SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Starting blues
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1395714148

Message started by NorCalRider on 03/24/14 at 19:22:28

Title: Starting blues
Post by NorCalRider on 03/24/14 at 19:22:28

Hello all,

The bike was working. I adjusted the valves yesterday. After I put everything back together the bike won't won't start.

Here is where I am:

Any ideas what could I have done to mess it up? and, more importantly, how can I fix it?

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by verslagen1 on 03/24/14 at 19:51:55

how did you set tdc?

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by NorCalRider on 03/24/14 at 21:01:14

I followed your brilliant writeup in Tech Ref section at http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1325991352

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/24/14 at 22:04:18

Well,, believing the instructions were followed to the letter is still no proof nothing moved. If ya didnt go eyeball the timing mark inside the left cover & make sure the crankshaft didnt drift,, well,, you do the math,,
You can pop the valve inspection caps, bring it to TDC ( compression)& make sure the valves are all closed,,

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/24/14 at 22:05:58

OHH,, & before ya even mess with that, its SOOO easy to shoot something into the air cleaner.. If that changes anything, then youre on the hunt..

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by S-P on 03/24/14 at 23:23:47

37282E2934330232023A28246F5D0 wrote:

OHH,, & before ya even mess with that, its SOOO easy to shoot something into the air cleaner.. If that changes anything, then youre on the hunt..

Yep. Two things: if you put a Raptor petcock on, take the inline filter off if you have one. And yeah, shoot some starting fluid into the air cleaner. I took a knife and just slit a hole big enough to get a small straw into it. I've had to use starter fluid a couple times during the winter.

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by oldNslow on 03/25/14 at 08:02:26

Put the old spark plug back in and see if it starts before you do anything else.

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by shorty on 03/25/14 at 11:20:37

427C7D71637F7E100 wrote:

Put the old spark plug back in and see if it starts before you do anything else.

good idea... at least remove the "new" plug and check for spark, wouldn't be the first time I've seen a defective new plug

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by NorCalRider on 03/25/14 at 14:01:47

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I will shoot some ether into the carb intake and see if starts up, otherwise will inspect the valves to see if they are closed at TDC.

The old spark plug was firing and so is the new one. So I don't think it is spark plug.

Will try it this evening and see what happens. The weather is not that good today anyway (it is drizzling and a cold 65).

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by Dave on 03/26/14 at 03:39:05

4A6B76476568566D606176040 wrote:

Will try it this evening and see what happens. The weather is not that good today anyway (it is drizzling and a cold 65).

Cold 65? You aren't gonna convince me that is cold......it is 24 here this morning!

To check that you don't have your valves too tight.....put the engine in gear and see if you can push the bike forward. The bike should roll forward until it comes up against compression.....and you will have difficulty pushing it any farther. If the engine quickly releases the compression and you can move the bike forward pretty easy.....you probably have adjusted the valves too tight and the compression is leaking past the valve that is being held off the seat.

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by NorCalRider on 03/26/14 at 09:02:36

65 is relatively cold by California standard :) This past weekend it was in the high 70s; and this was near San Francisco. I am sure it was warmer by Versy.

I tried the starting fluid with no luck. So it was time to check the valves. It turned out to be a noobie mistake: the valves were too tight (Dave - you were right on the mark there). So I re-adjusted all the valves to 0.004" and it started right away. I must have been under influence the first time around.

I would chalk this up as a success since I learned a few good troubleshooting tips along the way from the good folks here.

My hats off to y'all.

Title: Re: Starting blues
Post by verslagen1 on 03/26/14 at 09:36:43

61405D6C4E437D464B4A5D2F0 wrote:

65 is relatively cold by California standard :) This past weekend it was in the high 70s; and this was near San Francisco. I am sure it was warmer by Versy.

Yeah, sure... if you're getting up around noon :-?
I light 'er up about o'dark30 and the min gets down to about 40 or so.
last couple of weeks it's been about 55 give or take a mile. 8-)
Haven't needed my jacket liner yet.