82 GS850L dies after 20 minutes, calling guru's

[Blue Falcon]

I think you'll be very happy with the upgrade in power over the 450. My wifes 450S was a hoot to ride, but nothing beats cranking the throttle on a big four. Next you'll want a 1000 or 1100 to stick in there.

Looked at 2 1100's, too heavy for my knees. I think 850 will be my top end....until I get my knees fixed.

 

[Steve]

Looked at 2 1100's, too heavy for my knees. I think 850 will be my top end....until I get my knees fixed.

You might want to take another look at the specification charts. :-k

I don't know about the chain-driven 1100s (which were lighter), but the '82/'83 shaft-driven GS1100G was 10 pounds LIGHTER than the same year GS850G.

The '80/'81 GS1000G was 15 pounds lighter than the same year GS850G.

.

 

[JTGS850GL]

You might want to take another look at the specification charts. :-k

I don't know about the chain-driven 1100s (which were lighter), but the '82/'83 shaft-driven GS1100G was 10 pounds LIGHTER than the same year GS850G.

The '80/'81 GS1000G was 15 pounds lighter than the same year GS850G.

.

Always been suspicious of those numbers. Since the 850 shared the same frame and the engine was basically the same along with the same body parts, I wonder where that extra 10 or 11 lbs came from?

 

[Blue Falcon]

You might want to take another look at the specification charts. :-k

I don't know about the chain-driven 1100s (which were lighter), but the '82/'83 shaft-driven GS1100G was 10 pounds LIGHTER than the same year GS850G.

The '80/'81 GS1000G was 15 pounds lighter than the same year GS850G.

.

It was either in my head or it was true.....the 1100's felt heavier and more difficult to move around than the 850... hmmmmmmm if what JTGS850GL

said is true... that would explain the GS1100 meter set and various other 1100 elements to the bike.... after last night and today, I have realized the bike has been frankensteined a little. Judging how the vin says its an 81....the title says an 82 ....smh.... I wonder what other surprises I am going to find.

LINK TO THE 850GLX

 

[Blue Falcon]

Calling all guru's again... smh

Calling all guru's again... smh

Here is what I know so far, frame is an 81 GS850GLX and motor, it has a mixture of 79-8? 850/1000/1100 parts on it that I can tell.

The CDI, correction.... IGNITOR.....currently on the bike 32900-45411 which does not match the parts lists I can find. I have not popped off the signal generator cover yet to look. Is this one OK to use or do I need to order the right one? I have spark

The petcock is bad... already hashed over that - ordered here on Friday. going to put some clear fuel line and a filter inline so I can visual the flow just in case it is not the only issue.

The meter hood is off of a 79/80 GS850-1000... at least it looks like the ones they used. - will this throw off the fuel tank level indication?

Gas in oil - changing oil after I get the petcock installed.

I'm just glad a lot of the parts crossed over models... had me worried for a bit.

I am going to have to add some ground wire, there are some floaters still on the bike.

Paint job is shyte - they didn't prep the tank, old color under it peels right off, it was a red color. Not sure if it's even an 850 tank.

Someone tried to strip or cover anything that said "Suzuki" on the bike

I need to look at the fuse box and make sure everything is looking good and making contact, PO did have a shop do this already, but so far I can't trust what they have done.

 

[Steve]

From what I can see in your album, it's an '82.

You say the VIN says it's an '81. Are you saying that because of the assembly date? What does it show? Hopefully you realize that some bikes had to be assembled in '81 so they could get to the showrooms in time for the October/November unveiling of the new models. Production of the '82 models might have started as early as August, but was definitely going by September. When was yours assembled?

There is no "CDI" on the bike. Not even on any GS ever produced. It is not a Capacitive Discharge Ignition, it is merely a box full of transistors that replaces the points on the older bikes. They still control current through inductive coils, which a CDI system does not have. It is more-properly called the "ignitor", and the part number you have is correct for your bike. At least it's the same as what is on my wife's '82 850L.

Yes, the meter assembly is off a G, not a GL, but that should not affect the accuracy of the fuel gauge. One thing you will be missing, though, is a side stand warning light. You probably have a switch on the frame, just ahead of the side stand, but no light in the gauges.

There are a couple other things that say you have an '82.
- One of them is the larger fuel tank. The '80/'81 850L tanks held less than 4 gallons, the '82/'83 tanks hold 4.5.
- Another difference is the crankcase. The shape of the clutch cover is straight up and down at the back. The '81 and earlier engines still had a hump there, where the kick starter used to be on the '79 models.
- The wheels are also typical of the '82, but they are not definitive by themselves, as I have similar wheels on my '80.
- The turn signals are not from '82, they were round. Yours look like they are from an '83.

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

From what I can see in your album, it's an '82.

You say the VIN says it's an '81. Are you saying that because of the assembly date? What does it show? Hopefully you realize that some bikes had to be assembled in '81 so they could get to the showrooms in time for the October/November unveiling of the new models. Production of the '82 models might have started as early as August, but was definitely going by September. When was yours assembled?

There is no "CDI" on the bike. Not even on any GS ever produced. It is not a Capacitive Discharge Ignition, it is merely a box full of transistors that replaces the points on the older bikes. They still control current through inductive coils, which a CDI system does not have. It is more-properly called the "ignitor", and the part number you have is correct for your bike. At least it's the same as what is on my wife's '82 850L.

Yes, the meter assembly is off a G, not a GL, but that should not affect the accuracy of the fuel gauge. One thing you will be missing, though, is a side stand warning light. You probably have a switch on the frame, just ahead of the side stand, but no light in the gauges.

There are a couple other things that say you have an '82.
- One of them is the larger fuel tank. The '80/'81 850L tanks held less than 4 gallons, the '82/'83 tanks hold 4.5.
- Another difference is the crankcase. The shape of the clutch cover is straight up and down at the back. The '81 and earlier engines still had a hump there, where the kick starter used to be on the '79 models.
- The wheels are also typical of the '82, but they are not definitive by themselves, as I have similar wheels on my '80.
- The turn signals are not from '82, they were round. Yours look like they are from an '83.

.

EDIT: my blind arse... it is GLZ.....ugh working nights plays a number on ya, so ya it's an 82. Disregard my next sentence

last 3 letters of the ID tag on the frame GLX not GLZ X = 81 Z = 82... ya think it might be at that "wellllllll lets make it an 82" point in the year?


ok ok ok not "CDI" .... ignitor

and thank you Steve, so I do have a Heinz 57

I'm at work right now, will check assembly date when I get home in the morning. ----answered above...I'm blind

 

[850 Combat]

I was under the impression that the ignitions changed from mechanical advance to an electronic advance in 1982. Is this correct?

The GS850 engine is based upon the GS750 engine. Suzuki was on the ropes when they designed it. They could not afford another non seller like the rotary, and the two stroke sales were falling off. The 750 was designed to be super robust. The 1000 is lighter, and Suzuki had more time to remove material from the cases where it was not needed. The 850 also had vestiges of the kickstart remaining which added a few pounds. This is what I read, anyway.

I've owned a number of 850Gs (including a '79 with a kick start), and a number of 1000Gs. I've also owned one 1100G. I can't tell any difference rolling them around. Any difference in feel in the garage probably relates to how much air remains in the tires, and what kind of handlebars it haqs. They are all 600 lb bikes.

There are a lot of these around, because they are very robust and they can absorb lots of abuse and neglect.

 

[Steve]

I was under the impression that the ignitions changed from mechanical advance to an electronic advance in 1982. Is this correct?

It may have started late in '82, but I have been under the impression that it came out with the '83 models.

However, typical of Suzuki, if something was available early, "let's start using it now".
If they still had plenty of something on-hand, "let's keep using these until they are gone".

It's hard to say exactly when any particular item started or ended.

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

Just to check my double check because I am OCD about some things..I did my "bad petcock quick fix" and the bike ran fine for hours..then this morning..would not start at all. I went through the wiring, cleaned connections etc. Checked the Sig Gen - intermittent good/bad readings.... which means its bad in my book, had a good one handy for reference check. Same for the "CDI" (for Steve lol), uh.. I mean igniter, took it off to check it out, the shell and aluminum bottom is cracked... I had already ordered a new igniter already. On a good note... the coils are kicking . Everything else seems to be working fine.... other than the PO removed the kick stand safety and clutch safety switches. Wiring looks good otherwise...fuse box is in really good shape, looks like someone cleaned it and spruced it up. A lot of the electrical mods on the bike posted on bikecliff have been done to the bike, leading me to believe this is a member/former members old bike...or someone really resourceful. It used to be red/black on the tank... anyone got anything for me?

PO did replace the stator and R/R... I am going to check those once I get the bike running....nothing seems kosher.... by the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes.


so to sum it up... I got the trifecta of problems all in one shot. I asked what it could have been and BAM....everyone was right.... how often does this shyte happen...smh

Petcock
Sig Gen
Igniter

Why couldn't it just have been a loose wire????

 

[Steve]

.... other than the PO removed the kick stand safety and clutch safety switches.

There is only a small amount of "safety" in either one of those switches. :-k

The clutch switch is usually bypassed by many of us (actual removal is optional), which makes it easier to work on the bike and to start it. The only "safety" part is if you are careless enough to not verify that the bike is not in gear before pushing the button.

The side stand switch is a nice feature, but it still assumes that you will look at the gauges before you take off. If you can look at the gauges, you can look down at the stand.

... I got the trifecta of problems all in one shot. I asked what it could have been and BAM....everyone was right.... how often does this shyte happen.

Well, we don't get them ALL right, but collectively, we have seen just about everything, and some of us can remember what fixed it.

To your credit, I have heard it said that "A problem well-described is a problem half-solved." Thanks for filling in requested details. :encouragement: :clap:

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

Well, we don't get them ALL right, but collectively, we have seen just about everything, and some of us can remember what fixed it.

To your credit, I have heard it said that "A problem well-described is a problem half-solved." Thanks for filling in requested details. :encouragement: :clap:

.

Got lucky today, all parts came in the mail around noon, woke up shortly after and within 30 minutes had all 3 replaced. Vrooooooom.... rode her to work no issues...except the torrential rain heading my way from the Gulf. The old petcock is not saveable for rebuild. Whoever messed with it before me did some damage to it on the inside. The igniter is cracked but the sig gen is saveable. broken wire on one of the points, I can solder that back on and I'll have a spare... explains the intermittent readings.

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone on this, I am less than $800 into the bike including stuff I still have on order in the way of cosmetics.

 

[850 Combat]

Awesome. Good job