GS hard starting solved (?)

My 01 1150GS has been fairly hard to start for as long as I've had it. It often took more than three attempts to get it to tick over and not die - and always required a little throttle for a bit to keep it going. "Come look at my nice fancy bike. Come see how long it takes me to get it running..." I always had to use the fast idle lever at the highest position whatever the ambient temperature was. Once warmed, it was fine.

Yesterday I did two things to the bike. This morning, one press on the starter button and the bike was up and running. As well as being easy to start, it seemed to running smoother. I am *very* pleased.

What I did:
1. installed Champion RC9YC plugs gapped to 1 mm. I went to a local Napa store intending to get either the Champion or the Autolite plugs. They had the Champions in stock - total cost $2.90.

2. water torture. The bike has a mild oil consumption problem. It does not drink regularly, nor with any discernable pattern. But it has burned a fair amount, producing the expected amount of carbon buildup and so the curative powers of water seemed in order. I have used the "water torture" on other vehicles with apparent success.


Which solved the hard starting? I don't know, though I lean towards the plugs.

me very very happy

Hmm...

Hey, Scott - would your first choice have been the Autolites? I'm picking up mine tomorrow since Napa had to order them in.

Also, what's the water torture? You hydroblasting your cylinders through the plug hole or something?

S

Re: Hmm...

syeager said:

Hey, Scott - would your first choice have been the Autolites? I'm picking up mine tomorrow since Napa had to order them in.

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I had no real preference. Both plugs (though actually 3, as the Autolite is the 3922 or 3923 depending on who you ask - 3922 being the closest in heat range to the 1150 spec) had been widely reported to effect positively the running of many oilheads.

Also, what's the water torture? You hydroblasting your cylinders through the plug hole or something?

S

Click to expand...

Water torture is the questionable practice of introducing some water into the combustion chamber while the bike is riding.

Here's an ADVrider thread describing it...
Does your pig pin? Try water torture

Water Torture

Water torture is the questionable practice of introducing some water into the combustion chamber while the bike is riding.

Click to expand...

Wasn't something like that used on WW II bombers?

Did you OVAD and TB sync too?

fish said:

Did you OVAD and TB sync too?

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TB synch and valve adjustment had been done previous - a few weeks ago.

FWIW, OVAD is, IMHO, a bit over the top. I've done the hyper-anal valve adjustment and I've done a 'regular' valve adjustment. The bike ran the same. All I can imagine for those who find OVAD to be a break through is that they were exceedingly sloppy before. I dunno. I'm still relatively new to the oilheads.

I do know that my bike starts and runs better these past few days.

Scott,

Just for fun, why not put your old plugs back in and see if the hard starting returns ?


Craig Cleasby
South Windsor, CT
96k1100LT 101000 miles
2004 GS 6500 miles