Help!! Winter project looking for assistance

[Roemy24]

Looking for some major or minor help depending on how you look at it. I have a 1980 GS850L that in efforts to keep this short, I got took on Craigslist on what the PO told me. With the help of many on here I've made big strides towards being able to ride but 2 1/2 years later have only got to ride it a 1/2 mile.

I won't go into detail right now on all that I've done with opinions and advise from all the knowledge on the forum. So far I've learned more than I thought I would and actually cared to from the beginning. I've come to the point now that I'm stuck and need help from anyone that is willing to help a fellow GS'er. The main problem I'm at, starting and idling are a dream, at 4K it bogs to the point it will kill but a pull of the choke at that spot will rev it up just fine.

With my first child being born 2 weeks ago, I foresee no time to continue working on it. That being said I'm looking for someone that would like a project to work on over the winter. I could even be a 1 hour fix but my knowledge is limited. I'm located in Boyceville, WI which is about 1 hour East of the Twin Cities (MN.) Ideally I would like to trailer the bike over and discuss it. I'll buy the parts you recommend and pay you for the time to repair at your leisure. I can't afford to spend much more on this bike and don't always trust taking it to a dealer, especially since it is an older bike.

Happy riding to all, especially to those of us that are enjoying the Indian Summer in this region!

Thank you! Joel

[Steve]

I'm located in Boyceville, WI which is about 1 hour West of the Twin Cities.

Would those be the twin cities of Boyd and Edson?

Sorry, but those are the only two cities that might be "twins" about an hour east of you.

If, by chance, you are talking about THE Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, not sure how to tell you this, but dude, you are EAST of them.

Might this "direction-detecting impairment" also be affecting your repairs?



"Engine bogs at 4K". Is that sitting in the driveway or part-throttle while riding or full-throttle? Makes a big difference what to look at.

What mods have been made to the bike? Stock airbox or pods? Stock exhaust or header?
These are things we need to know before making any educated guesses.

.

[bobthebiker88]

I'd gladly offer my time and services if you lived in the hernando/pasco/tampa FL area.

[Roemy24]

Ha, you got me Steve. The baby isn't giving me a ton of time to sleep! Yes East of St. Paul/Minneapolis.

Bogs in the driveway. I'm too cautious to take it out on the road until the gremlins are gone or resting to make me feel comfortable for that.

No mods what so ever. A short list of the common things that people have told that I've done. Clean the carbs (done 3 times and took careful attention to the passages - dipped), new carb kits with correct factory jets, new plugs, new plug boots, changed shims so those are in spec, air box has new stock foam filter and sealed the covers, new boots for box and to block, new clamps, new o-rings, sealed inside of tank, new petcock and more.

Hopefully you can see that this is almost a new bike and need someone with more knowledge of these to look at or double check my work.

Bobthebiker...thanks for the offer. A little far for me however in 10 degrees below or worse in the middle of winter I may reconsider!