First I would like to say how helpful I find this board, I have found it to be a wealth of information and read alot of posts before I decided to purchase my Savage. I ran across a 1996 with 4K miles and picked it up for 700.00. The problem is it needs a new cam, rockers and my brother suggested checking the oil pump so I also got the notorious cylinder oil plug and a complete gasket set. My first question is to check the oil pump I need to access the left side of the engine. Is there anything I should know or be made aware of before I start disassembling the engine. I also through the suggestions of people on this board purchase the mac performance slip-on muffler. Figured since its going to be torn down, might as well do it all at once. I am also looking at the dial a jet for the carb, any input on that would be greatly appreciated.  Finally I am thinking about swapping out the stock shocks for 12" or 13" progressives, will this affect the tracking of the belt drive greatly or will i be alright? I am 6' and 225 lb and the bike is a little short for me with the stock shocks. Go figure someone actually wants to raise the ass end instead of lower it. Any help or input is greatly appreciated and welcome. Thanks!!!

Brian

Forgot the most important part - take digital photos or Polaroids as you dissasemble everything, so you can remember how it goes back together several weeks later.

First thing- very good deal !
About the rocker arms-no way around buying new ones. About the cam shaft- instead of buyng a new why don't You send it to be reground? If I am correct somebody had it done for $100,/ which is cheaper than a new cam/  ,and also had it made with more lift. Just post a question. One more suggestion- change the cam chain. Usually Your problem is caused by a lack of maintenance and the very first thing to suffer is the timind chain. If You don't change it now You are risking a brocken chain not too far from now. So far I have never heard about a bad oil pump on a Savage.

WD wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


i'm probably about 3 hrs out from  pewy al  op.

now that the appearance mods are nearly complete (i doubt it ever will be fully compete)  i'm starting to think of the performance mods.  first up  keeping up with the theme of the bike i'm putting on a used super trapp (max i made up my mind). then going for the rejet and half spacer mod.  if i had the bucks i would go for a full blown engine mod, making it a monster, but that will have to wait.

Ok new question before I crack open the case, how could gas get into the oil? It only has 4k miles. As far as the cam goes, I got a brandy new one from RonAyers.com for $96.45. I thought about having the old cam reground, but it chewed up the rockers pretty well and one lobe had a prety noticable flat spot, so figured new was cheaper. Thanks.

Brian

Yeah, I have a manual and I'm not really looking forward to it, just want to get it done and get it running. What happened was the original owner
sealed somethings with permatex instead of using a gasket and the dealer found it in the oil and the carb sooooooo.  The guy I bought it from had an estimate to fixit and labor was for 9 hours. I'm not under any deadline so if i take my time I think I'll be fine. If i run into any problems, I'll be sure to ask. Everyone here seems to be very knowledgeable.

Thanks,

Brian

Also, it's funny but when I checked this topic earlier, I didn't see the picture of the open crankcase above.  Maybe the server was down....so obviously, I see that my other question was rather redundant.

hellstorm wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


Why do you suspect the oil pump?  Is or was oil present in the recesses under the head cover and around the cam shaft?