Bike suddenly running rough?!?

N

Nilson

New Member
I got an 81 GS450 around a month ago. It ran ok but had issues with the idle so I had a friend help me clean the carbs. He found that one of the idle jets was plugged and that took care of the running issue. It started running pretty well. I put in around 700-800 miles on it in the last 3 weeks getting my riding legs under me.

Had a electrical (starting) issue so I removed the battery and took it to the shop to have it tested. It tested good and we figured out it is probably the solenoid so I ordered a new one. I put the battery back in and bump started to ride.

Now all of a sudden my bike which was running fine is running really rough. It hesitates and stutters in all the gears. It acts like it is a fuel/carb issue.

I guess my question is do carb issues develop overnight? Any thoughts were to start looking for problems?
Sorry if this is a super general question with too many possibilities to cover via a forum.
 
id start by making sure the battery is fully charged and that it has fuel flowing to the carbs. Do you have any type of inline filter for your fuel? Drain your float bowls into a glass and inspect for particles. I've gotten dirty fuel twice in the past year and then decided all my bikes get inline filters and clear fuel lines.
 
Hmmm... I did just fill up at a gas station I have never used before. I will check the fuel from the float bowls.

I had wondered if bad fuel was a possibility, but I am generally not that lucky in these type of things. It is usually the most expensive solution to the problem that turns out to be the answer.

If it is the fuel I guess I need to pull and drain the tank?
 
Oh man I wish it was that.... No it is in the on position.
I checked the float bowls and the fuel seems pretty clean, maybe a small amount of particles in it.
I put an ounce of sea foam in the tank and ran it five min or so I will let it sit until I get off work and then give it another ride to see how things go.

It really is the suddenness of the change in running that makes me think something mechanical is amiss. I literally rode it 200 miles in one go on Friday and it ran like a champ.
 
long shot, but i had an issue where my battery positive terminal wire (the big 6 gauge or whatever it is) eventually corroded internally and was intermittently shorting out. it had a bunch of green stuff in the wires and as i grabbed for it, the whole thing snapped apart.

it made the bike run like shit half the time.
 
Check that the battery is charging. Get a multimeter and check the voltage at the terminals with bike idling, then 2K and 5K rpm.

If you don't get over 13.5v at the higher revs your stator / reg/rec is probably shot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light

    • Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom