Check to see if there is any slack in the cable at the lever that sticks out of the side of the engine. If you can move it around easily with a finger, it's not out of adjustment. If it's very taught like you're pulling the lever, it's out of adjustment.

If it's loose like it should be - you've most likely got the wrong oil in your bike.


*edit* I shouldn't have said it's not out of adjustment. What I should have said was "It's not causing this problem."

gone fishing

nrausch wrote on 02/21/13 at 14:34:07:



mmmmmm ..... want to check that oil bottle again and tell us what is on the actual bottle?  

Mobil 1 V-twin only comes in 20w50, but Mobil 1 has like 4 different 10w40 formulations of which only one is good for the Savage engine.

Ok...

Well it seems I am wrong on many counts.!!!   Newbie, busted!

1- I do in fact use Mobil 1 v-twin 20w50 for my yamaha.

2- Somehow, we put mobil1 10w30 synthetic in the savage. I also realize it was the "high mileage" stuff. Likely this is a problem. Hopefully it is THE problem. Luckily it hasn't been in there long, and has only been ridden around town for about 40 miles.

I'll be changing that out this weekend to the 20w50 oil, unless there is a synthetic that you guys would recommend.

Sorry, didn't intend to give mis-information.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the fifth gear issue existed before I changed the oil.
I drove it straight home when I got it (less than 5 miles), changed oil, oil and air filters and cleaned out the carb before really doing any thorough riding. I also don't know what oil was in it before.

Thanks again for all of the help. You guys are amazing and thanks for tolerating the newbies!

Nate

If the clutch has been contaminated with "friction modifiers".....they may ultimately go away with some riding and some oil changes.  Try to avoid the situations that make the clutch slip for a whle.

You may need to take the clutch apart and give the plates a scuffing and cleaning to get it back to normal.  The clutch should not slip once it is engaged - even in fifth.

You can find articles about most issues by going to the Tech Section and looking at the Index.  Here is the Clutch Discussion I found by using that Index.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1270678838/0#0

Serowbot wrote on 02/25/13 at 09:37:49:

75... shifting into 5th?
high rpm, high oil pressure, you open the clutch and oil gonna rush in.
I don't know how the oil is ported to the clutch, but if it pools on the inside of the plates, the plates are gonna be flooded for a bit.

If it's not slippin' any other time, I wouldn't worry about it.
BTW it does this off the line too, I kinda like it that way.  

Oil is force supplied to the bronze clutch "slip twist" bearing in the center of the clutch hub, it migrates out from there to the clutch pack where it exits by centrifugal force.

Heavy oils (20w50) have been noted since the list has been in existence for causing momentary engagement slip in 5th gear.  

The place to start is to look at where your chrome lever on the side of the case is relative to the marks on the case -- this leads you to a decision as to whether or not you need to order a new push rod length.