• 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.

Sputtering, Misfiring and poor idle... first steps?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mbopp
  • Start date Start date
M

mbopp

Guest
Hi, I'm excited to have just become a part of this community. I recently bought a '81 Suzuki GS850G. It runs. But Misfires, and rarely idles ok. Most of the time when I slow to a stop and put in neutral it will die. So here is my question. I first tried putting some octane, and fuel dry in the gas tank to see if I could clear it out a bit, and maybe get rid of some bad gas. That helped somewhat. It's doing a little bit better, but it's still an obvious problem.

So my question is, what is the best path to go down in resolving this issue. What are the easiest things to try (first). Do you think it is time to clean up the carbs? Or are there other things to try first. I did notice that the wires to the spark plugs are beginning to crack a tiny bit. I don't believe all the way through, but can this cause sputtering? The spark plugs look relatively new, I believe the previous owner just replaced them.

I guess, I'm just looking for some direction.

Thanks in advance.

Mike
 
Couple of things I would check

1) Timing, also make sure the contacts are clean and gapped properly
2) Carbs - They might need to be cleaned, adjusted, or sychronized.
3) Make sure there are no cracks in the intake boots on either side of the carbs, usually this causes it to run lean, but check anyway
4) Pull out the plugs and check if they are carbon fouled, or fouled at all.
 
Easy fix, maybe...Try SeaFoam in the gas tank. may clean out the carbs. Otherwise, Carb o-rings may be the fix. Also, check your header bolts to see if they're loose, and make sure your spark plugs are tight too, a slight compression leak from your plugs can cause this problem, as can the aforementioned items.
Good luck,
Dan
 
On the off chance that the PO didn't have the valves reset...I'd do a compression check, just to rule that out. It should run about 130-145 psi. Also, check the voltage at the battery with the bike running. At 4500 RPM, it should show 14.5-15+ volts. Abouve 15.5 volts, you will most likely be replacing the R/R. Just a heads up. :)

Welcome, by the way. But "COMMUNITY"... :? :-D
 
thanks for the speedy reply! I'll check into these things. I might be greener than I thought as I don't really know how to reset valves, check compression, and timing. So any push in the right direction would be very helpful at this point.

Also, is SeaFoam avail at auto parts stores?

I ordered the haynes manual, so when that comes hopefully it will help somewhat.
 
I was really disturbed by my bike doing the same thing. Turns out the plugs were fouled. Easy fix.
 
Check the voltage and charge level on your battery. My bike started out with the same symptoms and ended up getting a new battery, stator, regulator/retifier, and ignition box before it ran right. If this bike has been sitting unused for awhile - hopefully a battery will solve the issue if it ends up being electrical

These things are real sensitive to having adequate voltage, so plugs, plug wires, etc are an obvious 1st place to look. If you are seeing cracks in the actual plug wires (and not just the wire boot), that needs to be corrected regardless of what happens. It's been my experience on both cars & bikes, that with the higher voltages used today for ignition, the wires are typically the 1st thing to "go south".

BTW................ Sea Foam is available at both NAPA and Advance Auto stores.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top