SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Bike not happy this morning
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1208101443

Message started by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 08:44:03

Title: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 08:44:03

MY 2001 Savage has been great! I bought it a month ago and so far narry a problem. It has a new engine even.

This morning she is not happy. I had to run an errand this morning about 2 miles down the road and she's trying not to run. I stopped at the store for less than 5 mins and then came out to have difficulty starting it. Then the only way to keep it going at every stop light and stop sign on the way back was to keep the throttle open. Opening the choke wasn't helping either.

I admit that I didn't ride her yesterday since I had to go to Cincinnati with a friend and it did turn cold and wet here again - 39 degrees! - but I haven't had any trouble until today. She sat in the garage yesterday. Could the plugs somehow have mysteriously gotten fouled?

I have to head out to my second job this afternoon at 3 and I won't get back home until after midnight - I'm hoping she runs! I don't have any other way to get there or get home.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by bill67 on 04/13/08 at 09:45:17

Maybe the idle needs to be a faster .

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 09:52:56

I've already told the guys that it's running too lean and I have to take it over there this week and have them tweak it. They said when they weren't too busy. Uh, it's spring and that could get interesting. I need to have someone pick me up from there after I drop it off and then take me back. Hopefully it won't be too long. They didn't believe me until I rode it over there and they saw the blueing on the pipes.

It's been fine until today which is odd. I've ridden ti everyday in all weathers for the last month until yesterday. Oh and Friday - forgot I rode the bicycle in to drop it off to get a new headset.

It's probably just mad at me.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by superior on 04/13/08 at 11:20:06

Good luck - keep us posted on what you find.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by demin on 04/13/08 at 11:35:58

Just a stupid question here.
By opening the choke,are you pulling out the choke knob or pushing it in?
Pulling out choke(aka enrichener)is on/or choked
pushing in is off or open.
Sorry if you already know this,just making sure we're on the same page.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 11:39:36

You are right - me trying to type quickly. I was meaning pulled out a notch - so on.

I just played with the idle screw so I'll see what happens with it. Hopefully I won't get stuck somewhere on the way to work or back. Won't be able to get it home.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by demin on 04/13/08 at 11:42:25

Just checking.I said it was a stupid question. ;D

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 11:48:12

Oh not at all. Remember I'm the newbie.

I think this forum is awesome! And everyone is so helpful!

I never realized how much I'd love riding. I just had no idea.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 12:49:12

I turned the idle screw out about a 1/4 turn and it started right up and I got to work fine. Well aside from the pouring rain...

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have the mechanic look at it this week. If I can let go of it long eough... ;)

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by T Mack 1 on 04/13/08 at 13:27:55

Adjusting the idle as the weather changes is not unusual. That's why the idle adj is a knob and not something that requires a tool (screwdriver).

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/13/08 at 21:41:08

Well adjusting the idle speed didn't work. I just rode home from work - barely. It started with a little bit of difficulty but then I got half way home and it died and wouldn't restart. I did manage to get it started after I put it on pri. I didn't come to any full stops though the rest of the way home since it's after midnight and no one to call to bale me out.

Guess I'll bicycle to work tomorrow. The mechanic doesn't work on Monday so I'll give them a call on Tuesday and see what they say.

Real bummer since it's been fine as far as I know. There's plenty of gas in it. I have been riding in rain for 3 weeks but luckily I have a garage to it only sits out at work. One good thing about this apartment.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by Reelthing on 04/14/08 at 06:49:16

4D4065787860696E657E680C0 wrote:

I did manage to get it started after I put it on pri.

If it wasn’t coincidental the bike started on PRI this is a very important bit of information and would point to a failing petcock or the vacuum line running from the carb to the back side of the petcock – if this was my only mode of transportation I’d replace them both as a petcock that is not functioning correct can sure lead to many issues - including total engine failure.

Crotchrocket.com:
thingy ASSY, FUEL
44300-24B00 $54.78

HOSE ASSY
13318-24C00 (replaces 13318-24B00) $11.48

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/14/08 at 11:14:36

Could be as simple as a crack in the vacuum line but could also be the petcock. I'd definitely stop by Autozone and spring for new vacuum line as I'd replace it anyway.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by skrapiron on 04/14/08 at 12:18:24

Yes, change the vacuum line. It won't cost more than a few cents for the length of rubber hose that you need and 9 time out of 10, it will cure the exact problem you're suffering from.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by Chopped on 04/14/08 at 12:25:22

After doing the White Spacer mod and adjusting my idle screw I had the same problem. Went out and bought some vacume line and fuel line. Replaced them both and worked like a charm!

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by ALittlebird on 04/14/08 at 15:21:00

Thanks guys! I just dropped it off at the mechanic's. It ran fine this morning, got me to work, dentist and the cycle shop. He was sure I'd run out of gas - knew full well it had a half a tank and so I just kept looking at him. He finally looked at the tank and wow! It was still half full. They were laying bets at the shop.

It is running lean so it will get enriched and then we'll see what else comes up.

I mentioned petcock and vacuum line - uh huh. Well if they don't replace it I will when I get it back. The next 2 days I'm on the bicycle. It will be warmer.

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by buttgoat1 on 04/14/08 at 17:14:33

That darn petcock! During one of my hard starting days, I took apart the petcock because I was only getting a trickle of fuel. I have an inline fuel filter and could see that it was almost dry. I wasn't very familiar with the inner workings of the petcock but switched settings and noted the feeble (to me) movement by the little lever inside. I managed to misplace the spring when I put it back together apparently over riding the vacuum function. Last friday, I had to stop when it ran dry. I moved the valve through the stops and got nada, then pulled the vacuum line loose and puffed in and out on it, still just a trickle, I pulled the gas hose loose from the carb and got a few drops going, then a steady trickle. I had about 1.5 gallons in it, so it shoulda been decent fuel pressure, at least enough to fill up the filter. I did make it home, but it is disconcerting to see a mostly dry filter.
Has anyone done anything else other than the manual conversion?

Title: Re: Bike not happy this morning
Post by Reelthing on 04/14/08 at 20:56:36

Put a new on the '95 - it's a gadget that has a definite life span- less than 10 years for sure - might not last as long with this 10% corn juice we use now - very easy to change $50 part.