Sean, an old man showed me a trick once that sometimes works. Rev the bike up and then use your hand to cover the air intake of the clogged carb. Often this will suck the obstruction from the jets and let you avoid tearing down the carb. It has worked for me many times. Love your videos!
I can second that, Had the same problem but with a old moped in stead, It was running oddly inconsistent. It was running though, So i revved it up a few times with my hand covering the intake side of the carb. Let it hick-up a few times and after a few good sucks it suddenly ran perfectly fine.
Don't forget brakes, I paid 500 for my SV650 and my rear brakes were we'll say didn't exist and the fluid yeah that wasn't brake fluid, might have been once but wasn't anymore
Sean, I love you brother, but dang ! Here's a tip or two. Don't pull plug wires, its not a 1968 Buick. Use a spray bottle with water or a damp shop wrag and touch or spray each header pipe to check the temperature, while its running to see if its firing. A alternative is a Harbor Freight spark plug checker, and this way the ignition stays grounded. Put the alligator clip on a cylinder fin, and the other end into the spark plug cap. Second, theres NEVER a shortcut to carbs that are gummed up or suffering from the effects of ETHANOL in the fuel. They must be disassembled and cleaned. Thirdly, change the oil and filter BEFORE running a engine that you have no history on. Im sure that you've had a hundred of well meaning and KNOWLEDGEABLE people messaging you, I gave you the MINIMAL basics. Check the battery and especially the cables. Have your friend LOAD TEST the battery if he has the ability. Brake fluid..........without any history on the bike, there's a GOOD CHANCE, the fluid needs changing and flushing. That should get you started. SARGE, HONDA PRO TECHNICIAN, PhD Master Powertrain Harley Davidson, VICTORY TECH, and and over 50 years of racing experience and Engine Building. I do some SUZUKI restorations and I humbly feel that you COULD have cleared $1000 on that bike, even after shop fees. BE BLESSED !!!!
Good price. I'm sure it was heavily reduced because he only brought him in the carbs. Not to mention whatever discount he gives him because he's a dealer. No wonder SRK don't have an in-house mechanic when Joe is just around the corner lol
That doesn't always work. After about a minute even the dead cylinder's pipe gets so hot you can't tell by touch. Spray bottle with water works best. Pipe sizzles it's firing if it doesn't it's not
yeah but if only 2 out of 4 cylinders on opposing sides are running, both exhaust pipes are going to get hot still. though probably not so hot that they cannot be touched, yeah I guess that'd work tbh.
Works great on a v-twin where the cylinders are separated, not so great on an in-line motor. Pulling the plug wires worked quite well in his situation.
unchained20000000 rookie mistake, that rear sprocket was obviously done. I think srk cycles needs to hire a full time motorcycle mechanic to make sure their inventory is up to spec.
Tech Tip: Be careful a sparkplug can appear to fire correctly outside a cylinder but misfire in the cylinder due to the compression which requires a stronger spark. You can change the spark plug from a good cylinder that is firing to a cylinder that is not firing and see if the misfire changes cylinders. Tech Tip: You can clean out carburetors by reving up the engine and closing the choke, then when it sounds like the engine is bogging down open the choke and let the engine rev up to clean out the extra gas in the carburetors.
It depends if the bike's gears are short or long. I don't like to stress out a bike's engine for a long haul. A high revving engine, on an extended ride, will also drain me after a while. Be kind to the bike and don't stress it for a long time if you don't have to. Small engines need love too. If I were you, I'd take a 650 adventure or dual sport bike instead.
Not a mechanic- I started backyard tinkering in about 1967 when I was 8 years old. I would add 4 new float valves to the 4 carbs, also a fine stainless steel mesh air filter attached with JB Weld- bugs or rocks flying into the carbs is not good. Put half a can of Berryman cleaner in the gas tank, with a full tank of new gasoline. Sometimes the vibration and fuel flow from riding a bike 50 miles will clean it and it will start running better. If it is rich the choke will not be needed for a cold start, and the gas mileage will be low. If it is lean, the gas mileage will be too good and when you shut the fully warmed up engine off you will hear a lot of popping sounds from the hot metal cooling and contracting. For carbs the pilot mixture screw adjusts the amount of fuel at idle, the needle valve controls mid-range fuel, and the main jet controls full throttle fuel. There is some overlap for these 3. A CV carb (constant velocity) has a big thin rubber diaphragm at the top and the bike runs like crap if it gets a hole or crack and leaks air, maybe why more racing oriented carbs were added since they do not have this diaphragm to break.
by the way, those are not the sock carbs(dah) stockers where mikuni 34mm, with an airbox and rubber boots, so the engine has injested all sorts of shit do to the no filtered velocity stacks!
People were riding 250's cross country 50 years ago. I would meet them on the road. Get out a map and figure a route mainly on secondary highways. Those highways still exist in many areas. It would be an experience.
Your channel is the first I've subscribed to. I have the beard, I've bought and sold hundreds of motorcycles but not at your level by any measure. I'll get there. Thanks for keeping Christ in the conversation.
Can't wait to see the video(s) you post on your ride through Georgia. Let me know if you end up in the Buford area by Lake Lanier. I'll ride with ya on a leg of your trip.
I drove a GS750 (forget if 83 or 84) from New Hampshire to Wyoming and back in 1988. I had bought the bike used from the original owner with 9000 miles on the odometer. The drive chain was original and was a total PIA the entire trip, requiring attention every 500 miles or so. Other than that, a great bike. Ran cool the whole way, even on the steep mountain roads of Glacier Natl. Park and rode beautifully, hardly any vibration. The seat was the best stock seat I ever sat on. I sold it as soon as I got home. It was the last chain drive road bike I ever owned. Nothing but shaft drive thereon.
Never ever never under any circumstances should mandals and man-feet ever appear in a motorcycle/shop video... never... ever. Should’ve been a warning ⚠️ 🦶
But these clowns have God on their side,that should or should not say it all. After all,didn't Jesus wear sandals 2000 odd years ago. Sandals....never out of fashion!
@YO BABY that's a real christian response ! We both know your about as much of a christian as you are a mechanic ! Im sure you love MANGO UNCHAINED to is he your master o great mechanic lol ;)
@YO BABY If you find me maybe i can teach you how to work on bikes imagine that and all the money you would save by not having to take all your bikes to a real mechanic ! But we both know that a dump supporter has zero logic right !
@YO BABY I know i can see it now ! Son you need to do something with your life and you go daddy i like mo mo bikes ! So pops gives you a million bucks and you go buy locked up bikes and stolen bikes and bikes that are just junk lol !Good luck in the bike game and pray that your you-tube persona has kept you in the black lol And no joke get you an in house mechanic then at least you can blame it all on him and it would be less embarrassing for you and again good luck ;)
Those are Amal Mk2 Carbs. They were used on 79-82? Triumph Bonnevilles as well as others. The design was the basis for the Mikuni carb. Mikuni lost a lawsuit brought by Amal and were forced to pay Amal for copying the design. They are great carbs, a huge step up from the Amal Mk1. One large improvement was the body being aluminum vs pot metal.
I think that’s one of the major differences with owning an old car and old bike, if an old car isn’t running people tend to just get rid of it. If an old bike isn’t running people will put time and money in to fixing it, sometimes (probably in the case by the end) put more money in to it than the bike cost itself
Hi Sean. Rode from Richmond Hill to Demorest to ride the Moonshiner 28 a couple of years ago. Also visited my son who graduated from Piedmont College. Small world. Love your channel!
Wow man glad you are ok shame about the Bike , my Brother in law was riding a CB750/4 on the Freeway with my Niece on the Back , Bugger me both were Lucky ,just a few scrapes when the Bike locked up and went down on the Left side, sadly the Bike was a write off .
I own one of these, the ES version. It is a wonderful bike. I have struggled with the same issues however. I ended up completely refurbishing the carbs going over the engine, lubing everything i could and i got it running great! I just need to balance the carbs out when i get the vacuum tool for it. Not a great bike for a beginner like me i feel, but well worth the mega cheapness of it(i paid a little more than he did)
I just bought a 1994 Suzuki bandit 400 for $495 and with a new battery it started up after sitting 5yrs in someone's garden but wouldn't idle so I cleaned the carbs and idles and runs brilliantly!
Totally agree, old, old Amal carbs designed for a totally different bike are never going to work right. Amal?? Great carbs in the 1960's. Totally bettered by Japanese carbs 50 years ago. K.
I’m thinking I should move to the east coast and be your shop mechanic, that Suzuki would be running great and you’d save time not having to go out of house for simple repairs.
Ari Henning just did his non-stop Iron Butt across TX on a CBR250R. CCs just tell engine size, not capabilities. Doesn't take much power to keep a bike rolling down a highway.
How do you run that business and not have a chain breaker/riveter on hand? Seems like one of the most common problems with used bikes would be bald tires and bad chains and sprockets.
@ 3:28 in, if this is where you are in the diagnosis, put a little gas right into the cylinder through the plug hole and see if it fires. If it does you can go to the carb next.
oh-what going on with the bike/did yaw run a compression test on all cyclinders/an a wet compression test after the dry compression /buy a spark plug cleaner -they are not too expensive/the plugs look like they need cleaning- set the plug gap /put a little marble mystery oil in the cyclinders/let it set an soak around the rings for a day/you guys are great /thanks much
I have a 1985 Suzuki GS700 and I've completely customized it I have taken this bike on a couple long distance trip it's done great! Too bad I cant post a picture of it for you to see. You wouldnt even guess what it is besides the motor looks somewhat the same.
I bought my 2001 ZX6R for 800 bucks (it has 60k miles on it now). The only issue I ran into was dirty carbs on the way home. I fixed it by just full throttle all the way back. It cleared it's own throat and runs like a champ now
There is a better way to check for dead cylinder. Get yourself a thermal camera and just look at the exhaust pipes. Its also a great way to check how well the carbs are dialed in because if one is running hotter than the rest that carb might be to lean.
quad carb syncs are tough, no matter how experienced you are, especially for those that haven't done many of them in this day and age. I do maintenance on my 97 honda, but the carbs always go out to be messed with.
You can also touch the pipes after you start it up and see which ones are getting warm and which are not. Also you can use a thermal temperature gun to check them!
When you pulled the plug on the dead cylinder it was wet so it was getting fuel. Best way to locate a dead cylinder on a bike is with a spray bottle with water. Start the bike and start spraying the head pipes. If it sizzles that cylinder is firing if it doesn't it's not
Did you check your valves? I'm assuming that as you don't know the history you have checked them.... so do a compression test and see if it's sealing... and then do your valves.
I was the after sales manager (warranty, spare parts, workshop etc.) in a Honda shop for some time, so I did all the training path by Honda. One of the first things you learn is: never change only the chain and keep the old pinions, always change the three parts (that usually are sold together in a kit). If not, using a new part with two old parts, the durability of the new part is way, way lower than changing the whole kit. (OK I knew that since I was 15 y.o. but I can't resist to tell that I was manager at Honda and someway it gives me much credibility LOL)
I've gone multi-state on a 1980 Honda CM200T, a modern 250, short of an air cooled Chinese pushrod single should have no issues going PA to GA and back.
In 2007, I rode from Indiana to Florida and back (after cruising florida for 5 days) on a Suzuki gz250 (2500 miles in 7 days)-500 miles on the Interstate...no biggee.
@@davidleoncampbell Ok, you made me do it...In 1970, some friends of mine went Ohio to Vancouver, to San Francisco, back to Ohio on: 350 Yam, 350 Kaw, 500 Kaw, 750 Norton. No fairings, no saddlebags, nothing. 3 two-strokes and a Brit bike. No disc brakes, no turn signals (!), no radial tires...etc. Only the 500 Kaw triple didn't make it. Spokes kept breaking under the stress of 300+ lb. rider :-) Made it to KC on the way home, took plane rest of way, had bike shipped to OH. THAT'S epic. :-)
My first bike was a 250cc Kymco and the farthest i rode was north NJ to Atlantic City. It was pegged the whole time around 70 to nearly 75 tops if it was downhill. But it was super fun
Don’t use a dremel for an angle grinder task sir. And...you have two touring BMW’s and a Goldwing in your inventory right now. They would all be great for that trip.
I like this video because this guy is transparent... "What the hell the dude had to see two people to get carbs cleaned and a new chain installed"... Everything ain't for everyone...! #BikeLife 🦍
get a plastic gatorade bottle. drill a hole near the bottom but still on the side. On the side so you don't weaken the structural integrity of the bottle. Plus if you hang it, it will lean anyways. Put a fuel hose in the hole. use hot glue gun and seal up the drill hole in the gatorade bottle and fuel line. Then use electrical tape to add some rigidity so a little tug wont disconnect/break your hot glue. I use a coat hanger up around the lip of the gatorade bottle so i can hang it. Put some fuel in it the gatorade bottle. Plug the fuel line into the bike. TAKE THE CAP OFF WHEN RUNNING THE BIKE. Easy cheap and sealable fuel tank. Plus when your done its easy to empty extra gas. With some velcro you could probably even ride with it but i wouldn't recommend it. Maybe with a second lid that you drill a hole in but around the drive way type ride only.
I still think, that if it takes only a healthy carb, a chain, a sprocket and a few hours of expert work, it was a bargain for $400. A nice, stylish bike, that is also going to have some willpower when fixed up ...
One thing to check... you said ignition timing in the first video. did you ever did that? 2 of 4 cylinders down that could be just a dirty contact in the ignition... as far I remember they have 2 contacts one for cylinder 1+3 the other for cylinder 2+4. And after you clean the carbs you need to syncronize them and dial in the air fuel ratio. That can become a pain... You did not have the tools for that there. But your buddy who cleaned them should have known that.
Buying a cheap bike can be really expansive. I bought the cheapest running bike, (a 1990 GSXF 750) I could find where I live (france), the only problem it had was "hole" in the acceleration when the engine was cold, I thought it was the carburators, and I was right, but I only thought it was clogged, not that the seals were ripped and the throttle valve was damaged. Instead of 50€, it costed me 400€ (instead of 900€, because I know the mechanics and he gave me a discount). Just 3 days after, the tachometer cable broke, but this thing is cheap and easy to repair so it was not a problem. Since then, I had no more problem, but it's always a gamble
I am amazed how much you know about motorcycles... And don't know about motorcycles. I thought I was really gonna learn something new when you took that Dremel to the chain 😣
One more thing to mention when you're doing a motorcycle chain master link is they are directional if you put the m************ are on backwards it will come on done while riding lesson learned the hard way
I have a 250 as an around town bike. there is no way in hell id take thing thing on the highway for any amount of time. I feel like im killing it just taking it down some random 55 mph roads that everybody goes 65-70
I understand what ur going for, taking an old bike for a long ride, but I'd much rather see a video with a Rune. My dad had the original valkyrie before the rune was released, and it was awesome. I've never seen a Rune on the road, they were so expensive that ppl just never took them out.
I know yanking a high tension lead off a running engine is the professional method but starting the engine from cold and quickly touching each exhaust header pipe lightly for a few moments will surely tell if one cylinder is not firing without the risk of a high voltage haha. When replacing a chain on this era bike It does not take much time and effort to remove the swing arm, inspect and lube the bushing/needle bearing, and replace the sprockets and an endless chain. Putting a new chain on worn sprockets makes zero sense. Those carbs were a surprise.
Pulling plug caps is just stupid ( even for an amateur ) . Hurts when they zap you , and can damage the ignition system . Check the header pipe temperature ( proper non contact sensor is nice , but a bit of spit on a finger tip will do ) .Oh , and of course , 1 and 4 cylinders share the same ignition ( as do 2 and 3 ) , so if you pull off a plug cap , you will be taking two cylinders out ( but that’s also a good clue to where the fault is
Oh, Amal carbs on single rail. This is very interesting and I thing completely non standard. Had myself couple of Katanas and GS's from beginning of 80's. Always standard Keihin/Mikuni like carbs. Someone was trying to get some extra performance from this fella I guess.
You've got a warehouse full not to mention your own personal bikes. Road King is a good bike for a trip. Took my 05 flhrci to Peoria from Houma Louisiana with no problems 95 or so most of the way. Very comfortable ride.
Sean, an old man showed me a trick once that sometimes works. Rev the bike up and then use your hand to cover the air intake of the clogged carb. Often this will suck the obstruction from the jets and let you avoid tearing down the carb. It has worked for me many times. Love your videos!
I can second that, Had the same problem but with a old moped in stead, It was running oddly inconsistent. It was running though, So i revved it up a few times with my hand covering the intake side of the carb. Let it hick-up a few times and after a few good sucks it suddenly ran perfectly fine.
Sucking crap into the combustion chamber,not a smart thing to do,just clean the carb and move on,short cuts often make things worse.
Anytime I buy a $300 bike I automatically assumed I need new tires chain sprockets carbs rebuilt carburetor boots and Battery
And right after the first exciting ride some brake work.
Don't forget brakes, I paid 500 for my SV650 and my rear brakes were we'll say didn't exist and the fluid yeah that wasn't brake fluid, might have been once but wasn't anymore
and an oil change including the fork oil and seals
And new rear suspension and swing arm bearing service and new head race bearings and new wheel bearings.
Grips, hoses, lines, brakes, usually tires. ... but ya. A cheap bike usually means there was no maintenance done on it else it'd be selling for more.
Sean, I love you brother, but dang !
Here's a tip or two. Don't pull plug wires, its not a 1968 Buick. Use a spray bottle with water or a damp shop wrag and touch or spray each header pipe to check the temperature, while its running to see if its firing. A alternative is a Harbor Freight spark plug checker, and this way the ignition stays grounded. Put the alligator clip on a cylinder fin, and the other end into the spark plug cap.
Second, theres NEVER a shortcut to carbs that are gummed up or suffering from the effects of ETHANOL in the fuel. They must be disassembled and cleaned.
Thirdly, change the oil and filter BEFORE running a engine that you have no history on.
Im sure that you've had a hundred of well meaning and KNOWLEDGEABLE people messaging you, I gave you the MINIMAL basics.
Check the battery and especially the cables. Have your friend LOAD TEST the battery if he has the ability.
Brake fluid..........without any history on the bike, there's a GOOD CHANCE, the fluid needs changing and flushing.
That should get you started.
SARGE, HONDA PRO TECHNICIAN, PhD Master Powertrain Harley Davidson, VICTORY TECH, and and over 50 years of racing experience and Engine Building.
I do some SUZUKI restorations and I humbly feel that you COULD have cleared $1000 on that bike, even after shop fees.
BE BLESSED !!!!
Yah man and maybe change your shirt more often it took a day or so for the carb rebuild but its the same shirt
Best reply in all these comments, period. Hope he saw this, for next time!
Real cheap bikes aren't a bad idea provided you buy them understanding that they probably need work and that the price needs to reflect that.
106 bucks to clean and rebuild a rack of four carbs? That’s a great price. Wish Joe was closer to me.
Good price. I'm sure it was heavily reduced because he only brought him in the carbs. Not to mention whatever discount he gives him because he's a dealer. No wonder SRK don't have an in-house mechanic when Joe is just around the corner lol
Except that fuel was leaking from it afterwards.
@@paulsmith1709 Nobody's perfect... hard to test when you don't have the complete bike there to run it.
@@paulsmith1709 True. I wrote (and posted) my comment before I got to that part of the video. : )
and stil leaking great job
I have an easier way , start the bike and touch the exhaust pipes and see which ones not hot.
That doesn't always work. After about a minute even the dead cylinder's pipe gets so hot you can't tell by touch. Spray bottle with water works best. Pipe sizzles it's firing if it doesn't it's not
Better yet use an infrared thermometer to check exhaust runners. I've been doing this for years to check misfires in cars.
yeah but if only 2 out of 4 cylinders on opposing sides are running, both exhaust pipes are going to get hot still.
though probably not so hot that they cannot be touched, yeah I guess that'd work tbh.
Works great on a v-twin where the cylinders are separated, not so great on an in-line motor. Pulling the plug wires worked quite well in his situation.
@@epictoast6727 or even better yet, spritz water on each of the headers coming out the engine see which one doesn't evaporate quickly.
Your sprocket was shark finned. Never change a chain without changing both sprockets as well.
unchained20000000 rookie mistake, that rear sprocket was obviously done. I think srk cycles needs to hire a full time motorcycle mechanic to make sure their inventory is up to spec.
@@flipmofo7897 yes either that or one of these guys need to take a basic motorcycle mechanics class or something...
It will also dramatically sap the performance, particularly a worn front sprocket.
@Viktor Sligo It will get you running, it won't be enough though, bad sprockets kill performance.
INDEED
Tech Tip: Be careful a sparkplug can appear to fire correctly outside a cylinder but misfire in the cylinder due to the compression which requires a stronger spark. You can change the spark plug from a good cylinder that is firing to a cylinder that is not firing and see if the misfire changes cylinders. Tech Tip: You can clean out carburetors by reving up the engine and closing the choke, then when it sounds like the engine is bogging down open the choke and let the engine rev up to clean out the extra gas in the carburetors.
It depends if the bike's gears are short or long. I don't like to stress out a bike's engine for a long haul. A high revving engine, on an extended ride, will also drain me after a while. Be kind to the bike and don't stress it for a long time if you don't have to. Small engines need love too. If I were you, I'd take a 650 adventure or dual sport bike instead.
A lot of these older metric bikes are designed around high RPMs on the highway then how they are perfectly fine
Not a mechanic- I started backyard tinkering in about 1967 when I was 8 years old. I would add 4 new float valves to the 4 carbs, also a fine stainless steel mesh air filter attached with JB Weld- bugs or rocks flying into the carbs is not good. Put half a can of Berryman cleaner in the gas tank, with a full tank of new gasoline. Sometimes the vibration and fuel flow from riding a bike 50 miles will clean it and it will start running better. If it is rich the choke will not be needed for a cold start, and the gas mileage will be low. If it is lean, the gas mileage will be too good and when you shut the fully warmed up engine off you will hear a lot of popping sounds from the hot metal cooling and contracting. For carbs the pilot mixture screw adjusts the amount of fuel at idle, the needle valve controls mid-range fuel, and the main jet controls full throttle fuel. There is some overlap for these 3. A CV carb (constant velocity) has a big thin rubber diaphragm at the top and the bike runs like crap if it gets a hole or crack and leaks air, maybe why more racing oriented carbs were added since they do not have this diaphragm to break.
by the way, those are not the sock carbs(dah) stockers where mikuni 34mm, with an airbox and rubber boots, so the engine has injested all sorts of shit do to the no filtered velocity stacks!
People were riding 250's cross country 50 years ago. I would meet them on the road. Get out a map and figure a route mainly on secondary highways. Those highways still exist in many areas. It would be an experience.
Especially East of the Mississippi taking the secondary roads is the only way to roadtrip.
If it's got a motor somebody somewhere has ridden it cross country, even a 50cc beats walking!
Your channel is the first I've subscribed to. I have the beard, I've bought and sold hundreds of motorcycles but not at your level by any measure. I'll get there. Thanks for keeping Christ in the conversation.
Can't wait to see the video(s) you post on your ride through Georgia. Let me know if you end up in the Buford area by Lake Lanier. I'll ride with ya on a leg of your trip.
Who is Christ?
@@maurituomisto8007 You must be new here.
I drove a GS750 (forget if 83 or 84) from New Hampshire to Wyoming and back in 1988. I had bought the bike used from the original owner with 9000 miles on the odometer. The drive chain was original and was a total PIA the entire trip, requiring attention every 500 miles or so. Other than that, a great bike. Ran cool the whole way, even on the steep mountain roads of Glacier Natl. Park and rode beautifully, hardly any vibration. The seat was the best stock seat I ever sat on.
I sold it as soon as I got home. It was the last chain drive road bike I ever owned. Nothing but shaft drive thereon.
Never ever never under any circumstances should mandals and man-feet ever appear in a motorcycle/shop video... never... ever. Should’ve been a warning ⚠️ 🦶
But these clowns have God on their side,that should or should not say it all. After all,didn't Jesus wear sandals 2000 odd years ago. Sandals....never out of fashion!
Rock a 250. I took a ninja 250 from Seattle to Chicago and back with no issues at all. 70-80mph the whole way and i got awesome mpg
Joe Mayer the guys who trailer their harleys to sturgis get even BETTER mileage !!!😄😄😄😄😄
Glorious Nippon!
I agree. I rode my 250 Ninja from Pittsburgh to Cherokee, N.C. via the Blue Ridge Parkway and had a blast. Momentum is your friend. lol
That is awesome.
How does a guy own a dealership and know absolutely nothing about motorcycles ! lol THIS DUDE KILLS ME BUT KEEP IT UP MAN YOUR ENTERTAINING !
@YO BABY that's a real christian response ! We both know your about as much of a christian as you are a mechanic ! Im sure you love MANGO UNCHAINED to is he your master o great mechanic lol ;)
@YO BABY If you find me maybe i can teach you how to work on bikes imagine that and all the money you would save by not having to take all your bikes to a real mechanic ! But we both know that a dump supporter has zero logic right !
@YO BABY I know i can see it now ! Son you need to do something with your life and you go daddy i like mo mo bikes ! So pops gives you a million bucks and you go buy locked up bikes and stolen bikes and bikes that are just junk lol !Good luck in the bike game and pray that your you-tube persona has kept you in the black lol And no joke get you an in house mechanic then at least you can blame it all on him and it would be less embarrassing for you and again good luck ;)
Not everyone knows everything and I wouldn't trust a dealership or shop that arrogantly claimed they do. A real man knows his limits.
Because he a seller and rider not a mechanic he jus know the basic stuff you learn from years of riding and etc
I would definitely be watching the vid of Sean riding a 250 from PA to GA it would be epic
oof! If that 250 happens to be a Honda Rebel like the one I had to ride in my motorcycle course, just OOF!!!
I think I would have tried to spray a little fuel into that first carb with it running and see if it evened out
That would have been a good idea
When you replace the chain always include sprockets also. Sean, you are welcome to message me any time.
Im high and was zoned out thinking and at the end when the bike wouldn’t start it gave me anxiety
Those are Amal Mk2 Carbs. They were used on 79-82? Triumph Bonnevilles as well as others.
The design was the basis for the Mikuni carb. Mikuni lost a lawsuit brought by Amal and were forced to pay Amal for copying the design.
They are great carbs, a huge step up from the Amal Mk1. One large improvement was the body being aluminum vs pot metal.
I thought it sounded a little rough in the first vid. Those inline 4's are usually pretty smooth.
I think that’s one of the major differences with owning an old car and old bike, if an old car isn’t running people tend to just get rid of it. If an old bike isn’t running people will put time and money in to fixing it, sometimes (probably in the case by the end) put more money in to it than the bike cost itself
Hi Sean. Rode from Richmond Hill to Demorest to ride the Moonshiner 28 a couple of years ago. Also visited my son who graduated from Piedmont College. Small world. Love your channel!
After you disconnect one of the spark plug wires you need to put it back on it's hard on the coil to fire out without it being grounded
A worn out chain once took the side casing off of a 1983 CR 250
destroying a good motor i had.
Lucky it never hit the side of my leg.
Wow man glad you are ok shame about the Bike , my Brother in law was riding a CB750/4 on the Freeway with my
Niece on the Back , Bugger me both were Lucky ,just a few scrapes when the Bike locked up and went down on the
Left side, sadly the Bike was a write off .
get a temperature gun and use it on each exhaust pipe to see which one’s cold. The cold one is the dead cylinder.
I was about to say once you got those carbs cleaned, they'll have to be re-synced again to make the bike run perfectly. I hope that gets fixed soon.
I own one of these, the ES version. It is a wonderful bike. I have struggled with the same issues however. I ended up completely refurbishing the carbs going over the engine, lubing everything i could and i got it running great! I just need to balance the carbs out when i get the vacuum tool for it. Not a great bike for a beginner like me i feel, but well worth the mega cheapness of it(i paid a little more than he did)
I just bought a 1994 Suzuki bandit 400 for $495 and with a new battery it started up after sitting 5yrs in someone's garden but wouldn't idle so I cleaned the carbs and idles and runs brilliantly!
hold onto that bike... those 'Ducati Suzuki's' are hard as hell to find and quite a unique bike
Dude... you have the best toybox on the block.
Which bike out of all these bikes will you take on a trip?
Best sentence ever.....
Congrats on 100k subscribers!!! Love your videos.
Just use a kitchen IR Temp gun on the exhaust tube - easily you'll see a difference in temp - :)
Holy Crap, No air filters and ancient British carbs? Sell carbs, find a salvage Suzuki and use the parts to rebuild the intake system.
Totally agree, old, old Amal carbs designed for a totally different bike are never going to work right. Amal?? Great carbs in the 1960's. Totally bettered by Japanese carbs 50 years ago. K.
The first plug you pulled out look great it was burning at a good temperature.
I’m thinking I should move to the east coast and be your shop mechanic, that Suzuki would be running great and you’d save time not having to go out of house for simple repairs.
Ari Henning just did his non-stop Iron Butt across TX on a CBR250R. CCs just tell engine size, not capabilities. Doesn't take much power to keep a bike rolling down a highway.
How do you run that business and not have a chain breaker/riveter on hand? Seems like one of the most common problems with used bikes would be bald tires and bad chains and sprockets.
I think they are only flipping bikes and not do maintanace like a garage.
Worn and stretched chains eat sprockets on combines worn chains cost thousands of dollars in repairs!
@ 3:28 in, if this is where you are in the diagnosis, put a little gas right into the cylinder through the plug hole and see if it fires. If it does you can go to the carb next.
oh-what going on with the bike/did yaw run a compression test on all cyclinders/an a wet compression test after the dry compression /buy a spark plug cleaner -they are not too expensive/the plugs look like they need cleaning- set the plug gap /put a little marble mystery oil in the cyclinders/let it set an soak around the rings for a day/you guys are great /thanks much
This makes me want to learn to be a motorcyle mechanic
Should have let Joe do all the work ? He is a professional mechanic 👨🔧 but hard to find a good mechanic who is honest and reputable 😀
I can't figure out why they call themselves a bike shop if they have to have another bike shop do their work for them !
SmokinJoe347 but they don’t stock any Mysterious Honda Runes or Fat Boy Harley’s etc or Hyusongs
@@johncavar2914: Sorry but I'm struggling to see the relevance or logic in your comment ?
I have a 1985 Suzuki GS700 and I've completely customized it I have taken this bike on a couple long distance trip it's done great! Too bad I cant post a picture of it for you to see. You wouldnt even guess what it is besides the motor looks somewhat the same.
U really need Craig. Thank you for all those tips.. really helpful for those who just started motorcycle riding
I bought my 2001 ZX6R for 800 bucks (it has 60k miles on it now). The only issue I ran into was dirty carbs on the way home. I fixed it by just full throttle all the way back. It cleared it's own throat and runs like a champ now
you should clean your carbs anyway.
@@SixWheelsDown I probably should. But if it ain't broke. Dont fix it 🤷♂️😂
There is a better way to check for dead cylinder. Get yourself a thermal camera and just look at the exhaust pipes. Its also a great way to check how well the carbs are dialed in because if one is running hotter than the rest that carb might be to lean.
quad carb syncs are tough, no matter how experienced you are, especially for those that haven't done many of them in this day and age. I do maintenance on my 97 honda, but the carbs always go out to be messed with.
Short cut to checking if ur cylinders are firing spray some water on all header while bike is on the one that stays wet is your faulty cylinder
I am not a expert and I could not fix it. I think you have a lot of experience and obviously you are making really good deal.
I have an 83 gs1100. An easy way to tell if a cylinder is firing is to see if the ex pipe is getting hot.
You can also touch the pipes after you start it up and see which ones are getting warm and which are not. Also you can use a thermal temperature gun to check them!
You can use common sense to determine the dead cylinders.
Good vid but you can't tell a cylinder's compression with just the plug out; screw in a compression tester across all four cylinders.
chaning the chain but not the sprockets?? Really??
and selling it ike: it's got a new chain on it! ?
What about other maintenace like break fluids?
Calm down it’s not done yet
When you pulled the plug on the dead cylinder it was wet so it was getting fuel. Best way to locate a dead cylinder on a bike is with a spray bottle with water. Start the bike and start spraying the head pipes. If it sizzles that cylinder is firing if it doesn't it's not
One guy wears weird sandals.
One guy doesn’t know how to tie his boots.
😂
Grats on 100k!
Their both a pair of morons. With God on their side,you'd think they'd know better but alas, not a brain cell between them.
Carburetor’s are my favorite thing to work on and I still have to use spell check to be able to spell carburetor. Lol
Also, there is no apostrophe in the plural.
@@rodneybugher9312 Oh well
Did you check your valves? I'm assuming that as you don't know the history you have checked them.... so do a compression test and see if it's sealing... and then do your valves.
That bike has a vacuum petcock , with no vacuum the fuel won't flow !
Didn't bikes with vacuum petcocks have a "prime" setting?
Scott9084 yes to flow fuel to dry carbs
I was the after sales manager (warranty, spare parts, workshop etc.) in a Honda shop for some time, so I did all the training path by Honda. One of the first things you learn is: never change only the chain and keep the old pinions, always change the three parts (that usually are sold together in a kit). If not, using a new part with two old parts, the durability of the new part is way, way lower than changing the whole kit.
(OK I knew that since I was 15 y.o. but I can't resist to tell that I was manager at Honda and someway it gives me much credibility LOL)
I've gone multi-state on a 1980 Honda CM200T, a modern 250, short of an air cooled Chinese pushrod single should have no issues going PA to GA and back.
"P.A. to G.A on a 250" is a video i wana see
In 2007, I rode from Indiana to Florida and back (after cruising florida for 5 days) on a Suzuki gz250 (2500 miles in 7 days)-500 miles on the Interstate...no biggee.
@@davidleoncampbell Ok, you made me do it...In 1970, some friends of mine went Ohio to Vancouver, to San Francisco, back to Ohio on:
350 Yam, 350 Kaw, 500 Kaw, 750 Norton. No fairings, no saddlebags, nothing. 3 two-strokes and a Brit bike. No disc brakes, no turn signals (!), no radial tires...etc.
Only the 500 Kaw triple didn't make it. Spokes kept breaking under the stress of 300+ lb. rider :-) Made it to KC on the way home, took plane rest of way, had bike shipped to OH.
THAT'S epic. :-)
At another time I'd want to buy that Suzuki. They were great bikes in their day.
My first bike was a 250cc Kymco and the farthest i rode was north NJ to Atlantic City. It was pegged the whole time around 70 to nearly 75 tops if it was downhill. But it was super fun
Don’t use a dremel for an angle grinder task sir.
And...you have two touring BMW’s and a Goldwing in your inventory right now. They would all be great for that trip.
I couldn’t find my angle grinder. Do you have it ?
Haha I might. I’ve got way too many of them.
I like this video because this guy is transparent... "What the hell the dude had to see two people to get carbs cleaned and a new chain installed"... Everything ain't for everyone...! #BikeLife 🦍
I say take a big cruiser to GA! Maybe an old Goldwing to show they are reliable!
get a plastic gatorade bottle. drill a hole near the bottom but still on the side. On the side so you don't weaken the structural integrity of the bottle. Plus if you hang it, it will lean anyways. Put a fuel hose in the hole. use hot glue gun and seal up the drill hole in the gatorade bottle and fuel line. Then use electrical tape to add some rigidity so a little tug wont disconnect/break your hot glue. I use a coat hanger up around the lip of the gatorade bottle so i can hang it. Put some fuel in it the gatorade bottle. Plug the fuel line into the bike. TAKE THE CAP OFF WHEN RUNNING THE BIKE. Easy cheap and sealable fuel tank. Plus when your done its easy to empty extra gas. With some velcro you could probably even ride with it but i wouldn't recommend it. Maybe with a second lid that you drill a hole in but around the drive way type ride only.
Take the BMW K1300GT. Perfect for that ride.
I'm going to do all this work with the bike's toolkit... and Joe at the shop.
cjstarkey He is smart enough to understand that it’s above his skill level. What’s wrong with that?
I still think, that if it takes only a healthy carb, a chain, a sprocket and a few hours of expert work, it was a bargain for $400.
A nice, stylish bike, that is also going to have some willpower when fixed up ...
Exactly my thoughts. Video title is just bait
One thing to check... you said ignition timing in the first video. did you ever did that? 2 of 4 cylinders down that could be just a dirty contact in the ignition... as far I remember they have 2 contacts one for cylinder 1+3 the other for cylinder 2+4. And after you clean the carbs you need to syncronize them and dial in the air fuel ratio. That can become a pain... You did not have the tools for that there. But your buddy who cleaned them should have known that.
I briefly had a 79 gs750e, very cheap. That motor was amazing.
Buying a cheap bike can be really expansive. I bought the cheapest running bike, (a 1990 GSXF 750) I could find where I live (france), the only problem it had was "hole" in the acceleration when the engine was cold, I thought it was the carburators, and I was right, but I only thought it was clogged, not that the seals were ripped and the throttle valve was damaged. Instead of 50€, it costed me 400€ (instead of 900€, because I know the mechanics and he gave me a discount). Just 3 days after, the tachometer cable broke, but this thing is cheap and easy to repair so it was not a problem. Since then, I had no more problem, but it's always a gamble
Changing a chain should be one of the first repair skills any rider should have. Especially, if that rider is in to rehabbing and riding older bikes.
Easy to check for cold header when running
I vote for a 250... you're not going to be riding interstates all the way down there are you?
witteman adrian I went on a 3000 km trip on a Yamaha xt250. Definitely want something bigger. Lol
@@HikeOntario i've ridden a 50cc scooter 500 miles. Not that bad, especially on backroads lol.
Feel the exhaust to tell if piston is firing
I am amazed how much you know about motorcycles... And don't know about motorcycles. I thought I was really gonna learn something new when you took that Dremel to the chain 😣
Chaco Z2, good sandal pick from the guy in the swivel chair at the ten minute mark
Big mistake separating the carbs. Keep them all attached, four in a row always unless there is a some type of obvious internal leak.
A 70-80s 250cc bike would be a great watch. Upload the entire ~10 hour raw video please!
I know it's just an old Suzuki to everyone. But something about it has me mesmerized. She's beautiful.
One more thing to mention when you're doing a motorcycle chain master link is they are directional if you put the m************ are on backwards it will come on done while riding lesson learned the hard way
I have a 250 as an around town bike. there is no way in hell id take thing thing on the highway for any amount of time. I feel like im killing it just taking it down some random 55 mph roads that everybody goes 65-70
I understand what ur going for, taking an old bike for a long ride, but I'd much rather see a video with a Rune. My dad had the original valkyrie before the rune was released, and it was awesome. I've never seen a Rune on the road, they were so expensive that ppl just never took them out.
Had a silver gs750 just like this they're fast for an old 750 mine got stolen
You need to clean the carbs. Old gasoline with gum up the carbs. If you run the carbs through an ultrasonic cleaner, they should work great.
Suzuki Twin swirl combustion chamber(TSCC)) my 1100 E had that.
I know yanking a high tension lead off a running engine is the professional method but starting the engine from cold and quickly touching each exhaust header pipe lightly for a few moments will surely tell if one cylinder is not firing without the risk of a high voltage haha. When replacing a chain on this era bike It does not take much time and effort to remove the swing arm, inspect and lube the bushing/needle bearing, and replace the sprockets and an endless chain. Putting a new chain on worn sprockets makes zero sense. Those carbs were a surprise.
Easy way is to run it for a bit and test which cylinder is cool
Put the original mikuni's back on with original airbox. And put new plugs in, their resistance changes with age.
Sean is a good mechanic.
What a shame you couldn't get it running right, I think you would have been very surprised at how good these bikes are, and for touring on as well :(
You can also point a temp laser at the pipes...
looking good! if you get time monitor fuel/mpg on that stage 2 chip an let us know. Lucky ya'll dont have to do inspections there thats the best part!
Pulling plug caps is just stupid ( even for an amateur ) . Hurts when they zap you , and can damage the ignition system . Check the header pipe temperature ( proper non contact sensor is nice , but a bit of spit on a finger tip will do ) .Oh , and of course , 1 and 4 cylinders share the same ignition ( as do 2 and 3 ) , so if you pull off a plug cap , you will be taking two cylinders out ( but that’s also a good clue to where the fault is
Oh, Amal carbs on single rail. This is very interesting and I thing completely non standard. Had myself couple of Katanas and GS's from beginning of 80's. Always standard Keihin/Mikuni like carbs. Someone was trying to get some extra performance from this fella I guess.
Hope you get it rocking. I'd hate to see you roadside on your way to Georgia
Wow your chain slap will be out of this world. You dont have a tensioner on that bike.
You've got a warehouse full not to mention your own personal bikes. Road King is a good bike for a trip. Took my 05 flhrci to Peoria from Houma Louisiana with no problems 95 or so most of the way. Very comfortable ride.