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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
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Message started by martinfilms34 on 04/19/12 at 18:20:47

Title: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/19/12 at 18:20:47

With the coming of my 18th birthday, I decided to buy myself a bike.
I've always loved bikes, and riding them, and the day finally came! Unlike most guys my age I was always against the sports bikes, so naturally i went with a cruiser. On sunday I purchased my first bike, a 1987 Suzuki Savage. The bike is in great condition with only 6,500 original miles, new tires, and many new parts.

But of course as a new, never before owner of a motorcycle i have some questions which would be awesome if you guys helped answer.
Here they are:

What kind of oil should I buy? IM planning on changing the oil soon, and how will i know if i need a filter change as well?

My bike seems to have the notorious head gasket plug leak, I heard its okay to ride it with it, i just gotta keep an eye on the oil levels, is this correct? And how much is okay for it to leak? I mean i know it shouldnt leak at all but whats acceptable.

And my last question is how does the tank system work? Do i set it on prime, and switch it to reserve when prime is almost out? Mine is set right on the middle.

Thanks, and i hope you guys can help me out, it would really make my riding experience a whole lot better!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Serowbot on 04/19/12 at 18:31:48

He said the "O" word!... :-X...

Shell Rotella diesel oil... (wallmart)... Seriously... it's good for a Savage..
Yes, change the filter, (you don't know where the old one has been)...
(Off brand is just as good as Suzuki brand)...
The leak needs fixed when you have to top off every ride... (or when yer' sick of wiping up)...
Stock, vacuum petcock, is reserve,on,prime...
ON to run... reserve when you run out... prime when the bike has been sitting for more than a week, or has been run out of gas, or has had carb work,.. or just won't start otherwise for any reason...
Prime requires no vacuum to work... other positions need a running engine to let fuel flow...
Don't run all the time on prime, 'cause you'll have no reserve...It's just for stubborn starting, or troubleshooting, or draining the tank to do work...

Okie-dokie?... :-?...

Now... let the oil war begin!... ;D...

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by verslagen1 on 04/19/12 at 19:47:06

the 4 speeds shut down quirk. On shut off the engine will on occasion spin backwards. This is bad for the 4 speeds. The 5 speeds have a torque limiter in the starter gear train that eliminates the problem.

When you come to shut her off, leave it in gear and as she starts to spin down, snub the spin. grab the front brake tight and let out the clutch slowly.

or...

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1288911670

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Boofer on 04/19/12 at 19:56:17

Grasshopper, you have just been instructed by two of the top ten most knowledgeable people on here. I will not add except to say, "Welcome. Be safe." ;)

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by CaptialThumper on 04/19/12 at 21:08:47

I'll echo Boofer: Be Safe. I've been on the road longer than you've been on the Earth, and I still screw up. And that's not counting all the nutjobs out there who text, drink, talk, do their nails or whatever behind the wheel other than driving and paying attention. Be extra cautious. Be wary of every vehicle you see. Be aware of every turn in the road, every intersection and where your outs are. Be safe, brother.

OK, the Dad Speech (TM) is over. ;) Welcome, and long may you ride!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/19/12 at 21:43:13

The riders safety course,, highly recommended.
Protective gear,, highly recommended

head on a swivel, highly recommended.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/20/12 at 06:09:23

Thanks a lot for the help everybody, to everyone giving me the safety advice, I plan on being as safe as possible.
I'm buying my helmet today, gonna get a full face for the extra protection as I begin my first stages of rising.
And I'm also purchasing a jacket. One of my main reasons for getting a cruiser is for the safety factor. I have the mentality of " why would you buy a sports bike that goes over 180 mph and not think of going fast" and I jut overall think cruisers look awesome!

As for the safety course, I signed up to take it at my local HD dealership. I plan on being as safe as possible. I'm staying off highways and main roads for a while.
Thanks everyone!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/20/12 at 06:44:05

Welcome!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/20/12 at 09:06:54

I'm staying off highways and main roads for a while.

I had been w/o a bike for 25 years or so,, & thats what I did. Boy I was scared to death the first time I got in the mix,,& the 2nd, & the 3rd,, it slowly got more normal,, but riding out on the rural roads is still where Im happiest.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Dj12midnit on 04/20/12 at 09:24:54

I still remember my first trip down the super slab. I made it two off ramps.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Tim on 04/20/12 at 09:44:22

Welcome! :) I have been riding for about 2 years non-consecutively, had a hiatus after I sold a bike, have had my license for about 4 years and just bought an '87 Savage about a month ago as well, and I love it! I have seen some of the projects that have been done on this forum and I have to say that I have some plans for this bike! I am also still learning a lot about this bike as well, so thius questions section of the forum is awesome for picking up tips on keepin her runnin tip top!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Scott McCrory on 04/20/12 at 11:41:08

613A372C2F32372C33560 wrote:

I like this guy already! 8-)

Like the others are saying, welcome to Thumperhood!
- Scott

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/20/12 at 17:58:18

Is there any store you guys purchase your oil filters from? Or should I just order it online?

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/20/12 at 18:01:31

Call around to the bike shops in the area. Theres a local guy I like who is also the best deal, not the Zuki dealer,, in fact, the only places Ive been in where I didnt feel like a space alien is his place & the Kawa shop..all the other places acted like if I wasnt buyin some fancy bike, I needed to scoot on,,

I said all that to say this,, then forgot,, so, here goes. I spend my $$ locally when I can, I got my battery from my favorite shop, but went online for the tire, cuz I simply cant drop 120 locally when 80 gets it online, but filters? Please,, gimme a break,, I could save a few pennies, maybe, buyin online, but help keep a place goin, develop a relationship
& some day when you need someone to point you in the right direction, maybe they will remember you as a decent customer & help you out a bit,

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by MrBrownTX on 04/20/12 at 19:13:23

enjoy, have fun tinkering with the bike and making it fit your own style. Gear up safe and watch out for those idiots.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Boofer on 04/20/12 at 20:31:49

702B263D3E23263D22470 wrote:

Is there any store you guys purchase your oil filters from? Or should I just order it online?

Martin, the Suzuki oil filter number is 16510-37450. They run about $5-6 around here. Other generic filters from HiFloFiltro and Emgo are good substitutes.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/20/12 at 20:47:47

None of them, regardless of price, work worth a HOOT installed backwards.

Pay attention to the O RingS. Thats plural.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Oldfeller on 04/20/12 at 21:18:56

Now Justin,

If your desire is to literally explode your oil filter cover into art niveau aluminum shrapnel forms, you could desire to put the oil filter in backwards .... which would work quickly to turn old plain aluminum casting material into modern art niveau as soon as you cranked the engine and built up some oil pressure.

:o Pop !!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/21/12 at 14:35:41

I've been having alittle trouble starting the bike today and yesterday. It kinda makes a distinct clicking noise and doesnt really turn over at all either. Im thinking maybe the engine is flooded, or the spark plug is out.
What do you guys think? I might have maybe misused the choke the first time i rode her so this might be it.

Should i let er sit and see if itll dry out? Or what?

Edit: it started once and then soon after went out.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by verslagen1 on 04/21/12 at 15:02:35

sounds like your batteries discharged.
the starter solenoid clicks when the drops low enough from trying to turn the starter. then it clicks back in and repeat until you stop pushing the button.

and a discharged battery may not have enough umph to keep it going either unless you getr rev'd up.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by krsanky on 04/22/12 at 16:14:39

stay safe :)

im a new rider too, and my 1st accident wasn;t my fault.

but i was the one that crashed.

safety 1st !

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/22/12 at 19:09:16

verslagen- I Charged my battery today and that seemed to fix it!
I was afraid it was something a little nit worse than that!

And of course I will stay safe! Got my helmet, i got one of those modular ones with the flip up fullface, looks really good!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/29/12 at 19:07:15

Hey guy's sorry to bump the thread up, but now i am not sure if the oil leak i have is the plug leak.
It leaks from the shift lever side of the motor, leaks from the head down to the area near the lever then falls on the ground.
Is that were its supposed to leak? Well not supposed to but i think you guys know what i mean haha.
The leak is still very minimal a few drops while the bike is cooling down and thats about it.

Also where do i order the replacement part from? Im planning on fixing it pretty soon!
Thanks guys, and thanks also for all the info on the site!
I love my bike! Even just working on it and keeping it clean is really cool!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by verslagen1 on 04/29/12 at 19:16:52

no matter where it started from, oil will drip from the lowest part of the engine.

RTV is available everywhere.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Dave on 04/30/12 at 10:48:28

Look at this link and see if this might be the cause of your oil leak.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1099227295/0

What area of the country are you in.....maybe somone here lives near you and can help get you started?

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 04/30/12 at 11:38:30

I'm down in Orlando Florida,
And I actually did get it started all it did need was a little charge.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Dave on 04/30/12 at 17:06:04

247F72696A77726976130 wrote:

I'm down in Orlando Florida,
And I actually did get it started all it did need was a little charge.

Um......I meant get you started on your way to doing bike maintenance and riding. You know.....a riding buddy!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by martinfilms34 on 05/10/12 at 13:56:04

Instead of making a new post im gonna go ahead and update this one,
I decided I'm gonna go ahead and try to tackle the ~~head gasket~~ rubber plug leak. (just rubber plug leak, no gasket to it)
This is gonna be my first "big" mechanical task so wish me luck! ;D

Can i order the parts i need online? (no parts are needed, just a good grade of color matching RTV sealant, the old plug is fine just needs sealant)
And does anyone have any tips in pointing me in the right direction whe doing the fix?

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Here! Need some help!
Post by Oldfeller on 05/10/12 at 14:01:52

Go to the Tech Section

Up at the top are the sticky topics which include an INDEX

Read the index and you will find exactly what you are looking for