Need help with my 2000 Bandit

[RLeav20717]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking a peek here...having some issues with a newly purchased bike that I got via CL (2000 Bandit 600, 19k miles).

Bike wasn't running when purchased, had a friend clean out the tank, applied Red Kote, and the bike started running.

I noticed a leak in a hose under the right front fairing, tried to get to it to no avail, but I did manage to drop my tank on the concrete and gave it a great rash and some dents (very stupid of me..was being careless). The fuel line hose snapped in 2, broke off about 2 inches worth of tubing, but i put it back on and reconnected and bike was running.

I had a meeting with Hoblick the other day to put on some new tires (thanks again!), but I had trouble all the way there, and then some.

I was coming from 270/Morse, while driving on 270 after about 10 minutes my bike lost power (running at about 6k rpm), pulled over on the shoulder, and the bike wouldn't start. After about 5 minutes of sitting it would start again, and 10 minutes later it died again, lost power and turned off. I had not taken the bike on the highway before this day, I figured it was dying out because of the high rpms...got off on Sawmill Rd and took the scenic route to Hoblicks place, bike died maybe one more time after getting off on Sawmill. (The short fuel hose was thought to be kinked and not letting fuel in and thats why the bike was dying)

So I get to Hoblicks and while the bike is sitting we notice gas is spewing out from somewhere on the bike...I'll get to that in one second

After the tire change the bike would not turn over, and thankfully Ryan was generous enough to put my bike in his truck and drop it off at my place (Thanks again, again). Battery was tested at AutoZone tonight, and they said it was fine, but I think I will purchase another just bc I'm unsure how old this one is.

We saw there was a leak coming from a tube by the carbs.

He suggested I figure out what those pieces between the carbs were for, and what was actually missing

...took us a second but there is a plastic piece in between carb 1 and 2 that was leaking all the gas, pictured here

There is another one between carb 3 and 4, but it was not leaking anything.

Obviously something was missing, I have a friend with a bandit manual, and it seems these are air vent hoses (#1)

My tank only had the fuel hose and vacuum hose, other 2 had nothing on them, (drain hose and ?)

So my friend made me a nice diagram on what it should look like

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

So I bought some hoses and a t-clamp and attacted them to the smaller hole in the tank.

The bike still will not turn over...it's still pretty cold outside so it could just be that its still very cold outside...

Sorry for the huge backstory, just trying to explain everything .

Now I'm a complete noob when it comes to motorcycle knowledge, and any suggestions by anyone would be great.

I live by Westerville/Morse, anyone is more than welcome to come take a peek at it....I definitely don't want to take it to IP and pay crazy prices...but I'd be more than willing to pay a fellow forum member for any work that needs done if it comes down to that.

If you need any other pictures or have any questions just ask and I'll respond back asap.

Here are some additional pictures of the manual showing the air vent hoses

(Don't think this applies, as it says CA models)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[oldschoolsdime92]

you may have better luck looking on a suzuki bandit forum. Just google, suzuki bandit forum.

[2fat2fly]

It sounds to me like your carbs need thoroughly cleaned. Read this:

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159718

[Hoblick]

Im thinking somethong with the float.

But agree carbs need gone through

[redkow97]

Yeah, just take the carbs apart and check everything out.

It's tedious, but not difficult. YouTube and google are your friends. I have had many "ok, now what?" moments solved by consulting YouTube in the garage.

Having multiple carbs complicates things a bit, but it also gives you one to copy if you take it apart and can't recall how it goes back together!

[Hoblick]

wish i didnt have a few jobs lined up already or i would have taken yours on.

[ReconRat]

Im thinking somethong with the float.

But agree carbs need gone through

If that's the fuel vent/overflow, yeah, a float might be stuck.

Or a float needle might not be seating, and leaking. Same result, pretty much.

[Hoblick]

If that's the fuel vent/overflow, yeah, a float might be stuck.

thats what i was thinking. im thinking one of the 2 carbs close to that vent have either a stock float, or a bad oring in the float seat.

but as well with that, he said it cut out on him riding and wouldnt go over 6k rpm. i noticed a fuel line pinched so i told him to get that taken care of, as well as check the inline fuel filter (aftermarket one thats on it), but it probably needs the main and pilot jets cleaned. as well as the carbs need synced.

[RLeav20717]

Took apart the carbs, everything pretty much looked clean..one needle showed a little rust..cleaned it, float bowls looked pretty good as well, jets had no gunk in them.

1 o-ring in the float bowl had some gunk on it, but nothing wet, just flaked right off

Put everything back on, bike is just giving me a 'clicking' sound now when I try to start it.

Lights come on, signals work fine, horn works, but everytime I push the starter it just clicks. Sound is coming from the solenoid..could it be bad? I tried to use a screwdriver as well to see if that would make the bike at least try to turn over, but nothing, so maybe a bad solenoid and bad starter? Either way, I purchased them both on eBay and should get them by friday...be good to have them laying around even if they arent the problem.

This was all tested with a new battery as well.

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions...this is a pain in the ass, but I'm also learning about the bike which is good

Also the petcock was leaking fuel (on any setting), so I purchased a new one and hopefully that will solve the 1 of many problems going on with this bike

Edited April 1, 2013 by RLeav20717

[Gixxus Christ!]

Sounds like a piece of debris from the tank was preventing one or more float valve needles from seating all the way, would cause the bike to run like shit and die from too much gas. Will the motor turn if you put the bike in gear and roll it? Could be the gas has filled a cylider up and you've got compression lock. Smell the oil, does it smell like gas? If so change. Could be your battery is low, put it on a charger.

[RLeav20717]

Sounds like a piece of debris from the tank was preventing one or more float valve needles from seating all the way, would cause the bike to run like shit and die from too much gas. Will the motor turn if you put the bike in gear and roll it? Could be the gas has filled a cylider up and you've got compression lock. Smell the oil, does it smell like gas? If so change. Could be your battery is low, put it on a charger.

Carbs were fine, virtually no debris when I opened everything up.

Bike will not push start, motor will sound like its turning but will not.

Oil is fine, smells fine, and I purchased a new battery as well.

Switched out my petcock, seems to be working fine now, put in new fuel lines so there is no kink anywhere.

In the process of getting in a starter and a new solenoid to see if that remedies the problem. (Starter makes tiny squeaking sounds, like its trying to turn but just wont).

[Gixxus Christ!]

Those carb vents usually have tubes on them that go up 3 or so inches and then turn down, at least my xj and fzr did.

[Hoblick]

Carbs may look clean, but doesnt mean the seat in the float isnt bad making the bowls overflow

[RLeav20717]

Put in a new solenoid today, nothing changed..

Then put in a new starter that I got from eBay..and omg the thing sounds like its trying to turn over now! haha.

Bike will try to start, and will start momentarily at around 1k rpm, and then die off (giving any throttle will kill it).

Gonna try again tomorrow after the battery is charged up.

also noticed oil coming out of the outside of the (crank shaft?), when I was replacing the starter...is it normal to have oil in there?

[Gixxus Christ!]

Let it run on full choke for a bit before you blip the throttle. The idle should gradually rise as the motor warms up. Most of my old carbureted i-4's would idle up to 4k on full choke, then drop to half choke and let them idle up to around 3. After that it was usually ok to pull the choke off and ride normally, ymmv. I don't think its weird to have a little oil there, the whole bottom end of the motor is bathed in oil so its bound to get near the starter. As long as its not coming out onto the ground I'd say you're good.

[RLeav20717]

Let it run on full choke for a bit before you blip the throttle. The idle should gradually rise as the motor warms up. Most of my old carbureted i-4's would idle up to 4k on full choke, then drop to half choke and let them idle up to around 3. After that it was usually ok to pull the choke off and ride normally, ymmv. I don't think its weird to have a little oil there, the whole bottom end of the motor is bathed in oil so its bound to get near the starter. As long as its not coming out onto the ground I'd say you're good.

Got the bike to actually turn over, but it will rev to 3k and then die immediately.

I noticed on my exhaust that the right side pipes were barely warm, Pipes 1+2 (on the left side of the bike) were piping hot, pipe 3 was lukewarm, and pipe 4 was not hot at all. Guess I'll have to reopen the carbs again..

Here's a quick vid I made...around the :30 mark is what I'm describing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWVntm5LhU

(Also, will only run if choke is engaged)

I think I may just have IP come pick it up and work on it...this stuff is frustrating haha. I do appreciate everyones suggestions and help.

Anyone here do carb work? I'll pop them off and deliver them to you (for cleaning and syncing, I'd rather pay someone here than IP)

Edited April 5, 2013 by RLeav20717

[RLeav20717]

Looks like its just pipe 4 that's not getting hot.

[John]

(Also, will only run if choke is engaged)

your pilot circuit is clogged. need to get in there and clean it out. carb cleaner + thin guitar string (high e) and go to town. make sure every hole is open.

also, backflush the lines from the seats. sometimes crap gets stuck INSIDE the carbs where you can't see. if you do it over a piece of paper or cardboard you can see all the shit that comes out of them. visual inspection is not really good enough IMO. you really need to get in there with carb cleaner and make sure everything is flushed.

[2fat2fly]

your pilot circuit is clogged. need to get in there and clean it out. carb cleaner + thin guitar string (high e) and go to town. make sure every hole is open.

also, backflush the lines from the seats. sometimes crap gets stuck INSIDE the carbs where you can't see. if you do it over a piece of paper or cardboard you can see all the shit that comes out of them. visual inspection is not really good enough IMO. you really need to get in there with carb cleaner and make sure everything is flushed.

+1 I think you need to clean the carbs again. Use compressed air to blow out all ports and I would clean them in an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one available.

[RLeav20717]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I actually ended up breaking a spark plug inside the engine as well, haha, but thank god my buddy got it out with easy out. He said the needle was stuck in carb 4, so he is gonna clean it all up and make it good to go.

I appreciate everyone's insight and help!

I'll send another update in a couple days

[bandit12]

I hate carbs with a passion and they have always been my pain in the butt thing to work on but my recent clutch change was rateing right up there also.

Glad you got someone to do some hands on help.