Won't Start

[GS650E_81]

I rode the bike for about 30 minutes this evening. I came back and parked it in the garage. I tightened the chain and lubricated it with some WD40.

Now for some reason it will not start. It tries to crank hard but no start.

I just bought the bike yesterday and rode it for an hour or so.

Oil level is good. I added 2.3 gallons of best grade gasoline and a couple ounces of SeaFoam this afternoon.

Not sure if this is the cause or not. It smells like gas heavy in my garage. I don't see fuel leaking anywhere. I am not very mechanically inclined, and this is my first bike.

Cheers for any suggestions.

The motorbike is a 1981 GS650E.

 

[Guest]

Not sure what the starting problem could be but as for lubing the chain with wd-40 that wont work.

Wd-40 is good for cleaning the chain but it should be lubed with chain lube.

 

[GS650E_81]

Thanks. I will pick some up.

Not sure what the starting problem could be but as for lubing the chain with wd-40 that wont work.

Wd-40 is good for cleaning the chain but it should be lubed with chain lube.

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to this great site.
Easy fixes out of the way first.
Clutch lever engaged? Kill switch in the on position.?

 

[GS650E_81]

Yup. What's weird is I put the bike on the stand fired it up in first to get the back wheel spinning, and added some wd40 to the chain while the back wheel was spinning. Shut it off, placed it on the side stand and went to the house for a few minutes. Came back to fire it up one more time. Nothing. I just smell gas heavily. Haven't been able to start it in over 3 hours.

Welcome to this great site.
Easy fixes out of the way first.
Clutch lever engaged? Kill switch in the on position.?

 

[Guest]

Your petcock isnt in the prime position is it?

 

[GS650E_81]

No, in the run position.

Your petcock isnt in the prime position is it?

 

[GS650E_81]

Another thing I am not sure of is where my choke is. In the manual it says the lever is below the horn, but my bike does not have one.

Is there a way to adjust the choke on the engine itself?

 

[Etcheberri]

well, it s spring actuated,

but do you mean you have no choke pull button? or no choke cable connected to it?
the choke, (if your model is the gs650 1981), should be between your handles actually.
right under the starter switch.

but maybe i am wrong.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Checked your fuses with a power light and not just visually?

 

[GS650E_81]

It looks like my pull button is missing. I see the place were the pull button would be but it appears to be missing...interesting...

well, it s spring actuated,

but do you mean you have no choke pull button? or no choke cable connected to it?
the choke, (if your model is the gs650 1981), should be between your handles actually.
right under the starter switch.

but maybe i am wrong.

 

[GS650E_81]

Were are the fuses located again? Sorry I am a motorcycle newbie.

Checked your fuses with a power light and not just visually?

 

[cowboyup3371]

I'm not positive on the 650 but my 550 are on the right hand side under the side cover

 

[Etcheberri]

well, you might need some choke cable/button.

i don t think you have any electrical problem, if it cranks hard enough anyway. but i am not a pro at all.

you said it smells gaz a lot, maybe the choke is really stuck in open position?

 

[GS650E_81]

Yeah there is no cable or button. I am not sure where to even run it.

It started up just fine this morning and ran pretty much all day.

I forgot to mention I did also clean out the air filter mesh in water. I just read in the manual that you are suppose to submerge it in motor oil. I didn't have any oil handy, and I thought that was kind of weird. Would that make a difference? I did that this morning and it started up after I did that as well...

well, you might need some choke cable/button.

i don t think you have any electrical problem, if it cranks hard enough anyway. but i am not a pro at all.

you said it smells gaz a lot, maybe the choke is really stuck in open position?

 

[GS650E_81]

I am wondering if I am having pitcock problems. I am reading about the carb bowls and stuff, were are they and how do I tell if they are full or not? It's almost like its not getting fuel but I smell it..

 

[Etcheberri]

yeah.
the fact it ran fine for a whole day probably means that the missing choke part is probably not the problem i guess... still you ll have to buy/find a new one.

i wonder if the problem is related in any way with that you did when you took care of your chain and all, or not.

 

[GS650E_81]

Yeah weird the choke buttons are missing...

All I did was tighten the chain and spray it with wd40.. weird.

yeah.
the fact it ran fine for a whole day probably means that the missing choke part is probably not the problem i guess... still you ll have to buy/find a new one.

i wonder if the problem is related in any way with that you did when you took care of your chain and all, or not.

 

[Etcheberri]

here is what your carbs looks like.
http://www.bikebandit.com/1981-suzuki-gs650gx/o/m6095#sch256961

the bowl is the lower part, it has a purge bolt on the bottom, on each and every one of your 4 carbs, unbolt it a bit and you ll see if you have fuel in there, check the color too, red is bad.

do not forget a rag!

but you say you smell gas, i am pretty sure that your engine sees the gaz coming in,
do you see any on the ground?

would be cool if somebody with more experience could give a list of things to look for in order but well,

you need fire, air and fuel for it to start up.

check the carburetor bowl to see if fuels gets in there.
maybe you could take out a sparkplug, connect it on its wire and check if you get a spark when cranking the engine. (keep away from inflammable stuff please)
about the air filter, i have no idea if cleaning it with water is that bad, but i guess it s not perfect.

 

[Etcheberri]

if you have no fuel in the bowls, check the petcok lines.
if you have no sparkplugs, check fuses