SuzukiSavage.com - Some newbie questions

Fujisawa Rob

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Some newbie questions
04/12/11 at 12:28:41

My '86 doesn't have the torque limiting gear for the starter system. I've read a little about cracks or worse occurring due to kickback when the engine stops. I haven't noticed any significant noises when the engine stops, although I do hear a 'whirr' that sounds like it's from the starter turning. Should I be overly concerned about this design flaw? I've read about swapping the case cover and gear from 96+ models, or using a decompression controller to activate that system on shut-off.

Second question: I see some oil dampness near the top of the exhaust header, right where it exits the head. Is this likely from the 'oil plug'?

And one more: I see some oil spots between the fins next to the head gasket, but no seepage or wetness is visible even after getting the engine pretty hot. It looks like it might be old. I'm going to give it a good cleaning and see if it shows again. If it does, is it worth the effort to try re torquing the head, or should I just order a gasket and do it right?

Thanks.

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86 Savage LS650 (no name yet Wink

) - new commuter- odo claims 14k
89 Isuzu Trooper V6 "Beniko" - spun bearing at 233k
89 Lincoln Town Car "Lucretia" - foul weather ride - 133k

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verslagen1

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Re: Some newbie questions
Reply #1 - 04/12/11 at 15:19:42

While this doesn't happen with every pre'90 bike there is, I am concerned. Work arounds would be to snub the spin down of the engine by leaving it in gear and letting the clutch out when stopped. Or putting a manual lever on the decomp lever. Or putting a 'kill' button on the solenoid so you could manually activate it. This would have the benefit of being able to push start it easier. Adding the gear brings it up to equivalent to the post 90's bike

Yes, you have the dreaded head plug leak, a small leak is not a concern except the loss of oil with time.

Again, oil seepage not a major concern except to maintain oil level. Retorque and hope for the best.

If a drip of oil is a major concern then tear apart and reseal. It's up to you.

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Fujisawa Rob

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Re: Some newbie questions
Reply #2 - 04/12/11 at 17:17:23

verslagen1 wrote on 04/12/11 at 15:19:42:

While this doesn't happen with every pre'90 bike there is, I am concerned. Work arounds would be to snub the spin down of the engine by leaving it in gear and letting the clutch out when stopped. Or putting a manual lever on the decomp lever. Or putting a 'kill' button on the solenoid so you could manually activate it. This would have the benefit of being able to push start it easier. Adding the gear brings it up to equivalent to the post 90's bike

...

If a drip of oil is a major concern then tear apart and reseal. It's up to you.

Sounds good. I think I'll rig up a switch to activate the solenoid. Will the loss of compression alone cause the engine to stall as quickly as the kill switch would? I imagine it might leave unburned fuel in the engine and tend to foul the plugs over time.

I probably won't mess with well enough for now, as far as oil leaks are concerned.

Thanks for the advice.

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86 Savage LS650 (no name yet Wink

) - new commuter- odo claims 14k
89 Isuzu Trooper V6 "Beniko" - spun bearing at 233k
89 Lincoln Town Car "Lucretia" - foul weather ride - 133k

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verslagen1

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Re: Some newbie questions
Reply #3 - 04/12/11 at 17:54:40

Fujisawa Rob wrote on 04/12/11 at 17:17:23:

Sounds good. I think I'll rig up a switch to activate the solenoid. Will the loss of compression alone cause the engine to stall as quickly as the kill switch would? I imagine it might leave unburned fuel in the engine and tend to foul the plugs over time.

I'd push the run/kill switch 1st then the decomp button (use a momentary switch like the start button) so you'd have no more unburnt gas then normal.

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Fujisawa Rob Junior Member Offline We got the thump! Posts: 85 Fort White, FL Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #4 - 04/13/11 at 06:22:27 The engine easily stalls if the clutch is engaged at a stop, which is good. I still hear the "whirring" noise which I presume is the starter.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #5 - 04/13/11 at 06:56:04 My 96 also makes that noise you describe when I turn it off, not always but I'd say over 50% of the time. It's like when I turn the key off some gears are still running in there for about a second. Like a marble in a gearbox. It's always done that.
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Fujisawa Rob

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Re: Some newbie questions
Reply #6 - 04/13/11 at 07:09:03

Arnold wrote on 04/13/11 at 06:56:04:

My 96 also makes that noise you describe when I turn it off, not always but I'd say over 50% of the time. It's like when I turn the key off some gears are still running in there for about a second. Like a marble in a gearbox. It's always done that.

Ok, maybe it's not the starter. It seems to do it every time. I suppose I could pull the starter and push start it, then kill the engine to see if it still happens.

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86 Savage LS650 (no name yet Wink

) - new commuter- odo claims 14k
89 Isuzu Trooper V6 "Beniko" - spun bearing at 233k
89 Lincoln Town Car "Lucretia" - foul weather ride - 133k

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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #7 - 04/13/11 at 07:26:04 Does the starter runs once the bike is started???
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Fujisawa Rob Junior Member Offline We got the thump! Posts: 85 Fort White, FL Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #8 - 04/13/11 at 07:40:45 Arnold wrote on 04/13/11 at 07:26:04: Does the starter runs once the bike is started??? How do you mean? Does the starter keep turning? Not that I can tell.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #9 - 04/13/11 at 07:50:32 I mean in a normal situation it kicks in to start the bike then does nothing. So I would think it also remains idle when the bike it turned off.
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Fujisawa Rob Junior Member Offline We got the thump! Posts: 85 Fort White, FL Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #10 - 04/13/11 at 08:17:53 Arnold wrote on 04/13/11 at 07:50:32: I mean in a normal situation it kicks in to start the bike then does nothing. So I would think it also remains idle when the bike it turned off. If the sound I hear is the starter, it seems like the engine is turning the starter at shut down.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #11 - 04/13/11 at 08:27:21 Well now I'll have to pay attention next time I shut mine down. Anyone else hears that?
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Fujisawa Rob Junior Member Offline We got the thump! Posts: 85 Fort White, FL Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #12 - 04/13/11 at 08:32:30 Arnold wrote on 04/13/11 at 08:27:21: Well now I'll have to pay attention next time I shut mine down. Anyone else hears that? It may not be the starter, could be the gearbox as mentioned. It is a distinct "whirrrr" sound for sure.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Some newbie questions Reply #13 - 04/13/11 at 08:40:16 I know, glad it's not just me. Maybe I'll try turning off while in gear next time and see if the noise changes.
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