Savage_Greg wrote on 02/05/08 at 15:41:05:

That's the first thing I would do. Drain the carb bowl repeatedly. The gas in the bowl will go stale far quicker than the gas in your tank. Ethanol laced gas is even worse from what I've seen. There's a convenient screw on the bottom of the bowl for draining. If you find no gas in the bowl, suspect your petc0ck. If you have gasoline in the vacuum line to the petc0ck, it's likely failing.

Put 2 or 3 ounces of SeaFoam carb cleaner in your gas tank - it will help.

Don't use much of that ether starting fluid. It is VERY HARD on your motor.

Remember KISS

I suspect the problem is between the seat and handlebars. When was the last time you bought an airfilter? I'm just sayin......

Just a tag note about using "starter fluid" type spray in your carb. I highly recommend staying away from the ether based stuff that was originally meant for starting high compression diesel engines. It can be REALLY bad for a low compression engine like the Savage.

Instead, I recommend using WD-40 as a starter fluid. It burns good enough to make engines start easy, and lubes some too as it goes through. I've used the WD-40 on everything from lawnmower engines up to a Ford 460 V-8 with good results and no damage. Much less dangerous to use that low flash point ether too.  

Edit: Now after having given this advice, I've though about it again. And question the use of WD-40 in a vacuum actuated slide carb; because of the potential for leaving undesirable contaminants on the slide; which should be kept perfectly clean! Discussion?? ? ?  

I have onlu used the Starter spray on a car that was left standing, with a mechanical fuel pump.

The Problem was that the fuel had drained/evaporated and the engine would not turn over fast enough to pump up the petrol.

Solution either take out trhe plugs to lopse compression and wind it for 30 seconds or use the spray, the spray worked a treat, engine fired and turned over fast enough to pump up the petrol.

Now if you have to do something like this to start every time, something is wrong and needs to be sorted.

I have heard it described that the engine gets "used to it" if you use it too much, but I cant see how an engine can get "addicted", but I can see that you will possible dry the head out of oil etc, and do damage, also I am not sure what would happen to the piston rings with prolonged use.

As for the original problem, has it been tried yet in Prime?