SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't start!
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1587741005

Message started by sammie5832 on 04/24/20 at 08:10:05

Title: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't start!
Post by sammie5832 on 04/24/20 at 08:10:05

I have a 96 Savage in good condition. Nothing is wrong with the battery. Cranks, but won't start. I tried that additive they recommend to put in the fuel to clean the carbs and nothing. Won't turn over with the choke in or out. I've heard taking the hose of of the carburetor and spraying some starter fluid in it and putting the hose back will get it started. Any truth to that? :-*Was sitting all winter with low fuel.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Eegore on 04/24/20 at 08:30:48

Cranks but wont start is still a common issue with a battery that isn't fully charged on these bikes. Are you sure the battery is fully charged?

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 04/24/20 at 10:42:18

Eegore is correct, the battery must be fully charged for the CDI/igniter to provide enough spark.

Starting fluid is usually sprayed into the intake of the carb to facilitate starting. If the carb jets are clogged, the bike will start until it consumes the starting fluid and then stop running. This is a good diagnostic tool to determine if you have a fuel or ignition problem.

Once you’ve charged the battery and have confirmed that the spark plug has a nice blue spark, if the bike still doesn’t start then the problem is likely a gummed up carb. That will require removal, disassembly and cleaning/adjustment.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/24/20 at 12:07:19

After cleaning the carb you have to put it on Prime.
Yes, the battery can act all good, spin it over,, but wont make a spark,,
I prove fuel versus electrical by using ether..
If it'll try on ether,,, thaats helpful in chasing
wont start

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by ohiomoto on 04/24/20 at 19:21:38

Bikes usually don't "clog" up over a winter unless your winters last 18 months or more. Charge the battery, hit it with a spritz or starting fluid if you feel the need. Once it fires go ride it for 30 minutes.

I never "winterize" ANYTHING that will sit for 4-5 months during our Ohio winters. No additives, no cleaners or any of that TOTAL BULL nuts. I have a lithium battery, I leave it in the bike and I don't put a charger on it. My bikes always fire up within a few kicks, I mean clicks of the starter motor (went back to my MX days there), and my 30 year old commercial mower starts within a few pulls of the cord after I spritz it with starting fluid. (First pull the rest of the season, no spritz needed. Last spark plug change...about 20 years ago. lol)

I do like to change the oil after winter just incase any condensation has built up, but honestly, it's probably so minimal it really doesn't matter.

Now I'm sure one of our forum experts will point out that I'm doing this all wrong, but it's worked for me since I was a kid. So take their BS with a grain of salt! ;D ;D

EDIT: I will say that I do ride my bike a lot during the summer and fairly late into the season. "Winterizing" might make sense for those who ride less and their bike sits longer. Really it's whatever works for you. I'm just telling you what works for me.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/24/20 at 20:00:47

Youve cranked enough to get frustrated. Its time to charge it. It had been parked, thats not the nicest thing for a battery
Then, Use Prime and load the carburetor.
A whisper of ether might be needed, buut with a hot battery, full carburetor bowl, it should go, If it doesnt, dont run it down, hit it with just a small squirt in the air filter. Pull the side off that hides behind the tin on the rght side.
Loosen the screw holding the end on the air box, pull the end off, pull and clean the air filter,, after you put a shot of ether in there and hit the starter. Too much ether isnt a good thing,

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by batman on 04/24/20 at 21:19:26

compression, is the third part of the part of getting the bike to run fuel and spark the other two. oil tends to drain off the cylinder walls and piston rings when the bike has been sitting. Remove the sparkplug and add a small amount of oil to the cylinder that should lube the walls preventing damage and help seal the rings to raise compression, you'll be able to use less either(starter fluid) and have a better chance the bike will fire up.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/24/20 at 21:38:55

If the starter runs at the same speed, then you got no compression. You can hear the beat ,, if it's got compression. One winter in the shed won't lose that much oil.
Charge the battery
Prime the carburetor
Try it.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by ohiomoto on 04/24/20 at 21:51:08

Now that I have had more time to think about it, I'm pretty sure your motor is blown. Yep, that's it. To be sure, you should probably spend about $100-$200 on maintenance and then see if it runs. If it doesn't, it's blown. Good luck.

Oh, and what oil did you put in it? And you surly need to rejet it too. Where do you live, what's your elevation? Do you have a Raptor petcock (legit? most of the time) and have you checked your tension yet (also legit but not related to this thread.)

Over and out.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by MarcosS40 on 04/25/20 at 06:51:49

;D ;D ;D Good comment! This thread went south in a hurry...

My 2 cents... charge the battery and put fresh fuel in it and you should be good to go. How's that sound!

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by batman on 04/25/20 at 09:54:30

dangerous ! he's already tried to start the bike , if there was oil on the cylinder walls it's likely gone now , if he doesn't add oil to it or use spray fogging oil he could damage the cylinder walls with further cranking. use of starter fluid would make this even worse. Ask Lancer about having to rebuild his top end one spring.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by srinath on 04/25/20 at 10:01:45

Oh man, I like to send the threads "south" but since y'all did already - maybe time to send north …

Please winterize now, we're getting viral winter …

Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/25/20 at 11:09:02

6C6F7A636F603A360E0 wrote:

Ya know,, Im gonna agree.. Well done explanation

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Dave on 04/26/20 at 04:15:03

6661606664667D66090 wrote:

Bikes usually don't "clog" up over a winter unless your winters last 18 months or more.

2 years ago I sold a Savage to a local lady, and it is a great bike for her. She never winterizes the bike, and every spring it doesn't start for her. When she calls I go over and drain the float bowl, and get the stale fuel out.....and the bike fires up once it has fresh fuel. This spring was the third one in a row that it was necessary to do this for her - the bike is stored in a garage in the basement, and each time they open the doors to get the cars out a blast of cold, damp winter air gets inside the garage.

I am thankful that so far the carb has not clogged up - but when the bike sits for 6 months and the fuel in the float bowl has evaporated most of the the gasoline away and the remaining swill has a lot of ethanol in it.....the bike won't start.

I have not been successful in getting her and her husband to run the bike out of fuel before putting it away for the winter. With an empty float bowl I suspect the bike would start each spring once they turn on the petcock and get fresh fuel in the carb.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/20 at 08:05:32

Dave,, you mite wanna walk over and ask if she's done with it .. and just run it dry for her.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Dave on 04/26/20 at 08:23:35

382721263B3C0D3D0D35272B60520 wrote:

Dave,, you mite wanna walk over and ask if she's done with it .. and just run it dry for her.

I have considered a late fall visit to her house.......maybe this is the year.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/20 at 09:23:21

Take cookies,,

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by sammie5832 on 04/26/20 at 09:42:04

The bike has only been sitting since November and I was riding it then. I don't think it's the battery because I literally had it on charge when I tried to start it, and it never gave me trouble before. I do drain the battery the more I try to start, and then have to wait for it to recharge. Not sure if that means anything. I put in fresh gas. I know once I get it started it will be fine, but I'm looking for a quick way to just get it going. All of your comments have been helpful. Just praying I don't have to pull the carb out and clean it. Especially since I'm no mechanic.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 04/26/20 at 09:52:22

The spark plug is most likely fouled at this point. Try cleaning it with a brass brush and 400 grit sandpaper between the gap.

Title: Re: help! Didn't winterize and my Savage won't sta
Post by Serowbot on 04/26/20 at 10:03:24

Add a little squirt of oil in the sparkplug hole... after you clean the sparkplug.