• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

First Bike - 81 Suzuki GS250T Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dallasabx
  • Start date Start date
D

Dallasabx

Guest
I recently picked up a nice clean 81 Suzuki GS250T with 8k miles for $400. It's my first bike and I thought it would be perfect to learn how to work on Motorcycles (I am a noob) and to learn to ride on (never ridden a motorcycle before)
I bought the bike not running, The previous owner stated that it had a bad starter but didn't have the time or interest to replace it.
I figured it would be a pretty straight forward fix so I decided to purchase the bike.
I jumped the solenoid with my car and the engine rolled right over right away, so I was able to determine that the starter was not the issue.
I took the battery to Farm & Fleet and they stated that the battery was no longer any good and that even if it was good; it was not the right battery for this model bike. I obviously purchased a new battery that matched original specs.
I also ran a new starter cable from the battery to the solenoid and a new ground wire. (all connections are tight)
The bike now turns over just fine and everything was looking good so I put some gas/seafoam in the tank and tried to start it.. The engine didn't fire.
I determined that the carbs must be gunked up so I took them apart. Carbs were pretty clean and the floats did not appear to be stuck.. Regardless, I cleaned the **** out of them and found that the jets were plugged. I cleaned them out with a guitar string and got the carbs damn near spotless and put them back on the bike.
I checked for spark and we have sharp blue sparks firing on each cylinder. So that's looking good.
I was pumped to finally get Suzi up and running so I threw the battery back on, sprayed some starter fluid in the carbs and pushed the start... Bike fired right up! I was ****ing stoked after all the time I'd put into it!
Problem is.. :( As soon as I let go of the Starter button the engine dies.. When I try to start it, it will start just fine and as long as I hold the button I can rev it up but when I let off the button, it dies.
I don't want to continue running the starter while the bike is running because I am scared to burn up the starter. I have looked online and I also have a original service manual but cannot seem to find anything addressing this issue.
Any thoughts?
 
"...As soon as I let go of the Starter button the engine dies.. When I try to start it, it will start just fine and as long as I hold the button I can rev it up but when I let off ..."

Might be bad wiring in starter button and "run/off" switch area- maybe miswired by creative PO. Go here and scroll to end for a wiring diagram to check stuff. Best to NOT let starter staying engaged with engine reving!

A multimeter is a must-have suzuki accessory


http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/GSX400_GS450_wiring.pdf
 
I wonder if it's a compression issue? Seems like the engine firing hasn't enough guts to keep itself spinning. So it's something I would check just to get it off the list of possibles.

Valves stuck or plain wrong? I think your valves are easy ones to check/adjust...no shims just lock-nut adjusters. Ring problems seem less likely but...

maybe have a look at the timing too....got a timing light? It's not adjustable but centrifigal advance mechanism might be stuck in full advance mode though I think it's pretty rare as it's so simple a mechanism.
 
Welcome !!

Adjust the valves. Hard or difficult starting is a telltale sign of valves out of spec. :)
 
First, clean the carbs per the instructions in Bile Cliff's site. Poking the crap out of the jets is helpful, but does not complete the work. Second, determine if it loses spark without the starter button pressed. You shouldn't, of course.
 
Thank you for your advice. Is their a complete carb cleaning walkthrough on Bile Cliff's site?

Also, do you have the URL?
 
Regarding ajustment of the valves.. Should I take it to a shop considering that im a noob or is this something I could do myself?
 
My vote is also for an examination of the wiring. Remove the tank, put a voltmeter on the + side of the coil and switch the ignition on. Volts? Yes, no? Press the starter for a few seconds. Volts now? Yes, no?

An analog meter would actually be better for this, or a decent digital with the pseudo-analog bar graph.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top