Hi all...

Great site here!  I just found it a few days ago and have enjoying reading the posts.

I've got a fuel problem that I wrote about over on Bert Heise's forum.  Thanks to all that have responded and helped out.  Unfortunately, the problem still exists...  

I've got an '88 Savage and whenever I start the bike [with the petc0ck in the ON position], it runs goods for about 30 seconds and then it slowly dies out. At the same time, fuel comes out of the left tube. If I give it more gas before it dies [ie. increase the RPMs], then the gas doesn't spill out. With the petc0ck in the PRI position, the bike starts and runs fine with no problems.  These are the things I've done so far:

1. Overhauled the carb
2. Replaced the fuel line from the petc0ck to the carb
3. Checked the float and the float valve needle... 3 times
4. Checked the fuel petc0ck
5. Checked the vacuum line from the fuel valve to the carb
6. Checked the vacuum unit
7. Removed the vacuum unit from the fuel valve assembly and check the diaphragm
8. Drained the tank, removed the petc0ck and checked the built-in fuel filter
9. Started the bike with and without the gas cap

A few days ago, I increased the idle speed a bit thinking that since whenever I gave it a bit more gas, the fuel didn't spill out.  Naturally, it idled faster and the bike ran great.  I rode for about 10 miles with no problem [with the petc0ck in the ON position]. At every stop sign and stop light, I was checking for any spill fuel. There wasn't any. I lowered the idle speed a touch because I found out that once I get up to speed in 1st gear, the idle speed was moving me along at 13 mph on a level road with no input from the throttle!    I think that was a little too much idle!

Does anyone have any other ideas that I could try?  ??? Is it possible that the idle screw can loosen up over time and lower my idle speed? Also, could the main  diaphragm in the carb have a small leak that might cause these symptoms? I checked it out thoroughly when I had it apart.

Thanks!

Gitarzan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:

Well... maybe a lower than normal idle speed's been my problem all along! I'll definitely check that out as soon as I can get hold of a portable tachometer.

slavy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:

That's what I thought about, also.  But think of this scenario:  the bike runs fine with the petc0ck on PRI.  Gas is constantly flowing to the carb. The float is working correctly or the carb would be flooded all the time and most likely, gas would be spilling out of the carb through the vent tube.

>/the only thing is the  carb. is working fine in PRI wich doesn't make any sense/. <

You got that right, Slavy!  

BTW - I just found out that the "censor/ filters" for this site won't allow a picture of a petc0ck that is spelled correctly.  I had to change the spelling for the JPEG too  

While working on this problem, and since the bike's an '88 and probably still has the original hoses, I decided to replace the vacuum line from the petc0ck to the carb. I couldn't find any leaks when I checked it before so I pretty much ruled out the hose as the problem. So I took off the vacuum hose and decided to split both ends and look in the hose for anything unusual. I found fuel inside the hose at the petco0ck end which leads me to believe I've got a small leak in the vacuum unit on the petc0ck.  Ron Ayers here I come!

Intersting guys ... thought I read somewhere that there is a way to retrofit the Savage's vacuum operated petkock so that it operates like a standard unit with "Off", "On" & "Res" positions ... however, didn't read how this could be accomplished ... any ideas how this could be done? Any benefit to performing that mod?

Jazzdude wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


The only thing that I could imagine would be to actually measure the float distance when the needle is seated.  I usually just "eyeball" that and use a little common sense about the float level.  Usually if the float bracket is horizontal, the float height is good.  If you looked at it, and it seemed right, then it is probably good.  Seems like your other checks are thorough enough too.

I converted my petc0ck to manual after the vac diaghrpagm started leaking fuel into the intake through the vac line.  Once you disassemble the petc0ck and figure out how it works, it's pretty straight forward.  You'll be deleting the vac diaphragm and a couple springs (ON all the time at this point), and then plugging off one of the holes in the little white plastic valve cone that goes up the middle (to give you an "OFF").

Line up the plugged hole where it corresponds to the "PRI", and now that's off.  "RES" and "ON" now work like a dirt bike/atv/old harley.

If you want to send it to me, I'll do it for you, photo the deal, and put in on the tech section.  Mine is already done so it would be hard to show you what to delete - it's in the trash already.