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I think I have a fuel starvation issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter bluesmoke
  • Start date Start date
B

bluesmoke

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A few weeks ago, I picked up an '82 GS850. I took it to the local Suzuki dealer to have the whole thing gone over. I also had the carb manifold o-rings and boots replaced becuse I suspected an air leak - poor idling.

After picking it up, it ran fine for the first block then began to bog - maybe it would be better to describe it as a surge: Give it throttle and she goes, but the zip just isnt there. Like you are dragging a boulder. Then, out of nowhere, RPM goes way up and the bike wants to run right out from under you. On the highway, I couldnt get the bike to run faster than maybe 50 mph on the freeway.

I obviously will take the bike back to the shop, but before doing that I want to get some opinions. Although 30 years old, the bike basically underwent the 24k mile tune up. Carb cleaning, valve adjustment, filers, oil, etc. Like I said, it feels like it's not getting enough fuel. Thoughts?
 
Don't take it back to the shop. Most of those guys don't know what they are doing with these old bikes and would much rather ruin it to sell you a new one. Basscliff should be along later but look at his site for the carb rebuild procedures (http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff) and do them yourself. Also look over the air box, vacuum line, petcock, and intake boots to ensure all are in decent shape.

Your bike can run dang quick but you have to perform the proper maintenance. And honestly, you are the best person to do it.
 
+1, they are not trained to fix old dinosaurs like these, and they make more money selling you a new one after they **** yours up. Do it yourself or just go ahead and buy a newer bike that they might actually try to fix and be able to fix.
I would definitely double check everything they did, you can bet some of it was done wrong.
 
The reason I took it to a shop is that I haven't had a bike like this in years. Or the tools. I have to start over. I will start doing it for myself (again) when I have more time. I've been a vintage 2 stroker for 15 years and bikes with valves and more than one carb confuse me.

I'm suspecting the petcock. The carbs were cleaned.
 
May not be the same issue, but when I got my bike it did the same thing. Turned out to be a combination of a bad petcock, fuel line and the boots in the air box where half melted and closed more than 1/2 way on most. And yes it was in a shop and it took me suggesting for them to find it. The guys are right, look for yourself and check petcock and for air leaks.....mechanic shops know crap about these bikes.
 
I see you're in Seattle. I live in Tacoma and know a guy who has three GS's of 1980s vintage. He doesn't do any of his own work but found a guy in Olympia renowned, apparently, for working on vintage bikes, and really likes the old Japanese bikes.

If you're interested, PM me and I'll get his info for you. This friend of mine suggested I take my bike to this guy a couple of times, but I prefer to do my own work. Although, admittedly, his bikes do sound better than mine so his mechanic must be the real deal.

There's also a shop in Tacoma where one of the mechanics drag races and she rides an old UJM, but I can't recall which one. The one time I did go to a mechanic for an issue, it was this Tacoma shop. They did a good job, but it was pretty pricey and the owner is not the friendliest guy in the world. But the mechanic who worked on my bike, she was great.
 
This was really bugging me so I went back to the garage to poke around a bit, looking for something wrong. Guess what I found? The two outboard cylinders are not firing. This is why she runs so bad, seems to be starving. After idling a minute or two, the outboard pipes are both still cold. Plug wires look good, plugs are new.
 
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OLDGSFAN, I'd love to have that guy's phone #. Sent you a PM. My aim is to get this bike dialed in right, then start doing my own work again. I work crazy hours and it's tough for me to devote the kind of time I would like to wrenching on my bikes.
 
Like you guys said... do it yourself

Like you guys said... do it yourself

The plastic connector for the orange coil wires wasnt making full contact. It probably came loose when the shop was adjusting the valves, as someone here suggested. Now it runs like a dream.

You know what really bugs me... when I told the guy at the shop that it wasn't running right, he pretty much dismissed what I told him... like I was some kind of rube. I have been riding and wrenching on one kind of two wheeler or another for 25 years.

That attitude really p___es me off.
 
You know what really bugs me... when I told the guy at the shop that it wasn't running right, he pretty much dismissed what I told him... like I was some kind of rube. I have been riding and wrenching on one kind of two wheeler or another for 25 years.
Click to expand...

As my old man used to say, "If you want it done right, do it yourself" and it pretty much applies in these cases. As the guys are saying the "shops" don't know how or care to work on these old beasts so unlesss you can find a shop dedicated to old bikes, your on your own.......with our help , of course.

Sorry to hear of your problems but it sounds like you are sorted now so enjoy the ride.

cheers,
spyug
 
The plastic connector for the orange coil wires wasnt making full contact.
Click to expand...

Yep, when I read that cylinders 1 and 4 weren't firing, I immediately thought "coil!". I'm glad you managed to sleuth it out with no thanks to those uncaring workshop nitwits.

Enjoy riding the machine.
 
bluesmoke said:
The reason I took it to a shop is that I haven't had a bike like this in years. Or the tools. I have to start over. I will start doing it for myself (again) when I have more time. I've been a vintage 2 stroker for 15 years and bikes with valves and more than one carb confuse me.

I'm suspecting the petcock. The carbs were cleaned.
Click to expand...
Me too. Big time. These things have valves, camshafts, chains, and all this complicated stuff. Yucch. But they quit importing decent 2-strokes over here for some stupid reason.
 
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