SuzukiSavage.com /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Engine just keeps dying on me! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1437485620 Message started by nchristian on 07/21/15 at 06:33:40

Title: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 07/21/15 at 06:33:40 So i bought my suzuki savage about a week ago from someone who let it sit for 6 years. Before they had sold it to me they cleaned the carbs. At first it was running fine no problems but then the engine would randomly give out when i was giving it gas. The bike started up again but got died quicker and quicker until it wouldn't start at all. I recharged the battery and replaced the spark plug. The bike ran great. Took a nice hour long ride through the mountains. Next morning rode it for 30 minutes and then the same problem happened. The engine just randomly died. Luckily i was close enough to walk it back home. Where i tested it out and let it idle and after 5 minutes the engine dies. I'm just a college kid and this is my only mode of transport. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by hotprops on 07/21/15 at 06:46:15 could be bad battery

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by Dave on 07/21/15 at 07:10:54 If the bike is charging the battery properly...a bad battery generally won't stop a running bike - they just won't restart the bike once they drop below a certain level of voltage/charge.  When my last battery failed it gave no warning....just refused to start the bike or hold a charge - but if you jumped the bike the charging system would keep everything running fine until you shut the bike off. You need to have someone check the voltage (voltmeter) of the battery and confirm that it is charging when it is running.  When the bike is not running the battery should be above 12 volts.....and while running it should be up around 14 volts if the charging system is working properly. When the bike stops.....try turning the petcock to "PRIME" and see if the bike starts up again (maybe a petcock problem). Also try taking the fuel cap off the tank as you might have a clogged vent in the cap.

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by verslagen1 on 07/21/15 at 07:31:45 what year is the bike and how many miles? check the vac line for gas too.

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by Ed L. on 07/21/15 at 07:50:23 I'll second the vacumn line or petc0ck being part of the problem.  A quick test for the charging system is to start the bike and pull the ground wire off the battery. If the bike dies then the charging system is out of whack. If it keeps running the charging system is ok. Voltage should be around 14 volts at fast idle.  If you have the battery out of the bike get it load tested, an older battery can hold a partial charge and cause all types of starting issues.    Just reread your post and it sounds like there is a new battery in the bike so check the fuel system first..    Try pulling the carb float bowl and seeing if there is any dirt or water in it. Just because the PO said he cleaned the carb doesn't mean he did it right.  Make one change at a time so you can go back to the way it was if the fix didn't work. Luck

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 07/21/15 at 17:34:20 I've recharged the battery but it keeps starting up and sounds like gas is the problem because ill turn it to prime and it starts up but when i put it on the fuel setting it doesn't. My bike is a 1987 and hhas 13000 miles on it all stock I'm going to google how to take out the petcock and clean the vacuum line Another question can it still be the battery  even if the lights and everything are workint when it dies?

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/21/15 at 18:12:35 it sat for years, either the battery is new or shot. Must have tools Small charger, don't wanna be cooking it. Float charger won't do it. Volt meter, HF cheapo is fine. The screws aren't number two Phillips, but JIS. Phillips screwdrivers will strip stuff right out. Unless you grind the tip flat, till it fits into the X on the screw. The tank might be rusty inside. The petcock screen plugged, these petcock s are a known issue, swapping is cheap,easy and a good opportunity to empty some old gas.. The jets may be nasty.. First, the battery. Even when it's.  Cranking it over, it may not have power to fire the ignition. If it sat for six years, I'd be getting a new one.

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by Serowbot on 07/21/15 at 18:12:45 If it runs okay on Prime,.. you need a new petcock. Get a Raptor,... it's better than stock, and 1/3 the cost... Don't get a Chinese knock-off... buy the real Yamaha part... This, is a link...-> Test your Petcock,.. don't just turn it to Prime.. (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1251932429/1)  ;)...

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 07/21/15 at 21:16:48 Battery is new. I'm also almost one hundred percent sure there. Rust in the tank because when I took it off to change the spark plug i heard stuff shaking in it. Could this be the cause the rust?

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by Dave on 07/22/15 at 03:47:09 How to clean your fuel tank. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1386849349

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 07/22/15 at 08:02:57 My air filter is beat and definitely need an oil change can these be contributing factors

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/22/15 at 16:38:55 A new battery won't start it over and over and over. What tools for batteries do you have? I think you've described a fuel problem. Get the battery charged or take it to a parts store, get it tested. An ALMOST healthy battery will frustrate you. Read , do, The petcock is bad, and you said you heard junk in the tank. The petcock has a screen filter, I would be surprised if you don't need to pull the bowl off again.

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 07/22/15 at 18:53:21 I took the battery to advanced auto and they checked the battery and it was good. The bike starts up only on prime so im gonna go ahead and change the petcock. I'm also going to get the rust out of my tank. Change the air filter and get an oil change. After that all that i should be good to go. Later im going to post a video i took of the bike idling and then dying.

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/22/15 at 19:08:59 Good moves. Keep us abreast... Fun getting that battery out, innit??

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by nchristian on 08/12/15 at 10:34:42 so i just got back from a vaction in DR where i ironically fell off a little 125 cc bike but thats beside the point. i changed the petcock to the raptor and the engine wont even start up. what can i do

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by verslagen1 on 08/12/15 at 11:08:10 did ja turn it to on?

Title: Re: Engine just keeps dying on me! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/12/15 at 11:25:42 Shoot some Berrymans B12 into the airbox, pull the filter,, Someone TOLD you that the carb had been cleaned. I don't know IF it was done or how well. I would start by draining the carb bowl into a glass container. See what it looks like. You living on campus? Any access to a garage or are you stuck in a parking lot? It doesn't take long , trying to start one, and it NOT starting and running and recharging the battery to drop the voltage enough to still spin over at a good clip, but just won't fire the plug. Pulling the plug to see won't work, because the starter isn't loading the battery since there's no compression. You can use a spare plug and see if it's firing.

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