I have some difficulty with my savage and I would like to know if some of you have an idea where I should look to pin point the origin of the problem. I'll give as much information on the problem as I can. Here it goes:

Near the end of the last summer I was ridding not far from my home when the engine start to slow down... I add more throttles to keep it from dying... and more... and more... and it die on me a while latter anyway. I notice gas leaking from the carburetor... I supposed I drawn it...

After that, the bike would not start. I was told to clean the carburetor bowl. So I did, without improvement. Next, I changed the spark plug with an immediate success. The bike would start but I felt it was not the real problem because it tended to die at idle... and soon after I start to have problem starting it again. I removed the battery; adjust the liquid level in it. Put it back. At that time, it was time to store it for winter.

When I started it, this spring, the bike would not start at first but once boosted, it started and work well enough for a 3h trip. However, a little after it refused again to start and at same time it seemed to have electrical difficulties. I suspected a low battery. It was actually low (12.2V) but high enough to crank the starter. I recharged it anyway but it did not help. I took a look at the spark plug again, and after that, it started again but had difficulty not to die at idle. I rode it around the block about 5 minutes before it died again. After that, it stated, as long as the engine was hot but once cold it would not start again. With the choke off, I succeeded to start if for a few bop bop bop before it died again... I plan on recharging again my battery and checking the cells gravity. I’m not sure it holds correctly its charge... I also though about getting a hotter spark plug...

I start to be a little clueless... I thought, maybe it could be due to a low compression. It looks to me it would make sense since it seems to leak a little oil from the middle of the cylinder. However, I’m not sure how to deal with it. I can’t afford opening the engine since I have no garage. At this point, I would only like to get this bike running safely enough to bring it to a garage for a complete check up...

Any suggestions?

The spark plug has a dark residue on it but had not other trace of wear. I have no experience but it did look to me way darker than the “light tan or grey deposite” that is said to be normal in the Clymer...

I did not take a big look too see if everything was tight in carburetor. Being new at mechanics, I preferred to avoid playing a lot with the carburetor at that time... I’ll try the sea foam and if it does not help, I’ll take a new, more thorough, look inside it.

Thank you for the suggestions.

If you left it on PRIme & flooded it, the needle/seat that closes the flow off into the bowl may need some fresh parts, like the needle for instance. It can get a groove in it where it meets the seat. If the float is set wrong, it wont put enough pressure on it to close off all the way. IF youve had this happen, the oil needs changed. Right away.
If the battery runs down while you are riding, either the battery or charge circuit is bad. Not sure you said it did, but I thought I saw some signs of it.