A Prime Mess

[Tripleking]

Well it appears I left the petcock on prime last Sunday. When I went out to the garage this evening I noticed liquid on the floor on the left side of my GT380. Sure enough I left it on prime after warming it up last week. Not much overflowed and there did not appear to be any in the cylinders. Thus, on a 38 degree F evening. I decided to start her up. With much relief, she started right up and idles normally. However I noticed that I was getting the ubiquitous smoke out of the exhaust for the left and center cylinders, but he right cylinder was almost clear. The bike warmed up and I had the choke off, but I still had a fair amount of smoke out of the left and center exhaust,but not out of he right. I let it idle for a while and then revved it a bit amd it ran normally. It is just that the center and left cylinders are smokier than the right.

Should I be concerned?

[Coyote]

I assume the bike was om the side stand. If you have leaky check valves on your oil lines, it could just be an accumulation of oil in the crank chambers. I wouldn't panic just yet. You need to ride it hard for 10 minutes or so to burn that off. Idling won't do it.

[Suzukidave]

The extra gas can even get into the pipes where it is mixing with the oil in there and once it gets hot enough start burning off .

[Tripleking]

I assume the bike was om the side stand. If you have leaky check valves on your oil lines, it could just be an accumulation of oil in the crank chambers. I wouldn't panic just yet. You need to ride it hard for 10 minutes or so to burn that off. Idling won't do it.

The bike was on its side stand and the fuel leaked towards the left side of the bike. It stands to reason that any fuel and oil which collected was also on the left side of the engine, hence more smoke from the left and center cylinders and not much from the right. I am not too concerned as the engine idled and revved normally. Not acting like a seal leaker at all. To tell the truth, I was more concerned with the lack of oil smoke from the right cylinder.

[Tripleking]

Took it out today and it ran well. I knew I was low on fuel, but I decided to take the back country roads to the gas station. Coming to an intersection about 2 miles from home (and with my cell phone in my other jacket), the GT sputters to a stop and will not restart. I put it on reserve, still nothing. I wasl the 2 miles back home, get my son, a gallon of fresh fuel and my truck and set off to get the GT. I put the gallon of fuel in and still she won't start. Now I am thinking spark (but it sputtered like it was fuel). We load the GT onto my truck and take it home. I bring the bike into the garage and just for fun, I decide to kick it over. She starts on the first kick and is running wonderfully. Please tell me what just happened.

[Suzukidave]

After you refilled with gas did you switch the petcock to prime to refill the carbs ?

[Tripleking]

Yup and there was fuel in the line.

[Tripleking]

Fired her up and took her for fuel. She started up right away. Got fuel ans she started normally. Got to my driveway and she sputtered and stalled. Hard to restart and won't hold idle when warm. Ride it and rev it she is fine. Off idle she is flat, but only when warm.

[Suzukidave]

Could it possibly be a choke hanging open ?

[Tripleking]

Thought that too, but seems all the way open. I will check again tomorrow. Thinking fouled plugs otherwise. She runs like a raped ape above 3500 though.

[Tripleking]

Thought that too, but seems all the way open. I will check again tomorrow. Thinking fouled plugs otherwise. She runs like a raped ape above 3500 though.

[Tripleking]

Think it was a boogered pilot jet. I put a few ounces of Seafoam and road it. Once warm it could not hold idle at a stop sign, but was running perfectly otherwise. I road a few more miles. At the next stop sign the idle was back and has been fine ever since. Big sigh of relief!

[yeadon_m]

It might be the pilot jet(s) but more likely the pilot outlet and bypass holes, some of which are truly tiny on these carbs. I recently had two sets of GT550 VM28 carbs side by side and it was only by comparing the spray patterns out of the 'poor carbs' with my known-good set that it became obvious that the former were all partially plugged. The owner had been quite frustrated and now reports a positive test with my spare carbs and has sent his off for ultrasonic cleaning. If in any doubt, a worthwhile investment. If afterwards the machine is in regular use the problem will probably not recur.
Cheers,
Mike

[Tripleking]

It might be the pilot jet(s) but more likely the pilot outlet and bypass holes, some of which are truly tiny on these carbs. I recently had two sets of GT550 VM28 carbs side by side and it was only by comparing the spray patterns out of the 'poor carbs' with my known-good set that it became obvious that the former were all partially plugged. The owner had been quite frustrated and now reports a positive test with my spare carbs and has sent his off for ultrasonic cleaning. If in any doubt, a worthwhile investment. If afterwards the machine is in regular use the problem will probably not recur.
Cheers,
Mike

Good to know. Right now it is running fine.