i just bought a savage, 05 with 1,900 miles. yesterday i change the spark plug, clean the carb, and put a cone filter on. put everything back and when i turn the key over nothing happen? no lights came on or anything. so i thought it was a ground i may have forgot. i double check my conections and they look good. i was tired of messing with it and went inside. the next day came home from work and thought i mess with it. put the key in turned it and it started like a champ (jardine exhaust sounds great). turn it off and started it again 3-4 times just to see if it would start again and it turned over everytime. well left the bike alone for about 12 hours. and i came home from work turn the key over and no lights came on again. so i bought a new battery and still nothing happens, so its not a starting problem more like a connecting problem. now im thinking its a loose plug or some sort of ground im missing. can someone help me out? thanks

Sounds like a loose ground...  check the ground strap that connects to the engine down behind the clutch actuator on the right side...
If not that,.. start at the key and check connectors down the line...

Id have to look at the fuse, located under your right thigh if you are on the bike, look up under that side of the seat.

ok i did take off the belt guard maybe there is something there. i did check a fuse i pulled the cap off and there was (2) 20amp fuses and they looked good. is that the fuse youre talking about under the seat?

Also check the connection under the tank. It likes to get into the habit of coming loose.

during the "crysis" - do you have any sign of life when you turn the key?? Neutral light, anything??? Before we start virtually dissecting your bike and flooding you with useless advices...

Ground strap - runs battery minus to the engine. Black wire, rear of the engine, right hand side, can't remember now. Anybody has a picture?

dasch wrote on 04/14/11 at 13:24:20:


nope no sign of life, battery is brand new. speedo didnt even light up nothing. so something in the process when i took out the airbox, chain guard or gas tank i forgot to ground a wire or connect a plug.

It sounds like you should know this but just to be sure...

the ig switch has 3 positions, off, run, park, in that order.
in the park position, bike won't run and only the tail light works.

safety's, clutch, kickstand, neutral.
won't start w/o clutch pulled in
with kickstand down, and in gear, won't start.
lights will light though

With key on, lights will light, tank, headlight and signals.
If it's a connector under the tank or the handlebar controls, lights may not light, but tail light should be on.

If it's not on, check the ig switch connectors.

And the battery and the ground.  it's on the engine by the oil level window.