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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> First Motorcycle, first problems /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1367161001 Message started by Crich422 on 04/28/13 at 07:56:37 |
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Title: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 04/28/13 at 07:56:37 Hey everybody, so i bought my friends '88 Savage a few months ago as my first motorcycle with the hopes to work on it myself and learn everything I could about it. I am not a mechanic, in any sense of the word, but I know enough to get myself in trouble. Which Im hoping didn't happen here. Here's the thing... He bought the bike off the internet, rode around on it for about two weeks then parked it. Then he bought a Blue Collar Bobbers kit to bob it out but after he took things apart he just kind of forgot about it and let it fall to the way side. That's where I come in, I put the new seat together and back on but I haven't put the back fender or the tail light on it yet. The tail light just needs to be wired in. He got a new battery before he parked it, but it's one of those 'fill it yourself' batteries and who knows if he did it right. Now when I put some gas in it, and try to start it, it turns over enough to where i can feel puffs of air come out the tail pipe but it won't actually start. Now the headlight and neutral light come on when I turn the key, and it does dim the light when I try to start it but not as much as I would think with a weak battery. It sounds like a weak battery as it tries to turn over, and my Dad used to always tell me "if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's going to be a duck" So that makes me think of the battery. I might get a new one and see if that helps out but if I can save some money I will (not to sound cheap, just a very tight "Fix my motorcycle" budget). Does this sound like a battery or a spark plug or a starter problem? My other problem is that the petcock seems to be leaking when I turn it to RES and ON. I've been reading on the forum (there are some excellent threads on here by the way, thank you) that the stock petcocks seem to go bad eventually and that getting a new Raptor petcock is good, preventative maintenance. When I get down and look at it, the leak seems to be coming from the screw heads that hold it to the tank itself though. Did I mess up when I put it back on or is this the petcock just leaking and getting gas on the entire setup? My last problem is when we transported it, the truck he used had a cover on the bed, so the only way he could get it over to my place was to lay it on its side. (I know, you should never lay a motorcycle down for any length of time but I didnt have a say in it, and it didnt have gas in it (yay?)) And when we got it into my garage, I noticed the left side foot peg was loose. When I went to tighten it, it looks like the metal behind the peg bent and sheared off. Do I need to get a new foot peg bracket or is there another way to hold it in place? The pic I posted with this is the backside of the left foot peg, where it looks like there is metal missing. I hope I'm not in over my head on this one, thanks for the help! |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by verslagen1 on 04/28/13 at 08:23:12 your bat is weak, charge it and hope for the best. was the bat in the bike when you laid it over? the petcock mounting screws needs sealing washers. but rtv will work. smear it under the washers and let dry. i'd get a new kickstand/peg mount. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/13 at 12:10:07 And, let me add this. Youre HERE. YOU are doing things that people here have been doing a long time. Youre Not "Over your head", because you have help. YOull have it running. JUst dont get in a hurry & decide to ride it until It Is SAFE. Footpegs must provide 100% dependable service. A footp[eg is never "Good Enough" to go for a ride. Theyre important to your stability on the bike, so, work on getting it running & get that peg problem fixed, but, if you get it running first, no test rides till its safe, okay?> |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Mattdw on 04/28/13 at 13:55:03 Was the motorcycle free? 'Cause there ain't nothing more expensive than a free motorcycle :) |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 04/29/13 at 08:08:50 Ok, I think the battery that he put in it might be a bit messed up, yes it was in the bike when he layed it down for transport. So I think I'm going to get a new one just so I know it's good. Now the foot peg bracket is a bit tougher to find and the ones I have found are almost $200 for just that part. Thats a tad out of my budget right now. Are there any good part sites that I havent found yet? I wont ride it without the peg being secure with a new bracket, I'm no dummy! lol. My next question is about the difference between a LS650F and LS650P? And how do I figure out what mine is? It wasn't free but I also told him I wouldn't pay anything till we get it safe and running ;) |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by verslagen1 on 04/29/13 at 08:13:34 only difference between the F and P is the bars/risers and cables. There is some difference between the years, but minor details mostly. we can answer you more specifically if you name a part. But OEM fishe will denote different p/n's if there's been a change. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by TheSavagePJ on 04/29/13 at 08:30:34 Welcome Criche! Being a new rider myself with one full year under my belt, I understand the overwhelming task that you have in front of you, if you've never done anything like this before. I have done my maintenance on my vehicles for some years now, so this bike has been a good springboard for me to get into more complicated projects. I feel for you, because you got this bike half done, and when someone else starts tearing into a bike and leaves it half done, you've got a bucket full of mysteries. Like Mattdw said, theres nothing more expensive than a free motorcycle. Though it doesn't have to be, if you are smart about it. First things, and I say this with all seriousness, if you are not 100% sure your footpeg, you are right to stay off the bike! Replace that battery too, best to start fresh and have the peace of mind. As for your question about the LS650P or LS650F, I haven't personally heard of those distinctions, the bike has always been known as the Savage LS650, then later, Boulevard S40 in 2005 to present. I'm still learning myself, so don't be afraid to ask questions. I've already asked a bunch, and if you go into the table of contents thread in the technical documents forum, most everything you would ever need to know is on there. Read, read, read! Then read a little more. The mods here are pretty good about pointing you in the right direction of fixing whatever problems you might have. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Dave on 04/29/13 at 08:38:01 To get the footpeg reasonably.....look at the Markeplace section on this site, as several people are parting out bikes right now. On eBay......Pinwall Cycles in Massilon, Ohio is a good source. They are always parting out Savages. Dave |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/29/13 at 10:03:58 IF you cant get the part for a reasonable price ( & I expect you will in time) , would it be something that would weld up? I cant tell exactly how its wounded by the pic. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by EJID on 04/29/13 at 12:31:57 With some time it sounds like you should be able to bring that Savage back... Here is the fiche for the footrest...can you tell us what seems to be broken? I'm with justin in not seeing exactly what is wrong in your pic. http://www.ronayers.com/Fiche/TypeID/26/Type/FOOTREST/MakeID/2/Make/Suzuki/YearID/29/Year/1988/ModelID/6301/Model/LS650P_SAVAGE/GroupID/258575/Group/FOOTREST Here's one example of a peg bracket from eBay...don't know which parts you are looking for until you identify them on the fiche... http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-SUZUKI-LS650-LS-650-LEFT-SIDE-FRONT-FOOT-PEG-KICKSTAND-BRACKET-/380593097233?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item589d1dca11&vxp=mtr |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Digger on 04/29/13 at 20:58:21 0F3E252F24787E7E4C0 wrote:
I read here a while back the the "F" denoted a model with the "flat" (drag) handlebars, and the "P" denoted a model with the "pullback" (buckhorn) handlebars. I might be all wet, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! 8-) |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by v-pilot on 04/29/13 at 21:21:07 The bracket looks OK. I have one I can rescue from the scrap pile but it's not to pretty...rough chrome. I'd try to pull the peg off and check it. They're just stamped and formed sheet steel and can bend pretty easily. Once off the rubber slides off towards the mounting bolt. You may want to try to remount without the rubber to see what's going on there |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Jolly Executioner on 04/29/13 at 23:53:03 My 05 has pretty much the exact same "missing metal" shape.. :-? |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by 87 savage on 04/30/13 at 01:54:08 012C22222037450 wrote:
I read here a while back the the "F" denoted a model with the "flat" (drag) handlebars, and the "P" denoted a model with the "pullback" (buckhorn) handlebars. I might be all wet, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! 8-)[/quote] You are right Digger. Lots of folks call the pullback style handlebars "buckhorn" handle bars, but Suzuki calls them "pullback". The only reason I knew that is because when I looked at the fiche to get the part number for my master cylinder for my 87, the F and P are different, and it's because of the way the hose connects to the master cylinder. Some parts fiches even list the two different master cylinders as "Flat type" and "Pullback type". The rebuild kits are the same though. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 04/30/13 at 07:23:36 Hey everybody, ok so I was thinking about what ya'll were saying, that i wasnt explaining the part/problem very well. So I went out this morning and took a few new pics of the foot peg. The pics are shot from the front of the bike looking back at the foot controls. The first one is the peg as it should be (I think) sticking straight out, the next one is of what happens when I put my foot on it, it pushes it down to an odd angle. Maybe Im wrong (with all of my 0 years of motorcycle/riding experience lol)but I dont think it should be set that way, again maybe im wrong. It feels pretty secure when I put pressure on it and try to shift through the gears, am I just crazy and made a problem out of nothing? Thanks for the F and P question as well, I just kept seeing different articles that labeled them like that. I think mine has the original drag bars, but my friend said the guy he bought it from might have put them on there after the fact. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 04/30/13 at 07:35:06 Ok, here is the second picture of the off angle the peg gets to when I put my foot on it. It just doesnt look right to me, but maybe I just didnt pay attention at it before... |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by WD on 04/30/13 at 07:57:06 And the other side likely sticks up a bit higher, yes? Been a long time since I ran stock peg rubber on mine, but it looks to me like the pegs have been swapped side to side... They'll bolt in alright, but they won't sit right. Also, as the pegs wear, you need to sometimes add a shim washer to keep them from sagging. Between the peg body and bracket, either side will work. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 04/30/13 at 08:33:19 Yes, the other side seems to be a bit higher than this side. I'll swap them and see if that does the trick, if it doesn't, is this ok to ride like this? I ask because I don't have my license yet and don't have any experience riding... I want to learn as much about how my bike works before I take my class. I don't want to be that kinda guy that doesn't know anything about his bike... |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Serowbot on 04/30/13 at 08:37:13 That's not a stock peg... |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by WD on 04/30/13 at 08:46:01 It does look rather Honda-esque... Check the market place for some stock take-offs. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 05/30/13 at 09:02:49 Hey everybody, it has been a long few weeks but I finally got some time from work to tinker with my Savage! I decided to take on my ignition problem yesterday, so I checked my spark plug. I didnt see anything apparent when I took it out but when I tested it, it didnt have a very strong arc to it and it was really dirty (it wasnt burnt but just covered in black grime I think). So I went to the parts store and grabbed a new one, along with some oil. I put in the new plug, put my gas tank back on and put gas in it, but when I went to start it it still didn't start. I did notice the rats nest of electrical wire under my seat though and this big thing wrapped in tape. I want to say its my solenoid but I couldnt find it in my manuel. I have pics of it wrapped and unwrapped. When I try to start it this part makes some clicking noise but then it stops, even though I'm holding the ignition down. So I'm thinking this might be an other weak link in my ignition chain. If you can tell what this part is, please let me know lol |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 05/30/13 at 09:04:02 Here is an other angle of the same part with the tape still on it |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/30/13 at 09:04:49 Thats a starter solenoid,, |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Steve H on 05/30/13 at 16:13:41 I don't think it's generally wrapped in tape and stuffed under the seat though, is it guys? |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by Crich422 on 06/23/13 at 08:08:05 Ok, it's been a while since I posted on here but here is my progress from the last time I posted about my problems. I got a new spark plug and battery, so I know those are working properly. I got a new Raptor petcock, I still have a little drip from around it but I think its the seal on the tank itself, not the petcock. I also need to plug the stock petcock vacuum line, but I dont think that would keep it from starting... would it? So as I was sitting in my garage the other day, pondering my next step, I got the bright idea that maybe the gas I am using has gone bad... I kept a full gas can in my 74 ford bronco, because I had a bad habit of running out of gas on my way to work last year. Well I parked the Bronco and forgot about the gas can, so when I got my Savage I needed one so I grabbed that one, which was still full of gas (after about 7 months of just sitting in the backseat of the Bronco). I opened the can and it smelled like good gas and there wasnt any dirt in the bottom of the can, so I figured it was ok to use. Does gas go bad? I know it does eventually but I'm not sure how long it takes. I still have about half of the can left, but I dont know where I can get rid of it safely (being from Colorado, theres no way in hell Im going to just pour it out somewhere, the state is burning up on its own just fine without my dumb ass helping it). Are there any other ideas ya'll can think of to get this baby started? I'm starting to look around for a shop that does work on Suzukis but really the only place here in Colorado Springs is a big dealership-esque parts shop, and I dont know if I want a big shop that probably doesnt work on these kind of bikes very often to do the work. There are a few custom shops that I see on my way to work, so I might stop by and chat with them about it. If they dont do the work, maybe they know somebody in town that does. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/23/13 at 08:29:55 YOu may have a new battery, but if its not fully charged & youre having problems starting it, youve gotta get a charger on it, You have to have a voltmeter to play mechanic., The batter needs to be at 12.5 volts to be Hot. IDK what the least it can be & still have the power to spin the starter AND fire the ignition. Get some ether, get the carb to air cleaner tube , not all the way off, just part way, so you can put a little squirt in. Just see if it gives ya a hint, some kinda proof it will fire ether & make the motor sputter or poot or Something,, just any sign of life..BUt dont go spraying that stuff in there like WD40 on a rusty hinge,, its Highly combustible & can hurt an engine when it ignites, Yep, gas Can go bad,, yours is probably okay, BUT,, you need to empty the tank anyway to pull the petcock & check out why its dripping, Soi, get fresh gas, get the petcock off, make sure the gasket has a smooth, clean surface to mate to, study where that oblong O-ring thing is sitting. Gotta be flat. Make sure theres no low spot in that O ring lookin thing, Hard start issues with these are common,, & once the battery has been asked to spin it over a while, It Has to charged up or its just not gonna fire. YOu could have a crappy connection in the ignition circuit making it require a bit more voltage to get it to fire, IDK, wouldnt hurt to pop the seat & unplug & study & reseat connectors. Now is a good time to build a pig tail on the battery with a clip together connector for a float charger. Radio Shack has packs of 2 for $1.50 IIRC. Need a solderin gun,, yea, the little pencils are cheaper, but take too long to get hot. Get a Weller Gun, 2 stage, some paste flux & a roll of solder. BUild the connector onto wires & solder them to washers to put on the bolt or solder to the bikes battery cables. YOu can strip the wires long enough to wrap & twist so it has good physical connection, then, just enough solder to secure it where its twisted & go around the battery cable on the ppigtail wire. If you can still see the shape of the wire & its individual strands, but theyre silver & shiny, covered in a thin film of solder & you can see the solder flows onto the cable its wrapped around, youre there,, Gobs of solder isnt a good job, A real battery charger to pick a "Too low to turn the lites on" battery up is a necessity. A float charger to heat it back up after a few minutes of trying to start is handy,. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by WD on 06/23/13 at 11:57:41 Quick and dirty solenoid test... bridge the 2 big posts with a screwdriver. If the engine spins over, the clicking is most likely the solenoid, if it won't spin over then it is a battery issue. You'd best hope it is just a weak battery... My stealership odered and shipped me a starter relay/solenoid when I needed a decompression solenoid/relay. $90 oops on their part that I got stuck with, since electrical parts are not returnable. Even though they ordered and sent the wrong part... >:( And that solenoid bolts to a shelf on the stock rear fender, look between the frame tubes below/behind the seat. I "think" old battery bolts are the right thread pitch. And open up your right side switchbox, look for a spider nest, that will short it out enough to cause a no start problem, been there, deleted that. |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by savagerider87 on 06/24/13 at 21:27:14 im pretty sure that the only year the savage had the flat bars was 87 mines an 87 and has factory flat bars they might be aftermarket on yours i could be wrong tho ;) |
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Title: Re: First Motorcycle, first problems Post by 87 savage on 06/25/13 at 17:11:42 455740575153445F5253440E01360 wrote:
Hi Savagerider, the savage was available with either bar from 86-88 and 95. The Savage LS650F has the flat handlebar and the LS650P has the pullback handlebar. 96-2004 were only available in the LS650P. 2005 on is listed as LS650, no handlebar designation and is only available with the flat handlebar. |
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