1984 GS 450L issues

[cecarr08]

Picked up an 84 450L a couple days ago. It would start after some choke and after quite a few stalls it would get running but is very hesitant. I found my first issue to be a cylinder not firing and replaced the plug to find that issue solved. Now I can get the bike moving without stalls. My issue now seems to be hesitation to get moving. I will give it throttle and it is very sluggish for 3-5 seconds before it really takes off I figured it needs a good carb cleaning but I really know nothing about cycles as this is my first. If anyone has a how to or diagram to pulling the carb it would be appreciated. Or if anyone has an idea as to the sluggishness. Also what recommendations are there for oiling the chain to remove rust?

 

[Guest]

First off, welcome to the forums!

BassCliff will be along shortly to give your "official" welcome, and there's a 450 carb cleaning guide on there.

As yours is an '84 it may vary a little as the guide is for the '80 - '82 models.

Things to check definitely on these old GS':

- Charging circuit
- Valve clearances
- Intake air boots and airbox boots
- Carb cleaning
- Fuel tap and tank

There are heaps of others too, but the ones above are mainly for getting it running right.

 

[cecarr08]

Pretty much all of that is a foreign language to me. Guides and diagrams are my best friend. Once I get into it and see what I'm wrenching I'll be good.

 

[Ranger]

Greetings and salutations

Greetings and salutations

Since BassCliff is on the phone and 50 min overdue on this I'll help him out, this is what he would say.

From me first, welcome and listen to him.

Hi Mr. cecarr08,

Let me dump a TON if information on you and share some GS lovin'.

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

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", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. 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!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Hope he wont be too mad

 

[hillsy]

As a first off (and if you're not confident pulling carbs apart) you could try the Seafoam fuel additive for carb cleaning. You might be lucky here, but really, a good carb clean by dismantling is in order. Drain the tank and put on new fuel lines while you're at it and that problem should be solved.

As for your rusty chain, a wire brush and a good liberal coating with chain lube should do the trick, but if it is too far gone, a new set of chain and sprockets is best.

Good luck with it

 

[Mike]

Pretty much all of that is a foreign language to me. Guides and diagrams are my best friend. Once I get into it and see what I'm wrenching I'll be good.

I'd never touched a carb when I started tearing mine apart and didn't have a single problem (that wouldn't have been there anyways) using the walkthrough

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/cbsaunders/gs/gs450_carb_cleaning_guide.pdf

 

[cecarr08]

So before I threw in some new plugs, it wasn't running on both cylinders. Now I have 2 new plugs in and it's running on both cylinders but I'm getting alot of backfiring or popping in the exhaust. I gapped the plugs at .06.

 

[Ranger]

Read through the website I sent you.

 

[cecarr08]

Read through it and checked on some parts to condition the carb. Noticed it said to gap the plugs at .031 for the 850. I read somewhere to gap at .060-.080 for the 450. Which of these is correct. Judging by the misfire I am getting Im willing to bet I need to re-gap them to .031

 

[Mike]

Read through it and checked on some parts to condition the carb. Noticed it said to gap the plugs at .031 for the 850. I read somewhere to gap at .060-.080 for the 450. Which of these is correct. Judging by the misfire I am getting Im willing to bet I need to re-gap them to .031

Why would the gap on an 850 matter?

 

[cowboyup3371]

Every bike will have things the same and different; it's a lot easier to just follow the specs for yours only.

 

[Mike]

FYI - per the manual, gap is .6-.7

 

[BassCliff]

FYI - per the manual, gap is .6-.7

Hi,

Is that inches or millimeters?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Mike]

Feet. I like to use a ruler to gap them

.6-.7 mm
.024-.028 in

 

[cecarr08]

Couple of updates on the bike. I stated that it was a 1984 but the title is showing 1985. I've replaced both plugs gapped properly and I am experiencing a misfire from the right exhaust pipe. I still have the flat spot while giving it throttle in gear so I am going to tighten the throttle cable a bit. I am going to run a higher octane fuel and seafoam through it on a small ride at speeds of 55-60 mph to stretch it's legs. I am having trouble though finding an o-ring kit, new OEM jets, and intake boot rings for my bike. Any links would be appreciated. Looking for all OEM gear here.

 

[Guest]

Have you tried cycleorings.com for your carb and intake boot O rings? Robert Barr is a member here and is awesome to deal with. I got my 450 O rings from him as well as the intake boot allen bolts to replace the dodgy stock philips ones.

For jets and things, I believe Z1 Enterprises or Sudco are the go.

Sudco has excellent info on their site that will help you determine what parts your carb actually needs.

 

[cecarr08]

Got the carb apart yesterday. Only had the main jet that. Was removable. Took all apart that could be apart and dipped it in berryman's. Got it cleaned and wiped down. Back together and on the bike. Bike would turn over but would not start. After a bit of trying it stopped turning over so I believe I may have flooded it or fouled up the plugs.

 

[BassCliff]

I am having trouble though finding an o-ring kit, new OEM jets, and intake boot rings for my bike. Any links would be appreciated. Looking for all OEM gear here.

Hi,

Did you read your "mega-welcome"?

In your "mega-welcome" you will find Rober Barr and his O-ring kit website:

http://cycleorings.com

You will also find sources for OEM carb parts:

Sudco International - Carburetor parts, Classic & Late Model Replacement & Performance Parts, etc.
http://www.sudco.com/ (http://www.sudco.com/oemcarbparts.html)
MotorcycleCarbs.com - Carburetor parts, etc.
http://www.motorcyclecarbs.com/index.cfm
Jets R Us - Carburetor parts, filters, gauges, etc.
http://www.jetsrus.com/

...just to name a few. There's also http://www.z1enterprizes.com, http://www.denniskirk.com, and a host of OEM vendors like http://www.partshark.com, http://www.cyclepartsnation.com, http://www.gssuzuki.com, and others.

Did you see the 450 carb cleanup tutorial?

GS450 Carb Rebuild Guide
(by Mr. Flaming Chainsaws)

Let me know what other links you would like.

If your bike stopped turning over you may have run down the battery. Be careful or you can also fry your starter.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[cecarr08]

I have pored over your information and it has been more than helpful. Im just chasing after issues on the bike to get it going and my knowledge on bikes is limited. I am going to pull the plugs tomorrow and try turning it over to see if I'm getting a spark as well as to see if I flooded the engine. I'm also going to try jumping it to see if the battery was dead as well.