1983 gl1100 idle problems

[Jkdillard]

Hello all. Yesterday I bought a 1983 gl1100. It sat for almost a year. It will start up and run as long as i stay on the throttle. As soon as i let go of the throttle she sputters and dies. I have adjusted the idle screw all the way in and it still dies. It will drop down to about 500 rpms and start sputtering then dies. I'm pretty new to the motorcycle world so I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I have 2 other project gl1100's that I can borrow parts from. Neither one of the projects run. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[dingdong]

Sounds like the idle circuits in the carbs are clogged. Get yourself a carb kit from Randakks and rebuild them. Your other parts bikes likely have the same problem.

[OldguyGlen]

+1^^^ It sat for a year... (maybe more, sellers don't always tell the full story). The reason it had been sitting is because the PO got tired of it killing at every stop if he didn't keep on the throttle. Do the carbs, and check all the the belts, hoses, brakes, etc. These bikes are worth the effort.

[Jkdillard]

Sooo.... the bike seems to be running pretty good now. I have had to do a lot of adjustments to the idle speed. I drained the old gas and filled her up with new non ethanol fuel and have been riding around the yard. So far so good. I have a spare set of carbs off of my 81 parts bike that I'll rebuild and swap out as needed. I'm super excited to get this little lady on the road.

[newday777]

Sooo.... the bike seems to be running pretty good now. I have had to do a lot of adjustments to the idle speed. I drained the old gas and filled her up with new non ethanol fuel and have been riding around the yard. So far so good. I have a spare set of carbs off of my 81 parts bike that I'll rebuild and swap out as needed. I'm super excited to get this little lady on the road.

The 80/81 carbs are different than the 82/83 carbs. Keep them on the bike they are for.
The 80/81 have pressed in low speed jets as compared to the screw in low speed jets of the 82/83.