Yep. Count em -- 4. This is not really related per say, but it is in a way. These are of my GS1000. Unless you enjoy doing this, DO NOT leave ethanol fuel in for an extended period of time. I made the mistake of leaving fuel in my bike over the winter. Trying to start this spring, it coughed, wheezed and would not run for just a few seconds, then die. Depleted the battery trying to get it started. Finally got it running on 2, then it died and would not start again. I knew what the problem was because I made this same mistake 1 season with RedZone.
As you can see, I pulled the carbs. Then the bowls, main jets, pilot jets and the emulsion tubes that the main jets attach to. What a clogged up mess. Pilots and mains were clogged up with this jelly like substance. Some of it actually hardened. Spent about an hour per carb just cleaning the jets and tiny dispersion holes. The emulsion tubes (call it the needle jet) have an o-ring where it screws into the carb body. Those 4 o-rings are shot. The rubber is just coming apart. I'm certain I can blame ethanol for that too. New o-rings are $3 each plus 7 shipping. $19 for 4 o-rings is a little much ya think? It's a critical o-ring and it must be there. I have no choice.
This is the only thing I have to aid in my cleaning. It's a cheap vibrating cleaner made for jewelry. Makes lots of noise and does very little. The fluid is ammonia. I find it works better than vinegar.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
I over winter mine with fuel still inside, but I add Sta-Bil fuel preserver in the last tank, which I brim. I also pull the oil pump lever to max for a few minutes when the engine is hot and the bike is idling before shutting it down. Battery on Optimate, wheels turned every couple of weeks and front resting off the floor. Generally starts and runs well immediately in the spring. Perhaps our petrol in UK isn't so bad?
Hope you get it sorted soon!
Mike
Luckily, UK fuel is only 5% ethanol at the moment, but is likely to go up to 10%.
I stripped the carbs on mine last Autumn -- the first time the floatbowls had been off for 15 years -- and apart from some loose dirt in the floatbowls, all the insides and jets were completely clean, no varnish or anything. UK fuel isn't as bad as many say ... at least at the moment!
1976 GT380 - wounded by me, and sold on
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
I think I got lucky on the o-rings. I had about a dozen of the little fat o-rings that go under the oil pump (GT). They are a little small so I soaked them in thinner till they were large enough to stretch on. I tried one for fit in the carb body and I think they will work. Ill have to wait till they dry out and make sure they don't split. If they stay together, they will work well enough.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
The Suzuki GS guys have have carb kits at reasonable prices.
They should have the carb o-rings & intake o-rings your bike needs. http://www.cycleorings.com/VMkit.html
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
I found the needed o-rings at a local hardware store. They fit perfect. They almost broke the bank at $0.60 each. I did not totally disassemble the carbs. Just the bowls and jets and air screws. Cleaned the jets and made sure all circuits were clear.
I tried to log on to the GS resources. Would not accept my username and password. Probably because I haven't been on the forum in about 2 years. I need to know about those emission control jets that were originally factory set and epoxied over.. I took them out 20 years ago and have never been sure if they were even ball park close. I took them out because I wasn't really sure I could thoroughly clean the carbs with them in. I guess I'll have to rejoin the resources to get some input on those jets.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
If you are lucky enough to on the list , this company is making gasket sets out of Viton . I got a set for my 1200 Bandit and 1100 GSXR .. fair price for the kits and shipping takes about 10 days . http://www.litetek.co/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
