Got no idea where to go from here....

[Krooozn]

Today I decided to put a little gas in my bike and try to start it for the first time since I got it.....and I am sad to report I had no luck at all.....here's how it played out.....after putting the gas in the tank, I hooked my jump battery to the bike (I have no battery yet) switched on the key and had nothing, so I checked the only fuse that I have seen and it was blown.....it was in an in-line fuse holder that was attached to the battery cable....I have yet to see a fuse box on this bike.....anyway...once I replaced this fuse I had power up to my instrument cluster.....so I turn the kill switch to the run position, hit the start button and nothing.....there was absolutely no sound whatsoever....the starter never made a peep......so I took the starter control loose up on the handlebars and put a test light to the kill switch....here is what I found.....with the kill switch in the off position, I have power to that point, but when I put the switch into the run position, I am getting no indication of power at the button. I am at a loss here, I don't know what to check or where to look, does my bike have a fuse box, if so...where is it located? I really need a lot of guidance with this, electrical/power issues are definitely not a strong suit for me.....

Oh yea....forgot to mention on top of this demon, one of my carbs is leaking where the float bowl meets the carb body....I am hoping that the gasket will swell enough to stop this....not a huge leak but yet still a leak......

I really appreciate all the help and guidance you guys offer me and I really appreciate the patience! I'm a work in progress here!


Thanx...Anita

[Calvin Blackmore]

is there a starter interlock switch on this bike?
I mean maybe you need to pull in the clutch lever

[blowerbike]

is there a starter interlock switch on this bike?
I mean maybe you need to pull in the clutch lever

agreed...
also if you don't have a good battery in the bike that may be a place to start.

[Calvin Blackmore]

I am perusing the wiring diagram
if you can check the starter solenoid
with the clutch lever pulled in and the starter button pressed

dc the positive side of the solenoid and uses your test light there.

[jwhelan65]

First things first, get a new battery and clean the carbs.

[Krooozn]

You might be onto something with the clutch lever thing.....I do have a Clymer manual for the bike and I did look at the wiring diagram for the starter setup and it did show some kind of switch at the clutch lever, but I thought that it was actually a switch, so I saw a switch and flipped it on, but nothing happened, so now I am thinking that was the switch for the headlight......so maybe I do need to squeeze the clutch lever in........to get this to start. I'll have to put the sqitch housing back together tomorrow and give that a try......it should start I would think with the jump battery or at least try to start......I can hopefully get a battery for it on Monday.....any thoughts or suggestions for the slightly leaking float bowl? I sure don't want to take the carb off this bike again.....that is a real pain in the a$$! I am hoping that it will swell enough to seal this leak.....

I'll give the clutch lever thing a try tomorrow and see what happens......

Thanx so much once again guys....you Rock!

Anita

[81ZUKI75]

Float Bowl Leaking

If it's only the no1 carb leaking, and only while on the side stand, it may just be a gasket.

If the gasket leaks while the bike is on the center stand, the level is too high in the bowl. The float is sticking in the down position, the float valve is leaking through, or the float itself has a leak in it and won't "float" and close the valve.

Pull the no. 1 plug... if it's fouled, the "level control" in the carb is probably the problem. A rap on the side of the carb with the butt of screwdriver will sometimes coax a sticky float valve into working. If that doesn't cure it... I'd open it up.

Good luck...

[Krooozn]

The bike is on the center stand and the carb that is leaking is on the throttle side of the bike, so I guess that would be the no.2 carb......I'll try to give the bowl a good wrap tomorrow and see if that helps....I just cleaned them about 2 months ago now and tis is the first time they have had fuel in them since the cleaning.....so maybe the float is just stuck in it.......how can you tell if it unsticks?


Thanx again for the help.....

Anita

[81ZUKI75]

Avoid Hydrolock

Significant leakage could allow raw fuel into the cylinder. Before attempting to start, pull the plug and then rotate the engine. If gasoline "blows" from the spark plug hole then there's a significant leak.

Your leaky gasket is a good indicator if you've un-stuck the float valve... as long as the float height has been set correctly. Also, a wet or very dark plug, indicates a rich condition and is a sign that the needle valve may be sticking.

[Krooozn]

I am hoping that the leakage is very minimul simply because a very small amount actually leaked out of the carb. But to be safe I will pull the plug on that cylinder and check for gas....if I find it I won't persue starting the bike right now. I certainly don't want to do any damage to the engine. I hope that the float is just stuck and will respond to the wrap on the bowl....I'll give that a try and then turn the gas back on, if it cures the problem then my leaking should stop if I am understanding what you guys are saying....if it continues then I'll have to pull the carbs off again and go from there.....

Thanx so much for all the help.....I really depend on you guys for guidance and you never let me down....

Anita

[blowerbike]

Significant leakage could allow raw fuel into the cylinder. Before attempting to start, pull the plug and then rotate the engine. If gasoline "blows" from the spark plug hole then there's a significant leak.

Your leaky gasket is a good indicator if you've un-stuck the float valve... as long as the float height has been set correctly. Also, a wet or very dark plug, indicates a rich condition and is a sign that the needle valve may be sticking.

ummmm,
be very careful and have a fire exstingisher ready!!
raw fuel/ignition on/cranking engine and open spark plug Leeds make for a very interesting day

[a747freak]

I need to hold the clutch on my bike for starting, I thought it was standard? Mine won't do a darn thing if I don't hold it, even in neutral. Can't offer any other advice for the carb leak though. Good luck!

[Danjal]

First thing I would do is pull and clean the carbs. While you're doing that fix that gasket. Do it right this time, and you wont have a problem later on. You stated in your OP that this is the first time you've tried to start it since buying.. Do the work now and enjoy it later. Its a learning exerience, and this way you'll know its all done. Pretty much do all the basic maintenence to it and then some more. Its an old bike. If its theone in your sig, then its probably been sitting a while and needs a nice cleaning.

So far every GS Ive heard of except a few old models needs the clutch pulled back to complete the starter circuit.

[Krooozn]

After many tense moments, some swearing and a little bit of tool flinging...I am happy to report that I managed to get my righthand control all back together today.....I may not have stated yesterday when I started this thread....in my quest for finding out why my bike wouldn't turn over, I dismantled the righthand control so that I could test the connections....well when I say dismantled....I mean dismantled....I took the stupid start button out or it fell out either way I had many pieces to contend with...one of which was a flippin' spring! So after tracking that down three or four times when it went zinging across the garage....I managed to get the damn thing back together....so now the is nicely back in place on the bars as it should be.....I pulled the plug on the cylinder that mates with the carb that was leaking to check for it being fouled or covered in gas, and it was dry as a bone, so I am in hopes that the gas never made it into the cylinder seeing that the bike never started.....so I then took a screwdriver and lightly tapped on the float bowl.....in hopes that if it is just a stuck float it may dislodge itself and take care of the leaking problem.....and if not....then I'll just have to readdress that demon again.....I didn't try to start the bike today as I had some other things more pressing, but hopefully one night this week....I'll try to fire her up...I need to get a battery first......

Anyway...I have succeeded in rambling once again....so I'll just say Thanx again to all of you for the help.....you are the best team a novice like myself could ask for!

C-ya......Anita

[jrod666999]

So the clutch has to be pulled to even turn over? What about if you touch the terminals on the solenoid with power, should it turn over then? My bike doesn't have a clutch cable so that might also be causing problems!