Suzuki GS125

[Simonbt]

Im having fun with this bike. It was sat outside my mums for years just gathering dust so i have taken it apon myself to get it running again.

History is: this bike has already dropped a valve (suprised?). I have already changed the valves and piston. It wouldnt start when i tried it a couple of weeks ago. I narrowed it down to not having enough compression as i could hold my finger over the sparkplug hole when trying to turn the engine over. Anyway, i striped the head and barrel off and found that the piston rings had rusted to the piston. One set of new piston rings later and the bike is running, sort of.

Now this is where i need some help: (it is a D reg gs125ez by the way)

1. It has a slide carb on it - is the choke 'ON' with the choke lever up, or down?

2. The engine now races and i cant get it to idle properly. Has anyone else had this problem. I think its a problem with the choke but im not sure yet. Once the bike is moving it runs fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Si!

[stinkwheel]

I bet you problem number two is due to an air leak at the rubber inlet manifold which will have mouldered in the sunlight and now either be cracked or so rigid it doesn't seal. Either replace it, heat it up and get the seal clamped down whilst it is still warm and pliable or use lots of silicone RTV (In decending order of bodge).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[swampy]

And to answer number one, the choke is on with the lever pulled up
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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death..." Hunter S Thompson

[Simonbt]

Thanks people! That choke things been bugging me.

I've just had carb off again and the slightest tilt and petrol was leaking out so i think the floats are set too high. I've lowered them and i will try your suggestion with the inlet, Its got a new gasket on the head side of the rubber manifold but i might use some silicon when i put it back on.

Also does anyone know where i can get a list of things that they check for on an mot?

[stinkwheel]

I have seen a fault on the needle valve of some small jap bikes that can cause the float height to appear too high.

There is sometimes a tiny little sprung pin (maybe 3mm long) in the top of the needle valve which the floats bear against. Sometimes this gets stuck in (such as in a bike that has sat for a long time) and effectivley raises the float height by 3mm (ie a lot). If you don't know it is supposed to be there, you wouldn't notice. WD40 and working it back and forth soon frees them off.

You can see said item on the far left of the picture below.

https://www.parkeryamaha.com/ProductImages/pwc/threadedsm.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Simonbt]

I know what bit you're on about but its not stuck in, i think the spring may well be and it pushes up before the rest does but i will look at it in more detail on saturday.

Another little question:

Is the gs125 restricted? if so, what does it?