GS500 starting problem

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Hi all,

Over the past month my GS500 has started struggling to start. Since the weekend it wont start at all.

Engine turns over but wont start.

It's a public holiday tomorrow, so the plan is to get it running again. What should I check? Spark plugs? Then?

Is there some logical progression that I can follow?

As you can tell I'm a novice when it comes to bike mechanics but I'm mechanically minded.

Any advice? What tools will I need?

Thanks,
G1_

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

My GS is a bitch to start full stop Razz

Turn the fuel switch to "PRI" on mine thats long bit facing down, arrow pointing up.
check the plugs, put choke on about 1/2 way.
keep hold on the starter button and gently open the throttle slightly.

I find that starts mine if she is being a true bitch!

Bishbash · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Karma :

It is probably due to the temperature, mine is the same. Summer time it started on the button, but now, no chance.

Buy a bike cover to help the morning start ups.
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

replace the plugs as a matter of course as they are so cheap.

Try turning out your idle mixture screw 1/4 to 1/2 a turn to aid starting and idling in the cold weather.

Check the choke mechanism is working.
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G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Thanks for the replies but I'm in Cape Town. It's averaged about 30 over here for the past 2 weeks.

I pulled the plugs and it seems as though I'm not getting consistent spark. I'm getting spark every now and again. The spark plugs look in good nick and I know they were replaced during it's last service, which can't have been more than 3 months ago. I'll replace them (shops were closed yesterday during the public holiday) but if it's not the plugs what can I check next?

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Time to replace the coils I would say.
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Note to self: "The easy way to check ignition Coils":
https://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=19546.0

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

I hope the very first thing you did was to try and start it off a car battery or similar...

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Arg, new spark plugs made no difference.

Think I might just call in the pro's. And whiles they're having a look at it I'll pick out my new bike. I saw a 2007 FZ600 for a reasonable price Laughing

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

Really, try a car battery before you buy anything at all, it'll only take 5 mins. You have all the symptoms of tired battery and probably haven't noticed the engine has been spinning gradually slower the past short while. Now it's not spinning fast enought to start and you are randomly loosing sparks because there's not enough electricity to go around. Charging your tired battery gets you a still tired battery.

sticky valve · Derestricted Danger Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Karma :

ok ive a 1980 gs450 . im in ireland and last few days has bein frezzing hard . the old girl fires up first time even in the cold . did you try a shot of easy start into the air intake . ok i dont recommend using easy start every time ok . but worth a shot mate . its in a yellow can bradex east start .
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

bare in mind, a farked batterys voltage will drop when turning over the motor. Voltage drops, and even though the electronic ignition works, its going to be TCI so the low tension to the coils is at battery voltage so you get lower LT voltage, so your final HT when cranking will be really low.
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serlant · Brolly Dolly Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Karma :

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Looks like I wasn't testing the spark plugs properly. I wasn't grounding them correctly, so obviously no spark.

I've tested them properly now. I'm getting good consistent blue spark. Also Took off the tank. The air filter looks fine. I suppose getting petrol all over your shoe is a sign that petrol is getting to the petcock?

Where from here? Is there an easy way to establish whether the carburetors are doing their job?

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

I drained the float bowl and the petrol looked clean and no signs of water.

I guess if fuel is getting to the float bowl then it's safe to assume that the problem doesn't lie with the fuel filter, petcock and plumbing?

Well at least I'm learning stuff as I go along.

So if I'm getting spark, there's fuel in the float bowl and the air filter looks fine, then the problem is in the carb itself?

G1_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2002 Karma :

Start up procedure:
1) ignition on
2) check kill switch
3) choke about half way (although I've tried a few positions)
4) Check it's in neutral
5) starter button and slowly turn the throttle

Fuel tank is almost full. Fuel tap is on main.

I still haven't tried a car battery. I read somewhere that using a car battery is bad for a bike. But I'll give it a go if there's no problem with it.

I'll test it with the multimeter as well.

But I am getting spark. Could the battery be to blame, even if I am getting spark?