I know that soemone yanked the decompression valve entirely, so it is possible.  I do not know any details.  I think it was on the down Heise forum... good luck.

wes wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


Can I ask why?

A manual decompression lever is no strange feat, nor is it difficult to achieve. European bikes (Guzzis and Ducatis to begin with, but English singles as well) have always had hand-operated decompressors to aid kick-starting.
All you need is a clutch lever with the smaller decompressor lever under it, and analyze carefully how and when the electric decompressor opens the exhaust valve.
The difficult part is learning exactly when to pull (or release) the lever, in order to achieve 'some' compression.
It is actually much easier on a kick-starter bike.

However, my advice is to leave the decompressor well alone, and check out if the DR750-800 starter motors are compatible to the LS650 engine block.

Maurizio

Going to have to go with the general wisdom of the group on this one and suggest that it's probably better to leave the decomp system on the Savage alone for a couple of reasons.  If I'm understanding the system correctly, unlike the manual decomp valves on old Brit bikes, the decomp system on the Savage is camshaft actuated--meaning in practice that the system drafts the left-hand exhaust valve only on the compression stroke.  Hence, I'm not sure that installing a cable/lever to the current decomp valve and operating it by hand (a la an old Norton or Indian) will acheive the desired result, as I think the solenoid is fired on a timer circuit once every engine cycle and the valve is clicked closed at TDC by the camshaft/rocker arm (and hence, you would need to be able to squeeze the lever rapidly with each cycle of the engine to keep the valve open--an amusing thought, but, I believe, impossible).

Someone who knows more about the specifics of the Savage system may be able to confirm or deny this....
dr

Reelthing wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


Maybe he does not trust electronic devices on motorbikes.

Greetz
Kropatchek

I should think if the solenoid failed the decompression valve would become inoperable since the valve operates only from a circuit from the solenoid. As far as using a hand operated lever instead of the electrical triggered solenoid, it is the extreme placement of the decompression valve that would require some very inventive cable routing with attached brackets and difficult pull angles to get it right. Keep in mind the pull  lever would be mounted to the handlebar and the current decompression valve is situated atop the head, attached to the rocker arm assembly, placed precariously close to the gas tank. Not impossible but certainly a Rube Goldberg project.

I'm thinking that if it failed and I couldn't obtain replacement parts, I'd look into making it manual.  Otherwise, I'm not fixin' what ain't broke.