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Got my GS850 to fire but doesn't stay running ....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
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Anonymous

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Got my GS 850 to run a few times for a just seconds ... almost acts like it isn't getting gas ..... and then it seems like the spark isn't hot enough ...
Oh well I will keep working with it ..... hopefully I can get it tomorrow after work ...

Well this is a trek .. learning how these bikes work ..
Don't understand why it wants to start but doesn't --

The plugs appear damp though

GD
 
First off, what year is the bike? How long was it sitting up when you got it?
What have you done to it since you have had it? Do you have a manual of any kind for it? How many miles on it? Have you replaced anything on it such as battery, switches, wiring, oil filter, air filter, crankcase oil, gas in the tank, etc etc. Give us a little background info on it and we'll see what we can do. :-)

Earl
 
... has set about 3 years ... I haven't changed anything yet

... has set about 3 years ... I haven't changed anything yet

... I haven't changed anything yet ... but it keeps blowing fuses for some reason (starter fuse and one other) ... then all of sudden it will let me try and start it .. acts like it really wants to start but doesn't keep running ...

It is a 1981 GS850G ... I just got it .. I have no manual ... I did dump the old gas out .. and put new in it ... it is a solid, nice looking bike ...

one question .... is an ignition switch getting worn and going bad a COMMON problem ? The bike has 21,000 on speedometer ... don't know if it is original or not ..

Thanks much ..
Real bike rookie,
GD
 
Re: ... has set about 3 years ... I haven't changed anything

Re: ... has set about 3 years ... I haven't changed anything

OK then. First thing we need to do is fix whatever is blowing fuses. Cause it aint a gonna run if'n it cant get no lecktricity. :-)

corrosion increases resistance and you end up drawing excessive current through the fuse trying to get enough to run the electrical device. Clean the battery terminals, check battery voltage, remove the gas tank, check all the connectors including the clips on the wires to the coils. Unbolt your fuse box and open the back of it. Inside you will see the internal connections to the fuse holders. These normally do not get serviced and are corroded. Pull apart all the plugs you find in the harness and check them for corrosion. clean them as needed. Coating them in electrolytic grease is a good idea. If you dont have any, vaseline will work fine, it just will not last as long. Check the ground wires on the bike's frame wherever you find them. There is a main one on top of the transmission case beneath the carbs. Once you have cleaned all the electrical connections, you should be able to check battery voltage with a multimeter to get a base reading, then check voltage at the coil + terminals to compare.

Whenever trying to get an unknown bike running, it is best to start at the beginning and make no assumptions. Assumptions just come back to bite you in the butt halfway through the refurbishing/setup process. :-)

The first thing you must have is a good electrical system. Without that, nothing will work right, including the engine.

Earl


gdtractor said:
... I haven't changed anything yet ... but it keeps blowing fuses for some reason (starter fuse and one other) ... then all of sudden it will let me try and start it .. acts like it really wants to start but doesn't keep running ...

It is a 1981 GS850G ... I just got it .. I have no manual ... I did dump the old gas out .. and put new in it ... it is a solid, nice looking bike ...

one question .... is an ignition switch getting worn and going bad a COMMON problem ? The bike has 21,000 on speedometer ... don't know if it is original or not ..

Thanks much ..
Real bike rookie,
GD
Click to expand...
 
Whatever you do, don't use starting fluid!

Evil stuff.

Take the carbs off, take the bottoms of the bowls off and you'll see a screw in the middle. Take that off and make sure you can see down it. If not, there is probably some gum in there and you'll need to get that out with a pipe cleaner. Just clean everything really well while your in there and make sure the floats move nice and freely.
 
wow!! ... what awesome advice !!!!! ....

wow!! ... what awesome advice !!!!! ....

Guys!! ... you are awesome .... thanks soooo much .... I can't wait to get off work !!!!!

(I will put the starting fluid can away too- :( )

Sure makes sense ... to make NO assumptions .... only thing that bothers me is when I "wiggled" the key it "lit" up once ... maybe the ignition switch is corroded too ..... huh?


I will stop by the parts store and get some of that electric "lube" stuff ....

I will work on those carbs too ,,,

Thanks many times!
GD
 
Re: wow!! ... what awesome advice !!!!! ....

Re: wow!! ... what awesome advice !!!!! ....

Yepper :-) ignition switches are notorious for collecting water/corrosion.
....and there ya go, you're trying run with a dirty diaper. :-)

Earl

gdtractor said:
only thing that bothers me is when I "wiggled" the key it "lit" up once ... maybe the ignition switch is corroded too ..... huh?
Click to expand...
 
Got electric straighten out some--but where do hoses go....

Got electric straighten out some--but where do hoses go....

Got the 850 to run ... but still won't stay running ..

I had to unhook the starter and the blowing fuses stopped. I cleaned the other connections ....

When I turned it on ... the "dash" lit up like a Christmas tree!!

I turned the bike on .. on ... and hooked up an external battery to the starter .... I got it started and "reved" it up some .. only have it act like it ran out of gas ....

I held my hand over the intake on the carb ... it would start and run .. for a minute and even accelerate ... only to "fizzle" as if .. not to get gas.

I know I have to start again ... on the electric ... but one question on the hoses from the carbs ...

There are 4 hoses. One is obviously hooked to the "fuel-cock". One I have hooked to the fuel-cock along side of the "main" fuel hose---this hose is run to the front of the carbs. 2 hoses that are on the rear of the carb above the intake mouth are not hooked to anything---

Also ... there is an electrical wire run to a unit 5 inches or so from the fuel cock with a metal nipple ... I don't know which hose goes there either ... (help!--:)

Thanks much .... (at least I am starting to learn .. ) ...

gdtractor
 
.. further note: gdtractor's 850

.. further note: gdtractor's 850

..... I have to turn the fuel cock to "reserv" to get gas to flow ....

.... and at times ... it appears gas seeps out the back (or intake mouth) when it dies .... as excess gas ..... (maybe it is not getting thru huh?

gd
 
Re: .. further note: gdtractor's 850

Re: .. further note: gdtractor's 850

There isnt any intake mouth on the fuel petcock. The small line is the vacuum line which actuates a diaphram to open the fuel valve. The large line is the fuel line which gets connected to the carb Tee. If the petcock is seeping fuel in any place, its time for a new one. Try putting the end of the vacuum line in your mouth and sucking on it. It should take about 1 lb of draw to activate the petcock diaphram and let fuel flow. (remove the fuel hose from the petcock so you can see the fuel flow) If fuel does not flow, then the petcock is a goner. If you get any gas in your mouth, the diaphram is leaking, and the petcock is a goner. If it takes more vacuum to operate the petcock than it takes to drink a coke through a straw, the petcock is a........YEP...... GONER. :-)

Earl



gdtractor said:
..... I have to turn the fuel cock to "reserv" to get gas to flow ....

.... and at times ... it appears gas seeps out the back (or intake mouth) when it dies .... as excess gas ..... (maybe it is not getting thru huh?

gd
Click to expand...
 
Petcock not leaking ..

Petcock not leaking ..

Hi Earl
The petcock isn't leaking. But I am not sure I have the correct vaccuum hose hooked up. On the back of the carb the gas hose goes on the Tee--then above this hose are 2 hoses .... are they not hooked to anything (presently) ......

which hose hooks to the diapham like device in front of the petcock that has the wire run to it ..

Thanks so much Earl for your help .. I hope I can describe it correctly ...
GD
 
Re: Petcock not leaking ..

Re: Petcock not leaking ..

gdtractor said:
Hi Earl
The petcock isn't leaking. But I am not sure I have the correct vaccuum hose hooked up. On the back of the carb the gas hose goes on the Tee--then above this hose are 2 hoses .... are they not hooked to anything (presently)
******************* . gas to Tee is correct. The only hoses I can think of that would be above the Tee are vent lines for the carbs. Those vent to atomsphere.

which hose hooks to the diapham like device in front of the petcock that has the wire run to it ..
******** I believe that would be your fuel tank vent line. It doesnt hook to anything, its a vent.**********


When you remove the fuel line from the petcock and suck on the vacuum line, do you get fuel flow out of the petcock?

E.



Thanks so much Earl for your help .. I hope I can describe it correctly ...
GD
Click to expand...
 
... I am kind of slow .. I think I know what you mean ..

... I am kind of slow .. I think I know what you mean ..

Earl
The main fuel line ... I should unhook .... then take the smaller hose next to it ... unhook it and suck on it ... and see if I get gas?

I will try this tomorrow ... but do I have it correct?

and the diaphram like mechanism with the wire run to it on the gas tank in front of the petcock ... does not have a hose that runs to it? Correct?

Thanks
GD
 
Re: ... I am kind of slow .. I think I know what you mean ..

Re: ... I am kind of slow .. I think I know what you mean ..

gdtractor said:
Earl
The main fuel line ... I should unhook .... then take the smaller hose next to it ... unhook it and suck on it ... and see if I get gas?
**************yes. with the small hose still connected to the petcock and disconnected from the carb vacuum fitting, sucking on the small line should cause gas to flow from the large (fuel) outlet on the petcock.

I will try this tomorrow ... but do I have it correct?



and the diaphram like mechanism with the wire run to it on the gas tank in front of the petcock ... does not have a hose that runs to it? Correct?
The wire goes to the gas guage and the hose connected to it is a vent. The other end of the hose does not connect to anything.

Earl

Thanks
GD
Click to expand...
 
thanks much...

thanks much...

... when I do this Earl ... the pitcock should not be in the reserve position but on not "prim" (whatever that is) ....

One more thing ... why am I doing this? (please)

Thanks
GD
 
Re: thanks much...

Re: thanks much...

The prime position on the petcock bypasses the diaphram function and allows fuel to flow by gravity. The engine does not have to be running for fuel to flow on this setting. It is used when the carb float bowls have been emptied for whatever reason and it is for initially filling the float bowls. The reserve and run position both require engine vacuum to activate the diaphram which opens a valve in the petcock which then allows fuel to flow. Consequently, the engine must be running for fuel to flow in either the run or reserve position. You said when you get the bike started, it dies as if it is running out of gas. It follows then that it could be running out of gas. If the petcock is faulty, it will not flow gas or enough gas. Sucking on the vacuum line checks to see if the petcock does indeed allow fuel to flow in a good stream. If it does flow, then the problem is not with the petcock. The next step would be to drain the gas from the float bowls into a small container, comparing the amount that comes out of each float bowl. The amounts must be the same and should be aprox 2 ounces per float bowl. If there is any difference between them then float heights must be set for the correct amount of fuel to flow. If floats are correct, then your problem is with idle jet and passageway blockage. We're trying to isolate why you have a problem.

Earl


gdtractor said:
... when I do this Earl ... the pitcock should not be in the reserve position but on not "prim" (whatever that is) ....

One more thing ... why am I doing this? (please)

Thanks
GD
Click to expand...
 
thanks ...

thanks ...

thanks much ... will check it out tomorrow after work ... thanks again ..
gd
 
Running but .... help !!!

Running but .... help !!!

Hi --
I got my GS850 running. It idles great!! ... At first it wouldn't run past an idle then the longer I let it run .... the more throttle I could give it ... anyway I decided to let it run for a while. I let it run for about 45 minutes .. was idling fine .. with the exception of an occasional surge to higher rpm's then back down to an idle .. then all of a sudden it spued oil out the side .... I shut off the engine .. and looked and the "freeze-plug" [a plug with a rubber gasket on it] like thing with a glass in it had fallen out .. and oil came out everywhere ... [I don't know if the guy who had it filled it too full of oil or what? I did take the oil cap off while it was running but put it right back when oil started slopping] ..

What do you make of this? This is the first time I had run it for any length of time. It has set for about 3 years or more.

gd
 
Re: Running but .... help !!!

Re: Running but .... help !!!

gdtractor said:
Hi --
I got my GS850 running. It idles great!! ... At first it wouldn't run past an idle then the longer I let it run .... the more throttle I could give it ... anyway I decided to let it run for a while. I let it run for about 45 minutes .. was idling fine .. with the exception of a surge to higher rpm's then back down to an idle .. then all of a sudden it spued oil out the side .... I shut off the engine .. and looked an the "freeze-plug" [a plug with a rubber gasket on it] like thing with a glass in it had fallen out .. and oil came out ...

What do you make of this? This is the first time I had run it for any length of time. It has set for about 3 years or more.

gd
Click to expand...

Is this "plug" under the oil fill cap? I'm thinking you described the oil level site glass. Running the bike for 45 minutes with out any air cooling be have caused it to over heat. This sounds very interesting. I'm sure one of the experts will have an answer soon. After they finish watching the John Kerry show.
 
thanks ..

thanks ..

thanks much ... I never thought of it overheating while idling. Well there was no clattering or anything ...
I hope someone else has experienced this .. to give me some insight ..

thanks again ...
gd
 
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