how to start a gt500 (was: electric starter on gt500)

[drøn]

IT JUST STARTED!

i cleaned the float bowls and checked the jets. there was a little dirt in the bowls. not a lot, but there was some.
i synced the carbs by alligning the slides.
i have temporarily replaced the filters with a pair of socks as they were starting to desintegrate - i use the stock airbox, but the rubber is in a really bad shape.
i got some fuel line cleaner to pour in the tank.
i put it all together and kicked it using the hints you gave me and it ran after the 4th or 5th kick and idled at around 1800 rpms.
pretty chuffed!

of all the above i think that the 'no throttle' nailed it.
i have yet to take it for a ride and see if it keeps starting for me.

again, thank you very much everybody!

[drøn]

just went for a short ride without any problems.

any pointers on how to start it when it is hot??

[bobotech]

Does it not start when its hot? First of all, try kicking it when the choke is open, don't close the choke when its hot.

[Coyote]

no choke, no throttle.

[H2RICK]

Way to go, Dron !!! Some correct knowledge has sorted things out.....along with some strong kicks.

the magneto supplies all power of it's own to the ignition.

Actually the T500 is NOT some ancient piece of agricultural machinery with a magneto for its ignition source. It's a little more complex than that. This bike has a battery/coil ignition system and requires a battery with proper voltage in order to have a chance of starting, as well as for running. This is why, if your battery voltage is dropping (for whatever reason), you will first lose spark on one cylinder and then the other, no matter what speed you're driving at.
I suppose you MIGHT be able to generate enough voltage by kicking the bike over (with the battery removed from the system and the lighting system off)....but with a cold engine, you'd have to have a heck of a leg to kick the engine that fast.
OTOH, a true magneto system starts off with a healthy spark that gets hotter and hotter as your engine speed gets higher and higher...but you do have to spin it up quite smartly at the beginning to get that initial spark.

The GT500 is a little different with its electronic ignition. This type of ignition is called a "batteryless CDI" and Suzuki borrowed this technology from the well-proven ignitions on its dirt bikes. This type of ignition was first used in the 1971 TS185/250/400 as well as the motocrossers. No battery is required for starting because the CDI box takes the low voltage from the pulser coils and boosts it to a value that the ignition coils can use to generate a spark at the plug tip. On these bikes, the rest of the alternator system is there to supply current to the battery......and the lighting system, if/when required.

[wvc]

If it continues to be hard to start, I would consider replacing or at least testing the low speed magneto coil. There are a total of 5 coils under the magneto cover (charging coil, lighting coil, pickup coil, low speed coil, and hi speed coil). I think suzuki refers to these last two as the primary and secondary coils. The two coils mounted together at the 12 o'clock (top) position are the ones that provide voltage to the CDI for ignition. If the low speed coil (larger one in front) is going bad, it won't provide proper voltage to the cdi during kickstarting, making it very difficult to start. Once the bike is running the hi-speed coil (smaller coil in back) then provides the power to the cdi.
I ran into the same problem on my GT500. I would run good, but was extremely hard to start. I replaced the low speed coil, and she started 1st kick after that.

[H2RICK]

Thanks for expanding my explanation of the GT500 system, wvc.

[Scorch]

Thanks for the link, drøn

[drøn]

Thanks for the link, drøn

thanks for reading my blog, Scorch!

[drøn]

by the way, i still struggle to learn to start it when it is hot.
it's almost 50/50, but i just can't count on being able to ride back when i go somewhere.

[H2RICK]

i still struggle to learn to start it when it is hot

Easy solution, Dron. Always stop at a pub.....have one or two ales.....and by that time the bike will be cold enough to start easily.....but still warm enough that you probably won't need the choke.
No thanks are necessary.

[johnakay]

(i still struggle to learn to start it when it is hot!)

what I think the trouble is that with the carbs being so close to the engine and its warm outside to, the fuel will have evaporated.
so turn it to prime for a few seconds and try to start your bike.
no guarantee but I think that this may be the problem.

[rbond]

Mine actually starts easier when hot. If it has not been longer than 10 minutes from parking, one kick gets it going, any longer then two kicks. Also overnight, it it is hot outside (about 80 degrees) two kicks (engine cold), if the temp is around 70 or less three to five kicks. It has been this way ever since I have had this bike (4-1/2 years).

[drøn]

i still struggle to learn to start it when it is hot

Easy solution, Dron. Always stop at a pub.....have one or two ales.....and by that time the bike will be cold enough to start easily.....but still warm enough that you probably won't need the choke.
No thanks are necessary.

and by the time i get it started i'd be too drunk to ride it.

[drøn]

(i still struggle to learn to start it when it is hot!)

what I think the trouble is that with the carbs being so close to the engine and its warm outside to, the fuel will have evaporated.
so turn it to prime for a few seconds and try to start your bike.
no guarantee but I think that this may be the problem.

this is a good pointer, thanks.
i have had luck with kicking a lot untill i think it is well drowned then wait for a few minutes and start it with full throttle and no choke.
i will try your method next time.