[WindWheels]

Hello all,

I just got my bike about a week ago. I know absolutely nothing about bikes (yet)... and just downloaded the service and owners manual so please be gentle (and I'm a girl too so maybe I do know less about all this).

The bike rode smoothly at first. In the past few days I've been riding it around a lot and today things that I don't understand started happening.

First of all my engine oil pressure light lit up a couple times while I was riding and my engine would shut off. I thought this might have something to do with the fact that I didn't have enough gas (because I barely had any in my tank) but then after my engine completely shut off and I coasted downhill to the gas station (thankfully it shut off at a perfect time) and got gas........it started doing the same thing after a while again. The light kept lighting up and my bike shut off once.

As well, since yesterday my bike takes forever to start. I have to sit there and press the electric starter for a good 10-15 seconds while it slowly struggles to start (while the choke is fully on and i turn the throttle a little). As well, it makes popping noises..but they go away after the bike warms up (I'm not sure whether that's a problem).

I am not sure why my oil light just ALL OF A SUDDEN lights up and why my bike refuses to start...because everything seemed fine at first.

Any ideas? Please help me! I was going to look into this more tomorrow and read more, but it would be great if I got some opinions and at least had a place to start. Thanks to all you!

 

[DrBob]

First thing I need to know is this: does the oil light come on AFTER the bike stalls, or BEFORE? It sounds to me like the oil light comes on when the engine is running, and then sometimes the engine stalls after the light come on. Is that correct?

If your answer is "No, the bike stalls first then the light come ons" then you probably have a simple electrical problem, like loose battery connections, or a weak battery. The oil light will come on after the motor stalls because the key is in the run position but the sensor does not detect any oil pressure. The motor turns over slowly becasue the current is weak. Charge the battery overnight with a charger and try it again. Use the choke OR give it some gas, do not do both. I'd give it some choke and not touch the throttle.

But I am afraid your answer is going to be "Yes, the oil light comes on with the engine still running and then the bike sometimes stalls" then you have a more serious problem. STOP TRYING TO START IT.

The oil light comes on because the oil pressure is too low. This is caused by one of two things: little or no oil in the crankcase; or the oil is not circulating correctly. Some bikes have a safety switch that kills the motor when the oil pressure gets to zero to stop you from blowing the motor, but I do not remember if your model had this feature or not.

Pull the dipstick and check the oil level. If it does not show up on the dipstick you have run the bike out of oil. Either it was very low when you bought the bike, or you are leaking it out or burning it off as you ride. Neither is good news, but if you are just leaking around the oil filter or the oil drain plug then it will be easy to stop. But that does not mean that you have not damaged anything already. Running out of oil can cause the bearings to cook or sieze, or the motor to overhead and stall. Dry bearings, even if they are not spin or cooked, will make the bike hard to turn over because of the increase resistance. Keep spinning the motor over without oil and you will destroy it. Fill the oil, and if the bike starts and runs OK check the oil level daily, keeping your fingers crossed that you did not damage anything. If the level drops each time you ride either you have a bad oil leak or something is broken in side the motor and you are burning it off. If the motor knocks or makes funny noises it is too late and you already cooked a bearing- time for an engine rebuild or a new bike.

If the oil level is fine, then you have an internal problem preventing proper oil pressure. This could be the oil pump pickup being clogged with sludge or assembly lube from someone not doing the first oil change, or the oil pump itself being clogged, internal oil passages being clogged. Or the oil pump or other parts can be damaged. You are going to have to pull the motor apart and find the problem, which is probably going to cost you more than the bike is worth.

 

[WindWheels]

Yes, the oil light comes on with the engine still running and then the bike sometimes stalls....and yes I stopped trying to start it once I got home because I was in the middle of a road.
I checked the oil level and it's pretty much gone. I got some oil just now and I will add it in later today. The bike is at around 90436miles and last oil change happened when it was at around 8500.

And thank you so much

 

[Easy Rider]

The bike is at around 90436 miles and last oil change happened when it was at around 8500.

I hope that is a typo and you aren't just jerking us around. oops:

I think you need to get the bike to a shop to check for oil leaks.

And I think you need to pray REAL hard that running it without enough oil didn't do any serious damage.
If it doesn't start and run better with oil in it........that is not a good sign.

Wish I had some good news.

 

[slozomby]

Yes, the oil light comes on with the engine still running and then the bike sometimes stalls....and yes I stopped trying to start it once I got home because I was in the middle of a road.
I checked the oil level and it's pretty much gone. I got some oil just now and I will add it in later today. The bike is at around 90436miles and last oil change happened when it was at around 8500.

And thank you so much

drain the oil and refill to spec. < my suggestion,
2.7qt without filter replacement 3.1 with. personally i replace the filter. make absolutely sure whatever your putting in there does not say energy conservation. see pages 3-3 and 3-4 of the below manual if you are unsure of what to get.

owners manual. http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/10/7/2133953/GS500-OwnerManual.pdf


do you have receipts from the previous owner or just his word.

 

[DrBob]

Assuming a typo and you mean 9043.6 miles, or 9435 miles, that means either 500 or 1000 miles since last oil change, yet you are at least 2 to 2.5 quarts of oil low. That is bad.

Check around the engine, and under the bike, for signs of lots of fresh oil. You may be leaking from the oil lifter, or the oil drain plug, or a gasket. If not, start it up, and if there are any odd sounds or blue smoke, shut it off and go shopping for a new motorcycle. If not, look for leaks. Often the gasket from the old oil filter will stick to the case, so when the new filter is put on it doubles up the filter and leaks like crazy. You may only be leaking when it is running, so let it idle in place and check for oil spots under the bike, or drips of oil on the engine case, around voavle covers, around the filter, etc.

If you do not see any leaks, then the best thing you can hope for is that the previous owner lied and the oil was not actually changed at 8,500, or for that matter, ever. I would be concerned enough if it used 2+ quarts in 9400 miles, but if the bike really did use all that oil in less than 1000 miles, and there are no obvious leaks, then I am afraid you bought a lemon.

 

[slozomby]

Assuming a typo and you mean 9043.6 miles, or 9435 miles, that means either 500 or 1000 miles since last oil change, yet you are at least 2 to 2.5 quarts of oil low. That is bad.

Check around the engine, and under the bike, for signs of lots of fresh oil. You may be leaking from the oil lifter, or the oil drain plug, or a gasket. If not, start it up, and if there are any odd sounds or blue smoke, shut it off and go shopping for a new motorcycle. If not, look for leaks. Often the gasket from the old oil filter will stick to the case, so when the new filter is put on it doubles up the filter and leaks like crazy. You may only be leaking when it is running, so let it idle in place and check for oil spots under the bike, or drips of oil on the engine case, around voavle covers, around the filter, etc.

If you do not see any leaks, then the best thing you can hope for is that the previous owner lied and the oil was not actually changed at 8,500, or for that matter, ever. I would be concerned enough if it used 2+ quarts in 9400 miles, but if the bike really did use all that oil in less than 1000 miles, and there are no obvious leaks, then I am afraid you bought a lemon.

you'd think if it were eating all that oil it would either be smoking like a chimney or there'd be a lake where the bike is parked.

Often the gasket from the old oil filter will stick to the case, so when the new filter is put on it doubles up the filter and leaks like crazy.

+1

 

[RocketSpeed]

I have a similar issue with my 2007 GS500F. Initially The bike will ran fine for a while. After a few weeks, I take it to high speeds (>100 km/h) and when I come to a slow speed, the engine light comes and and the bike stalls and shuts off. I check the engine and the dipstick shows low oil level, I fill up a little but the bike wont run normal until the engine has cooled down. This has happened more than once. I dont know what the problem is with this bike. I am afraid I paid for a lemon (it was my first bike) it has around 29000 miles on it.

Recently, the bike does not start. The battery is fine and the lights come on but when I start the engine, it does not start. When its hot ill hear a loud popping sound and the bike will not start. What is the issue, im hoping it is a spark plug issue rather than a starter issue. Please help!

 

[Easy Rider]

I Recently, the bike does not start. The battery is fine

If you have the original battery in it, it may not be "fine".
Have you checked the connections or tried to charge it ??
What if anything have you done ?
Are you using the choke ?

When you have found the oil to be "low" how much have you added ??