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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
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Message started by troyb49 on 01/06/15 at 17:10:07

Title: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by troyb49 on 01/06/15 at 17:10:07

I have a 1997 suzuki savage. I was riding the other day and while at a stoplight it just died on me! I had just changed the plug the day before and everything was working right. After she died it wouldn't start back up again. The starter cranks and cranks but that's all I get! I tried to see if spark plug has a wet tip and found nothing wrong with it! Any help would be great. Also il the bike can roll in first gear now while off which isn't good I know. Any suggestions on that as well would be greatly appreciated!

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by Flint on 01/06/15 at 19:06:53

Are you saying the bike rolls in 1st with the clutch let out? No compression at all?

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by Serowbot on 01/06/15 at 20:56:52

It's not certain,... but you may have gas-washed your cylinder...
If an excess of gas runs through the cylinder without burning, it can wash the oil seal off the cylinder walls and reduce your compression to zero.
Then,.. your engine won't start... and,... with no compression, the bike will walk in gear....

Check your airbox,... is it full of gas?... check your oil level,.. is it higher than normal?...
If so,.. you have a fuel leak... stuck float, or bad petcock...

This would be the happiest outcome...

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by troyb49 on 01/07/15 at 07:27:45

Thank you for the feedback I will be checking later in the day on those items you pointed out! And yes the bike can walk in first gear without using the clutch.

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by Dave on 01/07/15 at 07:36:56

3F38382934383F32246D645D0 wrote:

And yes the bike can walk in first gear without using the clutch.

Yikes! That sounds like the valve train has stopped working, the piston no longer goes up and down, or a valve is not seating.

Was there any mechanical noise associated with the engine stopping?

I would first pull the spark plug out, and see if the piston goes up and down when you turn the engine over.

Next I would do a compression test.

If there is no compression, I would pull the front valve adjustment cover and confirm the rocker arm moves up and down when the engine is turned over.

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by troyb49 on 01/07/15 at 07:37:19

No sound just the engine clicking off. The piston seems to be moving up an down when walking the bike in first. And when I took the spark plug out to perform a spark test I could feel whiffs of air coming out of the hole where the spark plug goes

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by Dave on 01/07/15 at 08:12:46

So the whiffs of air indicate the piston is going up and down - but it is still possible the valves and cam are not allowing the engine to make compression.

If you tried to push my bike in 1st gear...you would only go about 3 inches before the piston on the compression stroke would make it impossible to go any farther without sliding the back tire along the ground.

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/07/15 at 18:59:05

Pull the oil fill plug, blow into spark plug hole, air outta the oil fill ain't real good... first, get it on compression and be aware some air will pass the rings.. I'd dump a coupla tablespoons of oil in it to help them seal..
Tell me you didn't pull the plug before you cleaned the grit and dirt from down in the cavity it sits in..If you didn't,and crap fell in and you've been cranking on it, well,you do the math..

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/08/15 at 18:39:43

Well, that seems to have hit a nerve.

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by Serowbot on 01/08/15 at 22:02:31

415E585F42457444744C5E52192B0 wrote:

Well, that seems to have hit a nerve.

Don't tell me bikes have nerves...
... or I'm toast.... :-?...

I secretly think they do... :-?...

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by troyb49 on 01/09/15 at 16:11:51

I blew the crap out of around the spark plug before I pulled it. So try pouring a little oil into the spark plug hole? And then blow air through to try and seal the plug?

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by stewmills on 01/10/15 at 06:21:21

yes, oil in the plug hole will help reseal the cylinder rings etc. if you did wash it as mentioned. if you didnt wash it, the extra oil is no harm, just do a little bit, not a quart!!!

if you blow air into the plug hole and it passes freely into the engine, oil case, etc. thats bad as it means something is not as it should be letting you compression out somewhere instead of staying in the cylinder.

just remember to blow around the plug before removing each time to ensure you don't let wee bits of trash sneak into the cylinder. if you do, don't post it here cause it'll make jog really upset. :'(

Title: Re: 1997 suzuki savage start up issues
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/10/15 at 23:32:52

UPSET? You should have been here when I pulled the plug and THEN realized that there were literally bits of asphalt down there. I spent HOURS with weed eater string and wax probing and dragging out crap... I don't want to see ANYone else go through what I did. Wax,,, toilet seal ring, I keep some in the shop for running drywall screws in tuff wood.