Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey guys,

I'm new to motorcycling and recently got my license. Someone nearby was selling a '79 Suzuki GS425 for a good price and I picked it up for only a few hundred as its been sitting for many years and needs some work.

I tried starting it up, compression is good, plugs were changed, put fuel into the cylinder, etc but we found out there is no spark.

I have heard this bike has points, but I'm not sure where to find them. Any idea where to look first when there's no spark?

Your going to need one of these.

Look for a round cover on the right side of the motor.

Yep, I'm definitely working on getting one of those service manuals. I'm just not sure if I should go with the official used 'GS400/425 Service Manual' or with a Clymer's.

I'm guessing the official service manuals have less 'how-to' steps and more technical information, which may not really be too useful for me. Any thoughts on that?

-check out bikebandit.com for oem parts and diagrams etc.
I like the factory service manuals. I never liked clymers because I always felt they left something out that was common knowledge to someone else. (used for cars), I've got a factory service manual for my 81 gn400 suzuki. It is geat.

I ended up buying coil, cdi, new carb, etc. my bike had been sitiing 19 years before I got it running again. Mouse nest in the air filter and carb was frozen, and corrosion in intake throat, rust in the gas tank, dead battery- just run each thing down. Good way to learn about your bike- and get a hand impact wrench that you hit with a hammer before you go and strip the phillip head screws- 14 dolars- sears. good luck.
tcreeley