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Message started by porky133 on 05/01/23 at 16:37:27

Title: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/01/23 at 16:37:27

I bought a 1996 LS650 with 2700 miles on it. Cleaned it up a bit, took to dealer for new tires and brake fluid flush. Ran it today and noticed a few things that I haven't been able to find answers to.

1) the rear brake pedal is way too high. Is it possible to lower it down so it's closer to my foot level?

2) I've seen threads about raising the front of the seat, but no telling of how to do this. After riding, yup, I could use this!

3) Its running pretty good to me. Maintains 75mph on the interstate, no problem. But I have noticed that when I kill the motor I get a soft pop from the muffler. Honestly, it sounds like a little fart! Not load, but there at each shut down today. How to remedy this?

I've ordered Verslagn's cam tensioner and head plug. I also have a clutch cable coming as this one seems to be at its limit already. Oh, and some foot pegs. Both drivers pegs were bent back. Also, Yamaha 660 petcock is now on order.

Fun bike to ride, looking forward to a few miles this summer!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by ohiomoto on 05/01/23 at 18:39:07

My bike backfired a lot when I first got it and it was jetted very rich. I leaned it out for performance and I only get a light poof when I shut it down, but it runs very well under a wide variety of conditions.

So, I wouldn't worry about the poof or even a random backfire if your bike performs well. It's a bit of a thing with these bikes, you can pull the chock as you hit the kill switch. That will mostly kill the poof.

A clutch cable shouldn't be at its limit at 2700 miles unless it was damaged somehow. Have you tried adjusting it at the bar or down at the case?

Make sure you are using oils that won't kill your clutch.

But you pretty much have your bases covered with the rest of the stuff.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by och on 05/01/23 at 20:16:49

455A475E4C040606350 wrote:

I bought a 1996 LS650 with 2700 miles on it. Cleaned it up a bit, took to dealer for new tires and brake fluid flush. Ran it today and noticed a few things that I haven't been able to find answers to.

1) the rear brake pedal is way too high. Is it possible to lower it down so it's closer to my foot level?

2) I've seen threads about raising the front of the seat, but no telling of how to do this. After riding, yup, I could use this!
I had mine sent to reupholstering specialist to add more padding and reupholster it.

3) Its running pretty good to me. Maintains 75mph on the interstate, no problem. But I have noticed that when I kill the motor I get a soft pop from the muffler. Honestly, it sounds like a little fart! Not load, but there at each shut down today. How to remedy this?
Its just something that it does, I think the pop is kind of cool.

I've ordered Verslagn's cam tensioner and head plug. I also have a clutch cable coming as this one seems to be at its limit already. Oh, and some foot pegs. Both drivers pegs were bent back. Also, Yamaha 660 petcock is now on order.
The petcock is an absolute must!

Fun bike to ride, looking forward to a few miles this summer!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by verslagen1 on 05/01/23 at 22:35:20

726D70697B333131020 wrote:

1) the rear brake pedal is way too high. Is it possible to lower it down so it's closer to my foot level?

yes, down by the pedal axle on the other side of the mounting plate is a bolt that controls height, play with that and then loosen the cable at the back

Quote:

2) I've seen threads about raising the front of the seat, but no telling of how to do this. After riding, yup, I could use this!

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1109035237

Quote:

3) Its running pretty good to me. Maintains 75mph on the interstate, no problem. But I have noticed that when I kill the motor I get a soft pop from the muffler. Honestly, it sounds like a little fart! Not load, but there at each shut down today. How to remedy this?

a little mouse fart on shut down is fine, I'd leave it be.

Quote:

I've ordered Verslagn's cam tensioner and head plug. I also have a clutch cable coming as this one seems to be at its limit already. Oh, and some foot pegs. Both drivers pegs were bent back. Also, Yamaha 660 petcock is now on order.

Fun bike to ride, looking forward to a few miles this summer!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/02/23 at 04:48:46

Thanks for the replys ya'll! Now I'm going to get some stoppers and raise the seat, ignore the mouse fart (good description) and move that brake pedal!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by Dave on 05/02/23 at 14:37:56

I have grown a bit fond of the shutdown "POOF"......a bit like the motorcycle is telling me what a great ride we had.

With the wrong jetting and muffler combination...the shut down can result in a sound more like a rifle shot - that would be irritating.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by J Mac on 05/02/23 at 16:18:01

I've had the rifle shot. Fun stuff - dogs bark. I richened the mixture using the air mixture screw and did the white spacer mod. One of these things helped. It's now a poof. Oh, I noticed the poof is worse if the idle is too high.

62595443525E454358505D42310 wrote:

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/02/23 at 16:39:59

I wanted to add that the Dealership that changed the tires and flushed the brake lines is the one that said the clutch cable was worn out. It's at the end of its adjustment.

Cheap enough to get a new one and I'll install it myself.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by Dave on 05/02/23 at 17:14:47

5748554C5E161414270 wrote:

I wanted to add that the Dealership that changed the tires and flushed the brake lines is the one that said the clutch cable was worn out. It's at the end of its adjustment.

You can adjust the clutch cable at the handlebar lever......as well as down at the engine case. Be sure that both nuts are on top of the mount down on the engine...the are snuggled together to lock them in place. (If you put one nut on top and one nut on the bottom of the mount - you can break the aluminum casting and that is a bit problem as it is mounted on the engine casing).

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/03/23 at 06:54:01

Haven't looked at the bottom/engine case side, but the top side is almost out of the handlebar end piece. I got my manual now, will look at it later.

Right now I'm restoring a Craftsman LT1000 lawn mower to service. Learned a lot about lawn mowers over the last two weeks! Once it's off the lift, the bike goes back on.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/10/23 at 18:04:26

Spent some time with the bike today. Installed new foot pegs and adjustetd the brake pedal height. Looked at the clutch cable and I can't get it to tighten any from the bottom. Tomorrow or this weekend I'll probably change the clutch cable.

Another thing I looked at is the battery. It appears to be too big for the battery box. Gonna check the numbers and see.

Anyone know how to remove the steering lock? It isn't intuitive (to me).

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by ohiomoto on 05/11/23 at 16:39:44

2E253D1B2925272F440 wrote:

---------------------------

FYI, DO NOT adjust your idle too low. A low idle can result in a lack of oil up top and a scorched camshaft.

I don't know how slow is too low but, I believe the idle should be around 1100 rpm. It will thump 550 times per minute since it fires on every other stroke.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WLURU50G-o[/media]

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 05/12/23 at 05:19:04

So, I was right, some one had installed a battery that didn't fit right. Couldn't get the tool puch holder plate and side cover to go on. Bought a new battery and everything went together like it should.

I have a strong gasoline smell coming from my air filter. Should I be looking at this next?

Also, still looking to remove the steering lock if anyone has some suggestions. I see a Key block on top of the lock but no idea how to remove it.

Lastly, still waiting for cam chain tensioner. Once it arrives, it gets changed, clutch cable gets changed and fresh oil and filter. Then I think she will be ready to ride all summer long!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by J Mac on 05/12/23 at 19:29:09

Point taken. I haven't checked the idle with an instrument, but it's definitely not low. It gets faster and faster if the engine gets too hot ;)

5057565052504B503F0 wrote:

[quote author=2E253D1B2925272F440 link=1682984247/0#6 date=1683069481]I've had the rifle shot. Fun stuff - dogs bark. I richened the mixture using the air mixture screw and did the white spacer mod. One of these things helped. It's now a poof. Oh, I noticed the poof is worse if the idle is too high.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 06/13/23 at 05:28:44

Hey guys, Got my tensioner and will install it sometime in July (going on a long trip on another bike starting this Father's Day weekend). Looking over what all needs to be done to change the tensioner and I came across a reference to "Head Cover Mod" but can't find what it really is.

Any links that I can look at for this? Supposed to help with Spark Plug change I think.

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by ThumperPaul on 06/13/23 at 07:32:20

Regarding the strong smell of gas in the air box, fuel is backing up into the air box. I would check the needle valve - item #20 in the diagram here.. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1098869040

This was the culprit when I had the same problem. It started off randomly and became worse. The needle was worn out and not seating fully closed allowing fuel to continue to seep into the carb. While you're in there, inspect the float and check the float level too. Check/clean that little filter too...

Or buy a rebuild kit and replace the parts... A new needle valve and filter in there will be a good thing. I think this is the kit I bought. I only replaced a few things and saved the rest for a rainy day.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225332589824?fits=Model%3ASavage+650%7CMake%3ASuzuki&hash=item3476de7500:g:jeEAAOSwSRZjtn~c&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8EndDeR38uO%2FAIK9c%2FbClDKEP3MZsBRUXHyKJLslEse1ifmefoKjr6ySyHaR55OLzPKYhbPssufFdogUVmv2a5UP5qjLWstf5oujEPsY1zoC6IQ6FE1%2By9fXdgzRqU4j040MwYebVaSR1c2bw8XRUh6jIDOqSXzdN3NZkC9RU5eLccLMFyZ%2B8oqhv8TS8zczubHGx1ka6wTMN%2BqHuKUk7BxpcGOTl5gG%2BFqnPLGe%2FDD9XtDOReMY4fI4INeu1DgdWZJf0KWKN1wh%2Bg%2BnMjY6yqaCPUPG%2FIh0GRSzfzjBQSKRllYwjU6I1V9G4WnzeB%2Bm%2Fw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMhqLJ0pZi

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 08/11/23 at 13:51:15

Hello all, it's been a busy summer and I've been working on other projects until now. Today I got the clutch cable installed, but the Haynes manual is misleading on some things. You pretty much have to remove the petcock to get the tank off. And the manual points to the lower clutch cable adjustment point as the end of the cable. I used the two nuts to adjust the cable.

Since the tank was off I changed the petcock to the raptor one and discovered that the outlet on the Raptor is smaller than the inlet on the carberator. I hope the clamps I installed keep it from leaking.

Last thing I got done was to raise the front of the seat about an inch. Tomorrow I'll add fuel and take a test ride. Hopefully I got the clutch right and it doesn't leak!

Title: Re: New to me 1996 LS650 and some questions
Post by porky133 on 08/21/23 at 17:14:58

The clutch worked fine, but the petcock itself leaked. Opened it up and it's missing the inner O-ring. Ordered a differtent one, installed and everything is good now. I also had to soak up fuel from the bottom of the airbox, I'll start closing the petcock when not riding and see if that helps.