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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> NEWB needs help! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1401254542 Message started by jaydefazio on 05/27/14 at 22:22:22 |
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Title: NEWB needs help! Post by jaydefazio on 05/27/14 at 22:22:22 Hi guys/girls-- I am a brand new rider and lucky recipient of a 1998 Savage, no mods, 10,680 miles. Last owner kept it in a garage but hadn't ridden it in at least a year. One year ago, she sent it to a Honda dealership to get it 'running' -- according to the paperwork, they did an oil change, carb clean, and 'spring tune up' whatever that was. It didn't specify. But again, she hasn't ridden it since then. I got the bike last week, without knowing it had been parked this whole time (it was given to me, no charge, so I didn't test drive it). It started right up, sounded good. I drove it around town for about 30 mins and it started to smell hot. Headed for home and it sputtered out on me. Checked the gas tank, it was pretty low. Tried to switch to reserve but switch was stuck in 'ON' position, would not move at all. After 20 mins or so, it started up again, barely. Got it two blocks, sputtered out again. Eventually restarted and got it two more blocks to my driveway. It was dark, so next day I took a look at it and noticed dark brown fluid had leaked out onto the grates of the engine. The fuel switch will move now, which is weird. But the bike won't start. It tries to turn over but sputters out. I considered filling up the gas tank -- obvious solution -- but after learning it had been parked for so long, I figured it would be best to empty out what's in there first, although I haven't done that yet. I visually checked the oil window and oil is at a good level. After reading manuals and lots of posts on this forum, I'm thinking I should replace the factory issue petcock with a raptor. But I'm concerned about whatever was leaking from the engine. Can you guys give me a list of things I should check/do, considering both the problem I described and the fact that the bike has been parked so long? I don't have any experience with mechanics but I'm more than willing to learn. I want to learn how to maintain the bike myself rather than to take it into a dealership. Thanks for reading! |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/27/14 at 22:37:23 Id bet youre so low on gas it wont run,, Dont panic just yet,, we can talk tomorrow.. Its after midnite here,, Youll get some good input tomorrow.. welcome,., |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by paulmarshall on 05/27/14 at 22:43:23 Welcome mate. You are in the right place to sort all your issues here. A good bunch of people here. You might need to clean or replace the petcock. Replacing the petcock seems to be a common issue with the Savage. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by paulmarshall on 05/27/14 at 22:45:12 Can you post pics of the leaks you have mentioned? |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by verslagen1 on 05/27/14 at 22:46:59 373C2439383B3C2734325D0 wrote:
What the L is that? fins? what side? front/back? high/low? non running issue, most likely petcock goto tech section ctrl-f petcock find how to test do it. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by shorty on 05/28/14 at 06:24:44 grates= cooling fins, maybe leaking @ valve covers.. first needs a petcock, maybe another carb cleaning because it sat another year after the last service |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by old_rider on 05/28/14 at 06:47:25 I don't know how bike savvy you are but... Check the oil level.... hold the bike upright (from the brake side).... take a look at the oil level window (small circular window where your right heal would be if you were sitting on the bike), it should be between the lines, if the whole window is filled you might have gas in your oil. The petc0ck is a known issue and fails, put on a manual one, almost everyone uses the Yamaha raptor 660 one. If it sat for a year, I would have change oil and gas before riding it, reguardless... you should do that...and make sure your container can hold more than 2 quarts...the one I bought was garage stored and I got almost a gallon of stuff that came out of my oil system. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by engineer on 05/28/14 at 07:39:33 Congratulations on acquiring the bike, if I read your post correctly it sounds like you got it for free. Everyone is giving you good advice. In order to minimize your efforts check the petcock first. Make certain the vacuum line to the petcock is not cracked. Then do the petcock test, details are here http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1251932429/1 If you do need a new petcock buy one from a cycle shop, online or local. Places like Ron Ayers and Bikebandit have them online. The ones on Ebay may not be up to the same quality level. http://www.ronayers.com/ If the petcock is OK get some fresh fuel and run that through. Since the carb was cleaned a year ago it will probably be OK if you run a good grade of gas through it. You'll want to do an oil change when you get a chance and use Rotella T or T6, don't use ordinary automotive oil because your bike's clutch runs in oil and the transmission uses the same oil so you need the correct oil. The important thing to do in the future is to check the cam chain tensioner. These bikes are reliable machines but do have a weakness and that is the tensioner which can fail and cause serious damage. At your mileage you are getting close to the time to make that check. Here is how you do it. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1191167029 Good luck, have fun and post your results so we can all learn from your experiences. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by jaydefazio on 05/28/14 at 10:16:27 Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I will check the oil level for gas overflow, change the oil with Rotella or T6, get a raptor, fresh fuel, etc and see what happens. You guys are awesome. To answer verslagen1 -- I'm posting a pic of the area (this is not my actual bike, but a photo just to illustrate the part I was referring to) where I found the dark brown fluid. I'm trying to rack my brain to remember which side of the bike it was on and I want to say left side (clutch side) but I'm not sure. Sorry for the poor terminology...what would I call this, fins? |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by verslagen1 on 05/28/14 at 10:40:07 cooling fins, probably on the kickstand side. oil will collect there when parked. you're probably looking at the head plug leak, check besides the header, there's a hole and you'll be able to see one of the head bolts. directly above it is the head plug. if it not leaking a lot, you can live with it for awhile. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by jaydefazio on 05/28/14 at 10:51:36 THANKS! Will check it out :) |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/28/14 at 12:29:46 Youre almost at 11000 miles,, you can justify a trip "inside" to check the cam chain,, & thatll put you in far enough to go on in & do the plug.. Just add oil for a while,, rise it, get used to it, read, learn, get stuff together for that job,, then jump in,, |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by S-P on 05/28/14 at 14:59:35 7E756D707172756E7D7B140 wrote:
From the direction of the exhaust it looks like the clutch side. But either direction, yeah, you probably have a plug cap leak. My first bike had that at 9K miles. I treat my bike oil leaks like my car oil leaks... when the puddle looks bigger than my checkbook then I'll fix it. ;D |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by Beagle on 05/28/14 at 16:35:22 I have a 1998 Savage too! I've had it for about 3-4 years now. Welcome! |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by doh13 on 05/28/14 at 16:54:02 I would def Drain all of the old fuel out of the tank and try fresh fuel before doing anything else but i am thinking your carb will need to be cleaned or at least try running some seafoam in a tank or 2 of fresh fuel ( if it runs with fresh fuel.) 1 year old + fuel doesn't burn too well ;D old fuel also has a distinct smell so if it smells sour/stale then you know for sure u need to get rid of it. if it still stalls out afterwords then start digging into the common things. From all i have read on this site about Petcock problems I ordered a raptor petcock right away even before trying the OEM petcock on my low mileage bike bike 20 odd bucks isn't too much to pay for a fairly simple fix for a common problem and you have the bonus of being able to take off the fuel tank more easily to access the spark plug. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/29/14 at 08:45:21 My Savage would just barely run,, give it gas, it would gag & die,, changed the gas,, shazzam,, its a bike again,, Drain the carb bowl into a glass,, looka whatchya get,, Drain some gas from the tank on prime, hows the flow? & Seafoam is the ONly fuel additive I have any faith in, at all,, Its the only one that changed the noises the backhoe was making..Ive seen it have a positive affect on several engines. But shat in jets will need cleaned up,, the stuff is good, it aint magic.. But thats where Id start. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by jaydefazio on 05/30/14 at 15:10:10 Ok, new Raptor petcock installed, fresh tank of gas, oil change with Rotella T, and she started right up! Going to take her for a ride and see how it goes. A couple questions: Seafoam-- bought it and I see I only need about a tablespoon per gallon of gas, but any specifics for adding it to the fuel? Do I add it to a full tank, empty tank, run the engine prior/after, etc? Question 2-- justin_o_guy2 mentioned draining the carb bowl. Is that done by uncapping the "puke tube" that I've read about here? And would that be the 3-5 inch of capped hose that hangs under the bike? |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by paulmarshall on 05/30/14 at 15:22:13 I don't much about sea foam other than it can result in deadly results. Personally I wouldn't go there. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/30/14 at 18:24:46 Look under the bowl,, hopefully theres a small screw,,waay down at the very bottom,, Ive used Seafoam many times, only to my advantage. TRactor Supply or Lowes has the best price, auto parts stores want an arm & a leg,, |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by paulmarshall on 05/30/14 at 19:46:07 Fair comment Justin. I am basing my comments from disasters I have seen on Utube. Cant find it on the shelves down my way. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by verslagen1 on 05/30/14 at 20:59:12 646F776A6B686F7467610E0 wrote:
You "mix" it with gas... so add about an ounce to a tankfull of gas. Quote:
Carb bowl is attached to the carb... that greyist thing behind the engine and under the tank. On the bottom of the bowl, is a screw visible from one side of the other (IDK cause I have a bolt) loosen it up and gas comes out. The puke tube is attached to the airbox. It drains whatever gets puked into the airbox, oil, gas and/or water. drain that every oil change. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by verslagen1 on 05/30/14 at 21:03:06 3F2E3A23222E3D3C272E23234F0 wrote:
seafoam is a brand name here, just find a carb cleaner meant to be mixed with gas like injector cleaner. berryman's makes one that's half the cost of seafoam. to some it's all snake oil anyway, use if it works for you, just don't expect miracles. |
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Title: Re: NEWB needs help! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/31/14 at 09:34:48 I had an injector knocking on a diesel engine. I tried every brand known to man I think,, maybe I missed Berrymans, but the Seafoam quieted that knock, Its like 13 bucks a PINT at ABC auto,, 7 or8 at Lowes or TRactor supply,, Mite be more than a pint, maybe its a beers worth,, but its expensive, |
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