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Help! My Bike won't start! :(

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gottiz
  • Start date Start date
G

Gottiz

Guest
I have a 1982 GS550LZ that refuses to start. I have gone through the carbs and cleaned them. Replaced all of the spark plugs in the bike because I saw that I was having a weak spark. Someone suggested to me that I check the stator because the spark was weak on both coils.

I checked the stator and what I found was a nicked wire so I threw some contact cleaner on it and electrical taped it back up so that hopefully oil wouldn't get on it as easy and cause it to short. If that doesn't work i'll probably go back and throw some resin on it to seal the wire up. Right now i have a nice clean blue strong spark comming from both sides now. :)

When cranking the bike it seems like it backfires out of the carbs alot. one time even resulting in an engine fire with a dancing idiot next to it trying to blow it out.... (went and bought fire extinguisher) :D

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do. I am a newbie at mechanics at times and do need step by step help sometimes.
 
Boy, are you in luck! :D

We just happen to know what to do.

Among the most common:
1. Intake O-rings (install NEW OEM or Viton only - common nitrile O-rings will quickly deteriorate from heat)
2. Intake Boots (install NEW -- these cannot be repaired)
3. Valve clearances (more important than most people think)
4. Carb/airbox boots
5. Airbox sealing
6. Air filter sealing
7. Petcock (install a NEW one)
8. On '79 models, install new points or Dyna electronic ignition (or at least verify that the old points are working correctly)
9. On all models, it's fairly common to have problems with the spark plug caps. These are $3 or $4 each, and often worth replacing if you're keeping the stock coils/wires.
10. Stock exhaust with NO leaks or holes -- good seals at the head and at the junctions underneath.


BassCliff will be along with his Mega-Welcome, but this will get you started.

welcome1.gif


.
 
Gottiz said:
I have a 1982 GS550LZ that refuses to start. I have gone through the carbs and cleaned them. Replaced all of the spark plugs in the bike because I saw that I was having a weak spark. Someone suggested to me that I check the stator because the spark was weak on both coils. [\QUOTE]

First, welcome. That bike sounds familiar to me...

Gottiz said:
I checked the stator and what I found was a nicked wire so I threw some contact cleaner on it and electrical taped it back up so that hopefully oil wouldn't get on it as easy and cause it to short. If that doesn't work i'll probably go back and throw some resin on it to seal the wire up. Right now i have a nice clean blue strong spark comming from both sides now. :)
Click to expand...

Not sure why the stator would make a difference in spark when the bike was not running????

Gottiz said:
When cranking the bike it seems like it backfires out of the carbs alot. one time even resulting in an engine fire with a dancing idiot next to it trying to blow it out.... (went and bought fire extinguisher) :D
Click to expand...

Did you check your valve clearances? If not do that before anything else and check the cam timing while you're in there. Are you trying to start the bike without the airbox on there? That's not likely to work too well. Is the bike stock? How about some history?

Where on this blue/green globe are you?
Click to expand...
 
Hey Steve,

Thanks for the information!

at the moment the bike just cranks and cranks and sputters like it wants to start when i spray the carbs with starter fluid.

I did get it to start once for about ten seconds where it ran really rough. then died.

The intake boots are about a 2 years old and I can't find any holes in them but I haven't checked the o rings yet.

the airbox boots are completely gone and I need to go get some cone filters because i saw how much it was to replace the airbox boots and all.

How hard is it to check the valve clearences in these bikes?

This old girl was my frist bike and I wanted to get her running again so that she could teach and inspire the next person who wants to learn how to ride..... Plus it is a heck of alot more comfortable to ride than my R6. lol
 
Hey Mike,

Yeah i'm starting it without the airbox on there because when i got the bike it wasn't on there.

The bike did run when I got it and someone... not me... put foam over the carbs and then used clamps to hold them on the carbs.

I rode the bike for a year then I had to move to Arizona and leave it behind in Iowa. I just got the bike back and have been trying to get it back to road worthy condition.

I have not checked the valve clearences and am wondering what is involved in doing so?

I think it made a difference because it was causing a dead short by contacting with the metal on the bike and drawing enough power to make the spark weaker?? I'm grasping at straws here.
 
Last edited:
Steve already let the cat out of the bag that BassCliff should be along sometime soon with your mega-welcome. His site is here:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

There's a valve adjustment guide for 8V motors on his site. There's also a service manual for your bike available for download. You should verify the cam timing like I said while you're in there.

How long has the bike been sitting? You probably need to clean the carbs. I see available air boxes (front and rear) for about $35 each in nice shape on ebay.
 
Gottiz said:
I have a 1982 GS550LZ that refuses to start. I have gone through the carbs and cleaned them. Replaced all of the spark plugs in the bike because I saw that I was having a weak spark. Someone suggested to me that I check the stator because the spark was weak on both coils.

I checked the stator and what I found was a nicked wire so I threw some contact cleaner on it and electrical taped it back up so that hopefully oil wouldn't get on it as easy and cause it to short. If that doesn't work i'll probably go back and throw some resin on it to seal the wire up. Right now i have a nice clean blue strong spark comming from both sides now. :)

When cranking the bike it seems like it backfires out of the carbs alot. one time even resulting in an engine fire with a dancing idiot next to it trying to blow it out.... (went and bought fire extinguisher) :D

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do. I am a newbie at mechanics at times and do need step by step help sometimes.
Click to expand...


If you are backfiring out the carbs and seeing fire then you do not have the airbox installed. Do so immeidately and tell us the results.
 
Okay I just bought an airbox plenum off of ebay. It should be here sometime. I'll be won't be around next week so I sent it to a friends house. I'll let you guys know if it works :)

I'll check out bikecliff's website for the valve adjustment because I'm sure that bike probably needs it too because it smoked like a banshee when it ran.
 
Does anyone know where i can get an airbox cover for this bike? I looked on bike bandit for it and it said it was discontinued... and that it was 147 bucks.
 
Gottiz said:
I'll check out bikecliff's website for the valve adjustment because I'm sure that bike probably needs it too because it smoked like a banshee when it ran.
Click to expand...

That's something else going on, smoking is not the valve adjustment. Valve stem seals, maybe piston rings, it's hard to say.

What kind of smoke? Fuel or oil?

Start at the beginning and check everything out properly.
 
werid thing is that it's white which on a car says antifreeze.... but it's aircooled.
 
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. Gottiz,

Sorry I'm late. I've been at a rally. But today it's back to the grind. :(

It doesn't seem that there is going to be a quick fix for your bike. It just needs a lot of regular maintenance that has been neglected for too long. It's all in the links below.

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

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


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!"....
hat1.gif


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 Cleanup 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...

carpet.jpg


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! :D

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Thanks Bassclif, I ordered the air plenum as suggested but the bike is still not cranking over. I tested the spark and it looks good, but it is almost like it isn't getting fuel because i'll spray starter fluid in it and it will studder and and want to start but wont' quite get there. Also the center two exhaust pipes are hot but the other two are cool to the touch so i'm at a loss. I'm going to go through the carbs again using your guide.

Thanks :)
 
Okay I know I haven't posted in a while BUT I have semi good news and some really werid problems which you guys will eat up. :D

I bought an air plenum and installed it and fixed the exhaust and also bought the inner part of the airbox and a new air filter. Everything is now installed.

It still wouldn't start it would turn and turn like it had no compression but it did, well enough that it should start.

Purely by accident I discovered that by switching the plug wires to the on to the opposite plugs it started! with a completely reverse firing order! Has anyone heard of this?

Not only does it start but it rev's to around 6k and then the rpms are erratic then it dies if i don't give it gas.

any suggestions?
 
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