Bike starting issue....IT'S ALIVE!

[hostar]

I just got the GS850L, and put a new battery in. The bikes engine will turn but slowly, then getting faster, and when it is almsot there I give it some gas and it kicks in. Once i shut it off I have to do the same thing all over again.

Now my new battery is dead =(. Can anyone help me on getting the bike started or what I should do. I never worked on cars or bikes, I can riped a computer inside out and put it back together with no problem =P I have the Clymers repair manual as a guide. I also printed out the Stator Papers just in case its related to that. But hopefully not.

Bike also has a small oil leak...but I think I will deal with that later once I can get the bike to start consistently

Also what was the amps to charge the battery w/o destorying it? Need top recharge my battery.....someone please help trying to ride =P

Brief history on bike...Its been sitting for a year and had fuel stabalizer added to the tank last winter. Thats about it....had a bunch of repairs back in 2000 on o rings, carb rebuilt, etc, but since then it hasn;t been riden much.

THANKS!

[bjrehill]

We need a little more inof. Did you do a compression check? What did it look like? Do you have new plugs that are gapped correctly? Are you getting a good spark? Do you have original air box or pods? Is the air filter clean? Are you getting fuel to the carbs?

Hard to say what maybe the problem without some more info.

[hostar]

Well here is an update.....I toasted my bike

I removed the battery and charged it. Bought 4 new spark plugs, switched them out, checked my compression...I was only getting 60 psi.... went to go see if bike would start....put in battery and tried to start it. Engine turned slowly and got real fast but never started. So I tried again....now the engine doesn't even turn....think I toasted my starter.....sigh....also think I might have to rebuild my engine, since the compression is so low.

So...any one know of a good bike mechanic in MD that isn't too expensive?

Or someone willing to come to my house and work on it or I will deliver bike to them? I will pay!!

Sigh.....I want to RIDE so bad!!! arrrg

[cloudbreakmd]

Email smoon8404@yahoo.com

[mark]

whoa, whoa, give yourself a little more of a chance before you write your bike off. Did you make sure that your throttle was wide open when you did the compression test?

[hostar]

Yeah I did make sure the throttle was wide open. Although I didn;t squrit oil into it to check the seals or something. Going to hook up the power directly to the starter cable and see if i can get my starter going or engine going.....the starter does click.....jsut no turning over now....

[mark]

I guess you have to have the bike turning over before you can do much else. If you're compression is really that low then you have to fix it. I guess I'm projecting my experience on to you because when I first got my '79 850 thats excatly the compression I thought I had, but it was because I wasn't doing the test right. Had to get a good guage etc. and suddenly I went from 50 psi to up around 130-145 psi in each cylinder.

Keep asking questions on the site there are lots of folks here who know a million times more than I do about how to fix your bike, and how to systmatically work through problems, if you enjoy the mechanical stuff.

[SqDancerLynn1]

If the starter is bad & not turning the engine at the proper speed IT could effect your readings. Get the starter fixed first either fix it yourself or get another on ebay. GET it running first & then check the valve clearance, then recheck the compression. The proper way to start your GS - turn fuel tap to prime for 3-4 seconds then then back to On. Give it full choke without throtle & it should start. If their are any air leaks in the air box it will not run properly & may be hard to start.. SO the complete air box needs to be installed
You should use a 1-2 amp charger for the battery you can usually get one for less than $10 at Harbor Freight

[hostar]

If the starter is bad & not turning the engine at the proper speed IT could effect your readings. Get the starter fixed first either fix it yourself or get another on ebay. GET it running first & then check the valve clearance, then recheck the compression. The proper way to start your GS - turn fuel tap to prime for 3-4 seconds then then back to On. Give it full choke without throtle & it should start. If their are any air leaks in the air box it will not run properly & may be hard to start.. SO the complete air box needs to be installed
You should use a 1-2 amp charger for the battery you can usually get one for less than $10 at Harbor Freight

I thought to check compression the bike was not suppose to start? I had all the spark plugs out, and open throttle all the way and tried to start the bike and got pressure in it. I did not have the battery hooked up, but ran it off a car battery directly to the cables. Was I suppose to let the bike start to get a pressure ?

I not exactly sure if it is my starter.....since it does click. could be the solenoid....

This is what I am following.....

If the battery is fully charged, connect the positive jumper cable directly to the starter cable. That's the big, thick, cable going from the starter solenoid to the starter. When you make the connection, there will be a big spark and the starter should turn. If it does, the solenoid is bad. If nothing happens, the starter cable is broken or the starter is bad. Try connecting directly to the starter motor, if possible. If the starter turns, but the engine does not, the starter gears or starter clutch is bad. If the starter does not turn, either the starter is bad or the engine is stuck.

[mark]

Sounds like you did the compession test right, you can't do a compression test with the bike running. The point being made was that if your starter isn't working right and turning the engine over fast enough when it cranks, your compression readings might be lower than they should be, so deal with your starter first.

I wish I could help you more with the starter, thats one thing that's worked great on my bike so far, I don't know much about it.

[hostar]

OH! OK thanks!! I will be working on my starter tonight and tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help!

edit....

damn jsut found out I was all out of oil in the bike...maybe thats why it wouldn;t start.....sigh

[Detman101]

Oh crap man!!!! You didn't check to see if you had oil in the bike?

Ouch...I hope you didn't do any permanent damage with that slip up.
If you need any help this saturday give me a call.
I live in Frederick but I'll be in the Silver Spring/laurel/Columbia area riding around having fun.
I've got no plans so if you wanna work over the bike let me know.

Dm of mD
301-237-7567

[hostar]

THE BIKE RUNS!!! WOOHOOO!!! CHanged out the starter...thanks to cloudbreakmd who had a spare one to sell to me cheap. And thanks detman for coming over and helping me remove the airbox and carbs to get to the starter....and some riding pointers =)

Now time to get thos historic tags and biking school and fix the small oil leaks and make this baby shine! And remove the dent on my tank

Thanks guys!!

once I learn how to ride we hitting the roads!

[cloudbreakmd]

Yay me and my friend in Frederick

[Detman101]

Yep, between the three of us it was guaranteed that you'd be up and running.