Help Cold Start Issue

pzill4

pzill4

Member
I'm having issues getting my bike -- 1983 Suzuki GS550 ED -- to start when it's mildly cold outside, like this afternoon where it was probably around 5C. I've taken it to the mechanic and today he allowed me to walk out of the place with my bike after paying him $400 while he assured me the problem was fixed. Picked the bike up around lunch time, rode to work, parked it and when I was about to leave around 5.30pm, same problems.

Supposedly, the mechanic had cleaned my carbs thoroughly and changed the starter/solenoid.

Is there anything else that might have been missed?

At this point, I feel as if I've been taken for a few hundred dollars with zero results.

Am desperate.
 
On the R6 forum all the peeps with cold start/idle problems when it's cold out it's always the pilot jet. Not sure if your 83 GS has a similar carb setup :( I think they had to remove the actual jet, clean the hole, then adjust it properly.

Sucks you're out the $400 though. I'd be taking it back to that mechanic, let him keep it overnight and try and start it in the morning.

Have you tried Ted at Rosey Toes? Works magic on those ancient bikes!

-Jamie M.
 
Yeah, not quite sure what to do at this point. The mechanic did thoroughly clean the carbs, he did mention removing a seized up jet - I'm assuming a pilot jet? In all honesty, if they did the work they mentioned, is it possible the valves need to be adjusted? I really can't spend much more money on this bike, it would be totally pointeless
 
pzill4 said:
Yeah, not quite sure what to do at this point. The mechanic did thoroughly clean the carbs, he did mention removing a seized up jet - I'm assuming a pilot jet? In all honesty, if they did the work they mentioned, is it possible the valves need to be adjusted? I really can't spend much more money on this bike, it would be totally pointeless
Click to expand...
Ted is really cheap, could probably tell you what the problem is by smelling your underwear. I read some places when they "clean the carbs" don't actually remove the jets, but if he said he did, then maybe you're good to go for it not being a clogged pilot jet/hole.

Can you download the service manual for your bike and give it a go? I hate carbs so would never attempt it myself :D

Don't be afraid to call the mechanic and let him know it's not fixed. Be polite and see the solution he suggests. If he said "bring it back but don't expect it for free" at least he's honest up front. Hopefully he'll let it sit overnight and give it a try in the morning and give it another go.

-Jamie M.
 
Ted is unfortunately where I spent $400. He's a poor communicator because twice he made me drive to his shop when I shouldn't have. When I picked the bike up today, one of the mechanics said I shouldn't have come so that it can stay overnight another day to try out if it'd start. Literally costs me $20 each time I take the trip there and my ride had already left me, so I trust Ted when he said it was fixed.
 
pzill4 said:
Ted is unfortunately where I spent $400. He's a poor communicator because twice he made me drive to his shop when I shouldn't have. When I picked the bike up today, one of the mechanics said I shouldn't have come so that it can stay overnight another day to try out if it'd start. Literally costs me $20 each time I take the trip there and my ride had already left me, so I trust Ted when he said it was fixed.
Click to expand...
Yikes, I'm sorry to hear that :( You don't read many complaints about Ted's service on here, so I bet if you call him he'll make it right.

The guy is retarded busy and kinda flies by the seat of his pants, but I can understand your frustration in making two unneeded trips :(

I think he really needs to keep it overnight :(

-Jamie M.
 
I'm definitely frustrated but I'm almost sure he'll make it right when I call him tomorrow. I'm not trying to say he had bad service, his communication could have been better, but overall I was happy to talk to him almost daily - just wished he saved me two trips.

Do you think bad valves might cause this type of problem?
 
Hmmm, not that easy without a bit more information.But am guessing engine turns over fine, bike runs fine and when you switch off, it starts straight away, but leave an hour or so, or if it's a bit damp, it doesn't start?

Assuming it's not the carburation since that's been looked at, one cause could be low coil output causing a weak spark.
 
Do you only have starting issues when it is cold out?
Can you describe the starting issues?
How does it idle once warmed up?
 
Yeah, everything is perfect. The bike runs amazing, engine turns over fine, starts right away when it's mildly warm out (15C), but not when mildly cold (5C). I was told that the charge system was fine, good voltage travelling from starter to alternator to batter - not necessarily in that order ;).

Aren't spark issues easy to figure out, so wouldn't it be one of the first things a mechanic might check? Sorry, I'm not too mechanically inclined - do understand some theory, still a novice, but definitely learning. Expensive I might add.

Anyone have any experience with bad valves, valves needing adjustment, valves causing bike to not cold start?

Google did sparingly give some info regarding valves and a forum poster did recommend to consider replacing/adjusting, but that seems like the last extreme I will consider, if I don't buy a new bike.
 
SLaP said:
Do you only have starting issues when it is cold out?
Can you describe the starting issues?
How does it idle once warmed up?
Click to expand...

Yes, only when its cold.

I only have electric start.

I give it very little choke 1/4 of the way, tiny little bit of gas (I've tried different combos of course) and push the starter button.
It turns and it seems like it wants to start, except it doesn't have the final drive/spark to actually get it done.

Once, I just went mad and couldn't release my thumb from the stater button, so it kept cranking and I finally got it to start. I opened the throttle and then I was about to let it go and it almost shut off until I re-opened the throttle again. Warmed it up by revving it a bit for about a minute and fully released the throttle and had the bike idling perfectly at 1k RPM. But, I can't keep doing that because I'm sure the battery will die and the starter eventually burn out.

If I do get it to start, its a really perfect bike. It rides really well and have no sense of any issues when giving full throttle.
 
Last edited:
Symptoms do sound very simialr to my problem a few years back, which ended up with me swapping out the 15yr old coils for new. Used to start not bad with a good charge on the battery and new plugs, but after use would gradually get harder to start on cold or damp mornings.

If it was the pilot jet it would run a little rough below about 3000 rpm, similar with valves, but rough all through the rev range, symptoms you would notice when riding, so I think you can rule those out. As mentioned, you should take it back but this time the focus should be on the ignition system.
 
pzill4 said:
Yes, only when its cold.

I only have electric start.

I give it very little choke 1/4 of the way, tiny little bit of gas (I've tried different combos of course) and push the starter button.
It turns and it seems like it wants to start, except it doesn't have the final drive/spark to actually get it done.

Once, I just went mad and couldn't release my thumb from the stater button, so it kept cranking and I finally got it to start. I opened the throttle and then I was about to let it go and it almost shut off until I re-opened the throttle again. Warmed it up by revving it a bit for about a minute and fully released the throttle and had the bike idling perfectly at 1k RPM. But, I can't keep doing that because I'm sure the battery will die and the starter eventually burn out.

If I do get it to start, its a really perfect bike. It rides really well and have no sense of any issues when giving full throttle.
Click to expand...
Why not full choke?
 
Mozz said:
Symptoms do sound very simialr to my problem a few years back, which ended up with me swapping out the 15yr old coils for new. Used to start not bad with a good charge on the battery and new plugs, but after use would gradually get harder to start on cold or damp mornings.

If it was the pilot jet it would run a little rough below about 3000 rpm, similar with valves, but rough all through the rev range, symptoms you would notice when riding, so I think you can rule those out. As mentioned, you should take it back but this time the focus should be on the ignition system.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't it need to be consistent? I mean, if it was a coil (in this case either of the 2 or both), weather shouldn't matter, the bike wouldn't start, correct?
 
pzill4 said:
Ted is unfortunately where I spent $400. He's a poor communicator because twice he made me drive to his shop when I shouldn't have. When I picked the bike up today, one of the mechanics said I shouldn't have come so that it can stay overnight another day to try out if it'd start. Literally costs me $20 each time I take the trip there and my ride had already left me, so I trust Ted when he said it was fixed.
Click to expand...

Rosey Toes did the same thing to me, except my bike is newer and my bill was double yours, and only ran for 10 minutes after I got it back. When I brought it back they looked at it and said they could not fix it and asked me to find a new shop. Don't think I will go back again.
 
pzill4 said:
But wouldn't it need to be consistent? I mean, if it was a coil (in this case either of the 2 or both), weather shouldn't matter, the bike wouldn't start, correct?
Click to expand...

Well, hard to say really. In my experience, the problem I had with poor starting generally coincided with damper and colder conditions whether it be warm wet weather or lower temps early in the morning/evening when more moisture is present(and my battery had lost a little of it's edge). It's a fine line between starting or not when your spark's weak, since it has to oversome dampness, condition of plug, and flooding (due to messing about too much with the choke) which all conspire to ruin your day. It's hard to tell really if this is the problem, but like I say, next step after carburation and charging should be the ignition system.
 
The gs500 are notorius for not starting in colder weather. So maybe the gd550 is the same. It is my understanding that the carbs need to be rejetted to resolve this starting issue.
 
Buddy, it sounds to me you dont know how to start a carb bike correctly, try full choke and dont touch the throttle, if you crack the throttle the choke circuit will not draw enough fuel and it will not start.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom