So I went out on the road for the first time to test out the Savage last night.  I got about 1/2 mile from home and the bike started lagging and catching over and over again.  I pulled in the clutch and the engine died.  I was going about 30 MPH in 3rd gear at the time.  I sat on the side of the road for about 5 minutes messing with the fuel petc0ck and the choke and then got it started again.  turn right around and went home.  This afternoon I tried again and the same thing happened at about the same distance from home.  This time I checked before doing anything.  The petc0ck was in the "On" position and the choke was all the way in.  I switched to reserve and it immediately fired right up.  I rode around about 5 miles on roads around my neighborhood and tested some things.

Here is what I discovered.  If I have the petcock in either eserve or Prime, it runs fine.  Had it up to 70MPH in 5th gear and that is saying alot (I am 6'3" 270lbs) and she still seemed to have a good bit more go in her.
Every time I would put the petc0ck into the "On" position I would make it about 1/2 mile before the engine would die on me.  My speed and gear made no difference to this outcome.

Any ideas on what could be the problem here?  I am not familiar with the internal working of a fuel petc0ck and therefore definately not an expert.  It seems to me that it shouldn't have anything to do with a clogged line as there is only theone line coming out of the petco0ck to the carb.  Any ideas/help would be appreciated.

Robert

I had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM on my 97.  Did the petc0ck mod (do a search on this site), pulled the screen completely and replaced with in-line fuel filter.  Neary a problem since.  

is there any reason you can't pull the screen and back flush it and put it back in?

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


Yeah, that gives a new meaning to running out of gas doesn't it?

Were you able to open the pet0ock?

praetorian wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:
whoops should of mentioned that..