Choke has to be on to run?

[No1uno]

Went to start my GL 1500 today and the RPMS would not hold still, and the engine almost dies until I turn on the choke a quarter of the way to get her to even run!
I am thinking it is vacuum hoses, I will be tearing it down this weekend to find out what is going on.
I have new lines for the vacuum lines, and the rubber that goes on the carbs to the manifolds etc. I really am not looking forward to this.

So, from what I am writing, does it appear that I am looking in the proper area for fixing my GL1500? Or do you think it could be something else?

I am going to follow this picture to replace all of my lines, also I am going to rebuild the petcock and new fuel filter and anything else I can think of.....

[Megreenusmc1969]

Hi No1Uno,

I had a similar issue, and luckily someone mentioned the idle adjustment inside the fuel door. Mine had popped loose and adjusted itself, so that even if I did get moving, once I let off of the throttle, it would die, even on the highway. The only issue I had is that the knob would not move, so a little penetrating oil sprayed on it, opened it up and I could adjust back to normal. It was getting frustrating and dangerous. Mine does not have any additional issues since I implemented the fix. Hopefully this might help, if not, maybe it is some useful information for someone.

[Rambozo]

Vacuum lines are a good place to start. First thing though is to figure out if it is the enrichment or just the fast idle of the choke that is making it run. See if you can keep the engine going by just raising the throttle slightly with the choke off, or as was mentioned the idle control under the fuel door.

[No1uno]

I tried that, the knob in the gas door area works, it goes up and down, but every thing I try it runs rough
Adjusted the knob in the gas tank area - goes up and down - runs rough
Throttle without choke and it stumbles and goes up and down by itself
no throttle or choke and it idles really bad and then dies
New gas in the tank
Gas in the filter

I will know more while tearing it apart

Thanks

[No1uno]

Mine still works fine I can adjust it up and down without issues. That is why I am thinking it is vacuum lines since I had the carbs rebuilt a year ago. So I am planning on doing a mass hit all at one time.
Replace all Vacuum lines
New fuel filter
New alternator
Rebuild the Clutch Master and Slave
Putting in the rubber below the carbs, (that has never been done as far as I know)
New spark plugs
do a pressure test on the cylinders and if they are low, clean my hydraulic lifters
Rebuild the fuel Petcock

Then if I still have issues, I think a cherry bomb in the gas tank will work!!! LOL
I do have the shop manual, and I will take a ton of pictures while doing this. So if anyone asks I have pics

I am always open to suggestions while doing this. Am I nervous, sure I am but I will know more when I am done. And I know it is done correctly!!!!!

Thank you all for your support going forward.
Robert

[Rambozo]

Ok that narrows it down. It is a lean condition if it improves only with choke and not throttle. A vacuum leak will cause that for sure. You can spray brake cleaner, carb cleaner or propane around the hoses to locate the leak. The engine rpm will go up when you hit the spot.

[No1uno]

Thank you sir, that is what I thought but two heads are better than one!!
Great input, just sometimes when tasked with a effort like this, it is nice to get opinions so you don't second guess yourself.

Let's see what happens now

Thanks!!!!!

[WingAdmin]

Ok that narrows it down. It is a lean condition if it improves only with choke and not throttle. A vacuum leak will cause that for sure. You can spray brake cleaner, carb cleaner or propane around the hoses to locate the leak. The engine rpm will go up when you hit the spot.

Keep in mind that the GL1500 choke isn't really a choke in the traditional sense, where it would choke off the air supply to enrichen the mixture. In the GL1500, the choke just adds more fuel to the existing air in order to enrichen the mixture.

If the bike won't idle without the choke, it's possible the idle circuits in the carbs are restricted or clogged.

[No1uno]

Well I got the GL to idle, I had to leave the gas cap off, which is now soaking in seafoam, but I still get a slight surge every once in a while, but she is sounding better then before, I am on vacation now but when I return I will tearing into the vacuum tubes to find the stupid one that is causing me hell..... I love this bike but there are time, that I could just........

I will get over it, and take my time and fix every last issue if it the last thing I do!!!! Love hate relationship!!!

Thanks for all that has been helping me out. I may have more questions, just give me time.

[ginblueearth]

Sounds like you have very close to the same problem I had. I purchased a 1998 GL 1500 second week of April. for $850. The guy I bought it from didn't think it ran. When I got at home, I checked the gas in the tank. It was only about an 8th full. So I didn't add any gas to it. I just put a battery in it. And check the oil, which was fine. So I put it on full choke. and it started right up. But it would not run without the choke on fall. As soon as I took the choke off, it would die. I'm a true believer in sea foam. And also a product named mechanic and a bottle. Which comes in two sizes? A large and a small bottle. Like I say, the gas tank didn't have much gas in it. So I dumped the can of extra strength sea foam in it. And a large bottle of mechanic and a bottle. and let it run. with the choke on and I took it out. and Road it. for about 20 miles. Slowly working the choke off. By the time I got back to the house, I had to choke completely off, and it would idle. And it was good and warmed up. I then took it out to the local gas station that had. premium gas with no alcohol. and filled the gas tank up. and rode it a little bit more. and let it sit for two days. And it's ran perfect ever since. I should take that back. The high dose. of the two did foul the spark plugs out when I first started it up the next time. So I pulled those and put new spark plugs in. and it's ran perfect ever since. Whatever was in the carburetors. was cleaned out by those two products. in a month. Now I put 1000 miles on it here in Minnesota. Which has been quite an achievement the way the weather has been. Getting that bike for $850 was quite the steel. Everything on it works perfect. Radio ,cruise control. air compressor. Give the the Seafoam time I think you will be be surprised what will happen . It you can put as much Seafoam as you like it will not hurt anything except maybe foul out the plugs . But that better than having to pull the carbs