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Valve problem? hanging idle

  • Thread starter Thread starter spots25
  • Start date Start date
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spots25

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So, I took it to the shop, and they couldn't figure it out, but they said it was probably carbon build up on the valves. So, I spent $170 for nothing. It's a 01 GS500.

It wants to idle up like the choke is set too high, but it's off. It runs perfectly across the whole range, just doesn't like to idle down
 
Idle mixture is lean. Commonly an air leak but could be a simple idle mixture adjustment. Rubber o-rings on the intake pipe boots (item 22 below) is a very common leak source on our old GS bikes. Carb sync could also cause it but not as likely as lean mixture.

GS550head.gif
 
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Nessism said:
Idle mixture is lean. Commonly an air leak but could be a simple idle mixture adjustment. Rubber o-rings on the intake pipe boots (item 22 below) is a very common leak source on our old GS bikes. Carb sync could also cause it but not as likely as lean mixture.
Click to expand...

that's what I thought at first, but turning the idle mixture screws way out didn't help. I checked for an intake leak with the WD40 test to no avail. That's why I gave up and brought it to a shop. The head mechanic seemed to think it was a valve problem on one of the cylinders, it only made 80 while the other made like 120
 
pour a spoon of engine oil in the cylinders and test the compression again
that should tell you if indeed the valves are at fault
 
the guy at the shop said he adjusted the valves, but I might tear it down and have a look myself
 
as far as checking for leaking boots, WD40 is not very reliable. It is very thick and does not suck through the same holes air will very easily.
 
correct me if I'm wrong, but a intake leak of a size large enough to cause the bike to hang at 4k rpm would be big enough for wd40 to get through

anyways, I picked up a feeler gage and attempted to get my hands on a compression tester, but couldn't find anything to borrow for free that went in a 12mm hole. Update tomorrow on the valve clearances
 
wooo... the left cylinder exhaust valve was so tight that I couldn't even cram the smallest feeler gage in there. I got a vastly smaller ship and she runs like a champ. yay!!!
 
spots25 said:
wooo... the left cylinder exhaust valve was so tight that I couldn't even cram the smallest feeler gage in there. I got a vastly smaller ship and she runs like a champ. yay!!!
Click to expand...

Good job. Amazing what a little maintenance does.:D
 
and they did what for $170.......

and they did what for $170.......

spots25 said:
wooo... the left cylinder exhaust valve was so tight that I couldn't even cram the smallest feeler gage in there. I got a vastly smaller ship and she runs like a champ. yay!!!
Click to expand...

but before.....

spots25 said:
the guy at the shop said he adjusted the valves, but I might tear it down and have a look myself
Click to expand...

Well you got ripped off $170 then. Hope that it wasn't a main Suzuki dealer. I wouldn't be going back an complaining.

So you now know how to do the valves. Work on the engine oil/filter and the air filter change so that you can cut the service people out.

Suzuki mad.
 
I did valves on my old GS400 before, and I thought about doing the valves but didn't think it would make that much of an impact. At the suzuki dealer I paid for a carb clean, and he 'did' the valves basically for free. I went in to the dealer to get the new shim, and he said that he put in 2 different shims in there. Anyways, he traded me shims so it didn't cost me a penny for a new one. They also put in some bolts that I was missing for free. I'm a little mad, but not that mad. I'm more mad that I didn't do the valves myself because that would have solved all my problems the first time. I guess I learned how important a good valve adjustment is.

The only complaint I have with that dealer there, is that they put my fuel lines on the wrong way. The GS500 has a really complicated fuel system (dual lines from tank to vacuum operated petcock) and now my motor only gets filtered fuel when it's on 'run'. I might take it back and have them redo the lines, I really don't want to have to pull the carbs for something stupid like that.
 
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