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1980 gs550 not starting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Geo
  • Start date Start date
G

Geo

Guest
Hi All

A little help please.

I was giving a 1980 gs550e with 11K miles on it and I am trying to resurrect it.
The bike sat in a garage for 15years .
I pulled the carbs (Mikuni) and followed the cleaning instructions that are given on this site ( I licked the carbs clean)
I set the pilot air screw 2 turns from bottom for a preliminary setting and installed an inline fuel filter.
I am getting spark and fuel is filling the bowels.

No left over parts BUT I can't start the bike without starting fuild and then it will only run for several seconds.

After about 20 Min of cranking,starting fuild and praying some fuel started dripping from the bottom.

Any ideas or thoughts as to what I missed , did wrong or what I need to check would be greatly appreciated!

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR EVERYONE'S HELP.

Geo
 
What was the need for the extra filter?

How is the petcock. Does it flow on PRI (prime) and speaking of prime, did you fill the bowls?

Welcome to the fourm. I won't "splat" ya, but others may. BassCliff will be along to give you the formal hug.

Again, WELCOME!

Dave




ps. I LIKE CARBS...
 
Last edited:
Dave ..Thanks for the welcome. I think I will be picking everyone's brain for a long time.

I installed the filter as insurance in case of possible crud in the fuel tank.

The drain plug in the bowls was cracked to make sure fuel was filling them.
 
Hey Geo, welcome to the site. Can you do a couple of favors for people before they ask you? Go into the User CP and add in your location (in case anyone is close enough to help you out) and the kind of bike you own in your signature (so you don't have to always say it later).

You might want to do a search on here for inline filters. I've read plenty of times that they will hurt more than help especially since the one on the petcock does nicely.

Otherwise, do you have your air filter installed and tightened up? Did you bench sync the carbs before putting them on? Are you getting spark? You said you followed the instructions for the carb cleaning but did you let each carb soak OVERNIGHT in the solution and then replace the new orings? Did you replace the orings on the intake boots and are you sure those boots are still pliable?

Other more knowledgeable folks will be along to help out but that's what I remember seeing and what I went through for mine. Good luck.
 
Geo said:
Any ideas or thoughts as to what I missed , did wrong or what I need to check would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
No problem, let's look at them:

I was giving a 1980 gs550e with 11K miles on it and I am trying to resurrect it.
The bike sat in a garage for 15years .
I pulled the carbs (Mikuni) and followed the cleaning instructions that are given on this site ( I licked the carbs clean)
Hopefully you meant "they are clean enough to lick", as you can not clean them properly by licking them. :-\\\

I set the pilot air screw 2 turns from bottom for a preliminary setting and installed an inline fuel filter.
Start with the idle mixture adjustment screws (what you are calling 'pilot air screws') 3 turns out and ditch the inline filter.

I am getting spark and fuel is filling the bowels.
Just try to keep it in the bowls. :oops:

No left over parts BUT I can't start the bike without starting fuild and then it will only run for several seconds.
Ditch the starting fluid. Hard starting when cold is often caused by mis-adjusted valves. Since you have no idea of the history of this bike, it's advised to check them before starting it, anyway. That should have been on your list before ever pushing the START button.

After about 20 Min of cranking,starting fuild and praying some fuel started dripping from the bottom.
From the bottom of what? 20 minutes of cranking is enough to kill the starter, I hope there were some LONG rest periods in there.
TWO minutes of cranking is enough to kill a battery. What did you use for power?

Any ideas or thoughts as to what I missed , did wrong or what I need to check would be greatly appreciated!

.
 
Most likely bike went to garage 15 years ago for a reason- assume it had mechanical problem unless you know otherwise.
You got spark- big plus! Did you check oil to make sure it was ok and not contaminated with gas?
Cleaning carbs is serious business on this site, so expect lots of skeptics before you convince them. As mentioned, ditch the starting fluid- it tells you very little and encourages you to torture the starter motor.And this would be a good time to check valve clearances, so you can cross it off your list. Believe or not, but these bikes will start instantly when all is in order.
 
Wow ..This is one serious site....

I will start from the top...

1. The bike was parked in a garage for 15 + years in working condition and lost intrest in the bike
2.The bike was parked with gas in the tank and carb.

To get the bike running I did the following.
1. Changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs and air filter.
2. Replaced the battery
3. Pulled the carbs ( what a pain in the A..), soaked them for 24 hours, cleaned and blew out all holes and passages. ( Carbs were gummed up )
4. Replaced all O rings ( I did not use a rebuild kit), set the pilot air screw 2 turns and checked the float height
5. Air horns in good shape.
6. I got the inline filter from a Suzuki dealer, just as insurance because the passages are so small.
7. Reinstalled the carbs (what a pain in the A..)

Tried to start the bike .......

1. Full choke ..no start,did not even try.
2. Partial or no choke ..no start.
3. The only it would start or run was with starting fluid and only for a few seconds.
4. Because the bike runs with starting fluid I'm assuming the problem are the carbs.
1. I am getting spark, fuel is getting to the carbs, I cracked the drain plugs and fuel came out.
2. Some fuel was dripping out the bottom of the bike..overflow tube?
3. Engine flanges and air box rubber not cracked.

What I would love to know is what checks,settings ,etc can I do on the bench to make sure the carbs are assembled and working properly.I have both Clymer and Suzuki service manuals.
I know I am missing something ..I just don't know what.......HELP.

Thanks again for all the help!!!!!!!!!!
 
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. geo,

Let me share some more GS lovin'. :D

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.
big_hi.gif


If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....:)

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike! :D

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
crazy thought.....

do you have the fuel/vacuum hoses hooked up correctly? similar situation happened to me once very early on. :o Had the vacuum hose and the send unit overflow hoses reversed. would start for a second or two on starting fluid, then die.
 
Geo said:
Wow ..This is one serious site....

I will start from the top...

1. The bike was parked in a garage for 15 + years in working condition and lost intrest in the bike
2.The bike was parked with gas in the tank and carb.

To get the bike running I did the following.
1. Changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs and air filter.
2. Replaced the battery
3. Pulled the carbs ( what a pain in the A..), soaked them for 24 hours, cleaned and blew out all holes and passages. ( Carbs were gummed up )
4. Replaced all O rings ( I did not use a rebuild kit), set the pilot air screw 2 turns and checked the float height
5. Air horns in good shape.
6. I got the inline filter from a Suzuki dealer, just as insurance because the passages are so small.
7. Reinstalled the carbs (what a pain in the A..)

Tried to start the bike .......

1. Full choke ..no start,did not even try.
2. Partial or no choke ..no start.
3. The only it would start or run was with starting fluid and only for a few seconds.
4. Because the bike runs with starting fluid I'm assuming the problem are the carbs.
1. I am getting spark, fuel is getting to the carbs, I cracked the drain plugs and fuel came out.
2. Some fuel was dripping out the bottom of the bike..overflow tube?
3. Engine flanges and air box rubber not cracked.

What I would love to know is what checks,settings ,etc can I do on the bench to make sure the carbs are assembled and working properly.I have both Clymer and Suzuki service manuals.
I know I am missing something ..I just don't know what.......HELP.

Thanks again for all the help!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...


Did you check compression?
 
Do the carbs again you have a blockage, at least in the starting system. Did you make sure all passages were clear, did you make that special tool from a match stick and a piece of fine wire to clear all fine passages.
 
Hi don.
I dipped the carbs for 24+ hours, used carb spray and as far as I know I cleaned every possible hole and passage.I followed the cleaning procedure from this site.

When it did not start the first time, I pulled the carbs again and re-cleaned every hole and passage.
The bike acts as if no gas is getting to the cylinders.
I just don,t know how to tell if I got everything. The carbs were very gummed

Are there any known problems to look for?
 
I was in a similar situation on Saturday: I had cleaned the carbs and reinstalled them (agreed: a pain in the a**) and was having trouble starting it. I was able to get it started initially by spraying WD40 in the air box and it ran for a while, but the next day it would not start. We were able to get it started by removing a spark plug (#4) and squirting some gas in the hole, then replacing the plug and starting it. I have not idea if that is a good idea because I'm clueless with engines, so take that advice with a grain of salt. Every day since then it has been starting right up, even with the cold weather.

One mistake we had been making while trying to get it started: we did not have the air filter in or the air filter box installed. My buddy insisted it did not matter, but after reading info from this site I got him set straight. :)
 
What is the idle screw setting? Did you bench synch the carbs? Perhaps you left the slides too tight to start the bike.

Where are (ahem, were) you spraying the starter fluid to start the bike?
 
When you dipped the carbs, were they COMPLETELY apart?

Or did you have them still (partially) assembled?

Dipping carbs for 24 hours will take several days, unless you have multiple cans of carb dip, as you have to do each carb by itself for 24 hours.
Yeah, it's aa four-day process.

Then re-assemble with new o-rings from cycleorings.com. You get a kit will ALL the o-rings necessary for less than $15.

Even though you got your inline filter at a Suzuki dealer, it does not mean that it's appropriate for bike use. Too many times a CAR filter is installed. They are more restrictive, but they can get away with it because they have pressurized fuel systems. Our only fuel pressure is from having the gas a few inches higher than the carbs. On some filters, that's not enough to get the gas through the filter.

I still suggest setting the idle mixture adjustment screws out to 3 turns. That will get it started, you can fine-tune them later.

.
 
I had each carb soaking in parts cleaner for 24+ hours.
The carbs were completely disassembled except for the pilot air screw ( it was caped and..I did not realize it was their.)
I used different thin wires to clean every hole( I hope).

Checked the float height and reassembled with new o rings

I tried to start the bike with the filter on ,then off. I sprayed starting fluid into the filter housing with the filter off ( ran for several seconds)

When the bike did not start I removed the carbs and drilled out the caps (yes I was VERY careful) removed the air screws and sprayed the holes and wire cleaned them,reinstalled the air screws 2 turns out.

It did not seem to make much difference,the bike just cranks. ( will run for several seconds with starting fluid)

The inline filter is made for motorcycles that have gravity fed fuel systems (Filter element is sintered brass)
Not sure what you mean by bench sync .Their is a very small opening between the throttle valve and carb body on all 4 carbs.

My thought is since the bike runs with starting fluild my problem are the carbs.So, what in the carbs would cause this problem.
Do I have to take them apart again and soak them for 48 hours.
I know I am missing something , just don,t know what.

Thanks
 
I was in your shoes last summer. I am completely new to this site and bikes in general. I did everything you did with the carbs, still wouldn't start. I had a friend of a friend who has been fixing bikes forever take a look at it. In my case, the timing was out of whack - i wasn't there when he fixed it, but it starts now. I haven't yet checked my valve clearances as recommended by many on this site, but plan on doing so next season. hope that helps!!

-Skaat
 
"When the bike did not start I removed the carbs and drilled out the caps (yes I was VERY careful) removed the air screws and sprayed the holes and wire cleaned them,reinstalled the air screws 2 turns out."

You also said the carbs were very gummed up.Since the air screws were left in during your soaking, the cleaner might not have made it up the little passages to the carb throat. Sticking a wire thru now ain't going to clean the holes down to the fuel bowl. These passages ( and the enrichment system) have to let fuel flow.
 
just read the whole thing, sitting for 15 years? jeeze thats exciting having it just given to you!!... well as others said do a compression check, etc., check for sparks on each plug... get the right size hose and fuel filter especially, i have not seen anywhere except 2 posts below me about points and condensors and the timing.. get that straightened out first... my bike cranked and cranked and started with easy start spray etc.. would barely run and eventually it wouldnt fire up... my problem was points/condensors and the timing issue, the bike was brand new again..
 
Well I think in the next couple of days I will double check the spark , check the valve adjustments and wave the magic rubber chicken over the engine. The bike has solid state ignition( no points not sure about condenser )

Oh what fun.......................
 
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