by the time its your turn, youll have seen newbies come in & get walked thru things they didnt believe they could do. i was terrified. i bought new just so i could have a warranty. if i knew then what i do now, i woulda bought used. yes, ive always had tools, done loads of waterpumps, starters, body work, but never messed with a bike, or valves, or cam chains,, some carbs, but i didnt know hoot,,owning that bike has been really good for me. i know a lot more now. this site is an absolute gold mine

rl153 wrote on 07/08/13 at 16:26:52:


I've been riding and wrenching on cruisers for 26 years this month. But, I've been dealing with street rods, race cars and antique trucks for 37 years... started as soon as I could sit on the fender and reach the distributor of a 1960 Dodge 1/2 ton with poly 318, and sit on the core support of a 1973 F100 and do the same.

Vehicles are just collections of metal, plastic rubber, paint and hardware. Noting to be worried about, parts can be fixed and/or replaced.

Can I do engine work, yes... Don't like to, but I can. Same with electrical, I can rewire an antique truck in my sleep, but the system on the Savage is beyond my comprehension level (where is the ignition plate, the points operated voltage regulator, the generator)...

Find yourself a cheap, basically hunk of scrap metal type cheap, CB or KZ twin that needs everything, and practice, practice practice... No resale value (just like a modified Savage), the aftermarket has lost interest (just like a Savage, except for CBs), have a neighborhood teen help and at the end of it, give him (or her) the bike.

That's how I learned, summer apprenticeship at the local Hell's Angels shop when I was 14/15. At the end of the summer, I had a 1936 EL chopper, completely rebuilt from the ground up. W/O that experience, I probably wouldn't still be riding (occasionally, since my current bikes are all heaps).

Something like this would be about perfect to learn with, the engine is locked up tighter than a nun's thighs...  

5 years on average with the vent caps. Good enough.

I buy the vacuum caps at Autozone and they last about a year before they are too cracked to stop the air from getting sucked up. I have the same problem with my fuel line. I bought fuel injection hose this time. It may last longer. As far as the vacuum caps, I have spares now.

I know this info is on the site somewhere ,but the stock fuel line is 5/16. It seems someone said the raptor petcock port is 1/4 ". Is that right? Mine seemed to fit pretty snug ,no leaks. Is the stock clamp sufficient? Also, when storing the bike for the winter with the raptor petcock, should you just add stable and forget it, or turn the petcock to off ,and let the motor run the gas  out ? Thanks!

I shoved a golf tee with superglue in mine. Still there!