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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do It!"
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Message started by savagedml on 05/07/09 at 17:28:04

Title: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do It!"
Post by savagedml on 05/07/09 at 17:28:04

When I found this site in November, I thought the "seat mod" would be about the extent of my Savage-mod confidence. Next I read the oil change instructions, ordered a filter, and changed my oil & filter one night. Dang I was feeling pretty good, so I figured I would pipe up about joining in on the June trip to Deals Gap. Spring Break came, and not being able to wait another month and a half, I "Rode the Dragon". Riding 129 I remember, thinking I was forever stuck with that same stock muffler, until I returned home, and happened to come across a deal on a Sportster muffler. I figured, what the heck, surely I can take the stock muffler off and slide the Sporty on, and never have to mess with that mysterious carb, (what with all it's hidden idle mix screws and OMG that White Spacer). Well stock off, Sporty on and...POP-POP-POP. Now what? Teachers can't afford mechanics! OK, so I PM'd a few folks and took the next step to becoming a bona-fide Savage Man! Seat & gas tank off, brass plug removed, idle screw adjusted, white spacer replaced with half-size spacer, spark plug replaced and everything back together and guess what? IT WORKS!!!---RUNS/SOUNDS GREAT!!! THANKS TO ALL THE SAVAGE GURUS THAT EMPOWER OTHERS ON THIS SITE!!!
Regards, Darrell
"Even a Teacher Can Be a Student!!!" ;D

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by diamond jim on 05/07/09 at 17:36:59

Now that's one of the coolest posts I've read in a while. Congrats!

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by verslagen1 on 05/07/09 at 18:03:40

When we stop learning then we are dead.

Congrats, your brain has another wrinkle devoted to the savage.

Even the lowliest student can be a teacher to the wise.

Lead on student.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by ghstrdr110 on 05/07/09 at 18:46:02

Very cool. I going on my first road trip this weekend with a couple people from work. They all ride HD's. Everyone on this site is so helpful. like you I was apprehensive about tackling some of the more technical issues. I have been given great advice from people on this forum. Thanks to all. How tough was the carb? That's next on my list. (she backfires a little on decel)

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by odvelasc on 05/07/09 at 19:46:24

3B32333E2C2C362B3A2D5F0 wrote:

You teachers cant afford a mechanic? Oh man Teachers here in Ottawa make a killing after a few years in the field. One gym teacher I work with makes 70grand/year after 10years in the field. No where else will you get 4000$ a year raise lol

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by savagedml on 05/07/09 at 19:58:25

Thanks for the nice comments, but I owe my recent successes to the "Suzuki Savage Sages" on this site (i.e.: Vers., DJ, OF, Toy and matt_savage among many others that gave me that last bit of encouragement to try it. The carb mod (idle mix screw & white spacer) was step by step as posted in the Tech section. I took my time including, heeding the lesson of another poster and proceded slowly so as to not strip the screws holding the top cover on the carb. I did reference the pictures posted in the Tech section often during the process, and it seems that taking my time (something that is not natural for me) probably saved me a lot of trouble. When I was in the corporate environment I had heard that those that can== do, and those that can't== teach. Well let me say I now believe that those that can-- do, and those that can do can also can teach teachers== to do! GO FOR THAT MOD! REMEMBER: EVEN I DID IT!

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by savagedml on 05/07/09 at 20:11:08

Yes, but Odv, but that's Canandian dollars, and aren't they like monopoly money dollars? Just kidding. I've only got 5 years in, but maybe it was just the thought of paying someone to do something deep down inside I knew I could do myself if I just took the plunge.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by alcoa on 05/07/09 at 20:11:31

You poor thing we sucked you in now you can never leave, but than we cant either. This is the best bunch to be with. read all the postes. ;)

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by Jay on 05/08/09 at 01:48:49

Congrats to you! It really is an irreplaceble feeling, when you've done it yourself, isn't it? I started off very intimidated. I'm not "Mr. Fixit", I'm "Mr. Hire-it-out"; but now, thanks to this site, I feel a lot more confident.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by matt_savage on 05/08/09 at 07:59:19

Congrats on the success!! I was so nervous and my heart was beating out of my chest when I fired mine up for the first time after I had the bike apart over the last 3 months. I practically had everything on and off sans engine internals and it fired up the first time!!!

p.s. Let me know if youre up a ride sometime, I'm up in Richmond and ride down towards West Point occasionally.

-Matt

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by Duane on 05/08/09 at 08:48:41

Congrats, I love doing my own work too. My carb was already done when I got my bike. At least the mix screw was uncapped already.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by buttgoat1 on 05/08/09 at 09:23:18

congratulations, you are on your way to the most modded bike on this site........well, maybe not, but its a good start.

to paraphrase Miss Frizzle:
"get messy, make mistakes, learn" (from the Magic Schoolbus)
too many people are scared to even try.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by marshall13 on 05/08/09 at 10:57:13

we gotcha!! who earns the commision for this one? seriously. though, be careful... road grime under the nails is highly addictve... you're going to find a large portion of your pay going to tools now... thinking up debate points for why that next mod is as important as oxygen to your existance.... if you arent scraping a gasket 3 times a week, the "itches" are going to start.... you're going to wonder how you ever survived without scraped knuckles and a sore back....in short, it's in your blood now... welcome to the world of folks who have truly mastered their machines.... never told us, how long was the "cheesy grin" on your mug? ;D

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by savagedml on 05/08/09 at 11:10:29

Marshall:

Thanks for the comment. Funny you should mention tools. I pride myself in having about every tool you can think of, but yes this project did give me an excuse to replace my magnetic screwdrivers! I mean how can a man be expected to work with screwdrivers with an "old" magnetic field? ;) & by the way I'm still grinning! ;D

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by marshall13 on 05/08/09 at 11:24:02

rofl... good, it'll probably be plastered there for 6 months or so... if you're a tool buff, check out max moreley's comments on philips profiles and screwdrivers that fit... he's the only guy ive ever heard of that knew a "reed prince" tip even existed....it's the tools and the ego problem that separates us from the "lesser apes".... you know, the ones that dont have to kill each other to feel civilized....

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a T
Post by diamond jim on 05/08/09 at 21:43:51

And then you'll start modding the tools you've got in order to have the exact tools you need. Also, you'll find 4-5 additional ways each tool can be used besides its primary function. But this knowledge is revealed only in the presence of laziness and the sore back Marshall mentioned. You'll be crouched by the bike, holding a bike part in place when you suddenly realize the exact tool you need and thought you had laying beside you is actually somewhere over in the other corner of the garage. Instead of putting the item down, getting up, walking over, finding the perfect tool, returning, crouching and repositioning the bike part again, you'll begin the process of discovering how many different ways the tools laying within arms reach can be used. Strangely, this process of discovering the multiple uses of each tool seems to accelerate as the clock approaches midnight.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by Charon on 05/09/09 at 05:32:06

Since you are a teacher, you might find Roger Welsch's book "Old Tractors and the Men who Love Them" interesting. He was a professor at University of Nebraska, Lincoln campus. He got interested in restoring old tractors. He commented that he would be afraid to work on his Taurus, because he depended on it for everyday use. But tractors were simpler, and if he made a mistake it didn't matter because he didn't depend on the tractor. Motorcycles pretty much fit into that category, since mighty few people have a motorcycle as their only transportation. If the bike doesn't run, no big deal - just take the car and go get the part.

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by Toymaker on 05/09/09 at 06:57:51

Well since I too am a teacher, one of the biggiest thrils for me is watching the middle-schoolers watch me as I leave the school either on the Savage with my shorty muff or the Vulcan growling by...

Next day it is..."man, nice ride Mr. G and can you take me for a ride..."

The one that I smile the most about is...

"My mom REALY likes your motorcycle...."

But of course, I never tell Mrs. Toymaker that one.... :)

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by WindInMyHair on 05/09/09 at 12:55:46

I'm a mom and I REALLY like your motorcycle !!! ;)

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by diamond jim on 05/09/09 at 20:18:19

My mom likes your motorcycle too. :D

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by BurnPgh on 05/09/09 at 21:11:59

thats funny 'cause your mom was just tellin me how much she likes my motorcycle....ba-ZING!

Title: Re: "SuzukiSavage.com" and"Even a Teacher Can Do I
Post by savagedml on 05/10/09 at 20:45:10

Ok, my students know that moms, sisters, grandmothers are all off limits in my classroom. However, moms , sisters and grandmothers may PM me. ;)