SuzukiSavage.com - Another one won't start

jef.savage

Serious Thumper

Offline

ridin' n slidin'

Posts: 638
Boston, MA
Gender: male

Another one won't start
04/27/10 at 17:09:26

I put a very low mileage '96 engine in my '86 a while back. It started right up and ran fine. I haven't had it on the road because the bike still needs other work done. But I've been starting it every week or so and riding it around my condo complex. Last week I did the fork seals and thought it was finally ready to go. I started it up and it ran for a minute or so and then just quit. I couldn't get it to start again. I thought it might be out of gas so I added some but no go. It cranks normally but it won't fire. It's getting gas, it already has a Raptor petcock. Today I pulled the plug and watched it spark as I cranked it but it still won't start. Help please.

Back to top

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #1 - 04/27/10 at 17:44:12 May not have enough charge, running around for a few minutes might not be enough to recharge it.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

jef.savage Serious Thumper Offline ridin' n slidin' Posts: 638 Boston, MA Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #2 - 04/27/10 at 17:58:36 Ran the battery dead trying to start it, pulled it and charged it over night, ran it dead again, pulled it and charged it again.
Back to top	IP Logged

Oldfeller--FSO

Serious Thumper
ModSquad

Offline

Hobby is now
"concentrated
neuropany"

Posts: 12671
Fayetteville, NC
Gender: male

Re: Another one won't start
Reply #3 - 04/27/10 at 18:04:48

Ditto.

The Savage has electronic ignition and the voltage that will still spin the bike over a bit sluggishly under compression may not be enough to fire the ignitor circuit.

Remember, when you checked the spark there is no compression to strain the starter motor into pulling its full current draw -- so then it has enough voltage to pull a spark while just pumping some air in and out through the spark plug hole. This isn't true under compression.

Step 1 Fully charge the battery

Step 2 fill the gas tank up to the top with known good gasoline

Step 3 if it still won't start whack the float bowl sharply with the butt end of a screw driver and wait a few minutes. Try again. Try again.

You don't mention using the choke, but over use can flood an engine which will then start normally after a day of rest.

Back to top

Former Savage Owner

IP Logged

verslagen1

YaBB Moderator
ModSquad

Offline

Where there's a
will, I want to be
in it.

Posts: 28884
L.A. California
Gender: male

Re: Another one won't start
Reply #4 - 04/27/10 at 18:52:26

jef.savage wrote on 04/27/10 at 17:09:26:

I started it up and it ran for a minute or so and then just quit.

a minute is about what it takes to run the bowl dry.
did you turn on the petcock?
then I'd check proper operation of the float.
got a drain teet on the bottom of the bowl?
hook a clear gas line to it and run it up along side the bowl.
turn on the petcock, gas should come up to the bowl gasket.
if it don't, you might have a stuck float or valve.
a percusive adjustment is in order. a couple of sharp raps with a plastic handle should do 'er.

Back to top

Versey's Place
Tech Section Index

IP Logged

Rocco Serious Thumper Offline addicted 2 riding TcB Posts: 1049 south florida Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #5 - 04/27/10 at 21:31:45 sometimes if my bike is semi warm or already been ridden that day, using the choke will make her stall while she warms up....normal?
Back to top	'95 bobber rat...i guess it's a "bat bike" haha flat black mostly, bare metal tank, header wrap, always a work in progress ! IP Logged

BurnPgh Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1732	Re: Another one won't start Reply #6 - 04/27/10 at 22:27:51 Rocco wrote on 04/27/10 at 21:31:45: sometimes if my bike is semi warm or already been ridden that day, using the choke will make her stall while she warms up....normal? normal
Back to top	IP Logged

buttgoat1 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1042	Re: Another one won't start Reply #7 - 04/28/10 at 09:57:48 I had intermittent starting problems at first. Typically I would drop the carb bowl, spray cleaner, and away she would go, every time. I have not had many problems since I rejetted, when I did have a couple of hard starts, I changed the plug and that cured it.
Back to top	IP Logged

jef.savage

Serious Thumper

Offline

ridin' n slidin'

Posts: 638
Boston, MA
Gender: male

Re: Another one won't start
Reply #8 - 04/28/10 at 11:51:31

Smacked the carb. no go. Swapped out the carb (doesn't everyone keep a spare around?), no go. Checked again for spark and got none, swapped out the coil (doesn't everyone keep a spare around?). it fired and ran for a few seconds then died. Wore a new battery down trying to get it going again. Brought the battery in to charge and gave up for the day. It'll be a week before I get a chance to look at it again. I think I'll stick a new plug in just to see if a little extra spark does anything. I'll update next Tuesday.

Back to top

IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Another one won't start Reply #9 - 04/28/10 at 11:54:33 Well, DANG!Talk about a cliffhanger. I cant wait for "the next installment".
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

Yonuh Adisi FSO

Serious Thumper

Offline

Savage Jedi (Knight)

Posts: 3622
Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine
Gender: male

Re: Another one won't start
Reply #10 - 04/28/10 at 12:00:36

jef.savage wrote on 04/28/10 at 11:51:31:

Smacked the carb. no go. Swapped out the carb (doesn't everyone keep a spare around?), no go. Checked again for spark and got none, swapped out the coil (doesn't everyone keep a spare around?). it fired and ran for a few seconds then died. Wore a new battery down trying to get it going again. Brought the battery in to charge and gave up for the day. It'll be a week before I get a chance to look at it again. I think I'll stick a new plug in just to see if a little extra spark does anything. I'll update next Tuesday.

The CDI aka The Magic Sh!t Box may be your culprit. Just a guess though.

Back to top

Check out Flight of Destiny http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9130XC

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #11 - 04/28/10 at 12:47:19 check your connections
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

jef.savage Serious Thumper Offline ridin' n slidin' Posts: 638 Boston, MA Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #12 - 04/28/10 at 12:54:02 When I swapped engines I had to splice the CDI connector from a '96 wiring harness into my harness so I could plug in the new CDI. I redid all the splices today just to check. Also checked all connections near there. I would figure I did something wrong there except that it ran fine for a few weeks.
Back to top	IP Logged

ratz

Junior Member

Offline

Wait.......what??

Posts: 92
Alabama Gulf Coast
Gender: male

Re: Another one won't start
Reply #13 - 04/28/10 at 13:02:20

On the subject of the CDI,does anyone have a dead one they would be willing to donate to me?I've managed to successfully rebuild a couple of Bandit CDI's(known problem on the 400's)and would like to see if it might be possible to resurrect a Savage CDI.I've got a '96 Savage,so it would be easier to function test a newer box.Also,I've got a PROM burner(around here SOMEWHERE!)so it might be possible to convert an older box to a newer one an vice versa.Just a project to see if I can,new ones are kinda pricey!

Back to top

IP Logged

james may Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 252 holyoke, ma Gender:	Re: Another one won't start Reply #14 - 04/28/10 at 15:00:48 You said you've got spark and fuel did you check the compression? the timing chain could be broke, or the auto decompression cable could be stuck causing no or low compression. to make sure fuel is not your problem you could shoot some starting fluid into the carb. if it starts or fires a few times you now fuel is your problem.
Back to top	Weightloss Blog http://atomsweightlosschronicles.blogspot.com IP Logged