ThumperPaul wrote on 04/11/26 at 06:38:06:


It is hard to find a good place to mount the temperature sensor that is a good representative of what is going on.  My sensor was intended to be mounted under the spark plug - however it is impossible to get it there as there is no room for it in that tiny hole.

The Savage has ball and roller bearings in most places, and it doesn't require much pressure to get oil "flow" into the bearings.  I believe the head is also designed in a way that the cam bearings have sufficient flow without needing much pressure to get the oil in the places needed....the slots and cutouts in the surfaces allow oil to flow without much force.  Unfortunately this isn't a very friendly design for those who let their bike idle on the sidestand or have their idle speed excessively low.

It is wonderful to have this bike running without leaks again.  The bike was wonderfully reliable, efficient and a joy to ride prior to using that aftermarket head gasket that created the leak.  The bike regularly got 63mpg.....except when I was chasing MMRanch around in the mountains!  

Today I went on what would be a "normal" ride for me.  It was in the lower 80's and I rode over to a friends house for a visit.  The ride was on the rural roads where I live - 6 STOP signs and 2 traffic lights in the 15 miles it takes to get to his house.

The cylinder head temperature stabilized right at 220 degrees for the entire trip there and back.  I only got stuck at one traffic light for a red light cycle...it is a somewhat long wait as there are left turn lanes/arrows that get to go separate from the main light.  While I was waiting for my turn the cylinder head temperature slowly climbed to 265 - then within a mile had dropped back down to 222.....and a bit farther down the road it was back at 220.

I believe the temperature at the front of the cylinder is very similar to what I was reading at the left rear cylinder stud at steady cruising - however the temperature does fluctuate more with the sensor under the exhaust port.

I am waiting for one more clutch thrust washer to arrive.  It was supposed to arrive somewhere between May 10-16 - but the eBay seller didn't get it to the Post Office until the 13th....so it likely won't be here until Saturday the 18th (or perhaps Monday the 20th).