SuzukiSavage.com - lean or rich??

Tobias dk

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lean or rich??
08/13/17 at 11:36:47

hello guys, Tobias from Denmark here.
i ride an '87 savage, wich has been slightly modded to resemble a bobber.
i have gotten myself into a mess with the carb adjustment, and am getting a bit frustrated. does someone know if i can tell wether it is running lean or rich? i just changed the sparkplug, and it looked burned as nuts, so im thinking ive been running rich!?!
you know any shortcuts?

hopeful greetings from scandinavia!

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #1 - 08/13/17 at 13:29:30 If you don't have a Yamaha Raptor petcock, you need to. Is the exhaust stock? How many miles on it? Was the plug old? Is the air filter clean and dry? What mods , aside from looks, are done? Is it burning oil? Smoking? Got soot on the brake arm?
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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #2 - 08/13/17 at 14:12:17

Looking at an old plug wont give you much information. A lean condition usually presents itself as "bog" or a hesitation when the throttle is opened rapidly. Where the lean bog happens indicates the the circuit or circuits. A rich condition is commonly referred to as "2-strokin" as it mimics a 2 stroke brap-brap-brap. Additionally, a lean condition usually clears when the throttle position is steady (unless its really lean and then the bike feels like its brakes are being applied in an on/off/on/off manner this is called a lean surge) whereas the rich condition is always present.

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Tobias dk

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #3 - 08/13/17 at 14:12:29

Its not a yamaha raptor petcock, but it looks like it?!
Not stock exhaust, but not sure if its a clear blow thru..
34000 km i thats about 22000 miles
Dont know how old plug was, but looked pretty New, despite from the soot filled tip.
Just changed the air filter last week
I think only cosmetic change, but not sure. Don't know anyone with a savage i can compare with.
I havent noticed smoke, only occasionaly. But I have been experimenting with the carb setting for two months now.
Will check brake arm in the morning for soot, bed time now!
Thank you for helping me!

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #4 - 08/13/17 at 15:43:47

Okay, you've got a problem you're chasing. Let's start over.
Why are you thinking it's either rich or lean? What changed?
At 22,000 miles, if you have not looked at the cam chain, you Really need to. I wouldn't start it again if it's never been serviced.

What's the problem?
Symptoms
How did it develop?
Check your petcock. Troubleshooting steps are in the Technical support section.
You'll win it. Be patient.

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Armen Serious Thumper Offline Half-Witted Wrench-Jockey from Jersey Posts: 1431	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #5 - 08/13/17 at 15:46:22 One simple rule-if it runs better when hot, it's probably lean. If it runs worse, it's prob rich.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #6 - 08/13/17 at 15:54:33 If it changed how it's running, the question is Why?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #7 - 08/13/17 at 16:00:42 How long have you owned it? How many miles have You ridden it? Did it ever act right? When it started acting up, what did it do? Has the MPG changed dramatically? A bad petcock often puts gas in the oil, and air filter gets wet sometimes, too.
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Tobias dk

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #8 - 08/14/17 at 00:22:04

I bought it 2 months ago, and have ridden it for Ca 200 miles.
IT started with some dude i know, Who is an old mechanic, telling me that it was running rich, hence the afterfire.. So i started tampering with it, like the stupid electrician i am.. Ive gone to him a few times for advice, and he told me to change air filter and sparkplug.
But im afraid im abusing his hospitality, and starting to get on his nerves... 😁
Btw, what is the "cam chain"? 😯
I dont Pay attention to mpg, so i would t know.
Could you maybe post a link to the petcock you recommended, im definitely getting that!

Alot of good advice, i will do some testing and get back to all, thanks a lot guys!

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #9 - 08/14/17 at 00:31:19 Ask him if he has checked the cam chain. If not, I wouldn't start it again. I've been around enough to see a few engines destroyed. The exhaust header loose at the head will make it backfires. Be very gentle with the bolts.
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ohiomoto

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #10 - 08/14/17 at 07:45:34

Our bikes do backfire and poof a bit when you shift and when you shut it down.

Armen wrote on 08/13/17 at 15:46:22:

One simple rule-if it runs better when hot, it's probably lean. If it runs worse, it's prob rich.

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Almost fool proof. Ride it on a cool morning and then again on a hot afternoon taking note of the differences.

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 08/13/17 at 14:12:17:

Looking at an old plug wont give you much information. A lean condition usually presents itself as "bog" or a hesitation when the throttle is opened rapidly. Where the lean bog happens indicates the the circuit or circuits. A rich condition is commonly referred to as "2-strokin" as it mimics a 2 stroke brap-brap-brap. Additionally, a lean condition usually clears when the throttle position is steady (unless its really lean and then the bike feels like its brakes are being applied in an on/off/on/off manner this is called a lean surge) whereas the rich condition is always present.

---------------------------------------

Good advise to go along with what Armen posted.

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Tobias dk YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 30	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #11 - 08/15/17 at 00:11:12 what is the type of raptor petcock i should buy? as far as i can tell there some different types... and as a side note, the bike has been running better for the last two days, maybe i am finally finding the right setting! thanks alot guys!
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IslandRoad Serious Thumper Offline It doesn't vibrate, it purrs! Posts: 1147 The Kiewa Valley, Australia Gender:	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #12 - 08/15/17 at 01:24:32 https://www.ebay.com/p/Fuel-Gas-Tank-Petcock-Turn-Valve-thingy-OEM-Yamaha-Rap... Don't be tempted by cheap knock-offs
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IslandRoad Serious Thumper Offline It doesn't vibrate, it purrs! Posts: 1147 The Kiewa Valley, Australia Gender:	Re: lean or rich?? Reply #13 - 08/15/17 at 01:26:50 This is the part number: 5LP-24500-01-00 You could shop around, just make sure it's OEM.
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Tobias dk

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Re: lean or rich??
Reply #14 - 03/30/18 at 11:11:18

Okay, so picking up where i left of.. Just rode it about 15 miles, and with some thing like "carbureator ethanol" (my Best translation) it drove very Well. But coming home, with a lot of intersections and full stops, it kept going out.. Could easy start again, but it Kind of worries me.. You guys have Any idea what it might be? Cheers from crappity smacking cold Denmark.!

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