Top 10 Newbie Mistakes

Ok, my buddy came over...we have compression!!! So, in the process...my throttle is stuck...one of the carbs are stuck...kinda odd, Hoping it was the mice I found in the air intake left an acorn or something in the carb...haha..also tank is rusty...bad...I will do more searching on the forums!! I'll start a new post with updates!! Thanks for the input!! I live near Lima!!

[Allie]

Hello!! I am a complete noob!! I was given a 1982 GS850L...the bike has sat in a barn for about 5 years! I was about to put full synthetic10w-30(all I had sitting in my garage) Drain the gas tank, put fresh gas in and see if it would turn over...I want to make sure it is going to before I put some time into it!!How bad would this be to do??

What you might do is make sure it has some oil in it, pull all the plug wires and see if the engine will crank. If it does then do a compression check. If the engine cranks and has good compression everything else is a slam dunk. Best not to run the engine until you sort out all of the basics though.

[Steve]

Hello!! I am a complete noob!! I was given a 1982 GS850L...the bike has sat in a barn for about 5 years! I was about to put full synthetic10w-30(all I had sitting in my garage) Drain the gas tank, put fresh gas in and see if it would turn over...I want to make sure it is going to before I put some time into it!!How bad would this be to do??

While the urge to hear it run can be somewhat overwhelming, you may be doing some damage in the process. Tame your noob-ness a bit, do some of the basic stuff that is outlined in the guide, USE THE PROPER MATERIALS (oil should be 10w-40), and you will be rewarded with a well-running motorcycle.

What part of oHIo? You might be close enough for some in-person help from a local member.

.

[cowboyup3371]

You'll do better to just clean the carbs, do the valve adjustment, and run through all of the maintenance listed here and on Basscliff's site (http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff first to give you a good starting point. As this thread tries to allude to, it gives you a good known baseline to start from instead of trying to fight at least 5 years of neglect.

Hello!! I am a complete noob!! I was given a 1982 GS850L...the bike has sat in a barn for about 5 years! I was about to put full synthetic10w-30(all I had sitting in my garage) Drain the gas tank, put fresh gas in and see if it would turn over...I want to make sure it is going to before I put some time into it!!How bad would this be to do??14303716180812019828596.jpg

[Allie]

This is a good thread for us newbies. Now I can count it as another I've caught up on via this site so my own noob questions are more informed. I found this thread because it was in the sig of Nessism and he replied to one of my recent posts (thanks!)

I'll add that patience is truly a virtue. As frustrating as us noobs can sometimes be; if one is truly eager and open to learning, then there is no such thing as a stupid question. I work at a university where I'm in a position to mentor my younger staff and to teach students and one thing I always keep in mind is that part of being a newbie in a particular field (or just young and by definition a newbie in every field is that sometimes they don't know the right questions to ask, much less the answers. For instance, a moto noob would not necessarily know that it helps, when asking for advice, to offer extra info like your weight, riding style, or region; that has to be learned just like the wave.

I've found this forum, like the forum for my previous bike, to be mostly full of incredibly generous and knowledgable riders and wrenchers. The reasons I enjoy motorcycling is a) to ride (5,000 miles a year on average; can't get enough) and b) to be in the position of student, constantly learning new things about a whole new field from folks like you all. I'm ready to absorb it all; so bring it on!

Good post... for a newb lol! Welcome to the site, and the journey!

I read it. I like 11 best. All are useful tips.
I don't think I paid too much.

Now if only I had a fuel tank...

This is a good thread for us newbies. Now I can count it as another I've caught up on via this site so my own noob questions are more informed. I found this thread because it was in the sig of Nessism and he replied to one of my recent posts (thanks!)

I'll add that patience is truly a virtue. As frustrating as us noobs can sometimes be; if one is truly eager and open to learning, then there is no such thing as a stupid question. I work at a university where I'm in a position to mentor my younger staff and to teach students and one thing I always keep in mind is that part of being a newbie in a particular field (or just young and by definition a newbie in every field is that sometimes they don't know the right questions to ask, much less the answers. For instance, a moto noob would not necessarily know that it helps, when asking for advice, to offer extra info like your weight, riding style, or region; that has to be learned just like the wave.

I've found this forum, like the forum for my previous bike, to be mostly full of incredibly generous and knowledgable riders and wrenchers. The reasons I enjoy motorcycling is a) to ride (5,000 miles a year on average; can't get enough) and b) to be in the position of student, constantly learning new things about a whole new field from folks like you all. I'm ready to absorb it all; so bring it on!

[Steve]

It has been about 10 years since I have had to use a magnet down the can chain tunnel,
but this is why I use the "zip-tie method" instead of that "special tool" to change shims:





No, I don't use a rag, either.

.

[posplayr]

I have NEVER stuffed a rag into a cam chain galley. Don't know if it's because I am a mechanic or just careful but I HAVE dropped a bolt or 9 in the cam chain galley & had to fish them out with different methods. My favorite is a magnet I have with a shield over it to keep it from grabbing magnetic stuff on the way down. After that I like stainless safety wire to hook nuts with. Experience & "Oh SH!T!" moments are the best teachers. I can honestly say I haven't had to fish a bolt or anything else out of a cam chain galley in over 10 years.
Ray.

Stuffing rags is a trick us mortals have to use. We just don't have the courage to keep fishing bolts and sockets out with the certainty that retrieval is inevitable.

[rapidray]

I have NEVER stuffed a rag into a cam chain galley. Don't know if it's because I am a mechanic or just careful but I HAVE dropped a bolt or 9 in the cam chain galley & had to fish them out with different methods. My favorite is a magnet I have with a shield over it to keep it from grabbing magnetic stuff on the way down. After that I like stainless safety wire to hook nuts with. Experience & "Oh SH!T!" moments are the best teachers. I can honestly say I haven't had to fish a bolt or anything else out of a cam chain galley in over 10 years.
Ray.

[Rob S.]

...working on the top of the engine with valve cover off and dropping a bolt down the chain galley because you don't have a rag stuffed down there.

I hate when that happens!

[posplayr]

I thought of one working on the top of the engine with valve cover off and dropping a bolt Down the chain galley because you don't have a rag stuffed down there.

I should pay you royalties given how many times I quote this in real life.

tks for your help,

I find the necessary stuff in BassCiff website (I hope)..

thanks again.

and specially to Jeff to take the time to explain to newbies how it works.