Hello all! New here and I need some help. I have a 2002 savage with 15,600 miles on it. Rode fine for a while after I got it but then started having issues. I was new to bikes so I came here and got some ideas and advise. I cleaned the carb using the guide on here somewhere. When I went to change the oil, it was full of gas. I mean like mostly gas and the air box and air filter was soaked. To I cleaned it all up and put fresh oil, a new oil golfer, and a new filter in (the right way) and it worked well for a few weeks. Then it started sputtering and dying while going down the road even with a full tank and I read that is usually caused by a bad petcock. So I replaced the original with a raptor an following the guide also on here and capped the vacuum port on the carb, filled up with fresh gas and it started right up without issue. But when I tried to ride it as soon as I put it in gear it started bucking and died before I made it 100 feet. I ended up having to push it back home. Could there be a step that I missed or something I overlooked that may be causing these issues? Everything I have seen on here says that must issues with the savage can be fixed with fresh oil, a new tank of gas and installing the raptor. I’m at a loss with this. I’m not a mechanic by any means but I know my way around technical manuals and youtube is my best friend when researching problems. And help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

yeah what jog said... after that next most common is putting the jets in the wrong hole.

You removed the plastic tubes from the Petcock filters.
You have the Petcock lever pointed the right way.

And I don’t think I put the jets in wrong.
But, you might have..

Before you tear into anything
Put a piece of tubing on the carburetor bowl nipple and drain it into something.
See if it runs or stops,
Just a cup held under will work, tubing isn't necessary..
Just prove you have fuel into the carburetor first, and that it's a steady supply.

No. Do not try to start the bike or even turn on the ignition while the float bowl drain is open. That's how fires start. I would try to catch the fuel coming out the drain. You can confirm flow and check for contamination at the same time.

All fuel flows through the petcock. So sort of. The petcock should be able to flow more fuel than the carb needs. You could also pull the fuel line to see how much the petcock can flow. But the idea of using the catb drain is to be sure the carb is also flowing.

Is the inside of your tank clean? Is it possible you are picking up crud from there?

It starts up at first no problem. I even let it start and idle for a few minutes to make sure that it would get warm without issue. It’s when i put it in gear and start moving that the problem arises. And once it dies then it won’t start back up. I’m not picking up crud from the tank unless it’s small enough to pass through the new petcock filter screen.

You didn't say you changed the oil again, AFTER replacing the petcock ,have you checked your oil level lately ?

fireproof4891 wrote on 09/06/18 at 15:12:25:


Does it run well - until you put it in gear?

Does it start again if you put it in neutral?

Could you be having a problem with the side stand safety switch?