I just picked up a 1979 GS550, and it has ignition problems. Carbs have been cleaned, new plugs, new points/condensers.
Someone told me the coils may be bad (makes sense), but they also said there may be an issue with the magneto. Not familiar with the magneto, is there a recommended method for testing it (let alone locating it)? I'm waiting for my Clymers to arrive, but I'd like to poke it until it shows up in my mailbox.
Well, when you get your manual it will have in there how to test the coils and magneto with an ohm meter. I don't have the specifications or I would give them to ya. Sucks ya got to wait.
Well, both manuals arrived, so time to start reading. Oil was dirty in the 550, think I'll explore the carbs. I did get the starter circuit fixed -- corroded connection. I'll keep you informed, and thank you.
Cool. Hey does your 550 have the gear position indicator? I had a GS 400 that had a digital readout for that but I'll be damned if I can remember if my 550 had it or not. I think it had some sort of gear indicator.
Yup, neutral light plus lights for gears 1-5, all along the bottom of the panel. Sorta handy for new riders, wish my wife could ride the 550, but it's too tall (or she's not tall enough). She just let me know she wants my Virago, grrr.
Normally I don't like putting different forum info in another forum, but this is not a direct competitor. I found a lot of good info specifically for the Suzuki GS series at http://www.thegsresources.com.
Update: Fixed the spark issues, still won't start. Putting in new battery cables (corrosion issues), new carb boot o-rings, new o-rings all over the carbs. Sigh... sure would like to get her going again...
i have a 79 GS550 as well, and my starts up fine, seems to idle okay, but at more or less half choke. is that normal? and when i rev it the rpms go up slow, but it blows blueish smoke and smells like 2 stroke exhaust like out of a weedwacker. im new to this, its my first bike.
And two years later you probably already know it was a carb issue.
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