- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 8 months ago by craigrepo73.
Idle problem with my 1982 Suzuki GS650G
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August 14, 2009 at 1:52 am #3291craigrepo73Participant
Hi! I bought the bike in the subject heading a few weeks ago from the original owner. Rode it home over 60 miles after buying it, and it was in good shape for its age. Very smooth.
This morning I took it on the highway to work for the first time since I bought it, so I pushed the engine harder than I had been. When I was riding it home after work, I noticed it was running a little bit rougher than normal. About 5 blocks from home it started dying whenever I came to a stop. I could keep it running if I kept the throttle on, but any time I didn’t it died. It started right back up, though, no problem.
I have noticed a small oil leak from somewhere on the top front right side of the engine, too.
Judging from these symptoms, can anyone here give me any tips as to what the problem is, and how I can fix it? I really appreciate any help you can give me.
August 14, 2009 at 1:58 am #21582craigrepo73ParticipantThis topic has probably been covered a bunch of times. If someone could at least direct me to a thread, that would be good too!
August 14, 2009 at 3:15 am #21585SpoolParticipantHad the bike been sitting long before you bought it? It most likely needs a good carb cleaning. It would also be a good idea to change the fuel filter if you have one, if not I’d suggest installing one. As for the oil leak, from where you describe it, it sounds like a valve cover gasket or head gasket. On these older bikes small oil leaks are very common. If the bike has sat for a while, the seals have probably dried out some. Often just running the bike regularly again will cause the seals to swell up enough to stop leaking, if not you’ll have to determine exactly what seals/gaskets are leaking and replace them.
August 14, 2009 at 3:36 am #21586craigrepo73ParticipantThanks for your response! I can’t say for sure, but I’d guess that if it hadn’t been sitting long before I bought it, it probably was rarely used. The back tire was pretty cracked from dry rot. But I really didn’t have any problems until today when I rode it on the highway.
I read in another forum that I can try taking the gas cap off to relieve a possible vacuum in the tank. Do you think this could also be the problem?
Can the fuel filter be changed without draining the tank?
August 14, 2009 at 1:40 pm #21591CandiceParticipantI’ve had my bike in the shop 3 times for this, they can’t find a darn thing wrong with it. Try running your bike on RESERVE instead of ON. I have been doing this and my bike doesn’t die now. I can’t beleive you have the EXACT same problem I do. The shop thought I was crazy.
Oh, I also have that same oil leak, too weird.
August 15, 2009 at 12:26 am #21618craigrepo73ParticipantThat IS weird, but maybe this is just a problem with old Suzukis? My problem got worse–it wouldn’t start at all this morning! I left work at noon to take it to a shop (I wish I had video of me trying to run the bike up the ramp of a U-Haul truck). I got it to the shop, and guess what? It started right up! Grr…
BUT, the mechanic said it didn’t sound right. He felt the exhaust pipes, and told me to do the same. Pipes 1, 2, and 3 were hot. Number 4 was totally cold. So, either the carbs need to be cleaned, or synchronized, or both. Also, it was idling REALLY low, and he said that’s not good. The guy I took it to has awesome reviews in Chicago, and the reviews all seem true. He’s really bike-smart, fair, and willing to work with you. He’s going to give my bike a complete tune-up, and if that solves the problem we’ll stop there for now. If it doesn’t solve it, he’ll clean the carbs.
Just like Spool said above, this mechanic told me over the phone it sounds like a fuel problem. It might be that the one cylinder isn’t getting any fuel.
He also said the old Suzukis tend to get oil leaks at the covers near the carbs. He stuck his finger under the one on the top front right side, and sure enough there was oil on it when he took it out. He says it’s an easy fix.
So, I’ll end up spending money I wasn’t planning on right now, but at least I should get my bike back running better than it was before.
Candice–did the shop you take your bike to say any of these things the 3 times you took it in?
August 17, 2009 at 6:04 pm #21710CandiceParticipantThe shop (Willy World in Joliet) also told me my idle was way too low, they turned it up. They also took apart the pep cock or something that has to do with the fuel going somewhere, sorry, I’m not mechanical. Anyways, they said there was nothing going on there. They did not say anything about leaking oil. My bike is a 2003. I’m in Joliet, who did you take your bike to? I might call them up.
August 17, 2009 at 7:16 pm #21726briderdtParticipantThat’s the valve that either closes off the fuel flow into the carbs, or takes fuel in from the top part of the tank or the lower (reserve) part of the tank (kind of like a manual low-fuel light).
August 18, 2009 at 2:06 am #21740craigrepo73ParticipantThe shop I took mine to is on the northwest side of Chicago. It’s called Motorcycle Mania, and their number is 773-545-3120. It looks like it’s a small operation with just a couple of guys working there. I found it after doing a yahoo search for motorcycle repair shops, and this shop had like 9 reviews that were all super positive. From my experience so far, I totally agree. They had LOTS of bikes in their shop, and I still haven’t gotten mine back yet. But I feel good about my chances of getting my bike back running better than before.
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