SuzukiSavage.com - question: Reserve tank

j

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question: Reserve tank
07/18/08 at 06:59:14

I apparently don't know how to use the reserve tank. When I bought the motorcycle, and the guy was giving me motorcycle 101 (I'd never owned one) he said you could reach down and switch to reserve whilst riding. I don't need to do that... but I can't even get the motorcycle to start when I switch to reserve. Two times the bike has run outta gas on me and I've pulled over and switched to reserve and tried to start it and nothing. Do you just have to sit there and keep trying to start it for awhile? I wouldn't have thought so if you could switch it over whilst riding.

also, twice over the last week or two when I've shut bike off, I've smelled a kind of sweet smelling smokey something, smells familiar but can't put my finger on it. No visible smoke, just a pleasant smell, but does this smell indicate something wrong? Or is my motorcycle just telling me it loves me.

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2005 S40. Dyna muffler. 12.5 Prog Shocks. Socket risers.

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youzguyz Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2538 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #1 - 07/18/08 at 07:07:47 Are you sure you weren't on PRI when you ran out of gas? Common mistake. People assume PRI means Primary, when it means Prime (as in to Prime a pump). ON is normal - gets gas from top of tank RES is reserve - gets gas from bottom of tank PRI - gets gas from bottom of tank as well
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j Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 71 Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #2 - 07/18/08 at 07:11:44 yeah, I was running on "on" the whole time then ran outta gas, looked in the gas tank, saw a little in the bottom of the tank, switched to reserve, couldn't start. Maybe I should've just tried to start it longer, but there was a gas station a block away so I just rolled it
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Sandy Koocanusa

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Re: question: Reserve tank
Reply #3 - 07/18/08 at 07:14:52

If you run it out of gas and DON'T get it switched over to reserve before the engine stops, you may have to set it to prime for a few seconds, then go to reserve. The long side of the petcock lever is your pointer, so when you are looking at the petcock, the setting you are on should be hard to read. It will be covered by the lever.

Hmmm... sweetish, smokey smell? That could be the cause of your trouble understanding motorcycle 101. Sluggo! Where are you? Can you come interpret for this gentleman?

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Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged

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mornhm - FSO

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Re: question: Reserve tank
Reply #4 - 07/18/08 at 07:15:39

If you have completely run out of gas in the carbs while riding, and then switch to reserve, you will need to have vacuum at the petc0ck to get the gas out of the tank. That's what the prime position is for. However, I don't remember on the Savage if the prime pickup is lower in the tank than the run pickup (like the reserve) or not. If not, you may have to tilt the MC to get the gas to run to the carbs.

Otherwise if your vacuum system is in good shape (no leaks - plenty of vacuum) and your battery is fully charged, you can probably just crank the engine and get some gas to the carb through the petc0ck on reserve that way.

Basically switching while you are still sputtering means you haven't run completely out of gas in the carbs and since the engine is still turning you still have vacuum.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #5 - 07/18/08 at 07:30:47 I believe the prime pick up is the same as reserve.
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j Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 71 Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #6 - 07/18/08 at 07:32:44 can you run on reserve all the time instead of on "on" so that you're always drawing from the bottom of the tank and you're just using your whole tank instead of dividing it into two for use (ignoring the obvious danger here of getting stranded somewhere)
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Sandy Koocanusa Serious Thumper Offline Don't blame me. I didn't vote for him. Posts: 1878 Bigfork, MT Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #7 - 07/18/08 at 07:40:55 Yep.
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Toymaker Serious Thumper Offline Dragon Rider Posts: 1534 Granite Falls, NC Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #8 - 07/18/08 at 14:40:56 I run on prime all the time. I keep track of how many miles I have ridden and at the 110 mark (100 for me cuz I have a bigger rear tire), I stop. By that time I am just hitting the reserve part of the tank.
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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #9 - 07/18/08 at 15:07:30 are you real sure about the petcock lever ? - you put the long part on setting you want there's a cast in arrow on the tip
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Max_Morley

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Re: question: Reserve tank
Reply #10 - 07/18/08 at 15:35:24

Whatever, sitting on the bike the lever goes forward for Reserve and back for Prime. Once you get tuned into the bike you will feel it stutter about 90 & 102 miles since the last fill up, and be able to shift to Reserve before you loose many MPH. If you left it on Reserve last time, you and pilot just before they crash will share that "O nuts" feeling. Max

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Max at Thumper Acres. '96 Savage bagger, '03 Savage w/Cozy sidecar for wifeni.

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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #11 - 07/18/08 at 19:57:55 The way I remember where Reserve is when it starts to spit & sputter, arrow/lever pointing front, which is the way I want to go....
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Dj12midnit Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline If you'r here and I'm here isn't this our time? Posts: 1036 Lynden Wa. Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #12 - 07/18/08 at 20:12:55 This I know if the long part is down it is on run. Turn the long part towards the front wheel it is reserve. towards the back tire is prime. Now what ever makes you think I dont keep track of my miles.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #13 - 07/18/08 at 20:17:28 I only have one tank where is your reserve tank
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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: question: Reserve tank Reply #14 - 07/18/08 at 20:50:11 One gallon reserve in my Saddlebag:
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