Open letter to the newbies...

[Nessism]

Please be descriptive with your titles. Many of the knowledgeable GSR members don't want to open the thread if they don't have a clue as to what you are trying to figure out. For example...

"lookn for a lot of help"

"carbs"

"warm or cold"


Also, there is a thing called the Search Function. Threads about adjusting valves or charging system problems come up all the time, search out some info before cluttering up the forum with another thread just like the other 100 similar threads.

Sorry to be so grumpy...well, not really sorry.

BTW, lots of us here to help you, but PLEASE help yourself first> Some of us don't want to spoon feed.

Keep going...

 

[Billy Ricks]

There's maybe four or five topics that consistently show up. Sometimes every other thread is the same question that with a little reading didn't need to be asked. I guess we do live in the age of instant gratification though. Even Frank doesn't appreciate the clutter because people won't research.

 

[Zooks]

Grumpy pants

 

[Nessism]

Topics that come up all the time...

What tires to get?

Why is my battery running down?

My bike that was parked for 10+ years doesn't run. Could it be the carbs?

How do I adjust my valves and does it need to be done?

Why is there air?

 

[beingblueeyes]

My bike that was parked for 10+ years doesn't run. Could it be the carbs?

Nessism I just wanted to let you know that this made me lol

 

[Larry D]

This is exactly why I push the new folks to clean and rebuild the carbs and adjust the valves especially if the history of the bike is unknown. More times than not, these two items must be addressed before the engine will run properly enough to diagnose any other issues the bike may be having.

Of course this isn't always the case. But if someone just got a bike from a guy who had in a shed for 10 years or some similiar circumstance..........carbs and valves.

Another thing, most of the new people don't understand that there are literally years of information archived in the search function. I've talked to several members who have completely rebuilt thier bike by simply reading. I'd like to see the search icon highlighted in some manner to help new members find this library of GS knowledge.

 

[posplayr]

Howwa bout

Howwa bout

a DITY Search tutorial sticky .

Clever Idea would n't you say ; :-\\\

I was looking for a post I found (not GSR) where the guy says the

"bike has been sitting for 22 years but the carbs were done recently 24 years ago."

Pos

 

[almarconi]

You forgot ...

What kind of oil should I use?

What kind of tires should I buy?

Do I really have to take the carbs apart?

 

[Guest]

I'm having problems. After adjusting the valves. I thought I could get some more horsepower out of the ED if I put some different needle valves into the 1150 carbs. I was able to find some SU needles from my DATSUN roadster and since there were only two carburetors instead of the 4 on the ED, I filed them down some so they had a nice taper. They looked really good. Then I liked the idea of velocity stacks and since I needed to change pods anyway I found a nice pair on ebay. Problem is there were only 3 velocity stacks so I used a old funnel for the #4 carburetor cause I figure I do more right hand Turns than left. Also cause I was worried about getting dirt in the crabs I stuck some old socks in the stacks but I could only find two old socks without wholes. So now I'm wondering why my bike doesn't idle cause I have to set the idle at 3K RPM. Do you have any ideas. But don't tell me nothing cause I already know it all of course but any ideas are appreciated.

PS Maybe I should get a Dyna 4000. I can then adjust the ignition and put more advance to it. Og maybe my chain is loose. Oh yea, dont tell me; I'm checking my grounds as we speak

 

[maro]

and on top of all that your lakers are losing at the half....

I'm having problems. After adjusting the valves. I thought I could get some more horsepower out of the ED if I put some different needle valves into the 1150 carbs. I was able to find some SU needles from my DATSUN roadster and since there were only two carburetors instead of the 4 on the ED, I filed them down some so they had a nice taper. They looked really good. Then I liked the idea of velocity stacks and since I needed to change pods anyway I found a nice pair on ebay. Problem is there were only 3 velocity stacks so I used a old funnel for the #4 carburetor cause I figure I do more right hand Turns than left. Also cause I was worried about getting dirt in the crabs I stuck some old socks in the stacks but I could only find two old socks without wholes. So now I'm wondering why my bike doesn't idle cause I have to set the idle at 3K RPM. Do you have any ideas. But don't tell me nothing cause I already know it all of course but any ideas are appreciated.

PS Maybe I should get a Dyna 4000. I can then adjust the ignition and put more advance to it. Og maybe my chain is loose. Oh yea, dont tell me; I'm checking my grounds as we speak

 

[Guest]

and on top of all that your lakers are losing at the half....

Wait 24 more minutes

 

[jwhelan65]

Who invented liquid soap and why?

 

[bwringer]

And don't forget -- "How can I stuff a humongous rear tire on my GS with a budget of fifty cents?"

Or: "I want to (do something abysmally stupid) to my GS because I saw these guys on a TV chopper show once and I thought (abysmally stupid thing) looked cool."

Or the one that really grates my cheese: "HELP! My GS850 is turning 6,000 rpm at 80mph and I'm afraid it's gonna blow up because it doesn't sound like my neighbor's Harley"

 

[BassCliff]

You can tell it's springtime.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Billy Ricks]

And don't forget -- "How can I stuff a humongous rear tire on my GS with a budget of fifty cents?"

Or: "I want to (do something abysmally stupid) to my GS because I saw these guys on a TV chopper show once and I thought (abysmally stupid thing) looked cool."

Or the one that really grates my cheese: "HELP! My GS850 is turning 6,000 rpm at 80mph and I'm afraid it's gonna blow up because it doesn't sound like my neighbor's Harley"

That all sounds way too familiar.

 

[posplayr]

Well

Well

It is good to see there is a lot of interest in these old GS's. With spring coming to a close you can really feel the excitement (err panic) in the air. A little searching will unusually answer some of the simple questions; we don't want dissuade people from asking questions.

 

[Nessism]

It is good to see there is a lot of interest in these old GS's. With spring coming to a close you can really feel the excitement (err panic) in the air. A little searching will unusually answer some of the simple questions; we don't want dissuade people from asking questions.

It's fine to ask questions but please, and the point of this thread, try to help yourself before asking the same old question that has been asked 100 times before. Also, post a title that describes the problem.

When someone posts a problem and explains that they have done all the basic maintenance on their bike already, it says a lot about the person. From my point of view I'm a LOT more likely to try to help this type of person.:dancing:

 

[nisom512]

It's fine to ask questions but please, and the point of this thread, try to help yourself before asking the same old question that has been asked 100 times before. Also, post a title that describes the problem.

When someone posts a problem and explains that they have done all the basic maintenance on their bike already, it says a lot about the person. From my point of view I'm a LOT more likely to try to help this type of person.:dancing:

I only wish people would research more. and make good titles I try my best to make good titles so when people search they can find answers.

 

[tejasmud]

I'm sort of a "newbie."

But, I can relate to this thread.

Found GSR back in 2003-04, joined again last year, and have very few posts.

Thing is, I really don't have any questions. Sorta wierd huh?

I don't have all the answers, but seem to discover many of them in time.

Honestly, everything I have wanted or thought about asking seems to just pop up from reading through the threads. The "search" function works pretty well on this board.

FWIW

I moderate on another board on motorcycles, and yes there are some of the same questions asked repeatedly as the ones here. There is also a bit of "blind leading the blind? as well.

I guess what irks me the most is "sound advice from experience" being ignored, and that path that is usually taken is that of least resistance. When that doesn't work, sometimes the one with the issue returns to the "sound advice," but sometimes pride never allows the truth to come out that, yes, cleaning out the carburetors fixed the problem.

Carburetors could have been cleaned ten minutes ago, but if the tank is rusting away one will still have issues.

One says it is not, this or that, because it has been checked; check it again for good measure. Never hurts, a PITA sometimes, but amazingly it helps sometimes as well.

Sigh?..

This seems to be the nature of technical forums.

What fun would it be if one day we woke up and there were no questions to be answered? LOL

Peace Y?all

Eric

 

[focus frenzy]

Who invented liquid soap and why?

William Shepphard first patented liquid soap on August 22, 1865. In 1980, the Minnetonka Corporation introduced the first modern liquid soap called SOFT SOAP brand liquid soap. Minnetonka cornered the liquid soap market by buying up the entire supply of the plastic pumps needed for the liquid soap dispensers. In 1987, the Colgate Company acquired the liquid soap business from Minnetonka.

True soaps made from vegetable oils (such as olive oil), aromatic oils (such as thyme oil) and lye (al-Soda al-Kawia) were first produced by Muslim chemists in the medieval Islamic world. The formula for soap used since then hasn't changed. From the beginning of the 7th century, soap was produced in Nablus (West Bank, Palestine), Kufa (Iraq) and Basra (Iraq). Soaps, as we know them today, are descendants of historical Arabian Soaps. Arabian Soap was perfumed and colored, some of the soaps were liquid and others were solid. They also had special soap for shaving. It was sold for 3 Dirhams (0.3 Dinars) a piece in 981 AD. The Persian chemist Al-Razi wrote a manuscript on recipes for true soap. A recently discovered manuscript from the 13th century details more recipes for soap making; e.g. take some sesame oil, a sprinkle of potash, alkali and some lime, mix them all together and boil. When cooked, they are poured into molds and left to set, leaving hard soap. </SPAN itxtvisited="1">