All sorts of issues: Suzuki GS500F

Xyloft · 08-30-2007, 08:46 PM

the first thing i noticed about the bike, is if i ride for 30 or so minutes, and let it sit for maybe 5 or 10, then start it back up it knocks, sometimes real bad. oil's fresh, happens on 87 and 93 octane and it's worse when its hot.

i've had this happen a few times: i'm cruising up to a stop, i kick down on the shifter a few times until it stops and i think i'm in first. but i'm not, i'm in third or higher and it wont shift down at all. (i shift while rolling to the stop).

Related: today it got stuck in 3rd, i was going about 10, i was bogging 3rd bad, but i could downshift at all. i had to rev up and slip the clutch to get the bike into speed.

recently i adjusted the chian according to the gs500 wiki on gstwin. since then, there has been a whining noice that is effected by speed. would a chain that is too tight cause a whining noise? rear tire alignment?

it's a 2004 with abotu 3,000 miles on it. I got it at 2300 miles and the previous owner did no maintenance at all.

Liquids · 08-30-2007, 11:00 PM

Chain noise would not be affected by engine speed, but road speed. Is your clutch cable properly adjusted? Chain slack could cause noise, but not inability to shift. Sounds like something wrong with your clutch

Edit: I dunno why I thought you said engine speed.. you just said speed

Xyloft · 08-30-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquids

Chain noise would not be affected by engine speed, but road speed. Is your clutch cable properly adjusted? Chain slack could cause noise, but not inability to shift

Edit: I dunno why I thought you said engine speed.. you just said speed

yeah, the wine is based on wheel speed. i noticed it mostly when i pull the clutch and coast.

i adjusted the clutch cable 600 miles ago, maybe it needs it again already? the chain was only 20-80 miles ago

Liquids · 08-30-2007, 11:09 PM

that would be the first and easiest thing to check since if there's too much slack in the cable you won't be able to release the clutch fully. There should only be a 1/2" of travel of at the end of the lever before the clutch starts disengaging. The temperature thing indicates clutch also. Does it knock in neutral or only in gear?

Xyloft · 08-30-2007, 11:51 PM

i've only noticed in in neutral, though i *thought* i heard it at random one day at 6,000 rpm, but i dont think thats likely.

its prety noticable. you can hear it at 20ft. enough for my friends to go
wtf is that?

RayOSV · 08-31-2007, 12:38 AM

Chain noise first. How much slack is in your chain and how did you measure it? Is the chain clean and lubed?

Xyloft · 08-31-2007, 09:29 AM

put a measuring tape on teh ground. pushed the chain down and noted the measurement from the top of the chain. then pushed the chain up and noted the measurement from the top of the chain.

i did go back to re-read the directionsand i deffinately did it wrong: iwas on my center stand. the weird thing is as i was doing it, and reading the directions i thougth to myself "this is weird, all the other sites say don't use the center stand...oh well, live in and learn. I readjused it last nigth to have 1in of play (manual says .8-1.2)

just got back from a test ride with teh new adjustements (tighter clutch cable and looser chain). teh whine is much quieter now, to the point if i wasnt listening for it, i wouldnt hear it. shifting felt better...but before it would feel fine then blam can't downshift. didn't do hot start, but i figure the ping is still there