• 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.

Hard Starting - 1985 GS550ES

  • Thread starter Thread starter MelodicMetalGod
  • Start date Start date
M

MelodicMetalGod

Guest
Looking for advice/experience to aid with a hard starting issue on a 1985 GS550ES.

The bike has been stored properly for about 2 years. We've changed the oil and replaced the battery and fuel petcock. The gas tank and carbs were drained before storage.

The bike required starting fluid for the first post-storage start-up, but it did start. With a little coaxing it warmed up and maintained idle. After a 10 mile test ride, that included a shut down/restart to fill up at the gas station, there were no issues related to stalling, idle, starting, etc. Then, after the test ride, the bike sat for 5 or 10 minutes. Once again, starter fluid was required to get it going again. Once started, not signs of any problem.

Things that we haven't done, but plan to: Replace the air filter, oil filter and spark plugs. Check the charging system and starting system (coils in particular).

I understand that these bikes have a somewhat poor design in the electrical systems that may cause starting issues.

So, my question to all of you out there is this: "Are there any known issues regarding hard starting in general and/or after warm-up?"

Also, if you have any other general thoughts/ideas/tips/advice with regard to systems/components that my be involved in starting issues, please feel free to put 'em into the mix here.

Thanks!
 
It sounds like the choke circuit is dirty to me. You may have to pull the carbs and clean them.
 
I agree, but I'd still change your plugs/filters first.

Might as well.
 
MelodicMetalGod said:
Looking for advice/experience to aid with a hard starting issue on a 1985 GS550ES.

The bike has been stored properly for about 2 years. We've changed the oil and replaced the battery and fuel petcock. The gas tank and carbs were drained before storage.

The bike required starting fluid for the first post-storage start-up, but it did start. With a little coaxing it warmed up and maintained idle. After a 10 mile test ride, that included a shut down/restart to fill up at the gas station, there were no issues related to stalling, idle, starting, etc. Then, after the test ride, the bike sat for 5 or 10 minutes. Once again, starter fluid was required to get it going again. Once started, not signs of any problem.

Things that we haven't done, but plan to: Replace the air filter, oil filter and spark plugs. Check the charging system and starting system (coils in particular).

I understand that these bikes have a somewhat poor design in the electrical systems that may cause starting issues.

So, my question to all of you out there is this: "Are there any known issues regarding hard starting in general and/or after warm-up?"

Also, if you have any other general thoughts/ideas/tips/advice with regard to systems/components that my be involved in starting issues, please feel free to put 'em into the mix here.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
check for air leaks in the intake boots and the o rings on the engine side This will make it hard starting after warm up and bad idle. M bike sat for 2 weeks and would not idle at all till I cleaned the spark plugs and air filter.Havent had a problem since.Moral of the story.....Get it going and ride every chance you get!!!These bikes hate to sit and not be riddin.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top