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Will only run when spraying starter fluid.

  • Thread starter Thread starter syren
  • Start date Start date
S

syren

Guest
Today I took the carbs apart and gave them a good cleaning. I drained out the tank and cleaned the petcock. Upon start (electric start) it turned over with some spray of starting fluid, and it will keep running as long as we kept spraying it. The engine sounded pretty good as well. However if you stop spraying it sputters out and stalls. We tried giving more or less throttle but it would sputter and stall if we gave it too much which is understandable. I took off a float bowl from on of the carbs and it was full with gas so it seems to be getting at least that far. Any suggestions on what I should check or do next? Won't start or run without the starter fluid right now though.

79 GS 850
 
Out of curiosity, how old is the gas? A bike mechanic once told me that even 1 month old gas can go bad and a bike may not run with it.
 
Gas is brand new, just bought it today. I drained the old crap out, cleaned out the petcock and put new gas in.
 
Did it run before you worked on carbs?

When you say you cleaned the petcock, do you mean you took it apart?
Do you know if it is flowing gas? Put in PRIme and Pull off gas line to see.

Do you know if getting any gas to carb bowls? Loosen the drain screws on bottom of bowl to see.

.
 
Last edited:
Well, if there's gas in the float bowls and fuel flowing from the petcock, and it does fire (which means there's enough compression and spark), then the only thing wrong is that the carbs are plugged.

You followed the Carb cleaning method completely? That usually takes more than a day.
 
Update:

Update:

I realised the choke cable wasn't hooked up. I hooked it back up and it idled fine after it seemed the fuel got through. When I give it throttle it sputters out and then dies.
 
syren said:
I realised the choke cable wasn't hooked up. I hooked it back up and it idled fine after it seemed the fuel got through. When I give it throttle it sputters out and then dies.
Click to expand...

Hi Mr. syren,

Did you follow the carb cleaning bible religiously? Did you bench sync the carbs? Did you put the airbox back on? Are there absolutely no leaks in the air intake system (i.e. new boots, o-rings, airbox sealed)?



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Nessism said:
Hey Cliff,
You can lead a horse to water...
Click to expand...

Hey Ed,

Perhaps I should just start loaning out my magic screwdriver. Whenever my bike doesn't run right, I just wave it over the engine and it starts right up and runs great! :D

wand.gif


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Last edited:
Hi Mr. syren,

I hope you know that we're just razzing you a little. Please take no offense. :o

Sometimes, if a bike has been neglected for a while, you just have to do all of the proper maintenance up front. Then you won't be forever chasing down all kinds of pesky little problems. Keep us informed.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
syren said:
Today I took the carbs apart and gave them a good cleaning. I drained out the tank and cleaned the petcock. Upon start (electric start) it turned over with some spray of starting fluid, and it will keep running as long as we kept spraying it. The engine sounded pretty good as well. However if you stop spraying it sputters out and stalls. We tried giving more or less throttle but it would sputter and stall if we gave it too much which is understandable. I took off a float bowl from on of the carbs and it was full with gas so it seems to be getting at least that far. Any suggestions on what I should check or do next? Won't start or run without the starter fluid right now though.

79 GS 850
Click to expand...

You cleaned the carbs in one day ? It took me about 5 days to do mine.... From what I've discovered from working on my bike and reading alot of threads, is that, there are a minimum of three things that MUST be done to create a baseline for tuning.
1) Clean the carbs. Cleaner than clean, Squeeky clean. Follow the links posted earlier. Replace all the orings.
2) Valve adjustment.
3) Get the airflow correct. No leaks.

Of course new fluids and filter as well. But if the first three things are not done, she'll never run quite right.

Hey Cliff. Do you still have that list that bwringer made of things to do when bringing one back to life ?

Good Luck syren. Keep after it and be patient, you'll have her running great in no time.:)
 
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