Cafe Racer Build Part 15, Diagnosing engine starting problems, 78 Suzuki GS550

[@webby724]

Not long found your channel. I should have been asleep 15 episodes ago. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch, not to mention inspiring! Looking forward to the next episode.

[@forthebold]

I've found myself doing the same on KZbin, 3 in the morning and I'm still watching videos of dogs chasing their own tails. I've been lazy over the last few weeks with videos but I am going to post more soon

[@mitorider1365]

Watched all your gs550 cafe video's, can't wait to hear her fire up! I have just acquired a 1980 gs550 and i plan to cafe it over winter.

[@forthebold]

I can't wait either, the next few weeks it will. Good luck with your build

[@johnburgess92]

I have a friend who runs a 1979 GS550 with slide carbs and he often has this problem mostly on the outside carbs. We've stripped and ultrasonic cleaned them numerous times, checked for snags on the mounting posts and the float pivot pins and they all look fine. He just carries a screwdriver with him now and if they play up he gives the offending float bowl a couple of taps with the handle. Seems to do the job ;-)

[@evince1221]

ProTip: Boil your carbs in lemon water for 15-20 minutes, flog with wd-40. (And make sure there are no holes in the carb floats, if there is a small hole, gas will fill a float up and after a while it will cause it to overflow.)

[@tssupremacy]

I've just had the carbs of my GS550 build vapour blasted and they have come up looking brand spanking new! I have different carbs to yours though, mine are Mikuni 32mm CVs

[@forthebold]

+Scott Patterson I do regret not getting the whole engine vapour blasted but I am seriously considering the carbs.

[@Sewer_surfin69]

I'm running the same bike as yours and mine died on the highway. It would take about 20 kicks to get her running but would have crappy idle and die with any throttle. I have cleaned out the carbs since then. Same problem

[@zulukilocharlie]

You will need a carb rebuild kit for the BS34 mikuni carb. One kit for each of your carbs. Then you'll need to go up about 6 sizes in carb jets, because of your pods and the pipes. I went from a 177.5 stock jet, to a 127.5 jet. pilot jet went to a 45. Very easy to switch these out. Also, spray the outside of your pod filters in a air filter oil spray (K&N filter oil is what I used) Also, not sure if you have checked this, but if your fuel tank has vacuum petcock you will need to make sure fuel and vacuum lines are hooked up to your fuel tank to ensure fuel flows.

[@forthebold]

Strangely enough that's my next video to upload

[@k9pjuice]

Have a look on the gs resources forum. Whole write up on carb rebuilds and where to get the o rings. I have the same bike (in pieces) and have been watching this series with interest. You'll have to re jet anyway because of the pods and exhaust.

[@forthebold]

Carbs stripped and cleaned and ready to re-balance for the next video

[@marstiger9921]

Absolutely AWESOME job on the bike man! It's beautiful! Keep up the good work! Hope to see an update video or ride video soon!

[@forthebold]

Update coming next week.

[@literaryartist1]

Man this is intimidating. I just bought a 82 Suzuki gs400 for my build. Obviously I'm a noob. I'm pretty competent with tools but carbs are alien to me. Eeeeeehhhaaa

[@ludo9234]

Its usually the float needle the rubber goes hard and brittle in the petrol try new ones and check your float levels .ps and fit a small filter in the line .I used to have a G S 1000 been there got the medal. :-)

[@forthebold]

+LUDO Unfortunately it turned out to be worse, 3 of the 4 j main jets were blocked and oxidised, the first one I happened to open in this video was the best one of the lot

[@ryanwilliams9070]

Have you come across an accelerator pump - I running the same bike and in the middle of a cafe build and it has an accelerator pump attached below/between the right two carburetor float bowls. Did your carbs come with anything like that? Appreciating all the videos, they have been super helpful!

[@harryparkinson4200]

This is unrelated to this specific video, however, when you shortened the fork springs and added in the spacer, did it limit fork travel at all? love the series and can't wait for the next video and the final product!

[@forthebold]

+Harry Parkinson No real limitation in the fork travel, and as you're cutting the same length of spring off you're reducing the extra tension/stiffness that you'd find if you're using the original length.

[@tobywilson1518]

love the videos keep it up! planning my own summer project at the moment, out of interest how did you learn all your skills in this area?

[@forthebold]

+Toby Wilson Thank you. It's just learning over time through mistakes and success, I've been stripping engines and riding motorbikes since I was 4.

[@daz111090]

What do you do in your day job? you seem to know a bit more than the average joe. are you a mechanic? or do you learn this stuff online?

[@varunu4176]

Great jacket you got there. Any idea where i can get them?

[@forthebold]

+VARUN U Thanks, it's Superdry

[@Sewer_surfin69]

I'm running the same bike as yours and mine died on the highway. It would take about 20 kicks to get her running but would have crappy idle and die with any throttle. I have cleaned out the carbs since then. Same problem. Any help is appreciated

[@forthebold]

Only thing I can think of is what's happened to mine, and that's a leak in the intake boots going from the carbs. The rubber loses its glue then just sucks air that way. Worth removing them and checking for the worth of a few O rings to replace afterwards.

[@Sewer_surfin69]

For The Bold - dreegez thanks a lot man. I was actually ordering parts to replace the boots and reverting back to the stock air filter. However one of my air boots was rock solid and cracked. Would you by any chance be willing to part with your boots? I can't find any online in good condition. Cheers, buddy and thanks!

[@aggelosrusty6100]

awesome project dude but how you found all this parts from e-bay?

[@forthebold]

Thanks, I just find things I like then make them fit.

[@aggelosrusty6100]

+dreegez sound legit

[@joewalters16]

what made you pick this bike for your build

[@forthebold]

+Joe Walters Availability to be honest, whatever bike is going at that time, and with the increasing numbers of people buying up CBfours etc their prices have hiked up.

[@sadekausi]

Do you have any plans for what comes after this build?

[@forthebold]

+sade Yes I have another cafe racer project and a classic motocross restoration.

[@rohinbakrania347]

where do you get that kind of intro man?

[@forthebold]

I created it myself.

[@rohinbakrania347]

+dreegez did you use a programme like Adobe after affect its or something like that?

[@forthebold]

Yeah, all my edits are in After Effects, including this intro, this one's a fairly basic one, I've had a few interests so I might create a vid on that one day.

[@rohinbakrania347]

+dreegez cool man, i love your cafe race, its turning out to be so nice

[@forthebold]

Thank you, I've been away for a few weeks, so I need to get round to finishing it now.

[@pratkd]

Watched all the videos..and in the end didn't even see the beast running...??? y ??

[@forthebold]

I've had to leave it for a few weeks whilst I was organising a wedding, but I have another video uploading this weekend.

[@pratkd]

+dreegez thanks

[@raymorris952]

Don't like the looks of that cup of tea! What my old Man would call Nat's piss.

[@sturutter3378]

Too much milk in that brew, yak

[@forthebold]

Ha, I've been told that many a time.