Bike is dying... Help!

[Breed777]

I didnt try to start it I think it was just the order the posts came in makes it look that way. I tried first things this morning, noticed the puddle of gas and havent touched it (since you said dont). I have a basic knowledge of engines, mainly EFI ones so just online trying to learn about Crabs and Floats and other things....Im keen to learn.... They are picking my bike up today... but by the way he sounded on the phone seemed a bit pissed cause I couldnt fix it myself, thats why I ask is it a really simple thing cause he kinda made me feel like any idiot should be able to fix it....and Im just wasting his time somewhat

[MSTRS:Me]

His attitude is his problem. He offered the warranty, and should honour it.

[Breed777]

Yeah I can appreciate it might be frustrating for him, having to come pick up the bike and fix a potentially easy problem, but from the sounds of it, its not gonna cost him hundreds to repar so its mainly just his time?
Im a music teacher and it can be frustrating dealing with ;beginners' but thats part of the job. He could of been a little more understanding I think.
Anyone in Tauranga have a dealer/mechanic they would recommend in the future?

[PirateJafa]

I didnt try to start it I think it was just the order the posts came in makes it look that way. I tried first things this morning, noticed the puddle of gas and havent touched it (since you said dont). I have a basic knowledge of engines, mainly EFI ones so just online trying to learn about Crabs and Floats and other things....Im keen to learn.... They are picking my bike up today... but by the way he sounded on the phone seemed a bit pissed cause I couldnt fix it myself, thats why I ask is it a really simple thing cause he kinda made me feel like any idiot should be able to fix it....and Im just wasting his time somewhat

Any idiot can fix it. I should know, I am one.

However, first you need to learn a bit about engines. And since you have the warranty, you might as well use it (you paid for it!).

[Breed777]

Will do.
Any good sites for learning about 4 stroke systems? found a few diagrams etc

[PirateJafa]

Yeah I can appreciate it might be frustrating for him, having to come pick up the bike and fix a potentially easy problem, but from the sounds of it, its not gonna cost him hundreds to repar so its mainly just his time?
Im a music teacher and it can be frustrating dealing with ;beginners' but thats part of the job. He could of been a little more understanding I think.
Anyone in Tauranga have a dealer/mechanic they would recommend in the future?

IMO keep using him until you have a reason otherwise.

He might've sounded a little grumpy over the phone, but he might have just been having a bad day. Who knows, maybe some dicks cut the paws off his kitten yesterday.

He IS honouring the warranty, so as far as I can see he seems to be a good bloke? He's even picking it up despite you saying it was a return-to-base warranty.

[PirateJafa]

Ask around for a local mentor who is willing to do a bit of "mechanical mentoring". All the little bits like what does what, how to check your oil, change the oil/filter, how to tighten your chain etc.

And don't forget to clean the old lube off your chain regularly.

[Breed777]

I guess when your new to it, you have to learn fast cause its easy to be taken for a ride, if you dont know much about engine they can tell you the 'Flux Capacitor' is stuffed and it will be a $500 fix and if you dont know any better you wont question it
Tried ringing Bay City Motorcycles cause I heard they were good, but I think someone has pulled the plug there, no answer on their lines.
Thanks for all ur help....

Also doesnt help that on the net most GSXR stuff is for current models and my bike is 20 years old...

[Breed777]

ok I think I have this engine thing sorted....
couple of quick questions for you pros....

1) What decided how much gas goes into the cylinder?
2) what keeps all the cylinders in sync? (do they all work in sync)
3) the Carb is where the air and fuel are mixed, the throttle controls the amount of air let into the carb? what controls the amount of fuel?



Thanks guys

Ok just a wee edit here... as I understand it, the float in the Carb lets the gas in and when enough is in there it pushes the float needle into the hole blocking off the intake of fuel, and on my bike the float needle may not be closing to flow of fuel making it run rich or flooding?

Sound right?

[MSTRS:Me]

ok I think I have this engine thing sorted....
couple of quick questions for you pros....

1) What decided how much gas goes into the cylinder?
2) what keeps all the cylinders in sync? (do they all work in sync)
3) the Carb is where the air and fuel are mixed, the throttle controls the amount of air let into the carb? what controls the amount of fuel?



Thanks guys

JETS. They determine the amount of fuel that passes through them. Very important. But then, so is every other part of the system. Every part must work to it's optimum, and be in balance with all the other parts.

[Breed777]

I have heard you guys talk about 'Syncing' the carbs... so how many Carbs does A bike have? is it one carb that distributes fuel to all 4 cylinders? through 4 jets?

[MSTRS:Me]

Oh. Dear. You really don't know much. Post to follow...

[Breed777]

Yeah like I said ... pretty limited... mainly just fuel injected cars.... and even then,,, pretty limited

[MSTRS:Me]

All sorts of things have been tried over the years, as far as carbs-to-cylinders are concerned.
Basically, one carb per cylinder was the outcome. Each carb is a closed system for the cylinder it feeds. Carbs have a number of jets in them, which control different things at different revs. The main jet is the one most commonly dicked about, along with the needle that seats in it. When you twist the throttle, simply put, a cable lifts a slide inside the carb, attached to the bottom of that slide is a tapered needle that is lifted out of the main jet, effectively making the hole bigger which allows more fuel to flow through. The slide itself opens up the amount of air that can pass through the carb, as it is lifted.
The needle valve that was mentioned a few posts back is the one that allows fuel from the tank to enter the bowl under the carb. This is your working reservoir, and the level of fuel in it is very important. There is a float inside that lifts as the level increases so that it shuts off the needle valve, stopping more fuel coming in. Think of a ballcock in your toilet cistern. If there is dirt or wear in the valve, or the float has sprung a leak, the fuel will keep flowing. This is probably your problem. It overflows the carb bowl and tickles into the connected cylinder via the inlet valve, and fills up the cylinder. This is 'hydrolocking'. Try compressing a liquid and see what happens.
Balancing the carbs is necessary so that each works in conjunction with the others (the slides all move at exactly the same time for instance).
Your bike has 4 cylinders and 4 carbs. It is likely that only one carb has a problem, but that is all it takes.

[Breed777]

thanks, that make alot of sense. they sound pretty 'brittle' do you have to be super careful when cleaning then or syncing them? so once a cylinder is hydrolocked the piston no longer moves and you risk bending the rod?

Just found a manual online for my bike...found something interesting. If I turn my keep completley to the right (past ON) I can lock the steering and it allows the steering to lock and the park lights to go on with the key removed. Says its a Night Time parking feature. seems cool but wouldnt this deaden the battery?