakeshake]

Airbox.

We took is out when we took the carbs out to make sure it was nice and clean. It was.

Not sure how long the bike was sitting, but when we went to pick it up the guy fired it up for us and it ran no problem.

So.
-Bowls have plenty of gas
-Petcock works
-Has spark
-Works when gas is out directly in the heads for a brief time
-Choke is smooth and free

-BUT Gas wont make it from the bowls to mix with the air to be sucked into the engine.

WHY?

[MisterCinders]

How's compression? Valves adjusted?

[7981GS]

Gummed up choke pick-up tube, gummed up main or pilot jet tubes?
Missing well plugs flooding the engine?

The usual suspects.

Eric

[tom203]

Are you using "choke" system correctly? cold start, full "choke" (lever on left switch),NO throttle input, press starter button. This is an enrichment system- draws fuel from bottom of fuel bowl- if this line is reasonably clear, engine should catch.

[pancakeshake]

Are you using "choke" system correctly? cold start, full "choke" (lever on left switch),NO throttle input, press starter button. This is an enrichment system- draws fuel from bottom of fuel bowl- if this line is reasonably clear, engine should catch.

Yeah we are doing the choke correctly.

does anyone know the minimum float lever for the 650?

[cowboyup3371]

Pancake, have you downloaded the service manual from Basscliff's site yet? You'll find a lot of the information you're asking for in there.

Also, put your location in your profile and your bike info in your signature (both under User CP) so it's easier to help you out with things.

[1_v8_merc]

Manual says 22.4mm, + or - 1.0mm

I would put some carb spray threw each hole on the carbs, then blast it with air.
It's possible the air caused something to get stuck? I've had this happen before when I did a "quick" cleaning of my carbs, lol.

[pancakeshake]

It's possible the air caused something to get stuck? I've had this happen before when I did a "quick" cleaning of my carbs, lol.

Yeah thats what im thinking happened haha.

Where do i measure the float height from?

[pancakeshake]

Update:

Pulled the carbs again.

- Took out every single jet, soaked them all in carb cleaner then ran compressed air through them. Nice and clean.
- Cleaned out the gas line with a little gas and air, Nice and clean.
- Adjusted float heights to 22.4mm as said in the manual.
- Made sure the rest of the carbs were clean and ran air through every jet/hole/port I could find.
- Carbs looked great, re-installed them.

- Carbs to carb boots
- Carbs to air box boots
- Gas line to gas line port, big center on on carb.
- Vacuum line from rear of petcock to the 2nd carb's vacuum port
- Choke installed

New gas in tank, petcock on prime, hit starter with choke on....Nothing.

Is there anything else it could be other than carbs?

[BigD_83]

Can you expand on..."Nothing"?

What does that mean? No turning of the starter motor? Turning of the starter motor and no firing in the cylinders?

How long did you leave it on PRIME before attempting to start?

[pancakeshake]

Can you expand on..."Nothing"?

What does that mean? No turning of the starter motor? Turning of the starter motor and no firing in the cylinders?

How long did you leave it on PRIME before attempting to start?

Engine turns awesome, cranks but no firing at all. I left it on prime for about a minute and it didnt start. Then tried it again 20mins later just for the hell of it and still no firing.

Also, the bike has spark in all 4 heads and will start IMMEDIATELY when a little bit of gas is put into each of the heads via. the plug holes. Sounds awesome for 3 seconds, then the gas runs out and it dies.

Im just stumped. The bike used to start great, pulled the carbs and cleaned em, now it doesnt. Hmmmmmm...

[7981GS]

Forgive me for asking but, are you sure that fuel is getting from the petcock to the carbs?

Eric

[pancakeshake]

Forgive me for asking but, are you sure that fuel is getting from the petcock to the carbs?

Eric

When I take the carbs off, the float bowls have a good amount of gas in each one of them so I assume so.