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My test ride wasn't great, can anyone spot the fault?

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    #1

    My test ride wasn't great, can anyone spot the fault?

    I took my 79 GS550e, for its first run in months after giving it a thorough renewal after I bought it. It's taken a lot of work, but now everything is running as it should- or so I thought.

    After about 20 minutes of riding while stuck in traffic, the engine just died. It wouldn't restart until I took it to the side of the road and waited a few minutes. I put the choke back on then off as it seemed like it wanted to fire but just couldn't.

    Eventually when I was able to restart the bike it seemed not to have the power to rev and keep idle, instead it bogged out when I rev'd it. After a minute of playing with the choke (mainly putting it on) it would hold revs and I could continue my journey until it occurred again. This happened again another 3 times along my journey about 15 minutes apart.

    Does anyone know why this might be happening? Your advice would be a huge help!

    *Just in case this info helps. Carbs have been really thoroughly cleaned, it has a new battery and the spark plugs are a little sooty, but not heavily fouled, and it has a full tank.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Air leak somewhere? Plugged pilot, maybe?
    "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
    ~Herman Melville

    2016 1200 Superlow
    1982 CB900f

    Comment

      #3
      Plugged pilots as was mentioned. And possibly the petcock isnt working right. Be sure the vacuum line to the petcock isnt pinched or folded onto itself also..the fuel line too. Had you taken the petcock off to see that the in tank filter wasnt plugged up???
      MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
      1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

      NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


      I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

      Comment

        #4
        Maybe your vent is plugged. Maybe your filter is dirty. Unhook your fuel hose and let it drain into a container and check for good steady flow.
        1982 GS1100E "Jolene"

        Comment

          #5
          Doesnt matter if they were thouroughly cleaned or not. Just one spec of scale breaking off the carb body or from the bowl can get sucked up and replug jets.
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment

            #6
            Open the gas cap after riding for a bit and see if you get a "whoosh" sound. If so the vent in the gas cap is plugged. Happened to me on my 850, took a while to figure it out. There are 2 steel balls and other small parts under the cover on the gas cap, so take it apart carefully and note where everything goes.
            sigpic
            09 Kaw C14 Rocket powered Barcalounger
            1983 GS1100e
            82\83 1100e Frankenbike
            1980 GS1260
            Previous 65 Suzuki 80 Scrambler, 76 KZ900, 02 GSF1200S, 81 GS1100e, 80 GS850G

            Comment

              #7
              Thank you guys, this is really helpful.

              I have previously taken the petcock off and cleaned it, it was in perfect condition. Now I might have to confess that this problem could be of my own doing. When I got the bike I noticed that the fuel cap was a bit loose. I guessed being an old bike it had just worn out rubbers, so I fitted a cork washer to create a tighter fit. I bet you're right with the air venting and that is it, it's stopping the vacuum from working!

              I'll check today and let you all know what happens. With that can anyone tell me if there are vents or anything like that which should be kept clear for the air to circulate in the tank, not sure I've ever seen holes or vents?

              Comment

                #8
                The venting is via a molded in channel under the chrome cap cover itself. Bugs and stuff can get in there and plug the passage. The seal should be snug so gas dosent splash past the seal and get on the tank. Throw it in a can full of vinegar overnight and spray it down with lots of compressed air to dry the lock cylinder and such if your concerned its a venting situation.
                MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Did it die suddenly or sputter and die gradually? If it was sudden it may be igniter related. The GS550's were known to have issues with their igniter. If it dies, quickly check for spark. Take a spare plug with you and when it dies put that plug on one of the plug wires and place the body of the plug on top of the head. Crank the engine and see if you have spark. If no spark then I'd suspect the igniter. If you do have spark and the spark is nice and blue, then carbs or fuel related issues are suspect.

                  1980 GS1000GT (Daily rider with a 1983 1100G engine)
                  1998 Honda ST1100 (Daily long distance rider)
                  1982 GS850GLZ (Daily rider when the weather is crap)

                  Darn, with so many daily riders it's hard to decide which one to jump on next.

                  JTGS850GL aka Julius

                  GS Resource Greetings

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I've taken on everyone's kind advice and sadly I'm still struggling.It's running really badly today, worse than yesterday.

                    Here's what I did today:

                    I looked but couldn't seen the channels for the air vents in by the fuel cap, so I tried running with the cap on, cap off. Nothing changed.

                    I could get it running with the choke on full and in prime on the petcock. But there seemed to be a high pitched piston whoosh sound every 5 seconds.

                    At the end of hours adjusting the idle and doing all the fault checking I can with spark plugs etc, the whoosh sound had gone and I was left with the bike being able to idle with the choke fully on. However when I slide the choke gradually down to off the engine would rise to 4-5k revs, before coming to a slow then spluttering stop as I closed the choke.

                    Please any advice is welcome, I'm can't spend anymore time in the cold!

                    Extra info on the carbs: I've set the fuel screw to 3/4 turns out and air screw 2 turns out.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      I still vote plugged pilot passage.
                      "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
                      ~Herman Melville

                      2016 1200 Superlow
                      1982 CB900f

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Turn the pilot screws to 7/8 and the side ir screws to 1 1/2. this will richen the pilot and main circuits a bit and may help. What do the plugs look like?? Black and sooty means too rich. White and ashy means its too lean.
                        MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                        1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                        NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                        I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                          Turn the pilot screws to 7/8 and the side ir screws to 1 1/2. this will richen the pilot and main circuits a bit and may help. What do the plugs look like?? Black and sooty means too rich. White and ashy means its too lean.

                          I'll try this. It does have fairly sooty plugs, but because the bike runs better with the choke on, it would seem its running too lean? But what do I know, clearly something is wrong and I'm at breaking point with no other ideas.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by GS1150Pilot View Post
                            I still vote plugged pilot passage.
                            Speaking of ideas I will check for this. Am I looking for dirt in the air screw passage? Sorry but I don't really know what to look for.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Take a look at the carb rebuild tutorial here. Youre comment about not knowing what to look for is very telling. Im now suspecting you need to do a 100% full tear down and rebuild from top to bottom.

                              If you have problems with the rebuild you can PM me your number nd I can call and walk you through things. Its not as daunting as you may be thinking.

                              VM tutorial on right side here..

                              http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/
                              MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                              1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                              NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                              I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                              Comment

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