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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> gonna hate me now! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1192095993 Message started by stinger on 10/11/07 at 02:46:33 |
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Title: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/11/07 at 02:46:33 Ok! Im sure some are gonna gonna go balistic on me but I have to say something. What is all this concern all of a sudden on the life of the cam chain? Until last year I dont even think I ever read a post where anyone was concerned about it all the way back to Berts old savage site. Now it seems to be the opinion that we need to change the cam and tensioner every 5,000 to 10,000 miles! I now have a little over 32,000 on the original cam chain, and Im sure to Gregg D's dissapointment, when he opened mine up I think he expected it to fall out on the floor. As it turned out, it was only 19mm out and so we closed it back up and decided to do it next spring. Yesterday I took my bike to the dealer and the shop manager told me its right about where it should be after only 32,000 miles. Once again he told me not to be concerned about it till 50,000 miles. In 25 years he has never had to replace a cam chain on a savage with less miles than that. So I rode to another dealer across town and asked their opinion. Same. Put a small stethascope on the case and said mine was still fine. This is where some will go nuts! ... he laughed when I told him about everyone in here all of a sudden panicking and changing and modifying theirs with less than 15,000 miles. on their bikes. Plenty of warning time before it would go out because of all the racket the chain would make. 500 to a 1,000 miles maybe. I told him about a few in here that had theirs fall out and he said well then they were not listening to their bike, cause they just Dont fall off without plenty of warning, unless it was a manafacturer failure maybe happening to one in 200 savages, but he couldnt remember any. His advice? Tell them to quit taking the darn things apart and just ride um! Their bullit proof! Sorry to piss some of you off . but maybe he is right. I know Gregg is gonna beat me to death with my new cam chain the next time I see him. But it almost sounds like in here that you should never venture out on your savage without at least 3 extra spare cam chain and tensioners hanging off your belt! |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Polar_Pilot on 10/11/07 at 03:21:55 Good point - coming back to my Savage, and this Board I too wondered where all the fuss had come from. What precipitated this concern? One rider on the older board (Bert Hesse's) had 72,000 miles with no issue. ??? |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by demin on 10/11/07 at 03:40:04 Bulletproof my a$$ mine came apart at 13,000 on my '86,it started grinding on my case,and the tension jammed into the side cover gouging it out.Tell the dealer I guess springs and metal shavings in the oil wont hurt a "bulletproof" engine .I'm at 15mm on my '87 with 7000 miles |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by jkhulon73 on 10/11/07 at 04:11:42 My '87 was only at 7,500 miles and the tensioner was out to 20-21mm and the chain was making a gawd-awful racket. That's normal? Could I have gone another 42,500 miles? Or do I have that one out of 200 Savages? |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by bill67 on 10/11/07 at 04:11:58 Ive had bikes for35 years and a lot of buddy with bikes we have never had to tear the motor or carb down. If you take care of them and use carb cleaner in them and leave them along they should have no trouble in 50000 miles and I think a lot of people here are asking for trouble by monkeying with motor and carbs No one here is a engineer . Ride your bike and enjoy it. dont leave it outside in the weather keep it dry. happy riding. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by youzguyz on 10/11/07 at 05:16:44 It seems obvioius to me that different people have had different experiences with this issue. Whether it's from riding style, maintenance habits, manufacturing inconsistency or whatever, it doesn't matter. If you try to go to Suzuki and say it is flawed, they will ask if you have followed the maintenance intervals at an authorized Suzuki dealership. I don't like digging around in my motorcycle, I much prefer riding it.. (my "thing" is making it more comfortable for ME so I can ride longer). However, I am very happy that I spent the money and put in the verslavy tensioner as it can't come apart and do nastiness to my engine. It gives me more time to respond to cam chain noise if/when it happens, and I have a "cheaper/easier" solution if it does by going to the 2nd hole. Sure beats replacing the cam chain. I ordered one of those as well because it was a GOOD DEAL, and it may be needed while I still have the bike. If not, I can sell it .. probably at a profit. Yeah.. I missed the mark when I got that ticking noise. I got the suspect parts and kept on riding. Yep, I opened up the engine before I needed to. Turned out it wasn't cam chain related at all. Still glad I did what I did when I did it, as I had the parts ready, and now I know how to do it when/if I really need to. Maybe most of us will be fortunate and be able to go 50k miles and never have to do corrective maintenance. Heck.. I got a 92 Mercury Tracer Wagon (aka Ford Escort) with almost 100k on it. I have NEVER had to do serious corrective maintenance on it. (Does A/C count?) I just changed the plugs for the first time a couple thousand back. It has never been in to the dealer for "scheduled maintenance", even though the book says all these things that have to be done. Got me a good one.. paid for way back.. let it keep on rolling. I hope my Savage is just as good. Time will tell. I have rambled enough. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 05:25:46 stinger wrote:
I don't know about beating you over your luck with the cam chain tensioner, but how about if I do it because you still can't spell my name right? GREG! Now, moving on to your good fortune that is laced with blind optimism, how does your "Almighty All-Knowing Favorite Service Manager" ...(yeah, the one you never actually use for any service work)...explain all of the photos on this forum? Did you show him these photos or let him read any of the posts? Heck, after all this I don't know if you have even seen these. Go right ahead and keep on riding. Go for that 50K mileage. Just don't drop your cell phone on the highway this time. You'll need me to come with my truck...:P http://suzukisavage.com/images/uploaded/cam_chain_5a.JPG |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 05:39:54 Footnote: In Bert's forum most of the distance measurements are done in KILOMETERS and not MILES! You do the math ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by azjay on 10/11/07 at 06:12:51 2 savages in yuma, '86 & '96, different owners, different histories, both died from cam chain failure, i'll help you with the math 100% :o hate is for angry people, we're all friends here |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by skrapiron on 10/11/07 at 06:29:43 From everything I have read, cam chain failure is common in ALL OHC motorcycles, not just the Savage. Theories as to why range from engine RPM, harsh riding and even oil viscosities. The bottom line is it's going to eventually happen to everyone. Som faster than others. I tend to belive the theory about rider habits more than anything. It would seem that revving the engine to high rpm, then engaging the clutch could add considerable strain to the chain (almost acting like a brake). Cam chain failures seem to happen faster on higher revving engines (such as sport bikes) than they do on cruisers. Additionally, I can see how the choice of motor oil can play into it. heavier oil would mean less component wear, including the cam chain. Why was my adjuster only 11mm out at 11,000 miles and some owners are on their second chain by that interval? I can't say for sure, but I tend to ride my bike like a baby. I don't burn away from stop lights, I don't quick shift, I run heavier engine oil and I don't run it at speeds above 65mph. It is hard for second and third owners of Savages to say how their bike has been treated over the years. They may ride like me and baby it, but that doesn't mean the previous owner did the same. They could have revved the engine for everything it was worth and otherwise beat the snot out of it. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by jkhulon73 on 10/11/07 at 06:35:06 I think the serivce manager had an ulterior motive in saying the cam chain ain't an issue until 50,000 miles:
When the service guy at one of the local shops told me my bike would NEVER run with a cone filter, I knew I'd be better off researching & learning everything I could about this bike on my own and then doing my own work. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 06:43:11 azjay wrote:
Hate? Heck no. Stinger is just one we'd love to hate :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 06:46:09 jkhulon73 wrote:
I told Stinger that in person once... He has still never had any shop service on his bike...he does it all himself. The manager knows that too ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by bill67 on 10/11/07 at 06:47:59 I live in wisconsin much cooler here than the south and southwest where it gets over a 100. maybe the answer would be to put an oil cooler on. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 06:56:57 skrapiron wrote:
Yep. When repairing a XS650 I found lots of references to cam chain issues on that bike, too. Mostly the guides. Around 25K miles. I think the biggest difference is the way the Savage tensioner works. It ratchets out under spring pressure to a rigid stop as the chain stretches. It never can bounce back or fluctuate. In a way, that might actually accelerate the cam chain stretch. I checked a tensioner on a XT 250 yesterday, and that little thumpers tensioner is spring loaded with an external adjuster. It bounces a little with the chain tension pulses when it is adjusted properly. Here is Stinger's at 30K (2K miles ago). Let's all say a little prayer for him :P http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/Stingers_Tensioner.jpg |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by T-Mack1 on 10/11/07 at 08:12:09 Stinger, You ride a LS650.....we can't hate you...... I agree with some of the posts that say it's driver habits. Also think type of roads, city vs open highway has a bit to do with it. Less shifting. Still wish the tensioner was a little better. Maybe a mini spring loaded dampener instead of a rachet. I was tempted to take the paw out, but was advised against it because it would be too springy. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 08:45:03 Stinger. Come out, come out wherever you are ::) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by slavy on 10/11/07 at 09:00:48 Excellen point Stinger. It is nice You are asking different people questions, just folow the logic of the numbers: The more the plunger goes out, the lesser part of it is inside the body, the shorter part is guiding it straight, the more slap there is, the more wear there is. Other words, the more wear on the cam chain, the faster the adjuster wears. Of course, depending on the riding stiles, depending on the shifting patterns , on the oil changes, on the air filter and the quality of the air and so on, there could be difference in the cam chain life. May be You live in an area with very low amount of fine hard particles in the air. Combined with a lower temp's and lower speeds of riding with no "stop and go" trafic it could give the perfect conditions. May be this is the reason why the service "gurus" are telling You this. I don't want to argue , because I am not there. The reason I bought the first LS650 was because the chain adjuster poped out and the guy decided to sell it cheap/16K miles/. At that time I did not pay attention. It took me time to notice a pattern. This is why I did the adjuster mod, not because i enjoyed taking the clutch side apart. There are more pleasant things in the life than scratching Your head with greasy fingers. It will be wrong to tell that the cam chain life can never be 50K miles, but it will be even worse not to mention the risk. Everybody here is an adult and everybody can decide for himself is it better to spend 1 hr and couple of $$ to check the condition of the adjuster, and most probably to do the mod., OR he or she will preffer to believe in his or her's good luck. I am sure, You have done Yours too. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by verslagen1 on 10/11/07 at 09:04:02 at 19mm stinger's chain is ready to replace. if he replaces it now, he saves all the other components. at worst he'll need to also replace the tensioner guide. What's he waiting for? To replace the engine? |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 10:38:00 Of course, there's a part of me that thinks that Stinger is just stirring the pot :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/11/07 at 11:20:50 Those OHH so good shop mechs have told him to wait. But, it's at 19 now & the SSM says replace the chain at 18mm, so, they are already wrong. By 50,000, they will be fatally wrong. Who will pay? The mechanic? Or the owner of the destroyed engine? Get that 50,000 recommendation in writing with a guarantee that IF they are wrong, they fix it for ya. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by verslagen1 on 10/11/07 at 12:06:25 I estimate my chain life at 50k, but by then it will be rubbing on itself. If you don't have the slavy mod, there's no way you're going to get that far. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/11/07 at 12:19:12 Personally, I think those service managers are whistling in the dark I could see the potential damage to an engine from a tensioner separation in the actual photographic evidence accumulated by Savage owners. I was already planning to replace my clutch springs and figured it would be an opportune time to install the VerSlavy mod to hedge my bet against catastrophic separation. I still feel good about that mod and will inspect it again in 6k-8k miles for my own peace of mind, just like I check tire pressures weekly and external torque values bi-monthly. They rarely need adjustment but I am aware of their status. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by sluggo on 10/11/07 at 13:09:10 Savage_Greg wrote:
(ears perk up) somebody say pot.... count me in. i bought my chain to have a spare, as one day it will wear out, better to have one handy then paying the dealer. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by demin on 10/11/07 at 14:57:18 Let him believe the service manager,when the motor locks up at 60mph(or whatever)after he gets out of the hospital he can go ask him what happened. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/11/07 at 15:48:17 sluggo wrote:
Maybe "stirring" was the wrong word :D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by rigidchop on 10/11/07 at 18:24:35 glad he's not my mechanic! |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by sluggo on 10/11/07 at 20:41:14 i trust pot smokers more than drinkers. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by SteveRocket on 10/11/07 at 20:50:49 sluggo wrote:
But not with your fridge LOL .Everything would eaten faster that greased lightening Steve |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/12/07 at 01:10:50 You are all forgetting one thing! In my own defense, I did buy a new cam chain and gasket and Greg set up a day to tear it apart and replace it. We were 3/4 done and it was HE that said, Hey! this dosnt need changing, Lets just put it back together and we will do it next spring! Second, I dont think all dealers are rip offs. When I bought mine and it backfired, they took it in and did all the carberator adjustments for free. I went in and looked at a new savage as I was concerned if mine was worn out at 30,000 miles. Told me my bike will last a long time and ride the one I have. When I bought my bike, it was on sale for $3,900. I agreed on that price and the salesman came back and told me he could sell it to me for $3,700. Saved me $200. Or for the original sales price of $3900 they would rejet and put on a jardine muffler. He suggested that I take the lower offered price and and spend the extra savings on a supertrapp, which I did. Dosnt sound like they were trying to rip me off of anything. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/12/07 at 01:22:06 By the way, the only reason I even brought it up was for 2 reasons. My nephew, a US Marne weapons specialist, just came home from iraq. thinking he was doing me a big favor he decided to tear down my $4,000 Stayer mannlicker Shonar sniper rifle. Each rifle part is made specifiic for that one gun. Lose the bolt, and it cost you almost $2,000 to have it replaced. machine fit for the gun. Guess what? Cant seem to get it all back together right. Not a darn thing wrong with it in the first place. Then a couple of months ago i sold my 94 GMC Sonoma 4.3 liter custom pickup to a friend who had a new job and no transportation. Took a big loss as i sold it to him as a favor for $600. Not a darn thing wrong with it. Ran like a clock with 175,000 miles. He figured, gee , with all those miles he better tear it aprt and see whats going on inside. guess what? Cant seem to get the thing to run right , and called me to see if I could give him a lift to work Plus, Im not one to fix anything if its not broken. Say what you want but after 32,000 miles my bike runs like a clock. you could eat off the engine its so clean even after a hard days ride. Not one darn thing even down to a turn signal light has gone bad. still running origional rear brake pads after 32,000 miles and only half worn. So, you spend all spring and summer with yours apart, in fear something might go wrong, Im going riding! |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by sluggo on 10/12/07 at 01:37:18 as i said earler, the chain for me is going straight to the parts shelf, right along with clutch and throttlecable/ to be used when need. i would rather use an ounce of prevention, then a pound of a cure. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/12/07 at 01:48:33 I agree sluggo, but it was greg(and who really spells Gregg with one g anyway) that said it would be best if we sent my cam chain back and spend the money on cheap beer and lap dances. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/12/07 at 05:21:19 stinger wrote:
To get this story completely correct, I did not say NEXT SPRING. I said THIS WINTER, when the days are still shorter. Not expecting to pass any of those Equinox moments before getting back to it. WHY did I suggest that? Because, as I believe in an ounce of prevention, I also believe in getting the most out of parts. (For example, I don't buy new tires until the wear indicators show either.) I also suggested waiting because you were claiming to plan another ride down the coast and I figured that we could check again after you did that. Oh, by the way, "when we were 3/4 done" is a bit of a misnomer. It really was "when I was 3/4 done" because as I recall you mostly sat in a chair and simply wondered what the heck was going on anyway :P To be honest, there is a tiny part of me that is beginning to hope that your tensioner comes apart...but I'm just afraid that you'll just return to this forum and say it was my fault for suggesting that you wait until NEXT SPRING. Savage_"GREGORY" with "On the Record"...Out! |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/12/07 at 05:37:48 stinger wrote:
Ah, so all this started because you've had a bit of mental anguish? Hmmm. Let's see what I can blame this on :P How about...? My wife's 88 yr. old gandmother is dying in hospice, back in NC... My wife's brother tried to commit suicide yesterday, back in NC... My wife just booked a rather expensive last minute red-eye flight home on Saturday... I just sold my muffler on eBay for a lot less than I had hoped... I suggest that next time, you lock your rifle in a gun safe (along with your spare cam chain), and keep your pickup truck for hauling your Savage (when you really need the chain) :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by demin on 10/12/07 at 05:54:32 Greg: That sounds like the makings of a country song. ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/12/07 at 07:38:24 One of those cryin' in your beer sad songs... Wah, wah, wah :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by slavy on 10/12/07 at 10:29:36 Come on guys, Let's give our fellow rider a brake ! Don't forget that he is doing an experiment for us. If he is right , he made about $ 50 in savings for the next couple of years. If he is wrong , he might be lucky and might still use the bottom end of the engine. And if he is not so lucky, he can always buy somebody's experimental engine ;). |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/12/07 at 15:03:20 slavy wrote:
I'll drink to that...8) Hey Stinger, you were gonna call me! Where are you? |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by sluggo on 10/12/07 at 15:38:12 Savage_Greg wrote:
you know what happens when you play a county&western song backwards. ya get your truck back, your dog back and your girl back. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by vtail on 10/12/07 at 16:45:59 This starts sounding like an episode; "Everybody loves Ramon" It's quite entertaining and by now we should move this to the cafe so I can sit down with a beer and watch this "lovers-squabble " After all we're all friends aren't we? ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by sluggo on 10/13/07 at 04:31:06 and while you're thece stip by sluggos table, it's been pretty quiet there, but now with the cold season is upon us we can sit and swap lies. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/13/07 at 04:52:43 Stinger must be out riding...or dodging cell phones :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/13/07 at 05:01:07 sluggo wrote:
Sounds like Sluggos got the table all warmed up for you too ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/13/07 at 05:44:22 sluggo wrote:
Do you sober up too? 8) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/13/07 at 05:45:25 vtail wrote:
You've got photos in the Marketplace...:P |
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Title: IRe: gonna hate me now! Post by vtail on 10/13/07 at 14:21:58 Thanks, found it ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/13/07 at 23:17:51 Ya know...I just saw Stinger's name in the "User list". He was online but he didn't post here... He didn't call me, either.... Why is he hiding? Does he think we hate him? Or does he really want us to hate him, but he knows that we don't? That could be frustrating, I suppose. Hey Stinger, Julie's on her flight back east now. I'm free for a week. I can change your cam chain now :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by demin on 10/14/07 at 18:13:56 No,nothing against him,if he doesn't know any better but the 'zuki mechanic telling him all his bs.I've worked on alot of bikes,but I never knew about this problem 'til I found this site.But if I don't know I don't speak out of place. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/17/07 at 14:48:34 STINGER! I left you a message. I didn't mean it. Come back. Don't go away mad. Where are you? I was just joking. Did your tensioner break? :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/23/07 at 21:12:25 I think that Stinger is PO'd with me... He keeps putting me off and won't return a call. What did I do??? |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by LANCER on 10/24/07 at 10:36:50 Savage_Greg wrote:
Did you forget to pick the bugs out of your teeth after your last ride ? ? ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/24/07 at 11:52:10 Why pick them out? It's protein ;D But maybe that's it... |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by govmule84 on 10/24/07 at 15:04:21 Boy, this got nasty quick. I don't want to jump on the bandwagon, but as a mechanic, I sort of feel Greg's pain. Everybody knows more about his bike than you, the mechanic. But the mechanic's always the one working on it, not the smart customer. I don't know we should dog this fella too bad...but... I'm gonna call BS, though. 32k on HALF WORN brake pads? I got my bike with 75ook on the odo. I put new brakes on it, because they were trashed, and I'm now at 11,7ook. And brakes are coming up again soon. I brake hard, and I am heavy, but still....are you ALWAYS on the highway? I'd also like to point out that 'running like a top' means different things to many people... I am imagining you have no idea what the slop measurement on your wheel bearings are, what your spark plug looks like right now, and I suspect you don't know how to clean out your carburetor....I've gone to purchase so many bikes and cars that are 'Pristine', 'practically new', or, my favorite catch all..."run great", and then you get there and they have a miss, a fuel filter that is as old as the car, oh, and by the way, the four-wheel drive doesn't work. I dunno...I seen more than one of them there adjusters jacked waaaaaay out... I think it's a pretty real worry, is all. And even if it ain't...I dunno. There's lots of folks on here with stock/near stock, bagged bikes with windshields. I would never want that...but if it's their cup of sunshine...hell, have at it. Ride safe...and please, for the love of God, check your tensioner. Just humor me. Liam |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/24/07 at 22:49:32 Well, I can say this...I finally caught up with Stinger tonight. We chatted for a while and he had all kinds of "been busy" excuses. So I told him that I'm gonna ride over and see him tomorrow and beat him until he can spell my name right. He said that he'd be waiting ::) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/24/07 at 22:54:15 govmule84 wrote:
I've got Stinger's new chain waiting. Hope that he's listening since he's going off for a few hundred more this weekend. Maybe a good winter storm will roll in soon and slow him down :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/25/07 at 04:41:59 govmule84 wrote:
I bought my '98 used, a little over three years ago, with 1640 miles on the odometer. She looked like the reading was accurate too. She was bone-stock with the exception of the addition of a windshield and she'd had her battery replaced at some point. She was pristine except that the tires had some cracking on the sidewalls due to age. They showed no obvious wear. With the exception of the replacement of the tubes and tires, I am the only person to have done her maintenance/mods since I've owned her. Though I am only a mechanically-inclined amateur, I think I know my Savage better than most of the shop mechanics I've seen. Of course, it's always possible I could be mistaken. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by barry68v10 on 10/25/07 at 05:04:34 In that case, Rob....you'd BE the mechanic! So, would you know more about the bike than yourself? That's the question ;) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by skrapiron on 10/25/07 at 05:17:39 govmule84 wrote:
You can call it what you want to. I'm riding on the original front pads with 13,245 on the clock. At last check (11k) I had just over 4.5 mm of material left on each pad. Since I tend to ride easy and ride mostly highway, I fully expect around 20k out of my bike before I have to replace the front pads.... Thing tend to last alot longer when you don't bet the snot out of it (cam chains come to mind... My adjuster was only 11 mm out at 11k. Some guys are on their second chain by then. Why the difference? I don't know, but I will venture a guess that my lower wear and tear is likely due to my riding style. Slow acceleration, no abrupt gear changes, keep speeds below 60mph, use full synthetic oil. Other than that, it's the same Savage everyone else has..) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by mornhm on 10/25/07 at 06:32:42 skrapiron wrote:
I'm always amazed at people who assume because my stuff doesn't wear out as fast theirs that I must be driving/riding like a grampa (my grampa ran shine and my Uncles and Dad raced stock cars fwiw) or lying. I live in the land of straight roads and no hills. Many a ride, I will go 100 miles or more without touching the brakes. When I accelerate it's a smooth (not necesarily slow) acceleration - same with braking. A lot of people seem to think that the throttle and brakes are like switches, they're either on or off, no modulation whatsoever. I think this and lack of maintenance is what wears out mechanical equipment more than anything else. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Reelthing on 10/25/07 at 06:46:33 Miles has never been a good way to judge things - but without an hour meter it's about all there is, other than the oil color - for instance my commute is 54 miles round trip - on a bad day this can mean a total of 3 hours running the bike in stop and go traffic on the good traffic days it's less than half of that time - toss in the summer heat pushing a 100f compared to now when it's 50 something in morning and 70 something in the afternoon,that's some pretty wide margins as to what the 54 miles means to engine wear and oil changes - so I change the oil when starts to look pretty dark (M1 V-Twin20/50 summer, M1 10/40 cycle oil winter) regardless of miles - the '95 has ~25k on it with the original chain and tensioner and have pretty much stopped running it until I can install a new harden chain and check-stop tensioner - not because it has broken I just don't want it to, flat runs too well to let it go into distruct mode. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/25/07 at 13:57:02 Okay...Stinger doesn't seem to hate me now :P Just did my first real shake down ride on the bike since I got the top end back on it, again. 50 miles round trip to Stinger's house...backroads, mountains, and interstate I like the chain conversion (45/17) because it actually makes better use of 5th gear now. It actually feels like a different gear. I can't tell exactly what my real speed is but I've been to an indicated 65 today. Crossed my fingers too...I have NO oil leaks, but I do need to go over the bike and see if anything fell off :P Oh yeah, with Lancer's Web Cam and the exhaust porting, it feels like my mixture is now a bit lean in mid-range. Tiny bit of a flat spot when I roll on above idle...gonna have to play with the jet-needle some. Stinger's gonna head to the coast this weekend, so let's all say a prayer for his cam chain ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/26/07 at 02:00:52 Ha! It looks like a stirred the pot with a hand granade! Ive been gone for 2 weeks playing pool, not too successfully, but still had a good time. Not as good as time as if I had been on my bike tho! Been home 2 days and Im off again, this time, on my bike. Its not too far, maybe 150 miles, but tommorrow night when Im traveling, its supposed to be down to a low of maybe 25 degrees thru the mt range. Im more concerned about me breaking in pieces from the cold than my cam chain. Roads are clear tho, lucky me! Well, I still dont know what to say, working on 33,000 miles now, and still not one problem. The drawback? I have nothing to do this winter as far as work goes on my bike, other than Greggg changing the cam chain. He said that when I came over to have it replaced, all I did was sit in the lawn chair. Julie told me that in that garage, only two things were of real importance to her. Her own bike and that lawn chair. So I did my job, and I did it well! Ps, to the guy who said I was bull gregging about my rear brake pads after 32,000 miles, Greggg checked them and said they were still only half worn. I never use the front brake so I dont know why they needed replacing after 15,000 miles. Good job on your bike greggg! One of the cleanest lookin savages in here! |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/26/07 at 07:56:08 My rear brake has a lot of pad left too. Of course, I use the front brake a lot more than the rear. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by vtail on 10/26/07 at 08:10:29 stinger wrote:
Stinger, learn to use the front brake. Could save yo ss some day! The rear brake is ONLY there to keep the rear of the bike from overtaking the front under braking. That's why all bikes (and vehicles) have larger front (or dual) than rear brakes. Did you ever notice that???? ;D |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by demin on 10/26/07 at 09:18:32 Quote from MSF text"The front brakes are 70% or more stopping power" |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by skatnbnc on 10/26/07 at 09:45:51 Take into consideration that most people hit this forum because they are having PROBLEMS with something on the bike. It would therefore stand to reason that when you look at the posts, it seems like cam chain / tensioner is an issue based on number of posts. It is an issue, but possibly not as BIG an issue overall (every single LS650 ever made). Fact is though, it is enough of an issue to enough people right now that a better cam chain was proposed, and tensioner checks are recommended more often than the manual says. If you have any questions about that handy dandy owners manual maintenance check chart, look at it once, then toss it over your shoulder. My front brakes (stock) were totally gone 1K before I was even supposed to INSPECT them, let alone replace. The same has happened little by little on other items on my stock 2006 model. With that in mind I purchased the revised cam chain (hey, I paid for that and have yet to see it - ship date anyone?) and plan to get the tension thingy from verslagen next. Do I need them right now? No, but based on the feedback from here, I will. It seems I ride a bit harder than Stinger, so I would like to be prepared thank you very much! Ride safe Stinger. ;) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/26/07 at 10:19:23 vtail wrote:
Stinker can't use his front brake because he prefers to spray it with WD40 when he cleans his bike. He sprays his rear wheel too, but it doesn't get on the shoes as easily. I'm really beginning to think that Stinker runs his speedo up with a drill motor, and really doesn't ride it. That's why his chain has lasted so long. He's just after bragging rights, anyway. Besides, he couldn't ride when I went by yesterday because he was babysitting. Go figure. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/28/07 at 06:39:41 skatnbnc wrote:
Hey Stinker, check it out. Seems that your image has been updated :P |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by stinger on 10/29/07 at 01:53:37 Ha! Much to your dissapointment I made it back from my tournament without carrying my engine back in a bag! We have one more week of dry weather Greg, so take a day off from hounding me with obscene posts and lets go riding! By the way Greg, I have no image. I hardly ever post . Just enjoy reading this website. Get some great advice in here. Well, I do like to stir up the forum a bit. I bet my cam chain posting caused half the owners in here to check and replace theirs. might have saved some alot of money. I bet that if they knew I soaked my belt in WD40- several times a year and yet, its still in great shape and not once squealed on me, would start another lets pick on stinger barrage. Or maybe that I squirt a spray into my gas tank every so often and it quiets my engine down to a whisper. I only use 50 weight AUTO motor oil also. Thats another good one. You ran a magnet over my oil when we drained it and after a hard 1,400 mile ride found no metal parts. I dont know, Im sure I can think of some more stuff to rile things up Ill try hard |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now! Post by Savage_Greg on 10/29/07 at 07:03:53 stinger wrote:
So, the only time that you post is when everyone else has gone to sleep? 2 AM PST to 5 AM EST? Damm, you spelled my name right finally. Thanks. You must finally hate me now. Oh, trust me, even without an actual photograph you definitely do have an image. Not just in your own mind, but in everyone else's too:P I thought that we were digging around in your oil with a magnet because you wanted to pour that used stuff in the oil pan back in your engine...oops, did I say that? You forgot to mention that you offered to buy my rear belt because yours almost looks like Swiss cheese from all the rocks you've gotten in your belt drive. My guess is that all the WD40 not only prevents squealing but also keeps that rubber nice and supple too ;D Oh, back to the image thing, how do you save people money when their tensioner has fallen apart? I think that you're just frustrated because you can't explain your good luck, nor disprove the obvious facts that everyone has shown you. And you know that your time is coming 8) |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now!my belt is worn Post by stinger on 10/31/07 at 02:15:09 Actually my belt is worn more than yours cause my bike actually leaves the garage. Gravel roads dont stop me. Your the guy with all the answers, but mine is running and Im going riding today while you spend yet another sunny day in the garage questioning why your bike dont run. have a good day. |
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Title: Re: gonna hate me now!my belt is worn Post by Savage_Greg on 10/31/07 at 09:14:12 stinger wrote:
That's fine. I'll just sell my belt on eBay since you don't need it. Your rant is not entirely true there, Stinky. You're not relaying all of my voice mail message, are ya? I'm staying in the garage, on a week day, because I have work to do! You might remember that I worked on your bike on a week day as well. The concept is called "work week" and it wouldn't matter if my bike ran or not. It's good that you don't have to babysit today, though. Ride safe :P |
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