I have an 04 savage with about 3 k on it. I bought it with under 500 miles in April and began riding almost constantly. I have never had a bit of trouble with it. Then went out to the garage today, it has been sitting for a week. Fire it up take off and I cant even get it out of 4th gear, top end seems to be about 45 mph. I rode it for about 20 miles thinking it might straighten out but no luck. I pulled the air cleaner, new, pulled the fuel line, free flow. Plug looked good, dark tan. While on the stand I can open the throttle all the way and it eventually revs up, it takes about 3 seconds and I can hold it there as its not really screaming. The bike is stock except that I drilled the exhaust pipe and the cover for the A/F mixture. both of those have been done some time ago. and I must say backing the screw out didn't help very much with the backfiring issue. I have been meaning to do the "white spacer" mod and perhaps there is something in the carb that will hasten the mod. Seems to have a much tamer sound. I don't think it can be electrical. It couldn't have jumped time, right? Gas doesn't go bad that fast does it? And it was fine when I parked it. If it was a 2 cylinder I would say its firing on only one. Can anyone suggest what the problem may be? Thanks in advance.

One day mine behaved that way and I found a small piece of what I presume to be hose lining material in the main jet. The one in the very bottom. Only about 2000 RPM available under a load a load, more w/o. If there is some water in the bottom of the float bowl it will do much the same. I changed the hoses out that day.  Max

Guesses:
1) BBQed critters in the  exhaust.
2) Try running on PRI to see if symptoms change.
3) Something interfering with pully/belt/wheel -does rear tire spin freely?

An idea for the wise among us to ponder and judge...

With a partial tank of gasohol, could the natural heating/cooling cycle during a week of warm days and cool nights cause the tank to draw in moist air (which loses some of it's moisture to the alcohol) then vent the dried air, then repeat, until the gas gets weak from water saturation?  

That is the kind of uneducated malarkey that a friend of mine would say makes me a "pseudo-mechanic."  He would be correct.  But sometimes a shot in the dark can still hit.

Sandy Koocanusa wrote on 08/13/08 at 19:51:07:


I don't think it so far fetched. I'm pretty sure I had a similar experience.

I agree, it sounds fuel flow related somewhat - but I also get a small voice in my head saying 'I wonder if the rear brake is hanging and dragging the bike down maybe?'

Thank you all for the responses. Replaced the plug, put it back together, no difference. Dropped in just a couple tablespoons of Lucas  injector cleaner, ran it, rode it for a mile or so, no change, I went back to my other bike knowing the next step might be pulling the carb apartbut after sitting about an hour, the additive must have cleaned out a plugged port or jet. Jumped on and it has all the power it used to. Thanks again.