• 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.

My Suzi won't start

  • Thread starter Thread starter ririck
  • Start date Start date
R

ririck

Guest
First let me say that this is an awesome site I have been checking it out for the past few years and am amazed at the information that can be found here.

Now for my issue. I have an 81 GS 750L with 35000 miles on it which I?ve had for four years now that was leaking oil through the head gasket. I purchased some gaskets took the engine apart and replaced the 3 gaskets. I put the cam shafts back into the bike making sure that the cam chain was set properly on the shafts according to the instructions in my Clymer manual (not everyone?s favorite I know). At this point do anything to the carburetors because I had cleaned them about two years ago with the instructions from this site (which by the way worked excellent, very detailed instructions!) and they were working fine before the engine was taken apart.

After getting it all back together I put new spark plugs in and threw the battery in attached the airbox and cranked it over? that?s all it would do is just turn over but never starts or gives any indication that it wanted to start. I pulled all four plugs (one at a time) and checked for spark which they all had. I sprayed a little starting fluid into the air cleaner but the starting fluid had no effect on it whatsoever. The boots on the air cleaner were connected nice and snug to the carburetors. I drained the gas from the carburetors then with the petcock on prime and I could see the gas flow through the inline gas filter until apparently the bowls had gas in them and then stopped flowing.

I then removed and cleaned the carbs because it seemed as though there was not any gas getting to the engine. Put the carbs back on the bike with the air screws out 2 turns and cranked it over with the same results, turns over fine but never starts (it does make a compression sound from the exhausts).

My petcock used to be permanently in the prime position (could never get it to move, was like that since I?ve had the bike) but since taking it out of the tank this time it now moves freely for some reason, so I performed the test that I found on this site. I pulled off the vacuum hose from the carburetor with the petcock in the run position and sucked on the end of it and gas would flow out of the outlet tube attached to the tank, the vacuum hose would suction onto my tongue when releasing the suction and the gas would stop flowing. With the petcock in the prime position for too long of a time there will be some gas overflow from the carburetors (normal?). I have checked all fuses and every electrical connection I could find. I have searched through the technical section until my eyes are crossed.Hopefully someone will have an idea of how to get her going any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 
almost anyone here is more adept at answering you, but i would say if this was a car it would be out of time,the timing is off.
 
how is the compression? did you disconnect the wires to the coils?
 
Last edited:
I agree that timing may be the issue, also gas running out of the overflows is not normal. Sticky float valves likely, once you get it going run some carb cleaner through her. Ray
 
I had a similar expereince last year. WAzz counseled me that I may have my timing 180 degrees off. He can speak to this better than me. But I addressed the issue and all has been good since
 
Thanks for the quick replies!

Ok, it seems like everyone seems to think it is a timing issue.
My clymer manual says that the timing can't be adjusted which I find hard to believe especially after the replies I've received. Does anyone know how I should do this or should I consult another book like Chiltons or something?
As far as compression I haven't really tested it with a tester, I did pull a spark plug and held my thumb over the hole while my son cranked it, my thumb was blown off the hole so there is compression, is it enough? I'll have to get a tester.
The wires to the coils don't look like they can be removed, looks to be one whole unit. Running carb cleaner sounds like a good idea, I will try it once she fires up.
 
They are talking about valve timing, and the thing that is not adjustable is spark timing. If the camshafts are not in the right position or if the chain has jumped, the cams won't have the valves opening and closing at the right time. Thus, you may have compression, but at the wrong time. You may have the plugs sparking but not at the right time. Cars are very similar and if the timing is off, it will not fire.

Dan
 
Oh I see now! Thanks for clarifying that for me Dan. I was a little confused for a minute there. I will have to check out the valve timing then, just so that i'm clear on this. adjusting the valve timing is when you make sure that the numbers on the cam shafts are in the proper position, there are x amount of timing chain links between them and the timing mark on the signal generator is aligned properly. correct?
 
Did you put the plug wires back on the correct cylinders? Obvious I know, but it would explain every symptom.
 
The plug wires are marked and are in the correct order. I will double check them when I get home though.
 
Sounds like you didn't disconnect any thing at the coils ( not the coil wires to plugs) ck compression, ck firing order.
 
Good luck getting her going. When you do, change the oil because depending on how much cranking you've done, the oil will be contaminated with gas. Not a good thing.
 
I will try to check the timing hopefully tomorrow if it ever stops raining. If not then definately by the weekend. I'll let everyone know how it goes. I appreciate all the help!
 
I am having the same issue. I bought a 1980 GS750L that had been outside for sometime. With help from the site I cleaned carbs,checked petcock, timing marks but with a lot of starting fluid (1/2 can) I get a backfire and thats it. Let me know what your issue was. Thanx, JT
 
The cam or cams are probably off 180 degrees. Do a compression check. Hope you don't break any valves.
 
After looking last night you are correct. I found that the cam was 180 off.
After correcting this and checking the timing again and lineing it up on the T mark. My question is the timing when on the Correct timing "T" is past the signal generator post. If it's on the F it lines up perfect so my thought is this is correct and that F is fire and it fires a second before hitting top dead center. Is this correct?
My other question would be it still will not start.
Gas is flowing fine from petcock and carbs. Good blue spark on plugs,
This is the catcher I can pull the plug and spray starter fluid straight in it.
Replace plug and start. Engine rotates but no combustion. I throw my hat down and say a lot of things I shouldn't. :confused:
I tested coils and they read 4.8 and another blog said they should read 2-5 on ohms test at 200. 3 being perfect. So good but not great. Any ideas????
 
Well I checked my timing and it was off, re-timed it and she fired right up! Woo-Hoo! :-D I used to pull the choke opened all the way to get it started, now about a quarter choke and one quick click on the starter button and it starts right up. I do seem to have some cam chain noise now, so I will look into rectifying that next and I'll be back on the road! If anyone has any suggestions on how to straighten that out I'd be glad to hear it.
You GS'rs ROCK!\\:D/
Thanks!
Rick
 
These are some noisy engines. If you cocked your cam chain tensioner correctly and released it properly this is the noise you will get. It took me awhile to get used to it. Congrads on getting it running.
 
2005JJT, you have two cams and the 16 valve, right? In your manual you should have a count of chain links from each mark on your cam sprockets. Are you sure the marks are both pointing up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top