Ok, so I removed the plug over the idle mix screw and 1/2 turn cw. But what exactly should I be looking for in the way the bike operates to suggest I did it right?

well you turned it the right way but you should take a short ride THEN slowly rotate the screw (both ways) to determine the smoothest idle.
Usually the best position is the fastest idle speed. You may need to turn the idle stop screw (also on carb) to close throttle slightly

thanks yoshi you are correct, counter clockwise richens the idle mixture, which is usually the direction needed from the factory setting

Yoshi wrote on 04/29/14 at 16:58:29:


Ooops!

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1259944902

It's also an 86 which people seem to suggest isn't leaned out like 95 up....thanks for all the posts

OK. So she is idling smoothly sounds fast...so I am assuming it in the proper range
...started with 1/2 turn <----- counter clock wise...and fires off when shut down. Added a 1/4 <------- cw turn still fires off....should I be going clock wise on the 86?

I misspoke... all my turning has been <---- counter clock wise I said cw in my last post. It does not back fire except on shut down. In have the idle speed up. But that was done with the idle screw not the air mixture screw. Stock exhaust, raptor petcock.