Given the age and milage, shutting off on hard climbs sounds like a fuel issue; the petcock might be at fault, or simply vacumn hose no longer air tight. Milage is right for timing chain, you might want to get in on the group order.  good luck sorting it out.  What else ya gonna do when you are up to your hips in snow.

I have the oil leak going on, and I hear a rattle on the right side of the motor when I rev the throttle. Dealership said it was the timing chain...probably a $500 bill he said. Do you guys think it's the cam chain I've read about?


You can check the cam chain while you go after that oiol leak. Might as well have the chain & gasket & sealer, because you will need it, later if not now.But paying someone to do that cam chain is just way crazee unless you are just wealthy.Its not very technical to do it yourself. Only a couple of BearTraps to watch for. The $$ you spend on tolls is nothing compared to the repair bill.


The third bothersome issue is 3 times last fall the bike shut off at highway speed, all on hard uphill climbs at 60 mph on 4 lane road. Seemed like a fuel problem cause she started back up.

Shut Off? Just running along, delivering full power & CLICK, shut off, or slugging up the hill, slowing & bucking? Details matter on this kind of problem.Might be electrical, but why just uphill? If it started bucking & chugging, like when it runs out of gas on level ground, then look at the carb issue. OHHH Hey! Maybe lost vacuum to open the petcock?

Do you Savage experts think I'm looking at a complete motor overhaul?
Not with so few miles you arent, unless you just picked up one of the very few that just fall apart. These are a lot like the old early 70's Mavericks, just keep on going, not real fast & flashy, just keepin on ,

Sure am chompin' to get her out this spring, but I know I have some serious mechanical issues to remedy first.
I doubt you need the cam chain so early, unless someone didnt change oil or something.The oil leak is not so tough to fix. I hear theres someone working on a metal plug w/ O-ring seal. That would sure be a sweet answer. No Goo to glop on it, would never leak,,


Sorry for rambling. Thanks for reading. Any advice would be appreciated.   [/quote]


Okay, heres the advice, get a book, round up some tools. Look the project over careful;ly, develop a plan & go for it. Stub your toe or just want confirmation that you are going right, get in here & ask..

Welcome to the forum


While I was typing my response, these guys posted & I see TRippah is pointing to the petcock. Vacuum is decreased at full throttle so maybe thats why it fell down.

But, If you just hit the starter & it fired back up, then I guess the bowl wasnt run dry.. dang, toss us some details, okay?

Not much to add, here's the cam chain adjuster check how-to

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1191167029

and your quitting on hills is exactly what mine did.  I replaced the hose and it got better.  Finally, a year later, it became a diaphram leak.  At 7 years, the auto guys tell you to replace all rubber under the hood, not that anyone does.  But that little rubber diapham is 20 years old.  I'd be looking for a replacement, either a younger one or the one from a raptor w/o the vacuum shutoff.