SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New member and Savage question.
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1109798215

Message started by Dingo_Jones on 03/02/05 at 13:16:55

Title: New member and Savage question.
Post by Dingo_Jones on 03/02/05 at 13:16:55

Hello all.
Just wanted to introduce myself as a new member, and soon to be savage owner (Friday!!!! I can hardly wait).
I've been reading the forum for a bit over a month now, and want to thank everyone who posts. The information on this site has been invaluable, and quickly erased any hesitation or concerns I might have had purchasing a Savage.
I'm buying a '96, that has a little over 3,000 miles on it. The bike is in pristine condition, but had the motor replaced in 01/02 after it seized up on the freeway. The current owner (first and only) rode it for a few hundred miles after the engine replacement, but it has been garaged for the last 3 and a half years with absolutely no use.
My question is, what maintence do I need to do before riding the bike? I assume the seals are all going to be dry from sitting so long, and that the oil and filter will need to be replaced. What else?
Thanks in advace for the help. You guys are great, I look forward to talking with and possibly meeting some of you (particuarly those in the Northwest, as I'm in the seattle area)
Thanks again,
Jesse

Title: Re: New member and Savage question.
Post by Reelthing on 03/02/05 at 21:22:32

I've never brought back a savage engine from the dead but quite a number of other 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines so if it was me this is what I would do.

First, I guess we can assume the previous owner did not prepare the bike in anyway for being stored but just pulled in the garage and parked it.

Now would be a really good time to seal the rubber plug - just by going through the procedure you'll get a chance to check out and lube a lot of parts that need it and you'll get a general idea of what the engine looks like - as in - how much flash rust has built up. If your real lucky the tank is full but I doubt it. After you drain the tank - take a flashlight and eyeball the inside of the tank the best you can looking for rust - if there is very much no amount of fuel filters are going to work for long - but a multi-step tank sealer on the market does work well - expoxy based if I remember correct. I would expect your rubber plug to be ok but the new style one sounds like it should work better, either way seal it as laid out and get a light coat of motor oil on everything you can see that moves in the topend - some folks use grease on the cam - but after breakin just motor oil has worked well for me in other applications. After you get the headcover back on I'd at least pull the float bowl on the carb and clean that out - you may end up rebuilding the carb but maybe not. Cut the fuel line someplace and install an inline filter. Pour about 1/2 ounce of light motor oil like a 0w-30 in the spark plug hole, leave the spark plug out and roll the bike around a bit in gear - were looking for a little coat of oil on the cylinder wall, after you have replaced the battery I'd spin it a bit with the starter - sparkplug still out and a shop rag over the plug hole to catch the oil. Replace the sparkplug, fuel tank and such, make sure it's not in gear (started a Ford Bronco after an engine swap one time in 1st gear - dang thought it was in park - quite an event chase'n it down to dive in the window :o ) and give it go - real important to let it just idle awhile without cracking the throttle open - it's hard not to - but let the oil build up.
I'd change the oil and filter after about an hour or so of running it.
Use fresh gas of course and the tires/brakes need looking into.

Title: Re: New member and Savage question.
Post by Dingo_Jones on 03/03/05 at 09:21:23

Reelthing wrote:

Thanks!
Sounds like I have a bit of work ahead of me, but that was exactly what I wanted to know. If I remember correctly, folks are using silicon sealant on the new plug?
Is there a particular size inline filter I should use, and or recommended place to purchase. Poking around at JCWhitney I found this: Fuel Filter (http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product?showCustom=0&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2002781&catalogId=10101&productId=2002781&langId=-1&tmplframe=EndecaCategoryView&section=body&tmplhome=StoreCatalogDisplay&storeId=10101&ss=10101)

Everything else seems pretty straight forward. Anyone else have suggestions or comments?

Title: Re: New member and Savage question.
Post by Paladin on 03/03/05 at 13:34:05

That fuel filter (http://tinyurl.com/6bbqt) is a smart idea. You can obtain a shortened URL at http://tinyurl.com

An alternate method would be to place the address inside the first tag with a discriptive word between the tags:

J.C.Whitney Fuel Filter (http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product?showCustom=0&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2002781&catalogId=10101&productId=2002781&langId=-1&tmplframe=EndecaCategoryView§ion=body&tmplhome=StoreCatalogDisplay&storeId=10101&ss=10101)

Title: Re: New member and Savage question.
Post by Ed_L. on 03/03/05 at 16:25:12

If you haven't got one yet pick up a Clymer's manual for the Savage, it's a must have if you are planning on doing any wrenching on you scoot. The only thing else that I could add would be a second oil and filter change after a couple of hundred miles. If the bike sat that long you can bet that a lot of the crud in the oil settled and the first change will not flush all of it out. Enjoy you ride

Title: Re: New member and Savage question.
Post by Max_Morley on 03/03/05 at 22:48:48

I'd suggest flushing the brake fluid as it absorbs water and that will corrode expensive brake parts. I usually start by using a bulb syringe and MT out and then cleaning the resevor and then add and pump new fluid through until it comes out clear at the bleeder screw, best done with the bike on the side stand so the MC is flat. Careful with the brake fluid as it is a paint remover if not quikly washed off. Also carefully inspect the tires for cracking on the sidewalls and between the tread pattern. They are critical to keeping the shiny side up and you can't spend enough for good tires. I lube all cables with a cable luber each spring from the top downif possible. Clutch, throttle, brear brake and rear brake light switch cable that run parallel to the brake cable. check the spoke by hitting them with a wrench and tighten the loose ones. they sound flat or dull from a musical point of view if loose. Until you know the oild consumption, if any, check it before every run with the bike vertical. Take a MSF class of you haven't already. The ride, sleep, eat and ride again. Max