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1980 GS 1000 - I'm in over my head

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roadrash 1000
  • Start date Start date
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Roadrash 1000

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I bought a 1980 GS 1000 last week from a supercool old guy who had 17 bikes. He said it ran great last time he had it out 5 years ago. He said dump the old gas that had stabalizer in it out, change the oil and get a battary and she should start. So I did this and nothing happened. The head light worked along with the plinkers, and there was clicking when I hit the starter switch in a little box by the battery. Over the phone he walked me through some tests to see what was wrong. When it came to the starter I was told to take off the possitive cable to the bike starter and get my car battery. I hooked the car battery up first with the jumper cables (car not running) then placed the negative jumper on the frame and the possitive on the starter bolt. The starter spun great and I was happy. Then I noticed that the bike no longer had head lights or blinkers and the clicking stopped and no spark at the plugs. The old man said I was supposed to disconnect the bike battery first. Does anybody have any ideas what I blew? What I should check first and how to check it? I have very little mechanical skills but I have a few motorhead friends who could help me out. The old man said the bike goes like a bat out of hell, so theres no turning back for me. If there's a brother out there that knows something about this bike I could use your help. The old man called me back later and told me he forgot to tell me to pull in the clutch when starting it even in nutral. He said he read it had this safty feature. I think the bike is a 1980 GS1000G, it is a shaft drive. Thanks, John
 
check the fuses behind the sidecover. check the starter relay, which is the little clicking box. clean the terminals on it. make sure your battery is fully charged. pulling in the clutch all the ways is safety device so it wont run away in gear. consider cleaning out the carburetors too.
 
Thanks Tarbash for the help so quick! The fuses were all good on the panel. I'll have a friend check the starter relay like you said today.
 
No matter what the old man said, you're going to have to spend a significant amount of time (between 30 and 60 hours) learning about your bike (a manual like Clymer is a must) and you'll need to purchase about $200 worth of tools to troubleshoot stuff.
Restoring a bike that's been sitting for years is never an easy thing - but it can be very enjoyable.
When you're done you'll have a great bike for pennies (in comparison to today's bike prices).
See the many posts on this site about the many things you need to verify.
 
My GS1000 was a grain shed storage piece for 11 years before I got it.
Patience, tinkering, reading, tinkering, swearing.

You'll get it.
 
Hey John, Welcome !
Nice to see another MN GSer.
If the old man has got all those bikes is there a chance he might be willing to give it a look over. He must know something about it if he had it running. Even if you had to pay him a little it may be worth it. Do you have a place to work on it ? Sounds like Id start on the carbs and get a battery and start cleaning all the electrical connections. Get some fresh oil in it too. Just by taking stuff apart and putting back togather youll learn alot. Good luck.
 
I've been reading other posts like you said. I also have the problem of the gas running out like a pig into the carbs and air box area like many others. I cleaned the petcock so I thought but it happened again. The prime lets it flow so I stay away from that. I realize now its going to take many hours and ALOT of help. I have a heated garage, lots of tools, good friends & lots of time. I just need to be pointed in the right direction every now and then. Once I get this baby going....
 
Hey Dave,The old man is supercool. We talk and email everyday. He lives a good hour and a half from my house. He said he could swing by on Wed. before he leaves town. I only paid $600 for the bike so I feel bad. He is really into bikes and wants to know whats wrong with it as much as I do. He said anytime I want to bring it back he'll give me a refund. Hats off to the old man.
 
Tarbash 27 when I said I heard a click I wasn't 100% sure where it was coming from, but I knew it was by the battery. So I went on line to see what starter relay looked like.Called my buddy over and he took it out. He ran power to it said there was no clicking, nothing, junk. So good call there thanks! The part had a 6 inch wire on it. My friend said I am now 6 inches closer. So I'll take it from there, and run down a new one.

Bonanza Dave are you close to Waconia? I see you have the big 1100, nice! If all else fails can I get you over here? I have my garage set at 70 so its nice and warm. The wife could cook us some steaks and you can drink all the beer you like. And of course whatever $$$ you needed.
 
Hey John,
Im in Lakeville. I cant remember the last time I was out your way. A friend of mine has an airplane out there somewhere. He actually use to own cities edge cycles in Chaska. He still wrenches on friends bikes and has helped me out plenty. Ive had the boat out there a couple times too.

If you have leaky gas problems ya gotta get those carbs gone through. Your needle valves are probably stuck open and need a real solid cleaning. Once thats done and you get a good battery Youll have a better direction on which way to go. I played with a little honda carb set all summer before I got it right. Be patient. It will pay off down the road. Dave
 
Just because the fuses look good doesn't mean they are. Check both sides of the fuses with the ignition on and make sure power is hitting both sides.
I've personally have had fuses that didn't look shorted that were no good.
Clean the fuse holders with contact cleaner and also the solenoid. Check all connections and especially the ground on the battery and where it grounds on the motor.
 
Alright Dave I'll get on those carbs. I'll ask a friend for some help. I know the yamaha dealer down the road charges $140 a carb. And I have 4 ouch! I called Cities Edge for the starter relay but they said it would take 3 days to order. He also said they just moved to Shakapee.I tried Sport Wheels but no answer. I'd like to get that part before the old man comes on Wed. I'll pick up some contact cleaner and get to work. I already changed the oil & plugs and threw in a new battery. Thanks to all for the help guys.
 
You can go to sears and get a solenoid from a lawnmower. Do a search and maybe you can get a part number.
 
If your fuel is just draining into the carbs still, you may have to replace that petcock, it may be junk. there is a vacume diafram in there that controls gas out, so either that is getting sucked way the hell open or she's stuck all together. if ya cleaned it then its probably not stuck. so I'd be looking at those carbs, as Dave said.
 
Home Depot would have a soloniod too, probably cheaper. Go to any lawn & Garden supply. Get someone to help you with the carbs If you are the least bit mechanical Follow the carb series info in the forum garage The main thing you need for the carbs is a set of O rings
www.motorcycleorings.com
 
An Anoka kid here, stuck out in the black hills. One of my favorite places for parts is Sport Wheels in Jordan. Give them a call or check them out on the web at www.sportwheels.com to see what a complete rack of carbs will cost
 
Mad Jack your right Sport Wheels is the best place to go. So my story gets worse and remember I like to ride not fix. The old man was running short on time so he had to pass for this week. Another friend of mine came over and said the relay was good and put it back in. I cleaned the fuss box area like Chef1366 said. I only had power to the top 2 using the light up meter. I got a magnifying glass out and and read the fuses wrong. I thought it said 15,10,10,15,25 plus I put it back wrong without grounding it. I turned the key on and the bike tuned over by hitting the starter button, I then checked for spark at the plug and that was good so I was like WOW. Then I looked over at the fuse box and it was smoking, so I shut it down right away. I found on this site it was supposed to be 15,10,10,10,10. I changed them around and tried it again with starting fluid. Got it to rumble the first time but my headlights went out and my fuse box was smoking. I know guys its ME not the bike. So I found the ground problem and now the fusebox doesn't smoke, ha ha. But its like when I first started now. All five fuses are good at both ends,the dash lights up,head light comes on, I hit the start button, and all I get is a click at the relay. just like before. I knew the starter worked so it had to be between the starter and the relay. Sure enough there at one of the connections it got hot. I tried to unplug it but the plastic protector is melted on sort of. My question is by having a friend change the connectors will it work or did I fry out the whole wiring. Sorry this was so long I just wanted to explain what I did.
 
You should pop a fuse before smoking the fuse box. You have a major short somewhere. Trace it from the melted wire.
 
Be patient and plan on working on it a lot.Enjoy the doing part and you will enjoy the done part a lot more, and will have learned a lot about your bike.Good Luck!
 
I'm trying to be patient but I've had the bike for almost 2 weeks now and I'm still where I started maybe worse. ha ha So I looked again at the bad/burnt connection. One end leads to the starter and the other went to a box with fins mounted under the battery box. Anybody know what that part is called and a way to test it? I know the starter works. Thanks again for everyones help.
 
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