Tried to start my bike yesterday, fired once and then nothing (starter ok)

I checked I was getting fuel through the petc0ck on PRI - only a tiny dribble! I blew back up the hose and then got a good flow. I've now installed the petc0ck off my spares bike and fuel seems ok now, getting a good steady flow on PRI.

Bike is still not firing at all. Looks like the carb is the next thing to look at. I've not opened up a carb before so I'm hoping there might be a way of checking it's operation without stripping it all down.

eg is it worth draining the float bowl while it's stilll on the bike and then letting it refill? Is this likely to tell me anything? Is there any way of telling if fuel is getting all the way through the carb?

There are guys around here that will weigh in soon with wiser advice than mine, but I'll give you mine anyway...

If your technical competence is of a degree that would allow you to pull and clean the carb, do so.  Really, the most difficult part of that I found was getting it off the bike.  That was more of a grunting and tugging operation than a delicate mechanical procedure.  Then, a 3'X3' flat work space, screwdrivers (one each) and a can of carb cleaner is about all a guy needs.

Savage Wahine did a great write up in the Technical section here:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1191899985

If you aren't quite ready to tear into a carb yet, you might try disconnecting the fuel line from the petcock, draining and re-plugging the bowl, and then injecting carb cleaner through the line and letting it soak for awhile.  Use plenty, because most of the goodies in this carb are halfway to the top.  Then drain the bowl and refill with gas.  Be careful with the carb cleaner though.  It might do nasty things to your paint.

That's how I would do it, but I'm still learning on these things.  Like I said, someone will be along who knows more than I.

Good luck.

verslagen1 wrote on 06/06/08 at 06:05:39:


I have now! There was some stuff underneath where the in-tank screen was fitted...



I guess it's time to strip the carb then?  

Thanks for your help, time to take the plunge into carb-world!   :'(

Hey Verslagen1, I sit in awe as I read about you and Lancer and Greg, et al. making a one hour job out of removing, cleaning, and installing the carb on the Savage.  There must be some trick to cramming a 6 inch pipe into a 5 inch hole (so to speak).  I'd love to see a picture of the position of the carb just before it pops out from between the airbox and the intake port, if you have one laying around.  I got mine out of the parts bike, but it took some magic incantations, a chain, and a Chevy one-ton to do it.  I'm dragging my feet on opening mine up, because I don't want to break something and be without my bike.

I guess I could just go fiddle with the one on the parts bike until I master it, but reinventing the wheel is silly.  Is there any trick, or do you just have to practice?

PhilM wrote on 06/06/08 at 06:33:09:
replace 4 bowl screws and 4 top screws w/ ss allenheads..you may need small vice grips to get oem ph screws out..

Sandy Koocanusa wrote on 06/06/08 at 07:08:54:

Must be like alot of things on the bike, some people can't get the tank off w/o removing the petcock, but I can.  It's either I don't care about scratching the paint and they do or they really can't.
You got to twist it alittle to take advantage of what room you have, wiggle it abit, lift abit and pull.  before you put it back in, some lube will help, not sure what kind, anti seize maybe.

Pictures? no way jose, not when you got both hands involved, feet braced, tongue cocked... just not a pretty picture.

Before starting any thing unfamiliar, start by reading your manual then keep it with you during the procedure,it really does help,I know it's un manly to read the instuctions, but in this case a good idea.