So in quest to learn and work on this bike, I'd thought I would start with the carbs. I've never had a carbureted bike so it's a new for me.

Is there a post that shows the components to the carb, how to clean it and maintain it?

Any other suggestions?

If ride your bike regularly and don't have a bunch of dirt/rust in your gas tank, you generally will not have any carb problems, thus no needed carb maintenance.  A carb will operate trouble-free for years, unless you get a vacuum leak or the rare event where a float gets a hole and sinks.

Even in winter, I can usually hop out for a (sometimes cold) ride about every couple of weeks.  During the rest of the year, if the temps are above 50F, my bike gets ridden at least every few days.  I never had to use fuel stabilizers and I don't own a battery tender.  

The majority of carb problems come when a bike sits around too much.  My son bought a Kaw KZ400 from a guy.  He said he had to take it to a shop every year to get the carbs cleaned.  It turns out he would get the bike running, ride it a few times and then it would sit for another year.

If you just change to a versy-modified adjuster, the job is easy.  There is no need to mess with the cam chain itself or with the chain guides or the engine top end.  I think almost anyone should be able to perform it. It is a simple job of removing the clutch cover and replacing the adjuster.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1338489898/0

You might be able to re-use the existing gasket if was installed without sealant.  I was able to re-use mine.  However, it would be a good idea to have a new gasket available just in case.

I have a gasket left over after selling my Savage.  If you will
PM me with your address, I'll mail it to you.

ylwf3vr wrote on 08/24/13 at 22:05:59:


My personal experience here has been to use this stuff:





BUT only where the wires exit the engine (at the rear of the clutch cover) and on the sealing washers that are called for on some of the clutch cover bolts.  Other than that, the Suzuki gasket seems to do the job well.....

IHTH!

WD wrote on 08/25/13 at 17:53:45:



From The Savage Companion Photo CD:





IHTH!

bobert_FSO wrote on 08/25/13 at 20:01:59:

Very much appreciated!!

Don't stress, just take your time and lay out everything you remove so that you know where it goes when you put it back together. A cardboard template like WD mentioned is an easy way to organize your bolts and such and is great incase someone walks through them!!!  Yea rebuilding the engine on a 72' Chevelle back in the 80's and my dog walked through my bolts laid out on the floor, I've always used a cardboard template since LOL