SuzukiSavage.com - Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?

justin_o_guy

Ex Member

Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
01/03/07 at 07:32:21

I saw a post regarding a plug & some certain goopucky to put on it at 600 miles & such. I am only adjusting valves & checking the decomp & changing oil. Am I missing something?Sure would hate to have something go to pieces & you all say"You didn't adjust THAAAT!? OHH NNOOO!" & me just stand there goin :'( Noooooo. daaangittt.

Back to top

IP Logged

Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something? Reply #1 - 01/03/07 at 09:19:02 Check out the infamous plug leak in the Tech Ref section. There's a plug you would need to remove to torque one of the bolts. When you replace it, you should use the newer plug version and seal it with high-temp silicone, though the service manual says nothing about using a sealant.
Back to top	1998\|MAC muffler\|ceramic coated header\|K&N air filter\|Amal Mk2 carb\|Odyssey battery\|iridium plug\|NC windshield\|Dunlop 491s\|Superbrace\|EBC brake rotor\|12.5" Progressive shocks\|Kuryakyn ISO grips IP Logged

justin_o_guy Ex Member	Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something? Reply #2 - 01/03/07 at 09:51:00 I haven't messed with the head bolts. It doesn't seem to be a problem. I hope I still think that in a year.
Back to top	IP Logged

Savage_Greg

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Don't go around your
ass to reach your
elbow...

Posts: 7844
SW Washington State
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #3 - 01/03/07 at 10:05:15

justin_o_guy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I saw a post regarding a plug & some certain goopucky to put on it at 600 miles & such. I am only adjusting valves & checking the decomp & changing oil. Am I missing something?Sure would hate to have something go to pieces & you all say"You didn't adjust THAAAT!? OHH NNOOO!" & me just stand there goin :'( Noooooo. daaangittt.

Do you have a manual? Go with those recommendations, and use the Technical Corner when you have questions.

Goopucky is always good to have around, too.

Back to top

IP Logged

justin_o_guy Ex Member	Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something? Reply #4 - 01/03/07 at 10:13:16 Yep, got a Zuki manual. I just hesitate to go messing with head bolts. Seems just fine. I wonder after 13,500 miles how big a deal is it to retorque?
Back to top	IP Logged

Savage_Greg

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Don't go around your
ass to reach your
elbow...

Posts: 7844
SW Washington State
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #5 - 01/03/07 at 10:40:53

Don't hesitate to do anything if you have the tools and a manual.

The head bolts need to be retorqued as specified due to all the thermal expansions/contractions that go on in the first few miles.

Everything; studs, copper washers, head gaskets all go through some sort of settling in and that is why you retorque...essentially, the torque value on the stud/nuts becomes reduced in the break-in process.

You just have to do it correctly this first time.

Back to top

IP Logged

justin_o_guy

Ex Member

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #6 - 01/03/07 at 10:56:27

You do know you were sposed to say" Since it's made it this long it must be fine. The engineers are obviously just covering their butts. Don't worry about it." Ohh bt Noooooo, you hadda go insist I do it. Well, awwright buster, but if it craps out, my bikes oil is on YOUR hands!
Now I gotta look up the specs. Woo Hoo the good part is I have that thing scattered all over the garage right now anyway. Thanks, I will do it before I stick it all back together.

Back to top

IP Logged

Savage_Greg

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Don't go around your
ass to reach your
elbow...

Posts: 7844
SW Washington State
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #7 - 01/03/07 at 12:00:41

justin_o_guy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

You do know you were sposed to say" Since it's made it this long it must be fine. The engineers are obviously just covering their butts. Don't worry about it." Ohh bt Noooooo, you hadda go insist I do it. Well, awwright buster, but if it craps out, my bikes oil is on YOUR hands!
Now I gotta look up the specs. Woo Hoo the good part is I have that thing scattered all over the garage right now anyway. Thanks, I will do it before I stick it all back together.

When I first got involved in this discussion was in 2000, right after I took my new Savage to the dealer for that first check. Soon after that, my plug leak started...and the rest is a long long long string of online posts.

When the leak started I decided to fix it myself (since I had satisfied that warranty thing)...I didn't know about online Savage groups or that a plug was in there, but I did buy the SSM. On tear down, I learned alot...the d@mn mechanic didn't seal the plug when he retorqued my head...
....
....
....and here I am.

Back to top

IP Logged

Ed L. Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline "We All go a Little Crazy Sometimes" Norman Bates Posts: 2808 Sunny Florida Gender:	Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something? Reply #8 - 01/03/07 at 15:38:56 Six thousand miles on my '02 and I've never checked the head bolts. If your in the engine that far then check them but I'm not planning to go in that far for at least another 4,000 miles.
Back to top	Silver '02, clubman handle bars, Cobra headlight, Sportster muffler, K+N stock air filter, 152.5 main, Superbrace, oil cooler, 1/2 inch aluminium plate forward controls, spark advance, goes like stink IP Logged

steelwolf

Serious Thumper

Offline

"I'm a cowboy,
on a steel horse I
ride."

Posts: 847
Trinity, NC
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #9 - 01/03/07 at 16:38:49

If the head cover is already off, change the plug now and retourqe the head bolts insted of taking it apart again in 3000 miles when/if it starts to leak. If the head cover is still on just check the ones you can get to and leave the plug in there till it starts to leak.

This may be bad advice but it is my advice and I'll give it all I want to. Grin

Back to top

IP Logged

Fido_the_Cat

Senior Member

Offline

" If you don't
ask, They can't say
no!"

Posts: 300
Harrisburg PA
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #10 - 01/03/07 at 18:40:19

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

When I first got involved in this discussion was in 2000, right after I took my new Savage to the dealer for that first check. Soon after that, my plug leak started...and the rest is a long long long string of online posts.

When I asked at the "Shop", What happens at the 600 mile sevice that majkes it soooo important I was told Everything. Then I asked them to define, Everything. Versions are different depending on who you ask.

The question becomes did they torque the head bolts or not. I vote for No. Not as another opportunity to kick a "D"ship but that would be inline with other past experiences. Just something that I need to do and follow up after the the job has been done and paid for.
(Did I kick hard enough?)
I got the tools, manual and Clymers and the forum, thier gonna have to let another monkey go....

Back to top

Follow me into the twisties.... I'll wait for you on the other side.

IP Logged

Savage_Greg

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Don't go around your
ass to reach your
elbow...

Posts: 7844
SW Washington State
Gender: male

Re: Scheduled maintenance, am I missing something?
Reply #11 - 01/03/07 at 22:31:58

Oh, I some much agree...

Did I ever mention that when I went to get my scoot after the "everything first warranty service" that they had to give me a new battery because some idiot left my bike parked with the key in the Park position....I had to wait for them to fix it...

....and these are "certified" Suzuki mechanics

Buy a SSM and do your own service, is my choice.

Back to top

IP Logged