first post from a long time lurker.  i bought this '96 savage bone stock about a month ago.

(please see my first reply for the image)

when i put the dyna muffler on it started backfiring like crazy which i've heard is typical.  yesterday i pulled the air box and replaced it with a cone filter (wouldn't fit on the carb directly so i used that rubber hose) and relocated the electronics.  i put an inline gas filter onto the crank case breather and ran it under the bike, and finally drilled out the mixture screw and gave it a half turn counterclockwise.  the backfiring is probably 75% gone and i get a nice tone out of the intake.  of course there are issues...

first, if i leave it sit for more than a couple hours i'll have to pull the choke one click to get it to start.  i can push it back in immediately, and once it's warmed up it runs great.

also, the power curve is a little jumpy in the low gears

neither of these are a huge deal to me but i want to ask if there's a possibility that i'm doing damage to the engine.  i live just about a mile high here in colorado which is what makes me hesitate to rejet cause i figured the lean stock mix might be perfect for this altitude.

You're probably pretty good...  a little choke, on a cold engine in Colo. is okay...
If anything,.. I'd leave the pilot stock, and maybe go to a #150 main...

Try this test, if you like...
Quote:

Incense,

I live in the Springs (my house is at 6500' ASL).

My bike (see signature) has stock jetting and runs well up here....no complaints!

Incense,... that's actually a little clearer signal than I would expect...
...but, we may chalk that up to intense concentration,..

Just to be sure... give it one more try...
Get going,... calm and steady, at 35mph... then open up to full throttle, for a few seconds... as you feel it pulling strong,... just ease off a small fraction...
See if you perceive a little, up-kick, before the deceleration happens...
... (that's been my perception.... just a slight, kick... for maybe a half, or a quarter of a second, before decel)...

It may just be, that it appeared more intense, because I told you to look for it...

Try the test one more time,.. and go with your best judgement... if you do go up to a #150,... and it's not beneficial... you can always go back down...
...

Bubba wrote on 05/07/13 at 07:13:56:


I'm new to working on these LS650's Can you explain what you meant by pulling the snorkel off the air box? I'm trying to get my wife's savage from back firing on decel.

thanks,
B-smith